The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

Thirdly, We answer, as the Apostles were transcendent Officers of the Church, so they received transcendent power to administer ⟨p. 83⟩their work. As the Father sent Christ, so Christ sent them, Job. 20.21. to wit, Cum amplitudine & plenitudine potestatis, with all fullness of power, so that any one Apostle received both the gifts and power of all the Officers of the Church. Any Apostle might do the work, not only of an Apostle, but of a Prophet, of an Evangelist, of a Pastor, of a Teacher, of a Deacon. ¹They do foretell (as Prophets) things to come, Acts 27.22. They travelled up and down not only to plant Churches, but to water Churches, as Evangelists, Acts 15.41. They as Pastors feed the flock of Christ with wholesome words of exhortation,² Joh. 21.25. They as Teachers of the Gentiles, as Paul speaketh of himself, taught them in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. They (as Elders) ruled the Church, not as Lords, but as examples to the flock, and as Deacons they received the oblations of the Church, and distributed the same according to the necessity of the Saints. Yea,³ though when the Apostles came where Churches were planted, they did put forth no act of transcendent authority, but did all with the consent of the Church; yet in the absence of the Churches, they might do any act which any Church, and all the Officers thereof might do together. As for ought we know they might in such a case impose hands alone; so Paul might set apart Timothy to some special office, 2 Tim. 1.6. they might alone deliver unto Satan, 1 Tim. 1.20. they alone might baptize, in as much as the presence, and the power, and fellowship of any one of them, did comprehend as much as the presence and power and fellowship of the whole Church together;