Churches exercise of it's power 1. In Election of Officers 2. Admission of Members 3. Translating Members to other Churches Admonition and Censures 5. Contribution for the support of Ordinances Ministry and necessity of the Saints 6. I may add unto this Holy Conference for mutual Edification These are given either as peculiar Priviledges to the Churches such as the Seals and Keys of Discipline or primarily though for the Conversion and in order to the Salvation of others but for the sake of the Churches for their Multiplication growth and Confirmation in Grace Phil. Speak to these Gospel Ordinances particularly as to the distinct Nature End and Use of them Christ 1. The Preaching of the Word comprehends 1. The reading of it frequently in the Church 2. The opening and expounding of it 3. The applying it unto the Consciences of Saints and unbelieving Sinners according to the true intent thereof by Instruction Reprehension Exhortation Direction Consolation in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit 4. By the instilling and promoting the knowledge of God in the Mysteries of the Gospel by Catechizing Children Youth in such a way and manner as may conduce most to the enlightning their understandings in and bringing over their affections to the things of God in their tender years Phil. Sir I doubt in the last thing mentioned many if not most of your Churches have been too defective Christ I grant it and fear the next Generation will have great cause to complain of us for the Children of Church Members do manifestly grow up in Ignorance carnality and looseness little care is taken of most religious Parents and less by the Churches to educate them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord all or the chief of Parents care is how to provide well for them in the World Besides every way of Catechizing will not answer the end to learn a Catechism meerly by rote and a preaching upon it will make no more impression on their Ages than other preaching there must be care to instill in to their understandings by little and little in a plain and familiar way of discourse with them as they are able to receive if a great deal of Water be flusht on upon a narrow-mouth'd Bottle very little or none will go in but you may by a small stream and gradually fill it Ignorance in Religion is destruction of Religion it hath been the mother of all false Worship and Error in Doctrine and it 's evident it is the cause for the most part of the disorders in and among Churches Phil. To what Officers doth the ministration of the word in Churches belong Christ To the Pastor and Teacher if there be any they being the Preaching Elders that labour in the Word and Doctrine The Pastors work in Preaching seems to lye most in dealing with the Consciences and Affections of the hearers whether for Conversion or Edification The Teacher insists most on the enlightning the understanding by doctrinal Truths Catechising Argumentation and Conviction of gainsayers Rom. 12.7 8. If one Officer according to the present circumstances can perform his Office to the full edification of the Church in all these things it 's well if not then both are requisite as hath been spoken And the word is to be so preached as hath been said 2 Tim. 4.2 3. Eph. 4.12 Act. 2.42 the Apostles doctrine is the word that is to be Preached and to be attended on by us Phil. I look upon prayer and praises ab be great Church Ordinances as well as duties of a Universal nature to all and individual persons in private and secret Christ It is a solemn Church Ordinance expressed either way in publick prayers or in praises not only in the Prayers of a single person the mouth of the Congregation but in Psalms and Hymns That prayer is a Church ordinance and a duty to be performed frequently in the Church service see Act. 1.14 These continued with one accord in Prayer and Supplication so Act. 2.42 no other Ordinance can be duly administred without it Phil. I think there is no Christians but hold that Prayer is a Church Ordinance but I have heard some except against singing of Psalm in Metre as we do Christ That singing Psalms is an Ordinance of the Church I think is plain 1. That singing Praises to God with an audible voice was practised in the Apostles times by the Apostles Act. 16.25 2. That they are to be sung in the Church at the most solemn Ordinance of the Lords Supper is without dispute Mat. 26.30 Mark 14.26 3. That singing with words of Psalms and Hymns at the same time making melody in the Heart is recommended to us Eph. 5.19 so Col. 3.16 teaching and admonishing your selves so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be rendred and not one another for thus Interpreters have rendred the same word your selves Eph. 5.19 in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Odes in Grace singing in your Heart to the Lord. From both which places singing Spiritual Psalms and Hymns for instructing and quickning a gracious Heart sweetly and affectionately carried forth in them is highly recommended to us by the Spirit of God And that it 's a duty to sing in conjunction with others appears by what was practised by our Saviour and his Disciples at the institution of the Lords Supper that they Sang an Hymn And by Paul and Silas in Prison but what the Holy Ghost sayeth expresly he expects of us Rom. 15.6 that you may with one Mind and one Mouth i.e. with sameness of Words and Heart glorifie God Phil. Some may say this is to use forms Christ A. 1. Tho' it be to use a form in Singing it 's not an imposed form but freely taken and chosen no more than the Ministers Text is