IX.
The Churches shall be advertis'd, that the Cup is to be ad∣ministred by the Minister.
As Jesus Christ Blessed and Consecrated his Eucha∣rist, so he also administer'd it, for there was none but him, that did the Office and Duty of a Minister. A little more than a Hundred years after, * 1.1 Christians re∣ceived the Communion from the hands of Deacons, as we find by Justin Martyr, a practice observ'd a long while, but with some difference; and 'tis probable those who did so, grounded themselves on what is said in the VI. chap. of the Acts, that Deacons should serve at Tables, as if by this Expression was to be understood the distributing the Sacrament at the Holy Table, whereas it means no more but the distributing of Alms and Charities, to Widows and Orphans, and in ge∣neral to the Poor of the Church. After all, * 1.2 Tertullian ob∣serves it was not received but of the hand of him which presided, that is to say, of Pastors, and probably 'twas in his time the use of the Churches of Africa, which doubtless were more conformable to the Example and Practice of Jesus Christ, to which we may add what is said by St. Chrysostome in his Forty Sixth Homily on St. Matthew; The Priest only is permitted to distribute the Cup of the Blood of Jesus Christ: The Greek word de∣signs also Bishops, as well as Sacerdos, which the Inter∣preter has used.