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ed; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the publick execution of his office, as a part thereofi.

To read the scriptures publickly; for the proof of which, 1. That the priests and Levites, in the Jewish church, were trufted with the publick reading of the word, is proved k.

2. That the minifters of the gospel have as ample a charge and commiffion to difpenfe the word, as well as other ordinances, as the priests and Levites had under the law, proved. Ifa. Ixvi. 2 1. Mat. xxiii. 34. where our Saviour intituleth the officers of the New Teftament, whom he will fend forth, by the fame names of the teachers of the old .

Which propofitions prove, that therefore (the duty being of a moral nature) it followeth by just confequence, that the publick reading of the fcriptures belongeth to the paftor's office.

fins, they shall be forgiven him.

I

i 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then? I will pray with the fpirit, and I will pray with the understanding alfo: I will fing with the fpirit, and I will fing with the understanding alfo. v. 16. Elfe when thou fhalt blefs with the fpirit, how fhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou fayeft?

* Deut. xxxi. 9. And Mofes wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the fons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Ifrael. v. 10. And Mofes commanded them, faying, At the end of every feven years, is the folemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles. v. 11. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he fhall choofe; thou fhalt read this law before all Ifrael in their hearing. Neh. viii. 1. And all the people gathered theme

To

felves together as one man, into the
ftreet that was before the water-
gate, and they spake unto Ezra the
feribe, to bring the book of the law
of Mofes, which the Lord had com-
manded to Ifrael. v. 2. And Ezra
the priest brought the law before
the congregation, both of men and
women, and all that would hear
with understanding, upon the first
day of the feventh month. v.
3. And
he read therein. v. 13. And on the
fecond day were gathered together
the chief of the fathers of all the
people, the priests and the Levites,
unto Ezra the scribe, even to under-
ftand the words of the law.

1 Ifa. lxvi. 21. And I will allo
take of them for priests, and for Le-
vites, faith the Lord. Mat. xxiii.
34. Wherefore behold, I fend unto
you prophets, and wife men, and
fcribes, and fome of them ye fhall
kill and crucify, and fome of them
fhall ye fcourge in your fynagogues,
and perfccute them from city to ci-
ty.
m2 Tim

N 19.

To feed the flock, by preaching of the word, according to which he is to teach, convince, reprove, exhort, and comfort m.

To catechife, which is a plain laying down the first principles of the oracles of God n, or of the doctrine of Christ, and is a part of preaching.

To difpenfe other divine mysteries o.

To administer the facraments p.

To blefs the people from God, Num. vi. 23. 24. 25. 26. compared with Rev. xiv. 5. (where the fame bleffings, and perfons from whom they come, are exprefly mentioned q.) ifa.

m 2 Tim. iii. 2. A bifhop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnithed unto all good works. Tit. i. 9. Holding fast the faithful words as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainfayers.

n Heb. v. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become fuch as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

o 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man fo account of us as of the minifters of Christ, and the stewards of the inyfteries of God. v. 2. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

p Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,

lxvi.

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. v. 20. Teaching them to obferve all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, Amen. Mark xvi. 15. And he faid unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature. v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized fhall be faved, but he that believeth not fhall be damned. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which alfo I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread. v. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. v. 25. After the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood, this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Compared with 1 Cor. x. 26. The cup of blefling which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Numb.

xlvi. 21. where, under the names of priests and Levites to be continued under the gofpel, are meant evangelical paftors, who therefore are by office to bless the people r.

To take care of the poor.

And he hath alfo a ruling power over the flock as a pastor t.
Teacher

Numb.vi. 23. Speak unto Aaron and unto his fons, faying, on this wife ye fhall blefs the children of Ifrael, faying unto them, v. 24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. v. 25. The Lord make his face to fhine upon thee. v. 26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Compared with Rev. i. 4. John, to the feven churches which are in Afia, Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the feven fpirits which are before his throne. v. 5. And from Jefus Chrift who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Ifa. vi. 21. And I will alfo take of them for priests, and for Levites, faith the Lord.

r Deut. x. 8. At that time the Lord feparated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to blefs in his name unto this day. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoft, be with you all, Amen. Eph. i. 2. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift.

Acts xi. 30. Which alfo they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts iv.

34. Neither was there any among you that lacked, for as many as were poffeffors of lands or houses,

fold them, and brought the price of the things that were fold, v. 35. And laid them down at the apoftles feet, and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. v. 36. And Jofes, who by the apoftles was firnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, the fon of confolation) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, v. 37. Having land, fold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet. Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and faid, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and ferve tables. v. 3. Wherefore brethren, look you out among you feven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghoft and wisdom, whom ye may appoint over this bufinefs. v. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the miniftry of the word. 1 Cor. xvi. 1. Now concerning the collection for the faints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even fo do ye. v. 2. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore as God hath profpered him, that there be no gathering when I come. v. 3. And when I come, whom foever ye fhall approve by your letters, them will I fend to bring your liberality to Jerufalem. v. 4. And if it be meet that I go alfo, they fhall go with me. Gal. ii. 9. And when James, Cephas and John, who feemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and BarNn 2

pabas

TH

Teacher or Doctor.

HE Scripture doth hold out the name and title of teacher, as well as of the paftor v.

Who is alfo a minifter of the word as well as the paftor, and hath power of administration of the facraments.

The Lord having given different gifts, and diverse exercifes according to these gifts, in the miniftry of the word w; though thefe different gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercifed by, one and the fame minifter x; yet, where be several

nabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcifion. v. 10. Only they would that we should remember the poor, the fame which I alfo was forward to do.

† 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they

who labour in the word and doctrine. Acts xx. 17. And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. v. 28. Take heed therefore unto your felves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghoft hath made you overfeers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 1 Theff. v. 12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whofe faith follow, confidering the end of their converfation. v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourfelves, for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account: that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for

you.

v I Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church, firft apostles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Eph. iv. II. And he gave fome apoftles, and fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors and teachers.

w Rom. xii. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophefie according to the proportion of faith: v. 7. Or minitry, let us wait on our miniftring: or he that teacheth, on teaching:v. 8. He that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with fimplicity: he that ruleth, with diligence: he that fheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 1 Cor. xii. 1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. v. 4. Now there are diverfities of gifts, but the fame spirit. v. 5. And there are differences of adminiftrations, but the fame Lord. v. 6. And there are diverfities of operations, but it is the fame God, which worketh all in all, v. 7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

* 1 Cor. xiv. 3. But he that prophefieth

veral ministers in the fame congregation, they may be defigned to feveral employments, according to the different gifts in which each of them doth moft excel y. And he that doth more excel in expofition of fcriptures, in teaching found doctrine, and in convincing gainfayers, than he doth in application, and is accordingly employed therein, may be called a teacher, or doctor (the places alledged by the notation of the word do prove the propofition.) Neverthelefs, where is but one minifter in a particular congregation, he is to perform fo far as he is able the whole work of the ministry z. A teacher, or doctor, is of most excellent use in schools and universities; as of old in the schools of the prophets, and at Jerufalem, where Gamaliel and others taught as doctors.

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Other Church-Governors.

S there were in the Jewish church, elders of the people, joined with the priests and Levites in the government of the church a: So Chrift, who hath inftituted a govern

phefieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort. 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-fuffering and doctrine. Tit. i. 9. Holding faft the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainfay

ers.

y See in letter w immediately preceeding. Pet. iv. 10. As every man hath received the gift, even fo minifter the fame one to another, as good ftewards of the manifold grace of God. v. 11. If any man fpeak, let him fpeak as the oracles of God; if any man minifter, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jefus Chrift, to whom be praife, and do

ment,

minion, for ever and ever. Amen.

z 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be inftant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-fuffering and doctrine. Tit. i. 9. Holding faft the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainfayers. 1 Tim. vi. 2. And they that have unbelieving mafters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren, but rather do them fervice, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefits: Thefe things teach and exhort.

a 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jerufalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Ifrael, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controverfies, when they returned to Jerufalem. v. 9. And he chargNn 3

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