An Essay on the Warrant, Nature, and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder; In the Presbyterian Church - Samuel Miller

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1832 edition. Excerpt: ... exhort them against error, and lead them forward in the way of life. Such endowments presuppose a previous course of instruction, clearness and acuteness of thought, and a power to communicate their ideas; ' and when these were present, and the Spirit of God was imparted to animate and sanctify, the man became possessed of the "xotgufp-at didamwouas-" Those possessed of this xagmua, were, on this account, calculated for all the purposes above alluded to, without excluding the remainder from exercising the gift imparted to them, of whatever kind it might be. On this account, the Xagidpa didadxahas, and the situation Of teachers, (55o: dxuMi, ) who were distinguished by this gift, was represented as something entirely distinct and peculiar. (1 Cor. xii. 28. xiv. 6. Ephes. iv. 11.) All members of a Church could, at times, speak before their brethren, either to call upon God, or to praise him, when so inclined; but only a few were 6i6admzM, in the full sense of that term." "It is very clear, too, that this talent for teaching, was different from that of governing, (i. e., xagiepa Iv/3' v'n0'=us, ) which was especially necessary for him who I otgEtfu4'E oi, who united the gift of teaching (eidadxtma) with that of governing, (xv,8sgw;centsm) were to be especially honored. This distinction of the two gifts shows that they were not constantly or necessarily united?" The same writer says: --" We find another oflice in the apostolic times--that of Deacons. ' The duties of this oflice were from the first only external, (Acts vi., ) as it seems to have taken its rise for the sole purpose of attending to the distribution of alms. The care of the poor, however, and of the sick, and many other..."