The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

10. WHOEVER therefore takes upon him the Pastoral Office without a lawful outward Call, doth take unto himself Power and Authority without any divine Warranty, which is a foundation of all disorder and confusion; interests himself in an accountable Trust, no way committed unto him; hath no promise of Assistance in, or Reward for his Work, but engageth in that which is destructive of all Church-Order, and consequently of the very Being of the Church it self.

10. WHOEVER therefore takes upon him the Pastoral Office without a lawful outward Call, doth take unto himself Power and Authority without any divine Warranty, which is a foundation of all disorder and confusion; interests himself in an accountable Trust, no way committed unto him; hath no promise of Assistance in, or Reward for his Work, but ingageth in that which is destructive of all Church-Order, and consequently of the very Being of the Church it self.

11. YET there are three things that are to be annexed unto this Assertion by way of Limitation: As, (1.) Many things performed by virtue of Office in a way of Authority, may be performed by others not called to Office, in a way of Charity. Such are the moral Duties of Exhorting, Admonishing, Comforting, Instructing and Praying with, and for one another. (2.) Spiritual Gifts may be exercised unto the Edification of others, without Office-Power, where order and opportunity do require it. But the constant exercise of Spiritual Gifts in Preaching, with a refusal of undertaking a Ministerial Office, or without design so to do upon a lawful Call, cannot be approved. (3.) The Rules proposed concern only ordinary cases, and the ordinary state of the Church; extraordinary cases are accompanied with a warranty in themselves for extraordinary Actings and Duties.