imposed 2. A form allowed or enjoyned by the Spirit of God may and ought to be used as the words of institution in administration of the Seal of Baptism or of the Elements in the Lords Supper 3. The nature of the thing requireth that it be premeditated that the Singing be melodious i. e. orderly not with confusion and not in absurd dissonies Phil. But some are against singing in mixt Congregations Chr. They may as well be against publick Praying in mixt Congregations Doth not he that Prayeth endeavour to use such expressions as most may joyn with him in So he that propounds a Psalm or Hymn endeavours to suit it to the Congregation where and the time and occasion when it is to be sung It 's due to God from all his creatures to praise him it 's his Saints only bless him but it 's not in our power to judge the heart of him that joyns in a publick duty and if it be to be performed publickly as Praying and Preaching we are not to hinder any that will joyn with us if they are not upright in one or profited by the other the sin lyes on themselves to answer for it Phil. Which be the Seals of
Wine poured out signifie the Body and Soul sufferings of the Lord Christ they are exhibited in this Ordinance in a lively manner to our thankful remembrance of Gods and Christs love to us therefore by the ancients called the Eucharist 2. Hereby our acts of Faith are renewed and our Faith greatly strengthned in the love of God to us in the Redemption wrought by Jesus Christ for us in his Death and Suffering for our present Justification and Sanctification and Future Glory 3. It is a sign and Seal of our Union to and Communion with the Lord Jesus Christ and to one another our Communion together by a common participation of Christ our Head in his personal Excellencies and mystical Communications as also our Communion in him one with another as a mystical and visible Politick Body 4. It is a visible Testimony and Profession of our mutual love and Obligations therein as members one of another 5. There is a sweet Communion in each others Gifts and Graces in order to edification and growth in Grace Phil. To what Church Officer doth the administration of this Ordinance appertain Christ It appertains to the Pastoral teaching Office for the Seals are teaching Ceremonies by way of Instruction unto us for increase in Faith and Love and by way of Consolation and Confirmation in our right to Covenant Benefits and Priviledges And hence it belongs primarily to the Pastor that is principally called to the whole Office of feeding the flock for Christ the great Pastor first administred it And secondarily to the Teacher who is called to bear a share with him in his Teaching work which is feeding the flock with wholesome Doctrine and administring such instituted signs and seals as tends to the Confirmation thereof unto their Souls and Consciences and therefore where there is actually Pastor and Teacher it may for the ease of the Pastor that part of this Labour may be born by the Teacher as well as that of teaching And in case of the Death of the Pastor the whole pastoral charge as to Teaching and Administring falls upon the Teacher unless the Church think meet to choose another Pastor Phil. But I pray what do you think of the practice of our Minister and if I mistake not some Non-conformists use it still viz. for the Administrator or Administrators for I have known several at the same time in one Congregation to go about from Person to Person and deliver the Bread and Wine into the hand of each repeating as oft the Words of institution Take eat c. Take drink c. Christ I take it to be an unscriptural usage for Luke 22.17 Christ said Take this and divide it among your selves And if it be said that is spoken of the Passover Cup it makes not against us for in the same manner as that Cup went about did also the Bread and Wine that followed And we have no ground to suppose that he delivered the Bread with the Words This is my Body take eat nor the Wine c. any more than once Again it 's plain that this practice came from Rome from that blasphemous Heresie of theirs that the Bread is the very Body of Christ after Consecration of the Priest and therefore not to be touched by the Communicant but put into his Mouth by the supposed sacred Hands of the Priest Therefore it hath the same Idolatrous Original as Kneeling in receiving hath nourisheth much vain Superstition in the people makes the Ordinance most tedious and troublesome if not too Comical Phil. You mention Kneeling methinks that seems to be a comely gesture enough in so solemn and sacred an Ordinance though I confess I am not for imposing of it Christ I need not tell you the reason and ground of that Innovation viz. From the Idolatrous worshiping the Bread And I need not tell you that the posture in receiving was not so from the beginning but after the eastern manner of sitting at a Feast It is not proper or comely to kneel at a Feast which is for a sociable rejoycing Kneeling is a posture of prostration in Prayer but this is a distinct Ordinance from Prayer though it be blessed by Prayer The Prayer is over when the Element is distributed and then our business is not to pray but to feed in a Feasting Sacramental and Spiritual manner Neither is the practice of some Communicants to be commended who after the Element is blessed by the Prayers of the Congregation betake themselves to their particular private prayers before they eat or drink it 's a new Consecration as if the Element were not sufficiently consecrated Or as if they were to receive in an act of Prayer Whereas now they are to receive their spiritual