3. He speaks to preaching Elders especially, that feed by doctrine: for he propounds his own example to them, Verse 20. That he had revealed the whole counsel of God. And Peter seconds Paul in this, 1 Peter, Chap. 5. Verse 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof. The flock [Greek or Hebrew] among you: is that flock any of them had relation to as his flock respectively. Peter here writing unto the Churches in several Nations Chap. 1. Verse 1. whereas in Acts 20▪ and Verse 28. the charge is to the particular Elders of Ephesus to that whole flock; therefore that note of respectiveness is here put [Greek or Hebrew] among you: that is, that flock which respectively belongs to you, as Colossians Chap. 1. Verse 17. Who is for you a faithful Minister, that is, your proper Pastor: So the flock [Greek or Hebrew] is your several proper flocks that belong to you. And hereby it appears that their oversight is not extendible beyond their feeding. Thus also Heb. 13. Verse 7. Remember them that have the rule over you, and have spoken to you the word of God; which he speaks of preaching Elders, and of ruling Elders (of whom he speaks Verse 17.) Obey ⟨p. 5⟩them that have the rule over you, for they watch for your souls, as those that must give an account. And whether these places note out two sort of Officers, Preaching Elders, ver. 7. and Ruling Elders, ver. 17. or but one sort, and so but several acts of the same Office, however if but one, yet still the ordinary rule over them was not farther extendible then their ordinary preaching; if two sorts of Officers, they being Officers together in the same Church, if the Pastors power of ruling extends no farther then his preaching, then the mere ruling Elders power, or his that is assistant to him, must extend no farther then the Pastors also; this is the natural obligation to obedience, and so is the measure to set the bounds of the extent of ordinary Church power. 'Tis one argument used against Episcopal power, that they are enforced to obey him that speaks not the word to them, nor watches over their souls;
3. He speaks to preaching Elders especially, that feed by doctrine: for he propounds his own example to them, Verse 20. That he had revealed the whole counsell of God. And Peter seconds Paul in this, 1 Peter, Chap. 5. Verse 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof. The flock 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 among you: is that flock any of them had relation to as his flock respectively. Peter here writing unto the Churches in severall Nations Chap. 1. Verse 1. whereas in Acts 20▪ and Verse 28. the charge is to the particular Elders of Ephesus to that whole flock; therefore that note of respectivenesse is here put 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 among you: that is, that flock which respectively belongs to you, as Colossians Chap. 1. Verse 17. Who is for you a faithfull Minister, that is, your proper Pastor: So the flock 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is your severall proper flocks that belong to you. And hereby it appears that their oversight is not extendible beyond their feeding. Thus also Heb. 13. Verse 7. Remember them that have the rule over you, and have spoken to you the word of God; which he speaks of preaching Elders, and of ruling Elders (of whom he speaks Verse 17.) Obey ⟨p. 5⟩them that have the rule over you, for they watch for your soules, as those that must give an accompt. And whether these places note out two sort of Officers, Preaching Elders, ver. 7. and Ruling Elders, ver. 17. or but one sort, and so but severall acts of the same Office, however if but one, yet still the ordinary rule over them was not farther extendible then their ordinary preaching; if two sorts of Officers, they being Officers together in the same Church, if the Pastors power of ruling extends no farther then his preaching, then the meere ruling Elders power, or his that is assistant to him, must extend no farther then the Pastors also; this is the naturall obligation to obedience, and so is the measure to set the bounds of the extent of ordinary Church power. 'Tis one argument used against Episcopall power, that they are inforced to obey him that speakes not the word to them, nor watches over their soules;
