First, there is no charge given unto the Officers, Ministers, Guides, or Overseers that he hath appointed, but it is in reference unto the discharge of their duty in such Churches. That Ministers or Officers are of Christs appointment, is expressly declared. Ephes. 4.11.12. He gave some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edify ing of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12.28. God hath set in his Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers. These are of Christs institution; but to what end? why, as they were ordained in every Church, Acts 14.23. Titus 1.5. So their whole charge is limited to the Churches, Acts 20.17. He sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church, and said to them; Verse the 28. take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood, 1 Pet. 5.2. The Elders which are among you, I exhort, feed the flock of God, which is among ⟨p. 100⟩you taking the oversight thereof, 1 Tim. 3.15. Colos. 4.17. And say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. They were the Churches of Christ wherein they ministered, which Christ appointing them to take care of, manifests to be his own institution and appointment. And this is fully declared, Rev. chap. 2.3. where all the dealings of Christ with his Angels, or Ministers, are about their behaviour and deportment among his Candlesticks, each of them, the Candlestick whereunto he was related, or the particular Churches that they had care of, and presided in; the Candlesticks being no less of the institution of Christ, than the Angels. And they were distinct particular Churches, which had their distinct particular Officers, whom he treateth distinctly withal about his institutions and worship; especially about that of the state of the Churches themselves, and their constitution according to his mind.
First, there is no charge given unto the Officers, Ministers, Guides, or Overseers that he hath appointed, but it is in reference unto the discharge of their duty in such Churches. That Ministers or Officers are of Christs appointment, is expresly declared. Ephes. 4.11.12. He gave some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministery, for the edif• ing of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12.28. God hath set in his Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers. These are of Christs institution; but to what end? why, as they were ordained in every Church, Acts 14.23. Titus 1.5. So their whole charge is limited to the Churches, Acts 20.17. He sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church, and said to them; Verse the 28. take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood, 1 Pet. 5.2. The Elders which are among you, I exhort, feed the flock of God, which is among ⟨p. 100⟩you taking the oversight thereof, 1 Tim. 3.15. Colos. 4.17. And say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. They were the Churches of Christ wherein they ministred, which Christ appointing them to take care of, manifests to be his own institution and appointment. And this is fully declared, Rev. chap. 2.3. where all the dealings of Christ with his Angels, or Ministers, are about their behaviour and deportment among his Candlesticks, each of them, the Candlestick whereunto he was related, or the particular Churches that they had care of, and presided in; the Candlesticks being no less of the institution of Christ, than the Angels. And they were distinct particular Churches, which had their distinct particular Officers, whom he treateth distinctly withall about his institutions and worship; especially about that of the state of the Churches themselves, and their constitution according to his mind.
