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A42358 A treatise of ruling elders and deacons In which, these things which belong to the understanding of their office and duty, are clearly and shortly set down. By a Minister of the Church of Scotland. Guthrie, James, 1612?-1661. 1690 (1690) Wing G2265A; ESTC R215845 24,270 96

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of the Knowledge Gifts Experience Prudence and Gravity wherewith they ought to be indued The Officers in the House of God who in the Scriptures are called by the name of Elders are of severall soits Preaching Elders or Ministers Teaching Elders or Doctors and Ruling or Governing Elders all these three are often times in the N. T. comprized under the general name of Elder Act. 15 6 22. 20. 17. 1. Pet. 5 It is the Ruling Elder whom we have now to do with who is so called not because the power of ruling and governing the Church belongs to him alone for it also belongs to the Preaching ●nd Teaching Elders or to the Ministers and Doctors But because to rule and govern is the principal and chief part of his Charge and Imployment it is the highest Act of his Office It is not competent for him to Preach that belongs to the Pastor or Minister nor to teach that belongs to the Doctor but his Office is comprized within the compasse of Ruling and Governing the Church and therefore he is called the Governing or Ruling Elder The Apostle in the Epistle to the Rom ch 1● 8. calleth him him that ruleth and 1 Cor. 12. 28 he calls them Governments putting the abstract for the concret Governments for Governours Thus then we have the proper or right name of these Church Officers which serves to correct a twofold mistake The 1. is of these who either out of ignorance or disdain do call them Lay-Elders as if they were a part of the People only and not to be reckoned amongst the Officers of the Lords House whom the Popish Church in their pride and others following them calls the Clergy that is the Lords Inheritance in opposition to the Laity or People whom they look upon as base and much inferior to the other in worth and Excellency whereas all the Lords People are his portion and the lot of his in heritance Deut. 32. 9. 1. Pet. 5. 3. The second mistake is of these who do call these only Ruling-Elders who sit in Presbyteries Synods and General Assemblies allowing to others the name of Elders but not of Ruling-Elders But every Elder in the Lords House is a Ruling-Elder because the power and exercise of rule and Government belongs to every Elder though some of them upon speciall occasions be called to a more eminent Exercise of it than others CHAP. II. Of the Institution of Ruling-Elders THE Institution of the Office of Ruling Elder is divine it is not an ordinance of man but of God The Lord Jesus upon whose shoulder the Government is and who is faithfull in all his House hath in his Eternal Wisdom thought fit to appoint such an Officer in his House for the right and orderly Governing thereof It is true that by the sloth or rather by the pride of Teachers whilest they alone would seem to be somewhat and by the policy of Satan and inadvertance of the Church these Officers were for many Ages together out of use in the Christian Church But certain it is that both the Jewish Synagogue and after the Christian Church had Seniores or Elders without whose counsel nothing was done in the Church That the Jewish Church had such appears from 2 Chro. 19. 8. Jer. 29. 1. Mat. 16 21 22 23 26 57 59. Act. 4. 5. And that the Christian Church also had them in the primitive purest times thereof appears from the testimony of ancient Writers as may be found by these who will take pains to search into these things But we have a more sure word for the Divine Institution of Elders in the Christian Church then any testimony of man to wit the Testimony of God in the Scriptures of the New Testament The first place of Scripture is Rom. 12. 6 7 8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith or Ministery let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that gives let him do it wih simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulnesse In which Text the Apostle doth first comprehend all the severall kindes of ordinary standing Officers in the Church of God under two general Heads to wit Prophecie whereby is meaned the ordinary facultie of right understanding and expounding the Scriptures and Ministery under which is comprehended all other Church-Officers and Imployments To each of these the Apostle addeth their generall duties to wit that he who prophesieth should do it according to the proportion of faith h. e. according to the measure of the measure of knowledge of the word of faith that he hath received of God And he that ministers let him wait on his ministring h. e. let him not do it negligently or slothfully but faithfully and diligently Then he sub-divides these two Generalls into the speciall Offices contained under them He divides him that prophesieth into him that teacheth and him that exhorteth or into the Doctor to whom the word of teaching or Instruction belongs and the Pastor to whom the Word of Exhortation is competent Under him that ministereth he comprehends first him that giveth by whom is meant the Deacon who is appointed for the supply of the poor Secondly him that ruleth by whom can be meant no other then the Ruling Elder seeing an ordinary ruling Officer in the Church who is different from the Pastor and Teacher is here spoken of by the