publick reading of the scriptures belongeth to the pastor's office.

To feed the fuck, by preaching of the word, according to which he is to teach, convince, reprove, exhort, and comfort m.

To catechise, which is a plain laying down the first principles of the oracles of God, or of the doctrine of Christ, and is a part of preaching.

To dispense other divine mysteries.
To administer the sacraments P.

To bless the people from God, Numb. vi. 23, 24, 25, 26. Compared with Rev. xiv. 5. (where the same blessings, and persons from whom they come', are expressly mentioned 9.)

m 1 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must believeth and is baptized shall be sabe blameless, the husband of one wife, ved; but he that believeth not shall be viguant, sober, of good behaviour, giv- damned. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have reen to hospitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. ceived of the Lord that which also I iü. 16. Al seripture is given by inspi- delivered unto you, That the Lord Jeration of God, and is profitable for doc- sus, the same night in which he was trine, for reproof, for correction, for in- betrayed, took bread. Ver. 24. And, struction in righteousness: Ver. 17. when he had given thanks, he brake it, Thut the man of God may be perfect, and said, Toke, eat; this is my body, thoroughly furnished unto all good which is broken for you: this do in reworks. Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faith- membrance of me. Ver. 25. After the ful word, as he hath been taught, that same manner also he took the cup, he may be able, by sound doctrine, bothi when he had supped, saying, This cup to exhort and to convince the gain is the new testament in my blood : this savers.

do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in rememin Heb. v. 12. For when for the time brance of me. Compared with 1 Cor. x. ye ought to be teachers, ye have need 26. The cup of blessing which we bless, that one teach you again which be the is it not the communion of the blood of first principles of the dracles of God; Christ? the bread which we break, is it and are become such as have need of not the communion of the body of mílk, and not of strong meat:

Christ? o 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man sn account q Numb. vi. 23. Speak unto Aaron, of us as of the ministers of Christ, and and unto his sons, saying, On this wise stewards of the mysteries of God. Ver. ye shall bless the children of Israel, 2. Moreover, it is required in stewards saying unto them, Ver. 24. The Lord that a. man be found faithfuil.... bless thee, and keep thee. Ver. 25. The

Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, Lord make his face to shine upon thee and teach all nations, baptizing them Ver. 26. The Lord lift up his countein the name of the Father, and of the nance upon thee, and give thee peace. Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Ver. 20. Compared with Rev. 1. 4. John to the Teaching them to observe all things seven churches which are in Asia : whatsoever I have commanded you: Grace be unto you, and peace, from and, bo, I am with your alway, even unto him which is, and which was, and the end of the world. Amen. Mark which is to come; and from the seven xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye Spirits which are before his throne: into all the world, and preach the gos. Ver. 5. And hom Jesus Christ, who is ped to every creature. Ver. 16. He that the faithful witness, and the first-be

1

Isa. lxvi. 21. where, under the names of priests and Levites to be continued under the gospel, are meant evangelical pas. tors, who therefore are by office to bless the people". - To take care of the poor

And he hath also a ruling power over the flock as a pastor, gotten of the dead, and the Prince of churches of Galatia, even so do ye. the kings of the earth. Isa. Ixvi. 21. Ver. 2. Upon the first day of the week, And I will also take of them for priests, let every one of you lay by him in store, and for Levites, saith the Lord. q as God hath prospered him, that there

Deut. x. 8. At that time the Lord be no gatherings when I come. Ver. 3. separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the And when I come, whomsoever ye shall ark of the covenant of the Lord, to approve by your letters, them will I stand before the Lord to minister unto: send to bring your liberality unto JeruHim, and to bless in his name, unto this salem. Ver. 4. And if it be meet that day. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the I go also, they shall go with me. Gal. Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, ii. 9. And when James, Cephas, and and the communion of the Holy Ghost, John, who seemed to be pillars, perbo with you all. Amen. Eph. i. 2. Grace ceived the grace that was given unto ble to you, and peace, from God our Fa. me, they gave to me and Barnabas the ther, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. right hands of fellowship; that we

