The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

3. OTHERS allow, that it was a distinct Office, whereunto some were called and set apart in the Church, but it was only to Teach (and that in a peculiar manner) the Principles of Religion, but had no Interest in the Rule of the Church, or the Administration of the Sacred Mysteries; so the Pastor in the Church was to Rule and Teach, and Administer the Sacred Mysteries: The Teacher to Teach or Instruct only, but not to Rule, nor Dispense the Sacraments; and the Ruling Elder to Rule only, and neither to Preach nor Administer Sacraments; which hath the appearance of Order, both useful and beautiful.

4. SOME judge, that it was a distinct Office, but of the same nature and kind with that of the Pastor, endowed with all the same Powers, but differenced from it with respect unto Gifts, and a peculiar kind of Work allotted unto it: But this Opinion hath this seeming disadvantage, that the difference between them is so small, as not to be sufficient to give a distinct denomination of Officers, or to constitute a distinct Office. And it may be, such a distinction in Gifts will seldom appear, as that the Church may be guided thereby in their choice of meet Persons unto distinct Offices. But Scripture-Testimony and Rule must take place; and I shall briefly examine all these Opinions.

1. THE First is, That this is not the name of any Officer, nor is a Teacher, as such, any Officer in the Church; but it is ⟨p. 119⟩used only as a general Name for any that Teach on any account the Doctrine of the Gospel. I do not indeed know of any who have in particular contended for this Opinion; but I observe that very many Expositors take no farther notice of them, but as such. This seems to me to be most remote from the Truth.