Apostle The second place of Scripture that proves the Office of Ruling Elders is 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers afterward miracles then gifts of healing helps governments kinds of tongues Some of the Bibles of the late English Translation read helps in governments but cross to the Text in the first Language that bears helps governments as two distinct things and therefore in other Editions of that Translation this is helped In this Text the Apostle reckons several Officers of the Church some extraordinary which were to continue but for a season such as Apostles Prophets Powers or Miracles gifts of healing kinds of tongues Some Ordinary which were to continue in the Church to the end of the World and these are Teachers or the ordinary Church Officers who are exercised in the Word Helps h. e. the Deacons who are appointed for the help and relief of the poor and governments h. e. the Governing and Ruling Elders for it is clear from the words that the Apostle by Governments doth mean a Church-Officer whom God hath set in his Church for Ruling and Governing thereof now this cannot be any other of the Church-Officers for these he hath named besides and therefore it remains that it is the Ruling Elder The third place of Scripture is 1Tim 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour specially they that
labour in the word and doctrine Which Text doth hold forth and distinguish two sorts of Elders in the Church to whom the Lord Jesus hath committed the power of Ruling One sort who do also labour in the Word and Doctrine to wit Pastors and Teachers Another sort who do only Rule and doing it well are accounted worthy of double honour and these are the Ruling Elders of whom we speak From this that the Office of the Ruling Elder is of Divine Institution we gather these conclusions First that it is not a thing arbitrary and indifferent for such to wait upon their charge yea or not as they please or as their attendance may contribute for their own or their friends particular which is the custom of too too many Elders but that they are bound in conscience diligently to attend and follow the duties thereof whether they be such as they ought to the several Members of the Congregation or the keeping of Session or Presbytery and other Assemblies of the Church when they are called and desired thereto Secondly that Elders ought to do their Office not formally and hypocritically for the fashion only but sincerely and honestly as in the sight of God by whom they are called unto this holy Calling and to whom they must render an accompt of their discharge of this great trust Thirdly they ought not to domineer over their fellow Brethren and Elders but carry themselves humbly and serviceably as these who are appointed of the Lord Jesus for ministring unto and edifying of his Body the Church Fourthly that they ought to carry themselves with that authority holiness gravity and prudence that becomes these who are called of God to bear Rule in his House Fifthly that Elders once lawfully called to the Office and having gifts from God meet to exexcise the same unless they be removed therefrom because of miscarriages are still Elders thogh happily in Congregations where many qualified men may be found some may be permitted for a time to surcease from the exercise of the charge and others be put in their room as was among the Levites under the Law in serving in the Temple by courses Sixthly that people ought to obey such as these who have the rule over them and to submit themselves because they wait for their souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief Heb. 13. 17. Yea they would know them as these who are over them in the Lord and do admonish them and esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes. 5. 12 13. CHAP. III. Of the Vocation or Calling of Ruling Elders AS no man is to intrude in any imployment without a lawful Calling so much less ought any man to intrude himself without a Calling into any sacred Function in the House of God Heb. 5. 4. Therefore before any take upon him to exercise the Office of Ruling Elder he ought to be lawfully called thereunto This Calling is inward or outward the inward Calling is the Testimony of a good Conscience concerning some measure of ability and gifts for the Charge and a sincere and honest inclination and purpose to imploy these gifts for the honour of God the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the good of souls The outward Calling is to be after the same manner with that of other Church-officers and it stands in their Election and in the tryal of their carriage gifts and admission to the Charge The Election is to be made by the Congregation wherein they are to bear charge Acts 6. 3. 5 and 14. 