8 Acts xi. 30. Which also they did, should go unto the heathen, and they and sent it to the elders by the hands unto the circumcision. Ver. 10. Only of Barnabas and Saul. Acts iv. 34. Nei- they would that we should remember ther was there any among them that the poor; the same which I also was Packed: for as many as were possessors forward to do. of lands or houses, sold them, and t 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that brought the prices of the things that rule well be counted worthy of double were sold, Ver. 35. And laid them down honour, especially they who labour in at the apostles' feet; and distribution the word and doctrine. Acts xx. 17. was made unto every man according as And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, He had need. Ver. 36. And Joses, who and called the elders of the church. Dy the apostles was surnamed Barna- Ver.28. Take heed therefore unto yourbas, (which is, being interpreted, The selves, and to all the flock prer the

son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the which the Holy Ghost hath made you : country of Cyprus, Ver. 37. Having overseers, to feed the church of God, land, sold it, and brought the money, which he hath purchased with his own and laid it at the apostles' feet. Aets blood. 1 Thess. v, 12. And we beseech vi. 2. Then the twelve called the mul- you, brethren, to know them whịch la. titude of the disciples unto them, and bour among you, and are over you in said, It is not reason that we should the Lord, and admonish you. Heb. xiii

. leave the word of God, and serve ta- 7. Remember them which have the rule Bles. Ver. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look over you, who have spoken unto you ye out among you seven men of honest the word of God; whose faith follow, report, full of the Holy Ghost and wis. considering the end of their conversadom, whom we may appoint over this tion. Ver. 17. Obey them that have the business. Ver. 4. But we will give our rule over you, and submit yourselves: selves continually to prayer, and to the for they watch for your souls, as they ininistry of the word. 1 Cor. xvi. 1. that must give account: that they may Now concerning the collection for the do it with joy, and not with grief; for Saints, as I bave given order to the that is unprofitable for you,

Teacher or Doctor.

X

TE
THE scripture doth hold out the name and title of teach-

er, as well as of the pastor *.
Who is also a minister of the word, as well as the pastor,
and hath power of administration of the sacraments.

The Lord having given different gifts, and divers exercises according to these gifts, in the ministry of the word "; though these different gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by, one and the same minister * ; yet, where be several ministers in the same congregation, they may be designed to several employments, according to the different gifts in which each of them doth most excel 3. And he that doth more excel in exposition of scriptures, in teaching sound doctrine, and in convincing gainsavers, than he doth in application, and is accordingly employed therein, may be called a teacher, or doctor, (the places alleged by the notation of the word do prove the proposition.) Nevertheless, where is but one minister in a particular congregation, he

u 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set but it is the same God which worketh some in the church ; first, apostles; se- all in all. Ver. 7. But the manifestation condarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; of the Spirit is given to every man to after that miracles; then gifts of heal- profit withal. ings, helps, governments, diversities of * 1 Cor. xiv. 3. But he that prophe.

tongues. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some sieth, speaketh unto men to edification, apostles, and some prophets, and some and exhortation, and comfort. 2 Tim. evangelists, and some pastors and iv. 2. Preach the word, be instant in teachers,

season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, 70 Rom. xii. 6. Having then gifts, exhort, with all long-suffering and docdiffering according to the grace that is trine. Tit

. i: 9. Holding fast the faithgiven to us, wliether prophecy, let us ful word, as he hath been taught, that prophesy according to the proportion he may be able by sound doctrine both of faith; Ver. 7. Or ministry, let us to exhort and to convince the gain. wait on our ministering; or he that sayers. teacheth, on teaching ; Ver. 8. Or he y (See in letter w immediately precethat exhorteth, on exhortation : he that ding.) 1 Pet. iv. 10. As every man hath giveth, let him do it with simplicity; received the gift, even so minister the he that ruleth, with diligence; he that same one to another, as good stewards sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 1 of the manifold grace of God. Ver. 11. Cor. xii. 1. Now concerning spiritual If any man speak, let him speak as the gifts, brethren, I would not have you oracles of God; if any man minister, ignorant. Ver. 4. Now there are diver- let him do it as of the ability which sities of gifts, but the same Spirit Ver. God giveth : that God in all things 5. And there are differences of admi- may be glorified through Jesus Christ; nistrations, but the same Lord. Ver. 6. to whom be praise and dominion for And there are diversities of operations, ever and evet. Amen. ,

is to perform, so far as he is able, the whole work of the ministry?

