Preface to the Second Edition

Various ecclesiastical, political, and social changes have taken place since the publication of this little volume, nearly twenty years ago, but nothing has occurred to lessen the value of the principles which it states and advocates; on the contrary, all that has transpired has only served to magnify the importance of the scriptural office of deacon, and to shew the soundness of scriptural principles. Events may call for some modification in the working most appropriate to the office, but that is all. Since the original publication, a comprehensive Poor Law for Scotland has been passed, and is now in operation—a law which has raised the annual expenditure on the poor in Scotland from £171,000 to more than half-a-million sterling, (£538,900,) and proportionally increased the number of paupers. It may almost seem incredible, but it appears from recent official statistics, that there are now more paupers by 1600 in the four northern counties of Scotland than in the two Irish provinces of Ulster and Connaught, with a population of three millions. Whatever improved relief may have been given in individual cases, nothing has occurred in connexion with the general working of the act to change the conviction of the opponents of enforced parochial support. They are as strongly persuaded as ever of the necessarily injurious character of such support. It is believed that those who have had most to do with the practical management of the new measure, are well satisfied they are extensively imposed upon,—that the law does not accomplish the good which was intended,—that it creates many evils, relaxing the industry and frugality of individuals and families, and so far ministering to vice. There can be no question that society would be in a far sounder state if all provided for themselves, and for those who really need, from their own means; and there can be as little doubt that, if properly husbanded by provident institutions and otherwise, there are sufficient resources to meet the wants of all. But a poor law having now been settled, and the Established Church broken up by the Disruption, there is no room for the support of the general poor, through voluntary liberality, in the hands of an order of deacons in the Church. This has been superseded in so far as the poor, not connected with Christian congregations, are concerned. They can and will plead the claims of law, and Christian Churches will naturally be indisposed to undertake such a burden. There is still room, however, for the exercise of the office in ministering to the relief of the religious poor. It is believed that not a little is actually done by office-bearers of Christian congregations in this way, and that the spirit is growing, as seen in clothing and other societies. Besides this, there seems to be an important sphere of usefulness for deacons in the Christian Church in connexion with many social questions. One of the interesting signs of progress of late years is, the greatly increased attention which is paid to the repression of sin and crime, and the promotion of the physical and moral health of the community. It is seen on the Continent of Europe as well as at home. It is believed that much may be accomplished in this direction by intelligent men holding the office of deacon in the Christian Church. In many cases congregations may act congregationally through their office-bearers in checking various vices, encouraging industry, and promoting the stability and welfare of the young, and of society generally—of course, always in harmony with directly religious applications. In proportion to the increased religious revival of the times, it may be expected that there will be new spheres of usefulness for all the office-bearers and members of the Church of Christ, and, to the office of deacon, questions and cases of a social kind will be peculiarly appropriate.

In addition to such applications, it is to be hoped that there will be a growing demand for the deacon in connexion with the temporal support of the Christian Church. This was one of the leading objects of the office as originally instituted. With the progress of religion, and as a mean to it, there will naturally be an increase of congregations; and considering the spirit of the age, and the experience of late years, there is no likelihood of any support of churches except through voluntary liberality. Hence the increased need of an order of men to raise and direct that liberality in the maintenance of the Church and its doctrines. The Free Church, it is well known, has made extensive and successful use of the order of deacons, and it is probable there will be a growing disposition on the part of other denominations to act in the same way. The more that awakened religion spreads throughout the land, it may be expected there will be a growing desire to separate the office of elder from that of deacon, and preserve it for its own exclusively spiritual objects and ends. Thus we see that whatever political and ecclesiastical changes have taken place in Scotland of late years, there is no superseding of the office of deacon in the Christian Church; that, on the contrary, both the present state of society and the prospects of the future render the call for a body of men faithfully and assiduously to discharge its duties doubly strong. Hence, it is hoped that the republication of this little volume, which has long been out of print, may, with some modifications, not be unacceptable or without use. Many friends have urged the republication; and this is the more needed, that, while there have been various recent publications on other parts of Church government, so far as I am aware there has been no separate publication on an office which was early instituted, and which holds a marked place in the Apostolic Church.