A Plain and Familiar Christian Conference, Chapter 5
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 foreign, 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 foreign, 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 foreign, Gifts graciouſly beſtowed, among which are foreign, 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 foreign, 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, foreign, 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, foreign, 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 foreign, 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 foreign 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 another Congregation, and call him to it. And why not as well as to call one to be a preaching Elder, that is a Brother of another Congregation? for all Church Officers ſhould be taken out of Churches, and firſt made Members of that Church, wherein they are to ſerve Chriſt in Office before they are ſolemnly ſet apart thereto.
Phil.
What reaſons may a Church be moved by, to chooſe a ruling Elder or more?
Chriſt.
If there be a Brother aptly qualified, and can attend it, there need be no diſpute about it, though the Church be but ſmall, it may be much Comfort and help to the Paſtor and tend to much Edification of the Church. 2. The Church may ſee reaſon to chuſe ruling Elders, from the great encreaſe and largeneſs of the Church, that the management of this part of the Paſtoral Office lye not too heavily upon their Paſtor. 3. The Church may ſee reaſon for it, becauſe their Paſtor qualified it may be with much of Grace, Preaching Gifts and Learning, may not be qualified with a Spirit of Government; and it is very ſeldom that men of retired ſtudious lives have ſo great an inſight into the right ordering of Politick Affairs. A man may be a great Mathematician, but yet an ill Seaman, not know how to work or ſtear a Ship ſo well as a Maſters Mate or a Boatſwain. There is in ſpirituals, as well as temporals, a skill in practice to have the ſenſes exerciſed by reaſon of uſe, as well as a Knowledge and Underſtanding of the rule.
Phil.
What is the Office-work of a ruling Elder?
Chriſt.
To have a ſpecial regard to admiſſions, to make good enquiry after the Faith, and Holy Converſations of ſuch, who offer themſelves to Church Communion, to propound them, and bring them to the Church. 2. To make inſpection into the lives and converſations of actual members, frequently to viſit them, to rebuke any ſeemingly walking as not becoming the Goſpel, to enquire after the reaſon of members abſentments from Communion, to exhort them to frequent aſſembling together for mutual edification, to comfort the afflicted, to ſupport the weak, to viſit the ſick, to inform the ignorant, &c. 3. In all matters of admonition and cenſure to hear and prepare matters for the Church before hand, that there be nothing done in Confuſion, and in Diſquietment of Mind in the Church, but with all meekneſs, unanimity and authority in the Name of the Lord Jeſus.
Phil.
You have ſhewed that the Miniſterial Offices of the Church are Paſtoral, or Diaconal, and have ſhewed that the Paſtoral or ſuch as belong to the Paſtoral care are Exhortation, Teaching, Adminiſtration of the Seals, Rule and Government; according to all which parts of a Paſtors Office, the Holy Ghoſt hath provided affiſting Officers and helps, ſuch as Teachers and ruling Elders to the full edification of the Church; I pray ſpeak now ſomething of the Deacons Office.
Chriſt.
The Engliſh word Deacon is derived from the Greek foreign, which ſignifies a Miniſter or one that ſerves Chriſt and his Church in Office, it is uſed for any Miniſter at large, foreign, or Deaconſhip is applyed to the Apoſtleſhip it ſelf, Act. 1.17, 25. or to a part of their Miniſtry as it was at firſt, Act. 6.4. It is applyed to any particular ſervice of the Church, Act. 11.29. ch. 12.25. And Paul applyeth it to his whole Miniſtry as an Apoſtle, Act. 20.24. Rom. 11.13. ch. 15.31. 2. Cor. 6.3.
But it hath it's peculiar application to that Miniſtry which tends to the ſupply of the Churches and Saints neceſſities, by way of diſtribution of Collections made to this end and purpoſe, to whoſeſoever care it is committed; and ſuch a ſervice Paul ſaith he undertook on the behalf of other Churches, 2 Cor. 8.4. which is called the Deaconſhip of this Liturgy, 2 Cor. 9.12. rendred the adminiſtration of this ſervice. Now we find as Office titles of large ſignificancy, are brought down by the Holy Ghoſt to denote a ſingle particular Office in the Church as Apoſtle, Paſtor, Biſhop, Presbyter, &c. So here the word Deacon is often uſed for all ſacred Miniſtry, Liturgy or Service, is a Title put by the Spirit of God upon this Officer in the Church, who is called and ſet apart to the Liturgy (or ſervice) of the Church in this way of Adminiſtration, by diſtribution.