food to the satisfaction of their hungring and thirsting Souls with rejoycing and gladness of Heart making it the Bread of Consolation and cup of Salvation praising the Name of the Lord. The Nature of receiving clearly appears from this that it is a Feast of Remembrance and therein for spiritual Repast Nourishment and Consolation and it appears in that the distribution of the last Element ends with a Psalm or Hymn of praise before we arise from the Table and therefore to be performed in the same posture we were in when we received the Cup and we use not a kneeling posture in singing Phil. I have read many considerable Arguments indeed against this posture in receiving which gives ground to suspect there is too much of Superstition in it and that it was derived from Rome but I have not before considered what you say of its great disagreement to the very Nature of the Ordinance the Act of receiving being a distinct duty from praying and therefore I believe many that profess to more Knowledge in these things than I do do they know not what in betaking themselves to private Prayers when they should be exercised after another manner and so do unduly mix one Ordinance with another or thrust out one spiritual duty by another I am glad you mention it to me I hope it will be matter of good instruction to me in my practice for the future Christ I am glad to find your Heart so moulded by the Grace of God that you are ready to receive the impression of Truth It was otherwise not long ago Phil. I think the next Head of Church Ordinances which you mentioned were the Keys I pray speak to them Christ. By Keys I mean Church power of opening and shutting It is a Scripture Word but Metaphorical A Key is used in respect of spiritual Knowledge or in respect of Power In respect of Knowledge Luke 11.52 In this respect Peter had the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven committed to him as an Apostle as is spoken by our Saviour Mat. 16.19 Being the first Apostle instructed by God to open the door for preaching the Gospel unto the Gentiles Act. 10. But this Key tho' first turned in exercise by Peter was given to the rest of the
your genius Phil. Say you so I will be so bold with you then as to start some matter for our discourse which may be of use to me and it is that which I have been just now meditating on when walking by my self and I can't tell what is the matter with me there may be something of God in it my mind for some months since hath been much running on such things My Friend I am thinking about a Church of Christ whether or no Christ instituted any or whether there be any Visible Church but what is established by the Laws of Men our Parson stands very stifly on this latter Opinion and truly to give him his due though a while ago he seemed a little of a Persecuting spirit which I always chid him for he is a learned man a good Divine an eloquent Preacher and indeed an indifferent good liver unless now and then in some company he may drink a glass of Wine too much which a good man may do Indeed he was upon this Point Sunday last and I am thinking he did not give sufficient Scripture ground to prove what he said Christ Sir I am not a little startled at this humour of yours you know how often you have been moved to great passion upon my starting Disputes upon that Point and that you looked upon things of this nature how clearly soever proved from Scripture to have as little certainty in them as you do the Interpretation of Prophecies now Phil. It 's too true indeed what you say of me and I thank you for it but Nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit it may be God is fixing my heart to a more serious and impartial consideration of these things from which two things hindered me 1. A rooted prejudice took in from the University and daily company especially with them of the Gown of both sorts against these things 2. Worldly Interest I did not dare to suffer my mind and conscience to be overcome by the light of some Truths lest they should so far prevail as to prejudice my Estate and Reputation among the leading men of the times I shall speak two words which shall introduce you with chearfulness into this discourse 1. In our former converses about these things although I usually as you know the manner is for discourse sake gave you much opposition yet there were many Arguments which you used pinched me very hard and although I seemed to blow them off with little regard yet they stuck in my mind afterward and now recur with no small evidence and demonstration especially such as flowed so clearly from Scripture as I know there were many tho' I made as if I would not see it And I have had a great veneration for Scripture and I have often thought that it must be the standard for our Religion whatever men say else we must turn Papists or Mahometans And there was one place among the rest which you pressed upon me for strictness of walking according to Gospel Rules in the service of Christ Joh. 