23. That it may be gone about in the more orderly way it is fit that a nomination be made by the Minister and Eldership of the Congregation of the persons fittest and best qualified for the imployment and that the names of the persons nominated by them be publickly intimated to the Congregation and they desired in case of their not being satisfied as having exception or knowing others better qualified to represent the same to the Minister and Eldership If there be no Eldership in the Congregation a nomination may be made either by the Presbytery or by the most judicious and godly Members of the Congregation particularly Masters of Families together with the Minister or one or more Ministers of the Presbytery in case of the Congregations want of a Minister The trial is to be by the Minister and Eldership of the Congregation or in case of the want of these by the Presbytery And they are to be tryed both in regard of their conversation that it be blameless and holy and also in regard of their knowledge and experience in the things of God and of the Affairs of his House and of their ability and prudence for Government It is true that the trial of Elders in their knowledge and gifts required for their Charge hath not been much in use in this Church It being taken for granted that conscience would be made of making choise of such as had knowledge and were able and fit or that if any ignorant or not able and sitted were nominat that some of the Congregation upon the intimation of their names would except against them but by this means it hath come to pass that many ignorant and unqualified men have been admitted Elders in many Congregations to the great detriment of Religion and no small reproach of our Church The Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 10. speaking of Deacons which is the lowest rank of the Officers of the Church requires that these also first be proved then let them use the Office of a Deacon being found blameless And the same reasons and grounds that plead for the tryal of a Minister pleads also for the tryal of Elders in a way suitable to the qualifications required in them Their Admission is to be by the Minister of the Congregation or one appointed by the Presbytery in the presence of the whole Congregation with the Preaching of the Word concerning their duty and with Prayer and Humiliation concerning the spirit of their Calling to be poured out upon them and that the pleasure of the Lord may prosper in their hands At which time they are solemnly to engage themselves before the Lord to be faithful and diligent and watchful over the flock committed to their charge and in all the duties of that holy and honourable imployment and the People are also to engage themselves to obey them and to submit themselves to them in the Lord and to honour them and highly to esteem them in love for their works sake CHAP. IV. Of the Duties of a Ruling Elder THe Duties of a Ruling Elder be of two sorts some that are personal and relate to his conversation as a Christian others that are Official and relate to his Ruling as an Office-bearer in the House of God His personal qualifications or the duties of his conversation are the same with these which the
A TREATISE OF RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS In which these things which belong to the understanding of their Office and Duty are clearly and shortly set down By a Minister of the Church of SCOTLAND 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour Tim. 3. ●3 They that have used the office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus EDINBURGH Re-Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to their most Excellent Majesties Anno DOM. 1690. The Preface THe LORD whose fire is in Zion and whosefurnace is in Jerusalem hath in depths of his wisdom spoken by terrible things in righteousness against this Nation he hath brought us down wonderfully and hath made our breach wide as the Sea who can heal us our bruise is incurable and our wound is grievous for the Lord hath wounded us with the wound of an Enemy with the chastisement of a cruel one because our sins were encreased he hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of us which causeth us to erre in every work as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit and we eat every man the flesh of his own arm for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still the yoke of our transgressions is bound by his hand they are wreathed and come up upon our neck and in the day of our calamity he hath covered us with a cloud in his anger that like blind men in the dark we grope for the wall and cannot find either our sin or our duty some cry that there be many of our Prophets who have not discovered our iniquity to turn away our captivity others complain that not a few of them have seen for us false burdens and causes of banishment what shall we do whilst it 's thus with us surely it is meet to be said unto God shew me why thou contendest with me I have born Chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more untill the Lord shall reveal it unto us and make us wise in heart to understand this and speak to us that we may declare it for what the Land mourns It is fit that in the things of the Lord's controversie and of our duty whereto we have already attained we walk by the same rule and minde the same things I do suppose that all of us are of one minde in this that our corrupt mixture in Church members and Church-officers are one main cause why so much wrath is gone forth from the Lord against us and doth abide upon us The Lord's design upon Scotland for a long time past seems to have been to purge his house and as to have his ordinances pure so to have his people and his Officers also pure I mean not of a higher pitch than the doctrine and policie of our Church doth reach because I fear not to say it the measuring line of the Sanctuary hath been stretched over these ●o give unto them due Scripture dimensions concerning the qualification of Church members and Church Officers If in these things our practice were agreeable to our rule we needed not be ashamed but might speak with our Enemies in the gate and answer him that reproacheth us our sin is that being