faith), lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience: and let these also first be proved, then let them use the office, &c. let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.-1 Tim. iii. 1-13. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister, &c. but refuse profane and old wives' fables, &c. Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, &c. give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, &c. meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly unto them, &c. take heed unto thyself and thy doctrine.-1 Tim. iv. 6, 7.11-13.15, 16. Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren: the elder women, &c. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour; especially they that labour in the word and doctrine.-1 Tim. v. 1. 17. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust: avoiding profane and vain babblings.-1 Tim. vi. 20. I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, &c.-2 Tim. i. 6, 7. The things that thou hast heard of me, among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also, &c. a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; but shun profane and vain babbling, &c. The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men: apt to teach, patient (or forbearing), in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure, &c.-2 Tim. ii. 2. 15, 16.23-25. Ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. If any be blameless, &c. not accused of riot, or unruly: for a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God: not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine; no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught: that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort, and to convince the gainsayers.-Titus i. 5-9. Shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine, uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, &c. these things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. - Titus ii. 7, 8. 15. Them that have the rule, &c. watch for your souls, as they that must give account.-Heb. xiii. 17. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, &c.James v. 14. The elders which are among you, I exhort, &c. feed the flock of God, which is among you (or as much as in you is); taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly: not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords (or over-ruling) over God's heritage, but being examples of the flock.1 Pet. v. 1-4. Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence, receiveth us not.3 John 9, 10. SECT. II. Complaints of, and Threatenings against, evil Officers, or Ministers of the Church. His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs: they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber: yea, they are greedy dogs, which can never have enough; and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain from his quarter: come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink, and to morrow shall be as this day.Isa. lvi. 10-12. The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handled the law, knew me not; the pastors also transgressed against me, &c. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, &c.Jer. ii. 8, 9. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof-Jer. v. 30, 31. From the prophet unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely: thus they have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, &c. when, &c.-Jer. vi. 13, 14. viii. 10, 11. The pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.-Jer. x. 21. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, &c.-Jer. xii. 10, 11. Woe be unto the pastors that destroy, and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord: therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people, Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, &c. The prophets, &c. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that none doth return from his wickedness. - Jer. xxiii. 1, 2. 14. The priests and the prophets advise to'put Jeremiah to death, because he told them what God spake. Jer. xxvi. 10, 11. 16. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean.-Ezek. xxii. 26. Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks? ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, &c. but ye feed not the flock: the diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, &c. but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. -Ezek. xxxiv. 2-4. 8. 10. The priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, &c. therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed, &c.-Micah iii. 11, 12. Her priests polluted the sanctuary, and have done violence to the law.Zeph. iii. 4. Woe to the idol shepherd, that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, &c.-Zech. xi. 17. O priests, that despise my name, &c. ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar, &c. If ye offer the blind, and the lame, is it not evil? &c. - Mal. i. 6-8. The priests' lips should keep knowledge, &c. but ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, &c. therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before the people.Mal. ii. 7-9. He that is an hireling, &c. seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. -John x. 12, 13. SECT. III. The Churches Duty toward their Officers, and such others who labour among them. PROVIDE neither gold nor silver, &c. for the workman is worthy of his meat.-Matt. x. 9, 10. They all wept sore, &c. sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. Acts xx. 37, 38. If the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. Rom. xv. 27. Have we not power to eat and to drink? &c. or to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges? &c. Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? or saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, &c. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? &c. Nevertheless, we have not used this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know, that they which minister about holy things, live (or feed) of the things of the temple? &c. Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.1 Cor. ix. 4-15. Know the house of Stephanus, &c. that you submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. 1 Cor. xvi. 15, 16. Ye received me as an angel of God, &c. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I told you the truth? -Gal. iv. 14-16. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth, in all good things. Gal. vi. 6. Praying always, &c. and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, &c. Ephes. vi. 18, 19. 1 Thess. v. 25. 2 Thess. iii. 1, 2. I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, &c. but your messenger, &c. Receive him therefore in the Lord, with all gladness; and hold such in reputation (or honour such), because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, &c.Phil. ii. 25. 