A42758:107
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyterial government.An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyteriall government.
Edinburgh: printed for James Bryson, 1641Edinburgh: printed for Iames Bryson, 1641
Part 1 › Chapter 5: Our third Argument taken from Romans 12.8.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
OUR third Argument is grounded upon Rom. 12.8. The Apostle hath declared before that, as there are many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office, for the office of the eye is to see, of the ear to hear, &c. So are their gifts given to the several office-bearers of the Church, wherewith every one in his own office may glorify God and edify the Church, vers. 4. with vers. 5.6. These gifts he saith are differing, according to the grace given to us; that is, according to the holy charge and office given unto us by the grace and favour of God: so vers. 3. Through the ⟨p. 35⟩grace given unto me, saith Paul: that is through the authority of my Apostleship, which by grace I have obtained. Now whiles he exhorteth every one to the faithful and humble use of his gift which he hath received for the discharge of his office, he illustrateth his exhortation by the enumeration of the ordinary Ecclesiastical offices vers. 6.7.8. And as Beza, 1Piscator, and Junius do well resolve the text. First, he maketh a general division of functions in the Church, making two sorts of the same Prophecy, whereby is meant the faculty of expounding Scripture: and Ministry comprehending all other employments in the Church. Prophesying the Apostle subdivideth into Teaching, which is the Doctors part, and Exhortation which is the Pastors. Ministry he subdivideth in Giving, which is the Deacons part. Ruling which is the ruling Elders part, and Showing mercy, which pertained to them who had care of the sick. Against this commentary which we have made upon the Apostles words.2 Sutcliffe objecteth a double injury which we do to Pastors. First, if these our Elders be the Rulers here spoken of, then Pastors ought not to rule: as if (forsooth) Elders could not rule except they rule alone. Next he saith we make these Elders as ⟨p. 36⟩necessary to the Church as Pastors; so that a Church cannot be where there are not ruling Elders, even as there is not a Church where there are not Word and Sacraments. Surely, a Church may happen to want Pastors, and so to want both the preaching of the Word, and the use of the Sacraments for that time: And so may it want Elders, and still remain a Church, but defective and maimed. Howbeit the Pastors are more necessary then the Elders, because they do not only rule, but preach beside.