Theory of the Eldership [pp. 702-759]

1860.] Destructive Tendencies of this Theory.
churches are rejected; and when he declares it to be "idle to
tell us that Paul speaks of GOVERNMENTS, and using the abstract for the concrete, means governors themselves," although
on the next page (p. 59,) he quotes our Form of Government
(chap. v. book 1.) where the very passage and term, governments, is quoted in proof of ruling elders, we may well ask
which theory tends to the destruction of the office.*
But in the fifth and last place, this theory is logically destructive to the.Deaconship. It ignores its existence as an
office instituted by Christ, for the assistance of the elders and
ministers, in the full and proper administration of his church.
"Government," it is said, "is exclusively in the hands of elders,"
and "deacons have no power of regimen or order." What,
then, we ask, are they? God hath set them in his church as
ordinary and permanent office-bearers. Their creation, name,
qualifications, election, ordination, and personal names, even,
are handed down to us. They have existed, without disputation, and with special honour put upon such as discharge the
office well, always, everywhere, until the theory in question
led practically to the absorption of them in the office of ruling
elder, as is declared to have been the case in Scotland by
Principal Hill, and in Ireland by the Book of Discipline, and
in the United States by Dr. Wilson and Dr. Miller.t
Now, deacons were required to be men full of Christian zeal,
faith, wisdom, prudence, and exemplary piety, sound, and well
instructed in the truth, holding the ministering of the faith
in a pure conscience. Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost
and power, and he immediately began to speak for Jesus; "and
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which
he spake." Another of them, Philip, was so gifted as to be
afterwards an "evangelist." From their connection with the
* If it is asked, as it may well be, what is the great practical benefit sought
by this theory, the answer is, the right of ruling elders to impose hands in
ordination, "a potentiality," which has never yet been developed into exercise
under the constitutional authority of any Presbyterian church in the world,
and as Dr. MAiller's learned correspondent assured him, certainly not in the
Church of Scotland.
t Miller on Ruling Elders, pp. 237, 238, 242. Dr. Wilson Princ. Gov., and
Hill's View of the Church of Scotland.
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