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النشر الإلكتروني

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 ceafed.

Others ordinary and perpetual, as paftors, teachers, and other churchgovernors and deacons.

Paflors.

HE paftor is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the church e,
prophetying of the time of the gospel f.
First,

Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized and the fame
day there were added unto them a-
bout three thousand fouls, v. 47.
Prailing God, and having favour
with all the people; and the Lord
added to the church daily fuch as
fhould be faved. Compared with
Acts v. 14 And believers were the
more added to the Lord, multitudes
both of men and women, 1 Cor. i.
2. Unto the church of God which
is at Corinth, to them that are fanc
tified in Chrift Jefus, called to be
fants, with all that in every place,
call upon the name of Jefus Chrift
our Lord, both theirs and ours.
Compared with 2 Cor ix. 13. Whiles
by the experiment of this miniftra:
tion, they glorify God for your pro-
feffed abjection unto the gospel of
Chrift, and for your liberal diftri-
bution unto them and unto all men.
Acts i. 59 For the promile is unto
you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many
as the Lord our God fhall call
Cor. vii. 14 For the unbelieving
husband is fanctified by the wife,
and the unbelieving wife is fanctifi-
ed by the husband, elfe were your
children unclean, but now are they
holy. Rom. xi. 16. For if the first
fruit be holy, the lump is alfo ho-
ly; and if the root be holy, fo are
the branches Mark x. 14. But when
Jerus fax it, he was much displeaf-
ed, and faid unto them, Suffer the
btle children to come unto me, and

I

forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Compared with Matth. xix. 13. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hand on them and pray and the difciples rebuked them, v. 24. 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 alfo infants, that he would touch them; but when his difciples faw it, they rebuked them, v. 16. But Jefus called them unto him, and faid, 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 fhall feed you with knowledge and understanding, ver. 16. And it fhall come to pafs when ye be multiplied and increased in the land; in thofe days, faith the Lord, they fhall fay no more, the ark of the covenant of the Lord; neither fhall it come to mind, neither shall they remember it, neither fhall they vifit 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 shall they walk any more after the ima gination of their evil heart.

JI Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of

God,

Firft, It belongs to his office,

To pray with and for the flock, as the mouth of the people unto God g, Acts vi. 2, 3, 4. Acts xx. 36. Where preaching and prayer are joined as feveral parts of the fame office h. The office of the elder (that is, the paftor) is to pray for the fick, even in private, to which a bleffing is especially promiled; 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 trufted with the public reading of the word, is proved k.

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, ver. 4. And when the chief Shepherd fhall appear, ye fhall receive a crown of glory that 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 ministry, 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 stature of the fulness of Chrift.

g 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 ye out among you feven men of honeft report, full of the Holy Ghoft, and wifdom, whom we may appoint over this bufinefs, ver. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts xx. 36. and when he had thus fpo ken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

James v. 14. Is any man fick

2 That

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.

i1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then? I 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 understandeth not what thou fayeft?

k Deut. xxxi. 9. and Mofes wrote this law, and delivered it upto 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 even years, is the folemnity of the year of releafe, in the feaft of tabernacles, ver. 11. When ali Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he hall choote; thou shalt read this law before all Ifrael in their hearing, Neh. viii. 1. and all the people gathered themfelves, together as one man, into the ftreet that was before the watergate, and they fpake unto Ezra the Kk 3

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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. Mat. xxiii. 34. where our Saviour intitleth the officers of the new teftament, whom he will fend forth, by the names of the teachers of the old l.

Which propofitions prove, that therefore (the duty being of a moral pature) 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 Chrift, and is a part of preaching.

To difpenfe other divine myfteries o.
To adminifter the facrament p..

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 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 fcribe, even to understand the words of the law.

/ Ifa. 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 scribes, and fome of them ye shall kill and crucify, and fome of them fhall ye fcourge in your fynagogues, and perfecute them from city to city.

m 2 Tim. iii. 2. a bifhop then must be blameless, the hufband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. 16 All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruç.

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tion in righteoufnefs: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thronghly furnished unto all good works. Tit. i. 9. Holding fast the faithful words as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainfayers.

n Heb. v. 10. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become fuch as have need of milk, and not of ftrong meat.

• 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man fo account of us as of the minifters of Christ, and the stewards of the mysteries of God. v. 2. Moreover, it is required in ftewards, that a man be found faithful.

p Mat. 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 Ghost. v. 20. Teaching them to obferve all things whatsoever 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

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.) Ifa. Ixvi. 21. where, under the names of priests and Levites to be continued under the gospel, are meant evangelical pastors, who therefore are by office to bless the people r. To take care of the poor.

all the world and preach the gofpel unto every creature. . 16. He that believeth and is baptized fhall be faved, but he that believeth not (hall be damned, I Cor. xi. 23. For I have received 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 faid, 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 1 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?

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9 Num vi. 23. Speak unto Aaron and unto his fons, faying, On this wife ye fhall blefs the children of If rael, 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. and from Jefus Chrift who is the faithful witnefs, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of

v. 5.

And

the kings of the earth. Ifa. vi, 21. and I will alfo take of them for priests, and for Levites, faith the Lord.

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 bless 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 also they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts iv. 34. Neither was there any among you that lacked, for as many as were poffeffors of lands or houses, fold them, and brought the price of the things that were fold, 35. and laid them down at the apostle's feet, and diftribution was made unto every man according as he had need. v. 36. And Jofes, who by the apoftles was firnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, the fon of confolation) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus. v. 37. Having land, fold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles 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 honest report, full of KK 4

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And he hath alfo a ruling power over the flock as a paftor f.

Teacher or Doctor:

HE Scripture doth hold out the name and title of teacher, as

Twell as of the paftor v.

Who is also a minifter of the word as well as the paftor, and hath power of adminiftration of the facraments.

The Lord having given different gifts, and divers exercises according to thefe gifts, in the miniftry of the word w; though thefe different gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by, one and the fame

the holy Ghoft and wifdom, whom ye may appoint over this bufinefs. v. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the minitry of the word. 1 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 gathering when I come. v. 3. And when I come, whomfoever ye fhall approve by your letters, them will I fend to bring your liberality to Jerufalem, v. 4. and if it be meet that I go al. fo, they shall go with me, Gal. ii. 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who feemed to be pillars. per. ceived 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 should remember the poor, the fame which I alfo was forward to do.

1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who Jabour in the word and doctrine. Acts xx 17. and from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the churc. v. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourfelves, and

to all the flock over the which the holy Ghoft hath made you overfeers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchafed with his own blood. Theff. v. 12. and we befeech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonifh you

Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken 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 submit yourfelves, for they watch for your foals, as they that must give acconnt: that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.

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VI Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church, first apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Eph. iv. 11. and he gave fome apostles, 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 to us, whether prophecy, let us prophely according to the proportion of faith; v. 7 Or miniftry, let us wait on our minif

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