# Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God. · Page 27 of 44 [Previous page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-26/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-28/) In like manner, the church shall, by the voice of the church, elect deacons over the poor, and, after they have been examined in the faith, and found to be sound, cause them to be confirmed by the imposition of the hands of the elders, as helpers and governors, that willing givers may give their contributions to them, that they may thereby supply the wants of the poor members of Christ who according to their ability diligently labor and work with their hands, and still are not able to support themselves; that there may be found no poor among the people of God, nor any want in temporal things, and that the good gifts of the donor may be hidden from men, but become manifest before God, according to the doctrine of Christ. And if any of said ministers depart in faith or conversation from the adopted way of truth, the church which elected him when he was pious and sound, shall punish or remove him, according as his deeds deserve. Matt. 18:8; 1 Tim. 1:20. Of the ordinances of the church of Christ, read: “Joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” Col. 2:5; 1 Corinthians 11:33; 14:40; 2 Cor. 8:19. 382 How men are to pray to God, who is the true Sender, for faithful laborers, read: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt. 9:37,38; Luke 10:2; Matt. 23:34; Luke 11:49; John 13:20; Matt. 10:40; Luke 10:16; Matt. 25:14; Luke 19:12; John 20:21. How necessary these ministers are, and how they shall teach the word of God, and be qualified, read: “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” Num. 27:16,17. “I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jer. 3:15. “For him whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God,” etc. John 3:34; 7:18. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ,” etc. 1 Peter 4:11. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless,” etc. Tit. 1:5,6. Of their qualifications, and how they are to minister after their examination, read: 1 Tim. 3 throughout; 1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11. Concerning the mode in which they are to be chosen, read: “We have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the churches; and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us, with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind.” 2 Cor. 8:18,19; Acts 1:23. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:2,3; 20:28. “The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim. 2:2. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Pet. 5:2,3. Of the election and confirmation of deacons, read: “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” “Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” Acts 6:2,3,6; 1 Tim. 3:8–10. ARTICLE XXI. Of Christian baptism we confess: That the same is a divine, evangelical transaction, practice and ordinance, which was first commenced by the man of God, John the Baptist, by the counsel and will of God, and was received by the worthy Son of God, Christ Jesus, who humbled himself as a true example, and to whom the aforesaid John led and pointed with his doctrine and baptism, as being the true Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He proceeded and came from God with full power in heaven and earth, and sent out his apostles, commanding them to preach the Gospel to all nations, and to baptize all true hearers and believers of it, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and to teach them, before and after baptism, to observe all things which he had commanded them. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_382) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-26/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.](/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-28/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god/part-27/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Confession+of+Faith%2C+According+to+the+Holy+Word+of+God.+%C2%B7+Page+27+of+44&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AConfession+of+Faith%2C+According+to+the+Holy+Word+of+God.+%C2%B7+Page+27+of+44%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god%2Fpart-27%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-confession-of-faith-according-to-the-holy-word-of-god--b00707-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)