The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

1. UNTO the call of any person unto this Office of a Pastor in the Church, there are certain Qualifications previously required in him, disposing and making him fit for that Office. The outward call is an act of the Church, as we shall show immediately. But therein is required an obediential acting of him also who is called. Neither of these can be Regular, neither can the Church act according to Rule and Order, nor the person called act in such a due Obedience, unless there are in him some previous Indications of the mind of God, designing the person to be called by such Qualifications, as may render him meet and able for the discharge of his Office and Work. For ordinary vocation is not a collation of Gracious Spiritual Abilities suiting and making Men meet for the Pastoral Office: But it is the communication of Right and Power for the regular use and exercise of Gifts and Abilities received antecedently unto that call, unto the Edification of the Church, wherein the Office it self doth consist. And if we would know what these Qualifications and Endowments are for the substance of them, we may learn them in their great example and pattern, our Lord Jesus Christ himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ being the good Shepherd, whose the Sheep are, the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls; the chief Shepherd, did design in the undertaking and exercise of his Pastoral Office, to give a Type and Example unto all those who are to be called unto the same Office under him. And if there be not a conformity unto him herein, no Man can assure his own Conscience or the Church of God, that he is or can be lawfully called unto this Office.

1. UNTO the call of any person unto this Office of a Pastor in the Church, there are certain Qualifications previously required in him, disposing and making him fit for that Office. The outward call is an act of the Church, as we shall shew immediately. But therein is required an obediential acting of him also who is called. Neither of these can be Regular, neither can the Church act according to Rule and Order, nor the person called act in such a due Obedience, unless there are in him some previous Indications of the mind of God, designing the person to be called by such Qualifications, as may render him meet and able for the discharge of his Office and Work. For ordinary vocation is not a collation of Gracious Spiritual Abilities suiting and making Men meet for the Pastoral Office: But it is the communication of Right and Power for the regular use and exercise of Gifts and Abilities received antecedently unto that call, unto the Edification of the Church, wherein the Office it self doth consist. And if we would know what these Qualifications and Endowments are for the substance of them, we may learn them in their great example and pattern, our Lord Jesus Christ himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ being the good Shepherd, whose the Sheep are, the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls; the chief Shepherd, did design in the undertaking and exercise of his Pastoral Office, to give a Type and Example unto all those who are to be called unto the same Office under him. And if there be not a conformity unto him herein, no Man can assure his own Conscience or the Church of God, that he is or can be lawfully called unto this Office.