Phil.
When was the firſt Inſtitution of Deacons?
Chriſt.
It was Act. 6. an Apoſtolick (i. e. as much as to ſay) a Divine Inſtitution, and it's not amiſs to obſerve the reaſon & ground of it, it was to eaſe the Apoſtles in that great burden that lay upon them; when thoſe that were converted ſold their poſſeſſions, and brought the Mony and laid it down at their feet; and it was to be given forth again for an equal and neceſſary ſupport to every one, as need required. This was too great a charge, and burthen to the Apoſtles, and likely afterward to be unto ordinary Paſtors; and hence they inſtitute this Office of Deaconſhip, and therefore is alſo a more remote Office of Aſſiſtance unto the ruling Epiſcopacy, but being very diſtinct in nature and kind from that ſort of Miniſtry; wherefore the Apoſtles ſpeak after that manner. Act. 6.1, 4. That the Church ſhould chooſe them fit men for this daily care and truſt, and they would betake themſelves to the Miniſtry of the Word and Prayer.
Phil.
What ground have you for this Officer in the Church?
Christ.
The very nature of ſuch a Society, as a Church requireth it, and I take it to be a very good ground for an Office, when it's founded upon the well being of a Society, and it's ordinary neceſſities do require it. But the Holy Ghoſt is moſt expreſs upon this account, that the Church of Jeruſalem by the appointment of the Apoſtles, choſe ſuch Officers for the neceſſary ſervice of the Church. And that they were afterward ſtated Officers in other Churches appears from Phil. 1.1. And the Apoſtle Paul doth expreſly call their Miniſtry, an Office. 1 Tim. 3.10, 13. As the Word is rendred and ought to be by our Interpreters. Their Qualifications and Encouragements are alſo very particular, v. 8.9, 10, 13. See Rom. 12.8. He it to be grave, ſober, exemplary in Faith and Holineſs, &c.
Phil.
What is the Office of a Deacon?
Christ.
The Holy Ghoſt calls it ſerving of Tables, the Lords Table and the Tables of the Saints, in a faithful collection and diſtribution of the ſtock of the Church which is given for the maintenance of Ordinances, Miniſtry, and relief of the Poor, which ought to be done with Simplicity, Prudence and Chearfu…neſs. And of which they are accountable to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Church, let that word Chearfulneſs be obſerved, becauſe many are apt to murmur at this Office as a burden to them.
Phil.
How many Deacons are there to be?
Chriſt.
There were ſeven in the firſt Church of the Goſpel, but there have ſeldom Churches arrived to the bigneſs of that ſince, neither doth the Spirit ſeem to limit to a certain number. The Church is to Judge how many are requiſite to perform the duties required in that Office, according to their preſent ſtare and ſtanding, yea they may increaſe their number if they ſee need requires.
Phil.
Is there any help in this Miniſtration ſpeciffied by the Holy Ghoſt?
Chriſt.
Yes, and it ſeems to be pretty plain, that there were Widdows, or Deaconeſſes, or Matrons, who were to do that part of the Office, which was not ſo convenient for men, ſuch as to viſit the Sick, eſpecially Siſters, and enquire into their neceſſities, and bring an account to the Deacons, if any be without neceſſary ſupply for food, raiment, phyſick, attendance and the like; ſee 1 Tim. 5.5, 9, 10. And Phabe ſeems to have been a Deaconeſs to the Church of Cenchrea, Rom. 16.1.
Phil.
You have ſpoken to all the fixed Officers in a particular Congregation, & although there are ſome who would deny ſome of theſe to be diſtinct Officers; yet ſeeing here is in every Church, theſe Office ſervices to be performed, and the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of them diſtinctly under theſe two Heads, Biſhops and Deacons, & that the Paſtor, Teacher, and ruling Elder all concur to the fulfilling the Paſtoral or Epiſcopal Office for the Churches Edification; and Men, and Women Deacons make up the Liturgical or Diaconal Office. I have received much ſatisfaction upon this account, but methinks I am much to ſeek about one great concern of Chriſt and his Kingdom, viz. The propagation of the Goſpel to the unconverted, for which work and ſervice I cannot ſee how Chriſt hath provided ſince the Apoſtles times, for all the Officers you have mentioned are Officers only in and to the Church, and ſo far as men are capable of hearing the Word preached in the Churches, they have a converting Miniſtry, but they that are remote muſt be without a Miniſtry, becauſe there is no Churches.
