The Due Right of Presbyteries, Chapter 6
CHAP. 6. SECT. 6.
Touching Officers and their election.
OUr Author laboureth to prove that Pastors and Doctors are different Officers, which wee will not much improves, but if the meaning be, that they are inconsistent, in one man person, wee are against him. 1. Because the Apostles in their owne persons, and in feeding the flock, 2 Tim. 3. doth both under the name of Overseers and Bishops, and exercised both, as they could, according as they did finde the auditory. 2. Because the formall objects the informing of the judgement, and exhorting are not so different, as that they should be imcompatible, for if God give them gifts both for the Doctors Chaire, and the pastors Pulpit, as hee often doth, what should hinder but the Church may call one and the same man, to both the Pastor and the Doctors Chaire, as hee is able to, overtake both.
Author. 1. Reas. 1 Cor. 12. 8. To one is given a word of wisdom… (for direction of practice,) to another a word of knowledge (for direction of judgement.) Ans. This proveth they be different gifts and Offices, yet not that they are incompatible in one person, as one may have both gifts given unto him, as is cleare by experience.
2 Reas. Author ib. Hee speaketh of diverse members of the Church, as of diverse members of the naturall body, v. 4. 5. All the members have not one Office, it is the action of the Tongue to speak, not to see. Ans. The comparison holdeth not in all. The eye cannot heare, the eare cannot see, yet the pastor may both see as pastor, and heare and delate to the Church, as the Churches eare, the manners of the scandalous.
3. Reas. Author, If the Apostle speake of severall exercises of severall gifts, but both coincident to the same person or Church office; why then doth he command the Teacher to waite on teaching, and the Exhorter upon exhorting? One who hath a gift of giveing Almes, and shewing mercy, is not commanded to wait upon Almes giving, unlesse it be his office, as well as his gift. Ans. It is not fit that the Doctor should attend the pastorall duties, except he be a pastor also, and have both gift and office, but having gifts for both, he may attend both, as the Church calleth him to both.
Author. Teaching and exhorting flow from severall gifts, and they are seldome found in one in eminency. Ans. Then where they are found in one in eminency (as sometimes they are) either hath God given a Talent, for no use, which is against the Wisdome of Gods dispensation, or then hee who hath gifts for both, may discharge both, as hee may and can through time and strength of body. But wee contend not with our brethren in this, seeing they confesse, he that is gifted for both, may attend both.