9. The exceptions which are usually put in unto this testimony have not the least countenance from the text or context, or the matter treated of, nor confirmation from any other divine testimony. It is therefore in vain to contend about them, being such as any man may multiply at his pleasure on the like occasion ; and they are used by those who, on other considerations, are not willing that things should be as they are here declared to be by the apostle. Yet we may take a brief specimen of them. Some say it is gifts absolutely, without re- spect unto distinct offices, that the apostle treats of; which hath been disproved from the text and context before. Some say that rule is
128 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
included in the pastoral office, so as that the pastor only is here in- tended. But, — (1.) Rule is not his principal work, which he is to attend unto in a peculiar manner, with diligence above other parts of his duty. (2.) The care of the poor of the flock belongs also to the pastoral office, yet is there another officer appointed to attend unto it in a peculiar manner. Acts vi. 1-6. (3.) "He that ruleth" is in this place expressly distinguished from " him that exhorteth" and " him that teacheth.'" Some say that " He that ruleth" is he that ruleth his family ; but this is disproved by the analysis of tlie chap- ter before declared; and this duty, which is common unto all that have families, and confined unto their families, is ill placed among those public duties which are designed unto the edification of the whole church. It is objected that "He that ruleth" is here placed after "Him that giveth," — that is, the deacon; I say, then, it cannot be the pastor that is intended, if we may prescribe methods of expressing himself unto the apostle. But he useth his liberty, and doth not oblige himself unto any order in the annumeration of the offices of the church. See 1 Cor. xii. 8-10, 28. And some other exceptions are insisted on of the same nature aiid importance, which indeed deserve not our consideration.
10. There is the same evidence given unto the truth argued for in another testimony of the same apostle: 1 Cor. xii. 28, " God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, govern- ments, diversities of tongues." I shall not insist on this testimony and its vindication in particular, seeing many things would be re- quired thereunto which have been treated of already. Some things may be briefly observed concerning it. That there is here an an- numeration of officers and offices in the church, both extraordinary, for that season, and ordinary, for continuance, is beyond exception. Unto them is added the present exercise of some extraordinary gifts, as "miracles, healings, tongues." That by "helps" the deacons of the church are intended, most do agree, because their original insti- tution was as helpers in the affairs of the church. "Governments" are governors or rulers, the abstract for the concrete, — that is, such as are distinct from "teachers;" such hath God placed in the church, and such there ought to be. But it is said " That gifts, not offices, are in- tended,— the gift of government, or gift for government." If so, then these gifts are either ordinary or extraordinary. If ordinary, how come they to be reckoned among "miracles, healings, and tongues"? if ex- traordinary, what extraordinary gifts for government were then given distinct from those of the apostles, and what instance is anywhere given of them in the Scripture? Again: if God hath given gifts for government to abide in the church, distinct from those given unto teachers, and unto other persons than the teachers, then is there a
OF THE RULE OF THE CHURCH, OR OF RULING ELDERS. 129
distinct office of rule or government in the church ; which is all we plead for.
11. The original order of these things is plain in the Scripture. The apostles had all church-power and church-office in themselves, with authority to exercise all acts of them everywhere on all occa- sions: but considering the nature of the church, with that of the rule appointed by the Lord Christ in it or over it, they did not, they would not, ordinarily exercise their power by themselves or in their own persons alone ; and therefore, when the first church consisted of a small number, the apostles acted all things in it by the consent of the whole multitude, or the fraternity, as we have proved from Acts i. 15-26. And when the number of believers increased, so as that the apostles themselves could not in their own persons attend unto all the duties that were to be performed towards the church by virtue of office, they added, l)y the direction of the Holy Ghost, the office of the deacons, for the especial discharge of the duty which the church oweth unto its poor members. Whereas, therefore, it is evi- dent that the apostles could no more personally attend unto the rule of the church, with all that belongs thereunto, without an in- trenchraent on that labour in the word and prayer which was incum- bent on them, than they could attend unto the relief of the poor, they appointed elders to help and assist in that part of office-work, as the deacons did in the other.