CHURCH POLITY OR RULE, WITH THE DUTY OF ELDERS. 1 41
disposed according to their advice, with that of the teachers of the church, Acts xi. 80.
(8.) It is also their duty, according to the advantage which they have, by their pecuhar inspection of all the members of the church, their ways and their walking, to acquaint the pastors, or teaching- elders of the church, with the state of the flock ; which may be of sin- gular use unto them for their direction in the present work of the ministry. He Avho makes it not his business to know the state of the church which he ministers unto in the word and doctrine, as to their knowledge, their judgment and understanding, their tempta- tions and occasions, and applies not himself in his ministry to search out what is necessary and useful unto their edification, he fights un- certainly in his Avhole work, as a man beating the air. But whereas their obligation to attend unto the word and prayer confines them much unto a retirement for the greatest part of their time, they can- not by themselves obtain that acquaintance with the whole flock but that others may greatly assist therein from their daily inspection, converse, and observation.
(9.) And it is their duty to meet and consult ivith the teaching- elders about such things of importance as are to be proposed in and unto the church, for its consent and compliance. Hence nothing crude or indigested, nothing unsuited to the sense and duty of the church, will at any time be proposed therein, so as to give occasion unto contests or janglings, disputes contrary unto order or decency, but all things may be preserved in a due regard unto the gravity and authority of the rulers.
(10.) To take care of the due liberties of the church, that they be not imposed on by any Diotrephes, in office or without it.
(11.) It is incumbent on them, in times of difficulties and perse- cution, to consult together with the other elders concerning all those things which concern the present duty of the church from time to time, and their preservation from violence, according unto the will of Christ.
(12.) Whereas there may be, and ofttimes is, but one teaching- elder, pastor, or teacher in a church, vipon his death or removal it is the work and duty of these elders to preserve the church in peace and tinity, to take care of the continuation of its assemblies, to prevent irregularities in any persons or parties among them, and to go before, to direct and guide the church in the call and choice of some other meet person or persons in the room of the deceased or removed.
These few instances have I given of the work and duty of ruling- elders. They are all of them such as deserve a greater enlargement in their declaration and confirmation than I can here afford unto them, and simdry things of the like nature, especially with respect unto communion with other churches and synods; but Avhat hath
142 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
been spoken is sufficient unto my present purpose. And to manifest that it is so, I shall add the ensuing observations: —
1. All the things insisted on do undoubtedly and unquestionably belong unto the rule and order appointed by Christ in his church. There is no one of them that is liable unto any just exception from them by whom all church-order is despised. Wherefore, where there is a defect in them, or any of them, the church itself is defective as unto its own edification ; and where this defect is great in many of them, there can be no beauty, no glory, no order in any church, but only an outward show and appearance of them. And that all these things do belong unto the duty of these elders, there needs no other proof or confirmation but that they all undoubtedly and unquestion- ably belong unto that rule and order which the Lord Christ hath appointed in his church, and which the Scripture testifieth unto both in general and particular ; for all the things which belong unto the rule of the church are committed to the care of the rulers of the church.
2. It is a vain apprehension, to suppose that one or two teaching officers in a church, who are obliged to "give themselves unto the word and prayer," to "labour" with all their might "in the word and doc- trine," to "preach in season and out of season," — that is, at all times, on all opportunities, as they are able, — to convince gainsayers, by word and writing pleading for the truth, to assist and guide the con- sciences of all under their temptations and desertions, with sundry other duties, in part spoken to before, should be able to take care of, and attend with diligence unto, those things that do evidently belong unto the rule of the church. And hence it is that churches at this day do live on the preaching of the word, the proper work of their pas- tors, which they greatly value, and are very little sensible of the wis- dom, goodness, love, and care of Christ, in the institution of this rule in the church, nor are partakers of the benefits of it unto their edification. And the supply which many have had hitherto herein, by persons either unacquainted with their duty, or insensible of their own authority, or cold, if not negligent, in their work, doth not an- swer the end of their institution. And hence it is that the authority of government and the benefit of it are ready to be lost in most churches. And it is both vainly and presumptuously pleaded, to give countenance unto a neglect of their order, that some churches do walk in love and peace, and are edified without it, supplying some defects by the prudent aid of some members of them ; for it is nothing but a preference of our own wisdom unto the wisdom and authority of Christ, or at best an unwillingness to make a venture on the warranty of his rule, for fear of some disadvantages that may ensue thereon.