Of the Church.

Here is one General Church vifible held forth in the New Teftament, 1 Cor. 12. 12, 13, 28. together with the rest of the Chapter.

The Ministry, Oracles, and Ordinances of the New Teftament, are given by Jefus Chrift to the General Church visible, for the gathering and perfecting of it in this Life, until his fecond Coming. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Eph. 4. 4,5. compared with Verfes 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16. of the fame Chapter.

Particular vifible Churches, Members of the General Church, are alfo held forth in the New Teftament, Gal. I. 21, 22. Rev. 1. 4, 20. and Rev. 2. 1. Particular Churches, in the primitive Times, were made up of vifible Saints, viz. Of fuch as, being of Age, profeffed Faith in Chrift, and Obedience unto Chrift, according to the Rule of Faith and Life, taught by Chrift and his Apostles; and of their Children, Acts 2. 38, 41. Alts 2. Verse last, compared with Acts 5. 14. 1 Car. 1, 2. compared with the 2 Cor. 9. 13 Acts 2. 29. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Rom.11, 16. and fo forward. Mark 10. 14, compared with Mat, 19. 13, 14. Luke 18. 15, 16.

Of the Officers of the Church.

The Chrich, and the Perfecting of He Officers which Chrift hath appointed for the

the Saints, are,

Some extraordinary, as Apoftles, Evangelifts, and Prophets, which are ceased.

Others ordinary and perpetual, as Paftors, Teachers, and other Church-Governors and Deacons.

T

Paflors.

He Paftor is an ordinary and perpetual Officer in the Church, Jer. 3. 15,16,17. prophefying of the Time of the Gospel, 1 Pet. 5. 2,3,4. Eph. 4. 11,12,13. First, It belongs to his Office,

Το

pray

for and with his Flock, as the Mouth of the People unto God, Acts 6. 2, 3, 4. Acts 20. 36. where

L4

Preaching

Preaching and Prayer are joined as feveral Parts of the fame Office, James 5. 14, 15. The Office of the Elder, that is the Paftor, is to pray for the Sick, even in private, to which a Bleffing is especially promifed; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the publick Execution of his Office, as a Part thereof, 1 Cor. 14. Verfes 15, 16.

To read the Scripture publickly; for the Proof of which,

1. That the Priests and Levites, in the Jewish Church, were trufted with the publick Reading of the Word, as is proved, Deut. 31 9,10,11. Nehem, 8. 1,2,13.

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 Priefts and Levites had under the Law, proved, lfa. 66. 21. Mat. 23. 34. where our Saviour intituleth the Officers of the New Teftament, whom he will fend forth, by the fame Names of the Teachers of the Old.

Which Propofitions prove, that therefore (the Duty being of a Moral Nature) it followeth by juft Confequence, that the publick Reading of the Scriptures belongeth to the Paftor's Office.

ac

To feed the Flock, by preaching of the Word; cording to which he is to teach, convince, reprove, exhort, and comfort, 1 Tim. 3. 2. 2 Tim. 3. Verfes 16, 17. Titus 1. 9.

To Catechife, which is a plain laying down the first Principles of the Oracles of God, Heb. 5. 12. or of the Doctrine of Chrift, and is a Part of Preaching.

To difpeufe other Divine Mysteries, 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2.

To administer the Sacraments, Matth. 28 19, 20. Mark 16, 15, 16. 1 Cor. 11. 23, 24, 25. compared with I Cor. 10. 16.

To blefs the People from God, Num. 6. 23, 24, 25, 26. compared with Rev. 14. 5. (where the fame Bleffings, and Perfons from whom they come, are exprefly mentioned) a. 66. 21. where, under the Names of Priests and Levites to be continued under the Gospel, are meant Evangelical Paftors, who therefore are by

Office to blefs the People, Deut. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 13. 14. Ephef. 1. 2.

To take care of the Poor, Acts 11. 30. Acts 4. 34, 35, 36, 37. Acts 6. 2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2, 3, 4. Gal.

2. 9, 10.

And he hath alfo a ruling Power over the Flock as a Paftor, 1 Tim. 5. 17. Acts 20. 17, & 28. 1 Theff. 5,12. Heb. 13. 7. 17.

Teacher or Doctor.

He Scripture doth hold out the Name and Title of

28. Ephef. 4. II.

Who is alfo a Minister of the Word as well as the Paftor, and hath Power of Administration of the Sa

craments.