29, 30. Ye sent once and again unto mine necessity; not because I desired a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account, &c. having received the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice ac ceptable, well pleasing to God.Philip. iv. 16-19. We beseech you brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake.1 Thess. v. 12, 13. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour; especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn, and the labourer is worthy of his hire. Against an elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses.1 Tim. v. 17-19. Remember them which have the rule over you; who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, &c. Obey them that have the rule over you (or guide you), and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, &c. Pray for such, &c. Salute all them that have the rule over you. Heb. xiii. 7. 17, 18. 24. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him.-James v. 14. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.-1 Pet. v. 5. IV. Of the Appointment and Ordi nation of Officers in Churches. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take Aaron and his sons with him, &c. and gather thou all the congregation together, &c. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, &c. and said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.-Levit. viii. 1, &c. Thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation, and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites.-Numb. viii. 9. 11. AA by Christ to be the word preached.Mark iv. 14, &c. Luke viii. 11. Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. - Mark vi. 11. Luke x. 16. Matt. x. 11-13. Jesus, as his custom was, went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read; and there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaias; and when he had opened the book, he found the place where it is written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, &c. and he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down, &c. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears, &c. and all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.-Luke iv. 16-22. Jesus went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings, &c.-Luke viii. 1. Jesus said, &c. Ought not Christ to have suffered? &c. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself, &c. then opened he their understandings, that they might understand the scriptures.-Luke xxiv. 26, 27. 45. I pray, &c. for them also which shall believe on me through their word. John xvii. 20. When the apostles were commanded not to preach Christ, they said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. -Acts iv. 18, 19. v. 28. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life: and when, &c. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.-Acts v. 20. 42. The Eunuch reading the prophet Isaias, Philip ran thither to him, &c. and opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus; he believed, &c.Acts viii. 27-38. We are here all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God: while Peter was preaching Christ, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard.-Acts x. 33, 34. ii. 37, &c. Call for Simon, &c. who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.--Acts xi. 13, 14. When Paul and his company came to Antioch, he went into the synagogue, &c. and after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on: then Paul stood up, and preached, &c. -Acts xiii. 13, &c. Then spake the Lord to Paul, &c. Speak, and hold not thy peace; for I have much people in this city: and he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.-Acts xviii. 9-11. Paul went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God; but when divers were hardened, and believed not, &c. he separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus; and this continued by the space of two years: so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus. - Acts xix. 8-10. 20. Now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up.-Acts xx. 32. I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister, &c. delivering thee from the Gentiles, to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.-Acts xxvi. 16-18. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him: preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. - Acts xxviii. 23. 30, 31. ix. 22. xviii. 23. xi. 20, 21. I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also: for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation, &c. - Rom. i. 15, 16. 2 Thess. ii. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent? &c. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -Rom. x. 14, 15.17. Titus i. 3. Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, &c. for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God, &c. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe, &c. - 1 Cor. i. 17, 18. 21. 23, 24. xv. 1-4. My preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, &c. but that which the Holy Ghost teacheth. -1 Cor. ii. 4, 5. 13. In Christ Jesus I have begotten you, through the gospel.-1 Cor. iv. 15. Every man, praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.-1 Cor. xi. 4. He that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort, &c. he edifieth the church, &c.-1 Cor. xiv. 3, 4. Who hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, &c. if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so, &c. how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?-2 Cor. iii. 6-10. The ministry of reconciliation: to wit, that God was in Christ, &c. we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God.-2 Cor. v. 18-20. And he gave some apostles, &c. for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until, &c. - Eph. iv. 11-14. The apostle rejoiced that Christ was preached, although some did it not uprightly. Phil. i. 15, 16. 18. When this epistle is read amongst you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. Col.iv. 16. Ye received the word of God which ye heard of us; ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, &c.-1 Thess. ii. 13. 16. Eph. i. 13. Col. i. 6. Despise not prophesyings. 1 Thess. v. 20. Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.-1 Tim. iv. 13. I charge thee, &c. preach the word: be instant in season, and out of season: reprove, &c.-2 Tim. iv. 1-3. If the word spoken by angels was stedfast, &c. how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?-Heb. ii. 2, 3. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard (or because they were not united by faith to) it.-Heb. iv. 2. I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written, &c. -Heb. xiii. 22. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, &c. wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, &c. receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls: but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves.James i. 18, 19.21-23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, &c. and this is the word |