Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 17. 10. The third part of the Ministers work is about the Baptized, that are only entered into the universal Church (for many such there are,) or else the unbaptized that are Discipled, where the former work and this are done at once: And that is, to congregate the Disciples into particular Churches for Holy Communion in Gods Worship, &c. They must do part of this themselves in Execution. But he leads them the way, by Teaching them their duty, and provoking them to it, and directing them in the execution, and oft-times offering himself or another to be their Teacher, and Leading them in the Execution. So that it belongeth to his office to gather a Church, or a member to a Church.

Sect. 17. 10. The third part of the Ministers work is about the Baptized, that are only entred into the universal Church (for many such there are,) or else the unbaptized that are Discipled, where the former work and this are done at once: And that is, to congregate the Disciples into particular Churches for Holy Communion in Gods Worship, &c. They must do part of this themselves in Execution. But he leads them the way, by Teaching them their duty, and provoking them to it, and directing them in the execution, and oft-times offering himself or another to be their Teacher, and Leading them in the Execution. So that it belongeth to his office to gather a Church, or a member to a Church.

Sect. 18. 11. Hence is the doubt resolved, Whether the Pastor, or Church be first in order of time or Nature? I answer: The Minister as a Minister to Convert and Baptize and gather Churches, is before a Church gathered in order of Nature and of time. But the Pastor of that particular Church as such, and the Church it self whose Pastor he is, are as other Relations, together and at once; as Father and Son, Husband and Wife, &c. As nature first makes the Nobler parts, as the Heart and Brain and Liver; and then by them as instruments formeth the rest; And as the Philosopher or Schoolmaster openeth his School, and takes in Scholars; and as the Captain hath first his Commission to gather Soldiers: But when the Bodies are formed, then when the Captain or Schoolmaster dieth, another is chosen in his stead; So is it in this case of Pastors.