A42758:82
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 2: Of the function of Ruling Elders, and what sort of Officers they be.
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.
he distinguisheth teaching from exhortation: and 1 Cor. 12.8. putteth the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge for two different things. Now beside those Elders which labour in the Word, and those which labour in Doctrine, Paul speaketh to Timothy of a third sort of Elders, which labour neither in the Word nor Doctrine, but in ruling well. Hence it appeareth, how truly the Book of Policy, Cap. 2. saith, That there are four ordinary, perpetual, and necessary Offices in the Church, the office of the Pastor, the Doctor, the Elder, and the Deacon: and that no other office, which is not one of these four, ought to be received, or suffered in the Church.
hee distinguisheth teaching from exhortation: and 1 Cor. 12.8. putteth the word of wisedome, and the word of knowledge for two different things. Now beside those Elders which labour in the Word, and those which labour in Doctrine, Paul speaketh to Timothy of a third sort of Elders, which labour neither in the Word nor Doctrine, but in ruling well. Hence it appeareth, how truely the Booke of Policie, Cap. 2. saith, That there are foure ordinary, perpetuall, and necessary Offices in the Church, the office of the Pastor, the Doctor, the Elder, and the Deacon: and that no other office, which is not one of these foure, ought to bee received, or suffered in the Church.
But when we speak of Elders, Non personatos, &c. we will not have disguised and histrionical men, puffed up with titles, or idols dead in sins, to be meant, but holy men, who being endued with faith in God, and walking in his obedience, God authorising them, and the Church his Spouse choosing and calling them, undertake the government thereof, that they may labour to the conservation and edification of the same in Christ, 1saith Junius. A ruling Elder should pray for the Spirit and gifts ⟨p. 11⟩