weighed in our own ballance we are found too light how many Church-members are there in Scotland whom our Church discipline if conscientiously weilded would cut off as rotten How many Church-Officers whom that disciplin would cast out as unsavory salt we have rejoyced in our pride and been haughty because of the Lord 's holy mountain but have not so zealously cared that holiness to the Lord might be engraven in all the pots of his house We have boasted of a Reformation of the Ordinances without seeking as really to reform Church-Officers and Church-Members according to the Pattern thereof Pure Ordinances are indeed things precious and excellent and what soul among us that hath any measure of the true Zeal of the Lords house can behold the defacing of these and not make it the matter of their lamentation yet these are but means subordinate to a more high and super-excellent end to wit that we may thereby be brought with open face to behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord and be changed unto the same Image from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord that we may all come unto the unity of the faith unto the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. It is true that all the Members of the Church visible will not be living and lively stones in the Lords temple neither doth the rule of Church-constitution hold out or cast out all who are not really such but this is the great scope that all of us ought to levell at that all the Lords people may be holy that all who profess faith in Iesus Christ may walk as becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And how shall this be attained unless these who bears the Vessels of the Lord and to whom the charge of holy things be committed be holy the sons of Levi must be purified and purged as gold and as silver before they offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness when that is done then are the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem pleasant unto the Lord. I acknowledge that we were once upon a fair way for purging the House of God in this Land they who interrupted us shall bear their burden but what was done in this thing was not more refreshing to gracious hearts than it was sorely repined at and opposed by others a sin that provoked the Lord to stop the current of so rich a mercy therefore do many now make haste again to intrude themselves upon the Cangregations whence they were once justly cast out and not a few amongst the People love to have it so as though there were a conspiracy to return to Egypt and to build again the walls of Jericho and repair the ruines of Edom. I do also acknowledge it with thank fulness unto the great Shepherd of Souls that there is a great company of gracious men amongst the Officers of his Church who walk in the ways of the Lord and keep his charge but there be also many that neither do so nor know how to do it To say nothing of Ministers It is more than manifest that there is a generation of ignorant slothfull earthly minded men who bear the name of Elders and Deacons in many Congregations and where such bear rule what can be expected but that the People should perish for want of knowledge and holiness be despised and ly in the dust and Congregations still abide
in to swarthy a temper If we might find grace in the Lords sight to be throughly convinced of this great Church-evil whence many Church evils flow and be brought with some measure of sincerity to endeavour the remedy thereof what a branch of hope might it be that our reproach should be taken away and we become a People instructed in the way of the Lord and walking to the Praise and Commendation of the Gospel which is now evil spoken of because of the ignorance and loose conversation of many among us Therefore am I bold as pressed in spirit albeit one of the weakest and most unworthy to offer this little Treatise with an eye upon this end And let me without offence beseech all the Ministers Elders Deacons Congregations Presbyteries and Assemblies of this Church in the bowels of the Lord Iesus Christ yea let me ob●est them by the blood of the everlasting Covenant by their Zeal of the Lord's honour by the credite of the Gospel by their love to souls and by the sury of the Lord which he hath caused to rest upon us because he purged us and we would not be purged and as they desire the Lord should bring us again and cause us stand before him and leave us a remnant and give us a nail in his holy place that they would each of them in their stations endeavour to take forth the precious from the vile and purge the Lord's house in this Land from corrupt Officers and corrupt members Oh will we not be made clean When will it once be To the CHRISTIAN READER THe inducements that perswaded me first to write and then to publish this little Treatise of Ruling Elders and Deacons were chiefly these 1. The sensible Impression that the Lord hath made upon my Spirit as also I know upon the spirits of the godly of the Land of the great prejudice that comes to this poor Church by a multitude of men in these offices who neither know their duty nor make conscience to perform it 2. The vindicating the Doctrine of our Church concerning these Church-Offi●ers that the mouths of such who speak evil may be stopped and others who stumble may be satisfied 3. The pressing desire of Brethren Ministers and Elders in the Presbytery and Congregation where the Lord hath set me all which did receive some spirit and life when I