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatever I command you From this place I have had many checks of conscience in reading over the Books of the New Testament in the course I observe in my family seeing so many things commanded by Christ which I take no regard to especially in Gospel Instituted Worship and I have thought that sure Christ commands Believers much more than meer Morality which made me to question my true friendship to Christ and that I was not carried forth in the practice of that little Religion which I pretend to from a right principle but from carnal and did but what a meer prudential moral man might do viz. to attain to a little seeming negative Holiness and seeing upon examination I find the fruit no better I question the goodness of the Tree Indeed I pleased my self that I was not of a persecuting spirit and now I find this came from the natural constitution God hath given me I was always of a compassionate nature hating cruelty Likewise I took up from the Gospel a Moral Rule to do as I would be done by now in all this I find there was nothing but nature and meer morality not any thing of grace here now I finding my self meerly natural I see the reason why all the mysteries of faith and order the commands of God in the Gospel were meer foolishness to me And I manifested a love to you and others of your perswasion because you were always the fairest and honestest sort of men to deal with except here and there an Hypocritical knave Such will be found among the strictest Professors in this world though I often had my mouth stopped when your inveterate Enemies condemned all and your very Religion it self for your sakes Besides I did love you because I saw you good Commonwealths men for the most part asserted our Civil Liberties as well as Spiritual And lastly as I may tell you I had no little condemnation in my conscience by observing the conversation of some of you and looked upon it as some kind of expiation for my extravagancies and compliances and so a palliate cure of my stinging conscience to shew as much countenance to you as could well stand with my circumstances And I was willing to have a general reputation among all Parties for a good honest prudent Gentleman of a religious inclination though differing in some smaller matters and sometimes carried away by a sort of men to those practices I approved not of but could not well avoid and you know I was never no swearer nor did ever care for healths and seldom out of the way by a glass of Wine more than ordinary Christ Sir I am sure now you speak like a very honest Gentleman indeed I have often heard your discourse with delight but never with so much complacency as now you have by this got my very heart for I hope you are through grace raised to a better savour and truer relish of spiritual things than ever I perceived in you Phil. I wish that be true God grant that through his rich grace it may be so I will add a word more concerning my state in grace by and by but let me first mention the other thing to induce you to proceed in answering my desire and it is this I am now willing candidly to enquire into your way of Worship that which you call Gospel Order and to lay aside all wrangling disputes and prejudices and take things calmly and with a sincere impartial attention that so I may have the clearest information that may be of the true mind and will of Christ for now I see it is to no purpose to serve Christ in a way that he never revealed or appointed such services I am convinced are neither acceptable to him nor profitable to us therefore our gracious and wise Lord tells the corrupt worshippers of his day In vain do ye worship me teaching for
Inventions whereby also all Antichristian Abominations over-spread the whole face of the Christian World Phil. But did not Christ give other Ministerial Officers to his Church Christ The Officers which Christ placed in his Church for Edification were Extraordinary or Ordinary but both Pastoral for they that are called Elders and set for Doctrine and Administration in seals and Government I call justly Pastoral for feeding the Flock comprehends both in the true sence of the Spirit of God Phil. Who were the Extraordinary Officers Christ They were Apostolick and such who were not succeeded after the first Churches were planted but by ordinary Pastoral Officers and these were Apostles and Apostolick helps in the performance of their Office-charge Eph. 4.11 and were Prophets and Evangelists and were extraordinarily furnished with the gifts of the Holy Ghost and Power for the propagation of the Gospel and plantation of Churches but at the disposition and direction for the most part of the Apostles as all other Church-Officers as well as Churches were during their lives Phil. And our Bishops say they succeed the Apostles and all other Ministers are subordinate and subject to them Christ They may as well say the Pope succeeds Peter for it 's plain they were extraordinarily sent and inspired and therefore could not be succeeded but by such as were extraordinarily assisted as they were which hath been none or ordinarily and such are Presbyters and no others The Charasteristick Notes of the Apostles were 1. That they were to be such who were ear and eye-witnesses of Christ from the Baptism of John to the time of his taking up Acts 1.22 viz. of his Ministry Miracles Resurrection and Ascension 2. That they should be extraordinarily inspired by the Holy Ghost for the revelation of the mind and will of Christ since which none ever were 3. To have the gifts of Tongues and working Miracles 4. That they should have the charge of the Churches for the plantation direction and government of them every Apostle having the charge of all Churches in every Church whatever power was afterward ordinarily in each Church And though a Bishop now in an Apish imitation by a pretended plea of Succession would lay claim to power over many particular Congregations yet each Bishop is not allowed power in another mans Diocess And as to the former characters where's the Bishop can with a shew of any just pretence lay claim unto them Phil. What were the Prophets that accompanied and assisted the Apostles in their Ministry Christ Of this sort it 's said Acts 13.1 there were certain Prophets and Teachers I suppose not much differing one from another in respect of the extraordinary Mission and Qualification being Church-Members of the Church of Jerusalem on which the Holy Ghost fell in the appearance of fiery Tongues whereby they were furnished with Preaching Gifts and those of Tongues in order to the propagation of the Gospel in all Nations and to whatsoever People they came Jew or Gentile and went forth for this end in subordination to and by direction of the Apostles And the first time we read of the Travels is Acts 11.19 occasioned by Saul's persecution some of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene who when they had passed through other places Preaching came at last unto Antioch and spake unto the Grecian Jews Preaching the Lord Jesus Christ the effect of which was the believing and turning of many unto the Lord. These by the command of the Holy Ghost laid hands on Paul and Barnabas but we read not that they baptized or did perform any other Ministerial Act if that were one Probably they might convey the Gifts of the Holy Ghost on others by imposition of hands too Phil. What were the Evangelists Christ They were extraordinarily called to assist the Apostles also in Preaching the Lord Jesus Baptism and planting Churches with Ordination of Officers in them Philip Preached and Baptized and wrought Miracles Acts 8.5 12 39. But did not convey the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost they were bestowed by the prayers of Peter and John as the laying on of hands verse 15 16. and Philip is called an Evangelist Acts 21.8 Timothy was an Evangelist 1 Tim. 4.5 and Assistant to Paul in his Apostolick Function and he did lay on hands Now as to this that Philip did not and Timothy did I judge these secondary Apostolick men acted not as the Apostles by a general Commission but by the immediate particular dictates of the Holy Ghost or by the mediate Commands from time to time given to them by the Apostles to whom they were assistant and subordinate in their Actings there were some which we call Evangelists from their writing the History of the Gospel two of which were primarily Apostles viz. Matthew and John Mark and Luke might be Evangelists in the other sense Phil. Who were left the Pastoral Officers in the Church at Jerusalem upon Christ's Ascension Christ The whole Ministerial Office in that Church was left and placed at first in the Apostles both Pastoral and Diaconal and either of the Apostles might have presided but that by consent it may be grounded on the words of our Saviour Mat. 16.19 Peter took the Chair viz. the orderly management of the Keys That the diaconal Office was in the said Apostles at first is manifest from the account we have Act. 2.4 5. of the Members bringing their possessions and laying them at their feet to dispose of as a Church stock and from the reason given by the twelve to the multitude for the choice of Deacons they finding the serving tables to be to great a Burthen to them upon such increase of the Church Afterwards also as the necessity and state of the Church required there were Elders or Presbyters chosen distinct from the Apostles which appears from Act. 15.23 And it 's most plain the increasing and multiplying Officers in the Church was according as the necessary reasons thereof did arise from the increase or otherwise which necessities by the Holy Ghost breathing through the Apostles were provided for and supplied Chap. V. Of ordinary Officers Phil. WHat Officers do compleatly Organize a particular Congregation Christ Pastoral and Diaconal so that Pastor and Deacon do make a Church compleatly Organiz'd but through multiplication of a Church or for other reasons there may be good ground to chuse coadjutors in each Office aforesaid for the encreasing the Officers of one kind or another that the Church may be edified Phil. What is the Pastors Office Christ The Pastors Office is to feed the Church as the flock of Christ over which the Holy Ghost hath made him an overseer or Bishop Which Pastoral feeding consists in Gospel Preaching administration of Sacraments and Government In the last respect more especially he is called a Bishop or Overseer Act. 20. Phil. What do you mean by Gospel Preaching Christ I mean a right dividing of the Word of God according to the revealed Will of God and it
stands in Doctrine exhortation and reproof c. to bring home the Scripture for the instruction of the Hearts and Minds of Men by exposition application catechism and defending the Truth against gain-sayers Phil. You give the whole Preaching Office unto the Pastor Christ It is in him and may ordinarily be performed by him providing his strength and ability can reach to it and other parts of his Office lye not too hard upon him or can be performed to the Churches full edification Phil. But what if it cannot be performed to the Church's full edification Christ Then it is requisite that a Coadjutor or assistant to him be chosen in this part of his Office to wit a Teacher or Teaching Elder who is to wait mostly on doctrinal expository and catechumenal teaching Phil. But this seems not a distinct Officer Christ Though he come into part of the Pastoral or Episcopal Office yet he becomes a distinct Officer for he comes in as a governing feeding Officer attending more particularly on the part of the Office to which he is appointed and chosen for he is to feed the Flock so far as the Holy Ghost hath made him overseer by the call of the Church for their necessary supply Neither doth his Office power