The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

WHEREAS therefore this Name or Appellation is taken from, and includes in it Love, Care, Tenderness, Watchfulness in all the Duties of going before, preserving, feeding, defending the Flock, the Sheep and the Lambs, the Strong, the Weak and Diseased, with accountableness as Servants unto the chief Shepherd, it was generally disused in the Church; and those of Bishops or Overseers, Guides, Presidents, Elders which seem to include more of Honour and Authority, were retained in common use; that though one of them, at last, namely that of Bishops, with some elating compositions and adjuncts of power, obtained the preeminence. Out of the Corruption of these Compositions and Additions in Arch-Bishops, Metropolitans, Patriarchs, and the like, brake forth the Cockatrice of the Church, that is the Pope.

WHEREAS therefore this Name or Appellation is taken from, and includes in it Love, Care, Tenderness, Watchfulness in all the Duties of going before, preserving, feeding, defending the Flock, the Sheep and the Lambs, the Strong, the Weak and Diseased, with accountableness as Servants unto the chief Shepherd, it was generally disused in the Church; and those of Bishops or Overseers, Guides, Presidents, Elders which seem to include more of Honour and Authority, were retained in common use; that though one of them, at last, namely that of Bishops, with some elating compositions and adjuncts of power, obtained the preheminence. Out of the Corruption of these Compositions and Additions in Arch-Bishops, Metropolitans, Patriarchs, and the like, brake forth the Cockatrice of the Church, that is the Pope.

BUT this name is by the Holy Ghost appropriated unto the principal Ministers of Christ in his Church, Ephes. 4.11. And under that name they were promised unto the Church of old, Jerem. 3.15. And the Work of these Pastors, is to feed the Flock committed to their charge as it is constantly required of them, Act. 20.29.