The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

IT is evident what Learning, Labour, Study, Pains, Ability and Exercise of the rational Faculties, are ordinarily required unto the right discharge of these Duties. And where Men may be useful to the Church in other things, but are defective in these, it becomes them to walk and act both circumspectly and humbly, frequently desiring and adhering unto the Advice of them whom God hath entrusted with more Talents and greater Abilities.

5. IT belongs unto their Charge and Office, diligently to labour for the Conversion of Souls unto God. The ordinary means of Conversion is left unto the Church, and its Duty it is to attend unto it. Yea, one of the principal ends of the Institution ⟨p. 98⟩and Preservation of Churches, is the Conversion of Souls; and where there are no more to be Converted, there shall be no more Church on the Earth. To enlarge the Kingdom of Christ, to diffuse the Light and Savour of the Gospel, to be subservient unto the Calling of the Elect, or gathering all the Sheep of Christ into his Fold, are things that God designs by his Churches in this World. Now the principal instrumental cause of all these, is the Preaching of the Word; and this is committed unto the Pastors of the Churches. It is true, Men may be, and often are Converted unto God by their occasional dispensation of the Word who are not called unto Office; for it is the Gospel it self that is the Power of God unto Salvation, by whomsoever it is Administered, and it hath been effectual unto that end, even in the necessary occasional teaching of Women. But it is so frequently in the exercise of Spiritual Gifts, by them who are not stated Officers of the Church, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Phil. 1.14, 15, 18. 1 Pet. 4.10, 11. But yet this hinders not, but that the Administration of the Glorious Gospel of the blessed God, as unto all the ends of it, is committed unto the Pastors of the Church. And the First Object of the Preaching of the Gospel, is the World, or the Men of it for their Conversion. And it is so in the Preaching of all them unto whom that Work is committed by Christ. The Work of the Apostles and Evangelists had this Order in it. First, they were to make Disciples of Men, by the Preaching of the Gospel unto Conversion, and this was their principal Work, as Paul testifieth,