curtalize at all the power of the Pastor only acting in conjunction with his Office is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opitulatio a help or assistance taking off part of the burthen from him and such Teachers were set in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 and such an one is to wait on his teaching Rom. 12.7 Where teaching seems plainly to be specified as a distinct office-work in one called thereto as exhorting in him that is more especially called to exhortation And Teachers are plainly enough named in distinction from Pastors as Officers set by Christ in his Churches Eph. 4.11 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry i. e. Officers for the filling up the ministerial office and edifying the body of Christ Therefore when this Officer is necessary for full edification of the Church in the work of the Ministry then he is to be added Phil. Is there no Officer appointed to take up as a help to the Pastor in ruling and governing the Church For where a Church is large the oversight of the flock in way of rule according to the order of the Gospel will require much labour diligence and wisdom Christ There are ruling Elders or Presbyters called to attend and wait upon that part of the Pastoral Office to take up with him and be helps in Governments I conceive they are to be understood by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12.28 which should not be rendred miracles but ruling Officers or Powers as the same word is rendred Rom. 8.38 Persons in Power the abstract put for the concrete and the gifts for the edifying of the Church first and last are specified under the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gifts graciously bestowed among which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gubernationes governing or ruling Gifts Phil. You make then a Ruling Elder a distinct Officer of the Church Christ I do not say that the Pastor or Teacher are not ruling Elders but that when one or both are not able to manage the ruling part for the sufficient edification of the Church there ought one or more to be called into that part of the Ministry and to attend thereto with Diligence And accordingly the Apostle Rom. 12.7 8 9. calls the whole Ministry of the Church Episcopal and Diaconal by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ministry and gives us an account of the several Offices to be attended to the Teacher that attends on Teaching the Exhorter that attends on Exhortation the Deacon that distributes with simplicity the ruling Elder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that presides in governing let him do it with Industry or Diligence Phil. But is there any Presbyter or Elder that is not teaching You seem to be for Lay-Elders Christ The distinction between Clergy and Laity comes from Rome we own it not in the sence it 's used by no means for the people are the Clergy in the sence of the Spirit of God The Apostle Peter shewing the Duty of Presbyters 1 Pet. 5.3 he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not Lording it as Lord-Bishops over Gods heritage 2. They are no more Laymen than the Pastor and Teacher yea I may affirm if they that are ordained Officers of Christ in the Church are made thereby the Clergy then all the Ministers even Deacons as well as Pastors for there 's but one kind of Ordination to all the Officers Presbyters and Deacons 3. We deny not Pastors and Teachers to be ruling Elders neither do we deny that a ruling Elder may speak and teach as occasion requires to the edification of the Church especially in matters that concern his Office in Publick or Private And therefore it 's one qualification requisite to all Presbyters or ruling Elders preaching or not that they be apt to teach 1 Tim. 3.2 and 2 Tim. 2.24 The Elder must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Bishop i. e. a ruling Elder or Presbyter must be apt to teach i. e. so far at least as to be able to give a Word of Exhortation as he is called thereto 4. But the Apostle doth speak very clearly in distributing the Elders into them whose ordinary and chief work is to labour in the Word and Doctrine And such whose more peculiar work is to attend Government though there never wants those that will endeavour to darken and baffle the expressions of Scripture that are clearest to common sence 1 Tim. 5.17 The Presbyters that rule well for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Presiders or Presidents in rule and Government as all the Presbyters or Bishops are in the Church shall be worthy or let them be counted worthy of double honour i. e. by virtue of their Office and well management thereof Let such have greater honour than any aged person that is but an ordinary Brother for he had spoken before of our carriage to aged Brethren and Sisters But such as these we should esteem them for their work sake but especially they that labour in the Word and Doctrine the Preaching Presbyters let them in an especial manner be honoured or esteemed Phil. How many ruling Elders ought there to be Christ Christ hath not limited Churches here but left them to walk by the rule of edification The Church may be such as that it may be fully edified by a Pastor or Teacher as the sole Presbyter And there may be little or no use of a distinct ruling Elder till the Church encrease to a greater bigness and when it is encreased the Church may choose one or more according as is judged necessary to it's edification Phil. What if the Church have not a man or men duly qualified for that Office Christ. They may pitch upon a Brother not in Office of