The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 101

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THE SEVEN DEACONS 95 To Solomon, as one called to occupy a position of leading responsibility, David gave a special charge: ^^Thou, Solomon my son, know tliou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts : if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee: ... be strong."'" The same principles of piety and justice that were to guide the rulers among God's people in the time of Moses and of David, were also to be followed by those given the oversight of the newly organized church of God in the gospel dispensation. In the work of setting things in order in all the churches, and ordaining suitable men to act as officers, the apostles held to the high standards of leadership outlined in the Old Testament Scriptures. They maintained that he who is called to stand in a position of leading responsibility in the church, ^^must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not ^ven to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort- and to convince the gainsay ers. " " The order that was maintained in the early Christian church, made it possible for them to move forward solidly, as a well-disciplined army, clad with the armor of God. The companies of believers, 1 Chron. 28 : 9, 10. " Titus 1 : 7-9. 7 — Acts