found my Name among those to whom the Gen. Assembly of this Church did commit and recommend this work long ago I have endeavoured to handle it with as much plainness and evidence of Truth and as shortly without wronging of the matter as I could It is not unlike that some may think that I have done no great business because I have brought no new thing I acknowledge that it is so what I have said is for the matter I trust and in many things for the words too the Doctrine of the Scriptures and of Protestant Divines and of our Church in the Act s and Policy thereof I have but put together in one and digested into some Method what was lying scattered of before that these who either could not or would not be at the pains to search for such things may now have them at their hand Others may look upon this Treatise as not plain enough or as not so exact full and perfect as it ought to be with these I shall not contend I have done what I could at least what I conceived best in order to the ends I propounded to my self If others shall find favour of the Lord to do better I shall blesse his Name on their behalf and receive and make use of their pains with thankfulness And some may happily think that there is here too much laid upon Ruling-Elders more nor they shall be able or willing to undertake yea more than the Lord doth require of them most of the things that are mentioned by us being incumbent to Ministers rather than to Elders It is true what is said of the Elders duty is also the duty of Ministers for what soever the Elder ought to do by vertue of his Calling that also ought the Minister to do and somewhat more but so far as we know nothing is spoken here of the Elder that doth not belong to him if through ignorance or want of abilitie or neglect or custome Elders have not done these things it is that which ought to be helped it is now high time for them to awake and to know and owne and follow their duty and for the Church of God in Scotland to know how much she hath smarted under the hands of ignorant and slothful yea and scandalous men we would not alwayes satisfie our selves with disguised and histrionical men puffed up with Titles or with Idols dead in sins to be Elders but would seek after holy men who being endued with faith in God and walking in his obedience God authorizing them and the Church his Spouse choosing them and calling them undertake the Government thereof that they may labour to the conservation and Edification of the same in Christ Neither needs the qualification or multitude or difficulties of the particulars here spoken of discourage or scarr any It is not so much the measure as the truth of the thing that is to be looked at We have set down what a Ruling Elder ought to be in regard of the whole extent of his Charge sundry particulars whereof the most part of Ruling Elders are seldom called to exercise and if they be in some measure fitted for these parts of the charge which God calls them to exercise and follow the same with singleness of heart they may believe that they shall be assisted and accepted of God in Iesus Christ the Imployment is not theirs but the Lords from whom they may expect both their furniture and also their reward let them arise and be doing and the Lord shall be with them A Short TREATISE OF Ruling Elders CHAP. I. Of their Names WHat is necessary to be understood concerning Ruling Elders may be taken up in the explication of these four 1. Their name 2. Their institution 3. Their Calling 4. Their Qualification and Duty The word Elder in the Scripture doth signifie divers things 1. It signifieth old men or men come to age 1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke not an-Elder but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren 2. It signifies those who have lived in the times of old Mat. 15. 2. Why do thy Disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders 3. It is taken for honourable and worthy men Isa. 3. 2. The Lord of Hosts doth take away from Jerusalem and Judah the Prudent and the Ancient 4. It is the name of a Spiritual Officer in the house of God Acts 14. 23. And when they had ordained them Elders in every city In this last signification it is taken in this place for these who bear Rule in the House of God who are called Elders because
Publick and open then is the offender without such previous admonition to be dilated to the Session that according to the Apostles Rule 1 Tim. 5 20. They that sin meaning openly may be rebuked before all that others may fear 6. In these dilations they are to take heed that they do not upon every rumor or jealousie or suspition bring men to be questioned Publickly as scandalous walkers but first to be carefull to make diligent and prudent enquiry about the truth of the matter and to see if it can be proven by Witnesses or that the scandall thereof be common and flagrant or attended with pregnant likely-hoods and presumptions of truth before they bring it in publick that so it may appear to the Congregation and to the party themselves that they are not questioned and challenged without cause 7. In the matter of dilation and censure they are in the fear of God and in the simplicity and sincerity of of their hearts to take heed that fear or favour or solistations or threatnings or gifts or bribes make them not passe by or wink at the fault of any and that passion or malice or privat quarrels and particulars make them not to dilate or rip up or censure the miscarriage of any and that they carry with all tendernesse and compassion and moderation towards the offender that they may aprove themselves to his conscience that nothing puts them one to dilate him and proceed against him but the conscience of duty and a desire to gain his soul and to purge the Church of scandals Gal. 6. 