Chriſt.
Chriſt hath conſtituted no ſtated Officers, but in and to a particular Congregation. He hath not called and ſent any to the work of the Miniſtry for Converſion in the pureſt ſtate and ſtanding of the firſt Churches, but from the Churches the firſt Apoſtles themſelves went out from the Church of Jeruſalem, Paul and Barnabas from the Church at Antioch, ſo that it is according to the propheſie of the latter days. The Law ſhall go out from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem. And Chriſt hath provided a way to ſend the Goſpel to Infidels and unconverted ones, for Rom. 10.14, 15. How ſhall they preach except they be ſent. And though I doubt not but God hath had his way in a providential manner of ſending the Goſpel into the blind parts of the Earth, when viſible Churches were hardly to be found, through Antichriſtian Darkneſs that overſpread the Earth, yet Chriſt hath an inſtituted way of ſending the Goſpel to the unconverted world. For men may have a Call and Dedication to ſome peculiar work and ſervice to be done for Chriſt out of the Church, viz. To be an Ambaſſador for Chriſt to beſeech men to be reconciled unto God. The Word of the Lord hath providentially been ſent to many places, as the ſcattering the Church by Perſecution was the occaſion, Act. 11.19. Of preaching the Goſpel at Phoenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, &c. and when tidings of theſe things that were done came to the Church at Jeruſalem, they ſent forth Barnabas that he ſhould go as far as Antioch, and afterward he was ſent forth again from the Church at Antioch.
I ſhall not enlarge now on this point, I may meet with it again elſewhere; the due and orderly way of going forth to the exerciſe of the Miniſtry is by the miſſion of a particular Congregation by the ſuffrage and Prayers thereof, and he may be called a Teacher, ſuch as were in the Church of Antioch; and ſo I diſtinguiſh of Teachers: 1. Such as are ſtated Teachers to the Church wherein they are. 2. Such that are ſent forth to open blind eyes, &c. To preach to the World, men lying in their infidelity.
Phil.
You having given me a diſtinct account of the ſeveral Officers of a Goſpel Church, I deſire to underſtand how they are made and conſtituted in an orderly regular manner.
Chriſt.
It can be but by Ordination.
Phil.
What, all of them by Ordination, Elders and Deacons, the Lay-Officers?
Chriſt.
I told you before we own no ſuch Officers, but them that are Eccleſiaſtically ſo, and therefore not Lay-Officers; the way of Ordination of ruling Elders and Deacons is the ſame with that of Paſtor and Teacher.
Phil
What by laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, it ſeems to be a mighty prophanation of that Sacred ordinance to apply it to men that are illiterate, and have not been at the Univerſity.
Chriſt.
Chriſt did not limit any Ordinances to Literate men, and to Univerſity men, his practice was quite contrary, but I pray Sir, tell me. 1. Where impoſition of hands is called Ordination? 2. Whether the Deacons had not impoſition of hands, Act. 6.3. Where any other ordinary Church Officers had impoſition of hands? And therefore if there had not been ſome more reaſon of the Holy Ghoſt than ordinary for applying it to Deacons, whether they ſhould have had it? If it was in an ordinary way of Adminiſtration, and therefore all Church Officers to have it, then they have eminent right to it ſtill. And then what prophanation is it to apply an Ordinance according to it's firſt inſtitution?
Phil.
You ſuggeſt ſtrange notions about Ordination, I muſt get you to clear them up to me.
Chriſt.
Sir, you ſhall excuſe me for the preſent, I ſhall do it another time; I only tell you now, that all Church Officers are made by Ordination, and ordained alike, and that impoſition of hands is not Ordination; and if the moſt be made of it, it's but a Ceremony annexed which now is obſolete. And that all Ordination belongs to the Church of whom the Perſon ordained is a member, yea if impoſition of hands be a neceſſary Ceremony therein, it's not to be performed by the Elders of other Churches; but by the Presbytery or delegated Brethren of the ſaid ſame Church. Theſe things ſhall be demonſtrated to you according to that meaſure of light which Chriſt hath given.
Phil.
Theſe things look not only Heterodox in reſpect of the common ſentiments of ordinary Profeſſors of the reformed Religion, but contrary to what many, yea moſt of our Learned Divines have wrote and practiſed, but I ſhall wait till you give me further light into them, and demonſtration for the aſſertions you have laid down. In the mean time give a brief account of Goſpel ordinances inſtituted by Chriſt for a Churches Edification.