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I. Of the Officers, Power, Duties, &c. I WILL give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.-Jer. iii. 15; xxiii. 4; John xxi. 15, 16.

Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.-Ezek. ii. 7; Levit. x. 11.

I have made thee a watchinan, &c. give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, &c. and thou givest him not warning, &c. his blood will I require at thine hand: yet if thou warn, &c.-Ezek. iii. 17-19.

They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean, &c. and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies, &c.Ezek. xliv. 23, 24: Jer. xv. 19; Levit. x. 8-10.

Their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables; wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom, &c. but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word.-Acts vi. 1-4. Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church; and when they were come to him, he said unto them, &c. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, (or bishops,) to feed the church of God, &c. I know this, that after my departing, grievous wolves shall enter in among you, &c. therefore watch, &c. and I have

shewed you all things, how that, so labouring, ye ought to support the of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is weak; and to remember the words more blessed to give than to receive. -Acts xx. 17, 18. 28-31. 35.

Let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation, &c. he that ruleth, with diligence, &c.Rom. xii. 7, 8.

It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.-1 Cor. iv. 2.

God hath set some in the church: first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, &c. helps, governments.-1 Cor. xii. 28.

He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, &c.-Eph. iv. 11–14.

To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.-Phil. i. 1.

Say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.-Col. iv. 17.

Neither give heed to fables, and endless genealogies; which minister questions, rather than godly edifying, &c. from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling. -1 Tim. i. 4. 6.

If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work: a bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife; vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, (or modest;) given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient: not a brawler, not covetous: one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity: for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? not a novice, (or one newly come to the

faith,) lest, being lifted up with pride, | had appointed thee. If any be blamehe fall into the condemnation of the less, &c. not accused of riot, or undevil. Likewise must the deacons be ruly: for a bishop must be blameless, grave, not doubled-tongued, not given as the steward of God: not selfto much wine, not greedy of filthy willed, not soon angry, not given to lucre, holding the mystery of the wine; no striker, not given to filthy faith in a pure conscience and let lucre, but a lover of hospitality, a these also first be proved, then let lover of good men, sober, just, holy, them use the office, &c. let the dea- temperate; holding fast the faithful cons be the husbands of one wife, word as he hath been taught, that ruling their children and their own he may be able by sound doctrine houses well.-1 Tim. iii. 1-13. both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.-Titus i. 5—9.

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If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister, &c. but refuse profane and old wives' fables, &c. Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, &c. give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, &c. meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly unto them, &c. take heed unto thyself and the doctrine.-1 Tim. iv. 6, 7. 11-13. 15, 16.

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren: the elder women, &c. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour; especially they that labour in the word and doctrine.-1 Tim. v. 1. 17.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust avoiding profane and vain babblings.-1 Tim. vi. 20.

I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, &c.—2 Tim. i. 6, 7.

The things that thou hast heard of me, among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also, &c. a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; but shun profane and vain babbling, &c. The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men apt to teach, patient, (or forbearing,) in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure, &c.-2 Tim. ii. 2. 15, 16. 23-25.

Ordain elders in every city, as I

Shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, &c. these things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.-Titus ii. 7, 8. 15.

Them that have the rule, &c. watch for your souls, as they that must give account.-Heb. xiii. 17.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, &c.— James v. 14.

The elders which are among you, I exhort, &c. feed the flock of God, which is among you, (or as much as in yon is;) taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords (or over-ruling) over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.1 Pet. v. 1-3.

Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence, receiveth us not.3 John 9, 10.

SECT. 2.-Complaints of, and Threatenings against evil Officers, or Ministers of the Church.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber: yea, they are greedy dogs, which can never have enough; and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain from his quarter: come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we

will fill ourselves with strong drink, | the shepherds feed the flocks? ye eat and to-morrow shall be as this day. Isa. lvi. 10-12.

the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, &c. but ye feed not the flock: the diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, &c. but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law, knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, &c. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, &c.--Ezek. xxxiv. 2-4. 8. 10. Jer. ii. 8, 9.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?Jer. v. 30, 31.

From the prophet unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely: thus they have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, &c. when, &c.-Jer. vi. 13, 14; viii. 10, 11.

The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.-Jer. x. 21.

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, &c.-Jer. xii. 10, 11. Woe be unto the pastors that destroy, and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people, Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, &c. The prophets, &c. They strengthen the hands of evil-doers, so that none doth return from his wickedness.-Jer. xxiii. 1, 2. 14.

The priests and the prophets advise to put Jeremiah to death, because he told them what God spake.-Jer. xxvi. 10, 11. 16.

Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean.-Ezek. xxii. 26.

Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves: should not

The priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, &c. therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed, &c.-Micah iii. 11, 12.

Her priests polluted the sanctuary, and have done violence to the law.Zeph. iii. 4.

Woe to the idle shepherd, that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, &c.-Zech. xi. 17.

O priests, that despise my name, &c. ye offer polluted bread unto mine altar, &c. If ye offer the blind, and the lame, is it not evil? &c.-Mal. i. 6-8.

The priests' lips should keep knowledge, &c. but ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, &c. therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before the people.-Mal. ii. 7-9.

He that is an hireling, &c. seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. John x. 12, 13.

SECT. 3.-The Churches' Duty toward their Officers, and such others who labour among them.

PROVIDE neither gold nor silver, &c. for the workman is worthy of his meat.-Matt. x. 9, 10.

They all wept sore, &c. sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more.-Acts xx. 37, 38.

If the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.-Rom. xv. 27.

Have we not power to eat and to

We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.-1 Thess. v. 12, 13.

drink? &c. or to forbear working? | acceptable, well pleasing to God.Who goeth a warfare at any time at Philip. iv. 16—19. his own charges? &c. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, &c. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? &c. Nevertheless, we have not used this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know, that they which minister about holy things, live (or feed) of the things of the temple? &c. Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1 Cor. ix. 4–15.

Know the house of Stephanas, &c. that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.-1 Cor. xvi. 15, 16.

Ye received me as an angel of God, &c. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? -Gal. iv. 14-16.

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.-Gal. vi. 6.

Praying always, &c. and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, &c.-Ephes. vi. 18, 19; 1 Thess. v. 25; 2 Thess. iii. 1, 2.

I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, &c. but your messenger, &c. Receive him therefore in the Lord, with all gladness: and hold such in reputation, (or honour such,) because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, &c.— Phil. ii. 25. 29, 30.

Ye sent once and again unto my necessity: not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account, &c. having received the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour; especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn, and the labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.-—1 Tim. v. 17-19.

Remember them which have the rule over you; who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, &c. Obey them that have the rule over you, (or guide you,) and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, &c. Pray for such, &c. Salute all them that have the rule over you.-Heb. xiii. 7. 17, 18. 24.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him.-James v. 14.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.-1 Pet. v. 5.

IV. Of the Appointment and Ordina

tion of Officers in Churches.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take Aaron and his sons with him, &c. and gather thou all the congregation together, &c. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, &c. and said unto the congregation, is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.-Levit. viii. 1, &c.

This

Thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation, and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites.-Numb. viii. 9. 11.

Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of the names together, were about an hundred and twenty,) &c. Wherefore, of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, &c. must one be ordained, to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, &c. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, &c. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.-Acts i. 15. 21.

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Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, &c. Brethren, look ye out among you seven men, of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, &c. And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen, &c. Acts vi. 2, 3. 5, 6.

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed, with fasting, they commended them to the Lord.-Acts xiv. 22,

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For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.-Titus i. 5.

TWELFTHLY. Of laying on of Hands upon the several occasions, and to the several ends in Scripture mentioned.

BRING forth him that hath cursed without the camp, and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head.-Levit. xxiv. 14.

Thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord; and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites.--Numb. viii. 10.

Moses set Joshua before Eleazar, and before all the congregation, and he laid his hands upon him, and gave

him a charge.-Numb. xxvii. 18, 19. 22, 23.

Joshua, the son of Nun, was full of the spirit of wisdom: for Moses had laid his hands upon him.— Deut. xxxiv. 9.

They chose Stephen, &c. whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.-Acts vi. 5, 6.

Peter and John prayed, and laid their hands on the disciples, and they received the Holy Ghost.-Acts viii. 14, 15. 17.

The prophets and teachers at Antioch, by the command of the Holy Ghost, separate Paul and Barnabas, &c. did pray, and fast, and lay their hands upon them.-Acts xiii. 1-3.

Paul, finding certain disciples, &c. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them.-Acts xix. 1. 6.

Paul prayed, and laid his hands on Publius's father, and healed him, being sick.-Acts xxviii. 8.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.-1 Tim. iv. 14.

Lay hands suddenly on no man: neither be partaker of other men's sins.-1 Tim. v. 22.

Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. -2 Tim. i. 6.

Not laying again the foundation of repentance, &c. and of laying on of hands.-Heb. vi. 1, 2.

THIRTEENTHLY. Of the several Or

dinances of Christ, to be observed in and by the Churches of Christ, and elsewhere.

THE earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, &c.-Isa. xxiv. 5.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, &c. And they, continuing daily with

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