3. If the labour of evangelists, or of them- who travelled up and down to preach the word, be intended, then it is so either because this is the proper signification of the word, or because it is constantly used elsewhere to express that kind of labour; but the contrary unto both of these is evident from all places wherein it is used. So is it expressly applied to fixed elders, 1 Thess. v. ] 2, " We exhort you, brethren, to know roitg Ko-TnuvTccg h h^juTv," — " them that labour among you," who are the nders and instructors.
It is therefore evident that this word expresseth no more but what is the ordinary, indispensable duty of every teaching elder, pastor, or minister; and if it be so, then those elders, — that is, pastors or teachers, — that do not perform and discharge it are not worthy of double honour, nor would the apostle give any countenance unto them who were any way remiss or negligent, in comparison of others, in the discharge of their duty. See 1 Thess. v. 12.
There are, therefpre, tiuo sorts of duties confessedly here men- tioned and commanded ; — the first is, ruling well; the other, labour- ing in the word and doctrine. Suppose that both these, ruling and teaching, are committed to one sort of persons only, having one and the same office absolutely, then are some commended who do not discharge their whole duty, at least not comparatively unto others; which is a vain imagination. That both of them are committed unto one sort of elders, and one of them only unto another, each discharg- ing its duty with respect unto its work, and so both Avorthy of honour, is the mind of the apostle.
[To] that which is objected from the following verse, namely, "That
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maintenance belongs unto this double honour, and so, consequently, that if there be elders that are employed in the work of rule only, maintenance is due unto them from the church/' I answer, It is so, no doubt, if, — 1. The church be able to make them an allow- ance; 2. If their work be such as to take up the whole or the greatest part of their industr-y; and, 3, If they stand in need of it; — without which considerations it may be dispensed withal, not only in them, but in teaching elders also.
Our next testimony is from the same apostle: Rom. xii. 6-8, " Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministry: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.''
Our argument from hence is this : There is in the church 6 -zpoy- e-d/j,svog, " one that ruleth." llpotsTrifii is ''to rule with authority by virtue of office;" whence is '?rpos<frug and 'ffpoisrdiMvog, one that pre- sides over others with authority. For the discharge of their office, there is ^dpisfjua, didpopov, a " differing peculiar gift," bestowed on some: "E^ovrsg y^apig/j,ara bid<popu, verse 6, And there is the especial manner prescribed for the discharge of this especial office, by virtue of that especial gift; h svovbri, it is to be done with peculiar "dili- gence." And this ruler is distinguished from " him that exhorteth" and "him that teacheth," with whose especial work, as such, he hath nothing to do ; even as they are distinguished from those who " give" and "show mercy;" — that is, there is an elder by office in the church, whose work and duty it is to rule, not to exhort nor teach minis- terially; which is our ruling elder.
It is answered, " That the apostle doth not treat in this place of offices, functions, or distinct officers, but of differing gifts in all the members of the church, which they are to exercise according as their different nature doth require."
Sundry things I shall return hereunto, which will both explain the context and vindicate our argument : —
1. Those with whom we have to do principally allow no exercise of spiritual gifts in the church but by virtue of office. Wherefore, a distinct exercise of them is here placed in distinct officers, one, as we shall see, being expressly distinguished from another.
2. Give such a probable enumeration of the distinct offices in the church, which they assert, namely, of archbishops, bishops, presbyters, and chancellors, etc., and we shall yield the cause.
3. Gifts alone do no more, give no other warranty nor autho- rity, but only render men meet for their exercise as they are called, and as occasion doth require. If a man hath received a gift of
124 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
teaching, but is not called to office, lie is not obliged nor warranted thereby to attend on public teaching, nor is it required of him in a way of duty, nor given in charge unto him, as here it is.
4. There is in one " rule" required " with diligence." He is 6 -xpo- '/(fTdfj^ivog, a " ruler ;" and it is required of him that he attend unto his work with diligence. And there are but two things required unto the confirmation of our thesis, — (1.) That this rule is an act of office-jjower ; (2.) That he unto whom it is ascribed is distinguished