THE ·Of the Officers of the Church. HE officers which Chrift hath appointed for the edification of his church, and the perfecting of the faints, are, fome extraordinary, as apoftles, evangelifts, and prophets, which are ceased. Others ordinary and perpetual, as pastors, teachers, and other church-governors, and deacons. T Paftors. HE paftor is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the church e, prophefying of the time of the gospel f. First, and ours. Compared with 2 Cor. ix. 13. Whiles by the experiment of this miniftration they glorify God for your profeffed fubjection unto the gofpel of Chrift, and for your liberal diftribution unto them, and unto all men. A&ts ii. 39. For the promife is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving hufband is fanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the hufband, elfe were your children unclean, but now are they holy Rom. xi. 16. For if the firft fruit be holy, the lump is alfo holy; and if the root be holy, fo are the branches. Mark x. 14. But when Jefus faw it, he was much difpleafed, and faid unto them, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of fuch is the kingdom of God. Compared with Matth. xix. 13. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he fhould put his hand on them and pray : and the difciples rebuked them. v. 14. But Jefus faid, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of fuch is the kingdom of heaven. Luke xviii. 15. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them; + but when his difciples faw it, they rebuked them. v. 16. But Jefus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of fuch is the kingdom of God. e Jer. iii. 15. And I will give you. paftors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. v. 16. And it fhall come to pass when ye be multiplied and increafed in the land; in those days, faith the Lord, they fhall fay no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither fhall it come to mind, neither fhall they remember it, neither fhall they vi fit it, neither fhall that be done any more. v. 17. At that time they shall call Jerufalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations fhall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerufalem: neither fhall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. f 1 Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the overfight thereof, not by conftraint, but willingly; not for.filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; v. 3. Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being enfamples to the flock, v. 4. And when the chief Shepherd fhall appear, ye fhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth First, it belongs to his office, Το pray for and with his flock, as the mouth of the people unto God g, Acts vi. 2, 3, 4. and xx. 36. where preaching and prayer are joined as feveral parts of the fame office b. The office of the elder (that is, the pastor) is to pray for the fick, even in private, to which a bleffing is especially promifed; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the public execution of his office, as a part thereof i. To read the fcriptures publicly: for the proof of which, 1. That the Priests and Levites, in the Jewish church, were trusted with the public reading of the word, is proved k. fadeth not away, Eph. iv. 11, And he gave fome apoftles, and fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors and teachers; v. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift; v, 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift, g Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of difciples unto them, and faid, It is not reafon that we should leave the word of God, and ferve tables. v. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you feven men of honeft report, full of the Holy Ghoft, and wisdom, whom we may appoint óver this business. v. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the miniftry of the word. Acts xx. 36. And when he had thus fpoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. h James v. 14. Is any man fick among you let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: v. 15. And the prayer of faith fhall fave the fick, and the Lord fhall raife him up; and if he have committed fins, they fhall be forgiven him. I 2. That i 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then? will pray with the fpirit, and I will pray with the understanding alfo: I will fing with the fpirit, and I will fing with the understanding alfo: v. 16. Elfe when thou shalt blefs with the fpirit, how fhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay Amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing he underflandeth not what thou fayeft? k Deut. xxxi. 9. And Mofes wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the fons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Ifrael. v. 10. And Mofes commanded them, faying, At the end of every feven years, is the folemnity of the year of releafe, in the feaft of tabernacles. v. 11. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he fhall chufe; thou fhalt read this law before all Ifrael, in their hearing, Neh. viii. 1. And all the people ga. thered themselves together as one man, into the street that was before the water-gate, and they fpake unto Ezra the fcribe, to bring the book of the law of Mofes, which the Lord had commanded to Ifrael. v. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that would hear with understanding, upon 2. That the minifters of the gospel have as ample a charge and commiffion to difpenfe the word, as well as other ordinances, as the priests and Levites had under the law, proved, Ifa. lxvi. 21. Matth. xxiii. 34. where our Saviour intitleth the officers of the New Teftament, whom he will fend forth by the fame names of the teachers of the Old 1. Which propofitions prove, that therefore (the duty being of a moral nature) it followeth by juft confequence, that the public reading of the fcriptures belongeth to the paftor's office. To feed the flock, by preaching of the word, according to which he is to teach, convince, reprove, exhort,and comfort m. To catechife, which is a plain laying down the first principles of the oracles of God n, or of the doctrine of Christ, and is a part of preaching. Το found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainfayers. To dispense other divine myfteries o. To adminifter the facraments p. upon the first day of the feventh month. v. 3. And he read therein— v. 13. And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the fçribe, even to understand the words of the law. / If. lxvi. 21. And I will alfo take of them for priests, and for Levites, faith the Lord. Matth. xxiii. 