The Lord having given different Gifts and divers Exercifes, according to thefe Gifts, in the Miniftry of the Word, Rom. 12. 6, 7, 8. 1 Cor. 12. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7. Tho' thefe different Gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by one and the fame Minister, 1 Cor. 14. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 9. yet, where be feveral Ministers in the fame Congregation, they may be defigned to feveral Employments, according to the different Gifts in which each of them doth most excel, Rom. 12. 6, 7, 8. 1 Pet. 4. 10, 11. And he that doth more excel in Expofition of Scripture, in teaching found Doctrine, and in convincing Gain-fayers, than he doth in Application, and is accordingly employed therein, may be called a Teacher, or Doctor (the Place alledged by the Notation of the Word doth prove the Propofition) neverthelefs, where is but one Minifter in a particular Congregation, he is to perform fo far as he is able the whole Work of the Ministry, as appeareth in the 2 Tim. 4. 2. Titus 1.9. before alledged, 1 Tim. 6. 2.

A Teacher or Doctor is of moft excellent Ufe in Schools and Univerfities; as of old in the Schools of the Prophets, and at Jerufalem, where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors.

Other

Other Church-Governors.

S there were in the Jewish Church, Elders of the

Government of the Church (as appeareth in thé 2 Chron. 19.8,9,10.) So Chrift, who hath instituted a Government, and Governors Ecclefiaftical in the Church, hath furnished some in his Church, befides the Minifters of the Word, with Gifts for Government, and with Commiffion to execute the fame when called thereunto, who are to join with the Minifter in the Government of the Church, Rom. 12. 7, 8. Cor. 12. 28. which Officers, Reformed Churches commonly call Elders. *

Deacons.

Officers in the Church, Phil. 1. I. 1 Tim. 3. 8. Whofe Office is perpetual, 1 Tim. 3. 8, to Verse 15. Acts 6. 1, 2, 3, 4. To whofe Office it belongs not to Preach the Word or Adininister the Sacraments, but to take fpecial Care in distributing to the Neceffities of the Poor, Alts 6. 1,2,3,4. and the Verfes following.

Of particular Congregations.

Tis lawful and expedient that there be fixed Congregations, that is, a certain Company of Chriftians to meet in one Affembly ordinarily for publick Worfhip, When Believers multiply to fuch a Number, that they cannot conveniently meet in one Place, it is lawful and expedient that they fhould be divided into diftin&t and fixed Congregations, for the better Administration of fuch Ordinances as belong unto them, and the Discharge of mutual Duties, 1 Cor. 14. Verfe 26. Let all Things be done unto Edifying, and Verfe 33, and 40.

The ordinary way of dividing Chriftians into distinct Congregations, and moft expedient for Edification, is by the respective Bounds of their dwellings.

First, Because they who dwell together, being bound to all kind of moral Duties one to another, have the

See 2d Book of Difcipline, Chap. 6.

better

better Opportunity thereby to discharge them; which moral Tye is perpetual, for Chrift came not to deftroy the Law, but to fulfil it, Deut. 15. 7, 11, Mat. 23. 39.

Mat. 5. 17:

Secondly, The Communion of Saints must be fo ordered, as may stand with the most convenient Use of the Ordinances, and Discharge of moral Duties, without Refpect of Perfons, 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all Things be done unto Edifying. Heb. 10, 24, 25. James 2. 1, 2.

Thirdly, The Pastor and People must so nearly cohabit together, as that they may mutually perform their Duties, each to other, with moft Conveniency.

In this Company some must be set apart to bear Office,

Fo

Of the Officers of a particular Congregation.

Or Officers is a single Congregation, there ought to be one at the least, both to labour in the Word and Doctrine, and to rule, Prov. 29. 18. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Heb. 13. 7.

It is also requifite that there fhould be others to join in Government, I Cor. 12. 28,

And likewise it is requifite that there be others to take Special Care for the Relief of the Poor, Acts 6. 2, 3. The Number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the Condition of the Congregation.

Thefe Officers are to meet together at convenient and fet Times, for the well-ordering of the Affairs of that Congregation, each according to his Office.

It is most expedient that, in these Meetings, one whofe Office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine, do moderate in their Proceedings, 1 Tim. 5. 17..

Of the Ordinances in a particular Congregation.

He Ordinances in a fingle Congregation are, Prayer, Thanksgiving, and Singing of Pfalms, 1 Tim. 2.1. 1 Cor. 14. 15, 16. The Word read (altho' there follow no immediate Explication of what is read) the Word expounded and applied, Catechifing, the Sacra

ments