The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

IT is not my present design nor work to give a full account of the Qualifications required in Persons to be called unto this Office; nor of their Duty and Work, with the Qualities or Virtues to be exercised therein. It would require a large Discourse to handle them practically, and it hath been done by others. It were to be wished, that what is of this kind expressed in the Rule, and which the nature of the Office doth indispensably require, were more exemplified in practice than it is. But some things relating unto this Officer and his Office that are needful to be well stated, I shall treat concerning.

IT is not my present design nor work to give a full account of the Qualifications required in Persons to be called unto this Office; nor of their Duty and Work, with the Qualities or Vertues to be exercised therein. It would require a large Discourse to handle them practically, and it hath been done by others. It were to be wished, that what is of this kind expressed in the Rule, and which the nature of the Office doth indispensably require, were more exemplified in practice than it is. But some things relating unto this Officer and his Office that are needful to be well stated, I shall treat concerning.

THE name of a Pastor or Shepherd is Metaphorical. It is a Denomination suited unto his Work, denoting the same Office and Person with a Bishop or Elder, spoken of absolutely without limitation unto either Teaching or Ruling. ¹And it seems to be used or applied unto this Office, because it is more comprehensive of, and instructive in all the Duties that belong unto it, than any other Name whatever; nay, than all of them put together. The Grounds and Reasons of this Metaphor, or whence the Church is called a Flock, and whence God termeth himself the Shepherd of the Flock; whence the Sheep of this Flock are committed unto Christ, whereon he becomes the good Shepherd that lays down his Life for the Sheep, and the Prince of Shepherds; what is the interest of Men in a participation of this Office, and what their Duty thereon, are things well worth the consideration of them who are called unto it. Hirelings, yea, Wolves and dumb Dogs, do in many places take on themselves to be Shepherds of the Flock, by whom it is devoured and destroyed.