1 2 Cor. 4. 2. It s a high provocation before the Lord for a Chu●ch-Officer to abuse the power given him of God for edifying his Body the Church unto the satisfying his own passions and corrupt affections 8. They are to take heed that they do not use the Censures of the Church as a bodily punishment or penance to satisfie for sin but a spiritual medicine for humbling and gaining of the soul all Church censures even Excommunication it self which is the most terrible and destroying-like censure being ordained of God for this end 1 Cor. 5. The Apostle commands to deliver the incestuous person to Satan not that he may satisfie for his sin but that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word Satisfaction may admit of a tolerable construction in Church-censures in order to the removing of the scandal before men but this being so much abused in the Popish Church and the hearts of men being so prone to true Gospel repentance to a meer legal penance and to conceive that by meer outward submission and obedience to the censures of the Church that the guilt of their sin is done away before God Therefore Elders would carefully shun every thing that may give occasion to the fostering this pernicious opinion and take pains to instruct offenders in the true nature and ends of the censures of the Kirk 9. A great part of Elders work is to travel and take pains with scandalous persons who are now convict to bring them to repentance by seasonable and frequent conference instructing exhorting and admonishing them untill they they perceive some measure of true and earnest humiliation wrought in them for their sin and them fitted to evidence and declare the same in publick before the Congregation that so the scandal may be removed 10. They are not to desire or appoint any to professe repentance before the Congregation untill the signes of repentance appear in them The Incestuous Corinthian sorrowed exceedingly before the Apostle did any thing concerning the receiving of him And the Discipline of our Church appoints Ministers and Elders sharply to examine these who offer themselves to repentance what fear and terrour they have of Gods judgements what hatred of sin and sorrow for the same and what sense and feeling they have of Gods mercies In which if they be ignorant they ought diligently to be instructed for it is say they but a mocking to put such to publick repentance who neither understand what sin is what repentance is what grace is nor by whom Gods mercies and favors are purchased And that after he is instructed in these things and brought to have some taste of Gods judgements especially of his mercies in Jesus Christ he may be presented before the publick Church These things are set down in the form and order of Publick Repentance appointed by the Assembly 1567. Lastly when the signs and evidences of true and unfeigned Repentance do appear in these who have offended Elders would shew themselves ready and willing to receive them with all tendernesse and compassion and to forgive and comfort them and confirm their love towards them 2. Cor. 2. 7 8. The number of Elders in every Congregation cannot be well limited or determined but it is to be more or less according to the quantity of the Congregation and necessities and condition of the people and as men qualified and fit for the Charge can be found It hath been an evil custom in some Congregations that rather than they would want any of their wonted number they would choose unqualified men and that in several Congregations the office of Elder hath been given to those of the richer and higher sort as due to such though haply of no experience in the things of Jesus Christ and in many things of an untender and blame-worthy conversation because of their condition in the world or conceiving that their secular power and credit was the best means to promote the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and men qualified with knowledge and experience in the things pertaining to souls and of a Christian and godly carriage have been passed by because of a mean condition in the World Better it is that the number be few before we choose the ignorant and scandalous and that they be of a low degree if godly than of a high degree if otherwise That Elders may the more conveniently discharge their duty It is convenient that the Congregation be divided into so many parts and that some competent part be assigned to the more peculiar care and inspection of every Elder yet so as he neglect not to take heed to all the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made him an over-seer CHAP. I. Of Deacons Of their Names THat we may also understand what doth belong unto Deacons we shall speak of them shortly after the same order 1. Of their Name 2. Of their Institution 3. Of their Calling 4. Of their duty and qualificacion The word Deacon largely taken signifies any servant or Minister Matth. 23. 11. Therefore in the New Testament it doth sometimes comprehend all Church-Officers even the Apostles themselves 1 Cor. 3. 5. Because every Church-officer is appointed of God for perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and edifying the Body of Christ. When we speak of Deacons in the Kirk