A teacher, or doctor, is of most excellent use in schools and universities, as of old in the schools of the prophets, and at Jerusalem, where Gamaliel and others taught as doctors.

Other Church-Governors.

A

S there were in the Jewish church elders of the people

joined with the priests and Levites in the government of the church; so Christ, who hath instituted government, and governors ecclesiastical in the church, hath furnished some in his church, beside the ministers of the word, with gifts for government, and with commission to execute the same when called thereunto, who are to join with the minister in the government of the church. Which officers reformed churches commonly call Elders.

Deacons.

Tlf the church.

HE scripture doth hold our deacons as distinct officers in

.

:

[2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be in- dwell in their cities, between blood and stant in season, out of season ; reprove, blood, between law; and commandsebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering ment, and statutes and judgments, ye and doctrine. Tit. i. 9. Holding fast shall even warn them, that they tres. the faithful word, as he hath been pass not against the Lord, and so wrath taught, that he may be able by sound come upon you, and upon your breth. doctrine both to exhortand to convince ren: this do, and ye shall not trespass, the gainsayers. 1 Tym. vi. 2. And they & Rom. xii. 7. Or ministry, lei us that have believing masters, let them wait on our ministering; or he that not despise them, because they are teacheth, on teaching; Ver. 8. Oi he brethren: but rather do them service, that exhorteth, on exhortation : he because they are faithful and beloved, that giveth, let him do it with simplipartakers of the benefit. These things city; he that ruleth, with diligence ; teach and exhoit.

he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfula 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Je- ness. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set Tusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Le- some in the church; first, apostles; wites, and of the priests, and of the chief secondarily, prophets ; thirdly, teach. of the fathers of Israel, for the judge ers; after that miracles; then gifts of sent of the Lord, und for controvere healing, helps, governments, diversisies, when they returned to Jerusalem. ties of tongues. Ver. 9. And he charged them, saying, c Phil. i. 1. Paul'and Timotheus, the Thus shall ye do in the fear of the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect saints in Christ Jesus which are at heart. Ver. 10. And what cause soever Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

All come to youof your brethren that 1 Tim. ii. 8. Likewise must the deas

i

Whose office is perpetual d. To whose office it belongs pot to preach the word, or administer the sacraments, but to take special care in distributing to the necessities of the poore

IT

Of particular Congregations. T is lawful and expedient that there be fixed congrega

tions, that is, a certain company of Christians to meet in one assembly ordinarily for publick worship. When' believers multiply to such a number, that they cannot conveniently meet in one place, it is lawful and expedient that they should be divided into distinct and fixed congregations, for the better administration of such ordinances as belong unto them, and the discharge of mutual duties

The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct congregations, and most 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 better opportunity thereby to discharge them ; which moral tie is perpetual; for Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it 6.

Secondly, The communion of saints must be so ordered, as may stand with the most convenient use of the ordicons be grave, not double tongued, not selves continually to prayer, and to the given to much wine, inot g.eedy of fil- ministry of the word. iby lucre.

e Acts vi. 1-4. [See before in letd 1 Tim. iii. 8. Likewise must the ter d.] deacons be grave, not double-tongued, f 1 Cor. xiv. 26.-Let all things be not given to much wine, not greedy of done to edifying. Ver. 33. For God is filtay lucre. (See in the Bible to Ver. not the author of confusion, but of 15.) Acts vi. 1. And in those days, peace, as in all churches of the saints. when the number of the disciples was Ver. 40. Let all things be done decent. multiplied, there arose amurmuring of ly, and in order. the Grecians against the Hebrews, be- go Dent. xv. 7. If there be among you cause their widows were neglected in a poor manof one of thy brethren withthe daily ministration. Ver. 2. Then in any of thy gates, in the land which the iwelve called the multitude of the the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou disciples into them, and said, It is not shalt not hirden thy heart, nor shut reason hat we should leave the word thine hand, from thy popr brother. Ver. of God, and serve tables. Ver. 3. 11. For the poor shall never cease outWherefore, brethren, look ye out a

of the land : therefore I command then mong you seven men of honest report, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, wide unto thy brother, to thy poor and whom we may appoint over this busi- to thy needy' in thy lund. Matt. xxii. Dess. Ver. 4. But we will give our. 39. And the second is like unto it, The