34. Wherefore behold, I fend unto you prophets, and wife men, and fçribes; and fome of them ye fhall kill and crucify, and fome of them fhall ye fcourge in your fynagogues, and perfecute them from city to city. 221 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be blamelefs, the husband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruc tion in righteoufnefs: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Tit. i. 9. Holding faft the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by n Heb. v. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the firft principles of the oracles of God; and are become fuch as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 01 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man fo account of us, as of the minifters of Chrift, and stewards of the myfteries of God. v. 2. Moreover, it is required in ftewards, that a man be found faithful. p Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft: v. 20. Teaching them to obferve all things whatfoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mark. xvi. 15. And he faid unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every ture. v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, fhall be faved; but he that believeth not, fhall be damned. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received crea of To blefs the people from God, Numb. vi. 23, 24, 25, 26. compared with Rev. xiv. 5. (where the fame bleffings, and perfons from whom they come, are exprefsly mentioned q), If. lxvi. 21. where, under the names of priefts and Levites to be continued under the gofpel, are meant evangelical paftors, who therefore are by office to blefs the people r. To take care of the poor f of the Lord, that which alfo I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread. v. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. v. 25. After the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Compared with I Cor. x. 26. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ. q Numb. vi. 23. Speak unto Aaron and unto his fons, faying, On this wife ye fhall blefs the children of Ifrael, faying unto them, v. 24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. v. 25. The Lord make his face to fhine upon thee-v. 26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Compared with Rev. i. 4. John to the feven churches which are in Afia: Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the feven fpirits which are before his throne; v. 5. And from Jefus Chrift, who is the faithful witnefs, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. If. Ixvi. 21. And I will also take of them for priests, and for Levites, faith the Lord. And r Deut. x. 8. At that time the Lord feparated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to ftand before the Lord to minifter unto him, and to blefs in his name, unto this day. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoft, be with you all. Amen. Eph. i. 2. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift. Acts xi. 30. Which alfo they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts iv. 34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were poffeffors of lands or houses, fold them, and brought the prices of the things that were fold, v. 35. And laid them down at the apoftles feet; and diftribution was made unto every man according as he had need. v. 36. And Jofes, who by the apostles was firnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The fon of confolation) a Levite, and of the country Cyprus. v .37. Having land, fold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apoftles feet. Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the difciples unto them, and faid, It is not reafon that we should leave the word of God, and ferve tables. v. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you feven men of honeft report, full of the Holy Ghoft and wifdom, whom we may appoint over this bufinefs. v. 4. But of we And he hath also a ruling power over the flock as a paf tor t. TH Teacher or Doctor. 'HE fcripture doth hold out the name and title of teacher, as well as of the pastor v. Who is also a minifter of the word, as well as the pastor, and hath power of administration of the facraments. The Lord having given different gifts, and divers exercifes according to thefe gifts, in the miniftry of the word w; tho' thefe different gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercifed we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the miniftry of the word. I Cor. xvi. 1. Now concerning the collection for the faints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even fo do ye. v. 2. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore, as God hath profpered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. v. 3. And when I come, whomfoever ye fhall approve by your letters, them will I fend to bring your liberality unto Jerufalem, v. 4. And if it be meet that I go alfo, they fhall go with me. Gal. ii. 9. And when James, Cephas, and John, who feemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the Heathen, and they unto the circumcifion, v. 10. Only they would that we fhould remember the poor; the fame which I alfo was forward to do. t1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, efpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. A&s xx. 17. And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. v. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghoft hath made you over feers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 1 Theff. v. 12. And we befeech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; Heb. xiii .7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have fpoken unto you the word of God: whofe faith follow, confidering the end of their converfation. v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourfelves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you. v. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church, first apostles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teach ers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Eph. iv. H. And he gave fome apoftles, and fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors and teachers. w Rom. xii. 6. Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given unto us, whether prophefy, let us prophefy according to the proportion of faith: v. 7. Or miniftry, let us wait on our ministring; or he that teacheth, on teaching; v. 8. Or he that exhorteth, on ex hortation: he that giveth, let him do it with fimplicity; he that ruleth, |
