The Remains of John Corbet, Section 3
§ 3. Of the Office of a Biſhop, Elder, or Paſtor.
THE Miniſtry of Gods appointment is either extraordinary and temporary, as that of the Apoſtles, and Prophets, and Evangeliſts alſo, if ſo be they were only the itinerary aſſiſtants of the Apoſtles; or ordinary and perpetual, as that of Paſtors and Teachers.
The words Elder, Biſhop, Paſtor, are names of the ſame Sacred Office, as appears Acts 20.17, 28. where their Miniſtry towards the Church is ſet forth in Pauls words to the Elders which he ſent for from Epheſus to Miletum; Take heed to your ſelves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchaſed with his own blood.
The Apoſtles beſides their extraordinary Office of Apoſtleſhip, had alſo the ordinary Office of Biſhops, paſtors and Elders; or (to ſpeak peradventure more properly) they had theſe ordinary offices included in their Apoſtleſhip. Chriſt ſaith to Peter, Feed my ſheep. And Peter calls himſelf an Elder, 1 Pet. 5.1. And John in his ſecond and third Epiſtles ſo calls himſelf. And indeed if it were not ſo, they could have no ſucceſſors or partakers. Howbeit the Scripture gives us no evidence of their being fixed Biſhops or Paſtors to particular Churches.
As for the meaning of theſe names, the word Biſhop imports an Overſeer; Elder is a name of Authority borrowed from age, and applied to a Ruling-officer. The word Paſtor is metaphorical, ſignifying that this Officer is to the Congregation of God as a Shepherd to a Flock of ſheep, to feed them.
This feeding conſiſts in teaching and ruling; ſo that every Paſtor is in the nature of his office a Teacher, and he feeds by doctrine. And indeed Paſtoral Ruling is by teaching; ſo that every authoritative Church-teacher is a Paſtor; for the Paſtor rules only by the ſpiritual ſword, which is the word of God; and the diſcipline which he exerciſes, is no more than than the perſonal application of Chriſts word in his name, to judg the impenitent, and abſolve the penitent. And every authoritative Teacher in Chriſts name hath power to make ſuch perſonal application of the word.
The Paſtoral Office hath its work not only towards thoſe that are within, but towards thoſe alſo that are without, to bring them into the Fold. As Chriſt the Prince of Paſtors, or chief Shepherd, doth by virtue of that office not only feed the ſheep that are gathered to him, but goes out alſo into the wilderneſs to ſeek the loſt ſheep; even ſo the Miniſterial paſtors or biſhops are by virtue of their office under Chriſt, to ſeek thoſe that are as yet going aſtray, and to bring them to Chriſt the Shepherd and Biſhop of their ſouls. Thus the name Paſtor doth very congruouſly denote the Miniſterial Authority towards the unbelieving and unconverted, as well as towards believers and converts.
Moreover the ſaid Officers are ſtiled Preachers of the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.14. Stewards of the Myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1. Ambaſſadors of Chriſt, that have the Miniſtry of Reconciliation committed to them, 2 Cor. 5.18, 20. And theſe Titles infer an Office and Miniſtry relating as well to thoſe that are without, and to be brought into the Fold, as to thoſe that are within, and to be kept there; and in reference to both ſorts it is for the edifying or building of the Church.
In ſhort, the Paſtoral Office is a ſtate of Authority and obligation to diſpence the Word and Sacraments, and diſciplinary cenſures of Chriſt the Mediator in his name.
The Miniſterial diſpenſation of the Word, differs quoad formale, from ſpiritual inſtruction, reproof, exhortation, given in a common way of Chriſtian charity, or in a ſpecial way of Oeconomical or civil Authority, being performed by Chriſts commiſſioned Officers and Stewards in holy things, and ſeparated or devoted thereunto. And herein the Miniſters as Ambaſſadors or Heralds, according to the tenor of the Goſpel, do publiſh and offer the mercies of Chriſt upon his terms, and denounce the threatnings of Chriſt to thoſe that refuſe his Mercies.
The Sacraments being ſeals annexed by Chriſt to the word of his grace, and a viſible word, are alſo to be diſpenced by them to whom the diſpenſation of the word is committed.
The diſciplinary cenſures of Authoritative Reproof, Suſpenſion and Excommunication of perſons convicted of ungodlineſs and impenitency, being a particular and perſonal application of the threatnings of the Goſpel, and a declaring and judging of the perſons unmeet for fellowſhip with Chriſt and his Church, are likewiſe to be adminiſtred by the ſame Officers.