Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 3. So that [A Minister of the Gospel is an Officer of Jesus Christ, set apart (or separated) to preach the Gospel and thereby to convert men to Christianity, and by Baptism to receive Disciples into his Church, to congregate Disciples, and to be the Teachers, Overseers, and Governors of the particular Churches, and to go before them in public worship and administer to them the special Ordinances of Christ, according to the word of God; that in the Communion of Saints, the members may be edified, preserved, and be fruitful and obedient to Christ; and the Societies well ordered, beautified and strengthened; and both Ministers and People saved; and the Sanctifier, Redeemer and the Father Glorified and Pleased in his People now and for ever]

Sect. 3. So that [A Minister of the Gospel is an Officer of Iesus Christ, set apart (or separated) to preach the Gospel and thereby to convert men to Christianity, and by Baptism to receive Disciples into his Church, to congregate Disciples, and to be the Teachers, Overseers, and Governours of the particular Churches, and to go before them in publick worship and administer to them the special Ordinances of Christ, according to the word of God; that in the Communion of Saints, the members may be edified, preserved, and be fruitful and obedient to Christ; and the Societies well ordered, beautified and strengthened; and both Ministers and People saved; and the Sanctifier, Redeemer and the Father Glorified and Pleased in his People now and for ever]

Sect. 4. In this Definition of a Minister, 1. It is supposed that he be competently qualified for these works: For if the Matter be not so far Disposed as to be capable of the Form, it will not be informed thereby. There are some Qualifications necessary to the being of the Ministry, some but to the well being. Its the first that I now speak of.

Sect. 5. Before I name them, lest you misapply what is said, I shall first desire you to observe this very necessary distinction: Its one thing to ask, Who is to take himself for a called and true Minister; and to do the work, as expecting Acceptance and Reward from God: and its another thing to ask, Whom are the people (or Churches) to take for a true Minister, and to submit to as expecting the Acceptance and blssing of God in that submission from hi administrations. Or its one thing to have a Call which will before God justify his Ministration and another thing to have a Call which will before […] justify the Peoples submission, and will justify in foro Ecclesia, both him and them. And so its one thing to be a Minister whom God and Conscience will justify and own, as to Himself and another thing to be a Minister to the Church, whom they must own, and God will own and bless only as to their good.