i

!
The rule and goven.lment of
ti,e Church, or the execution of
tl,e authority of Christ therein, is
in tbe band of the elders. All in
office baw rule, and nOlle have
rule in ti,e cllUrch but elders: as
such, rule doth belong to them.
The apostles by virtue of their
special office were entrusted willi
all church power; but therefore .
they were.elders also; I Pet. v. 1;
3 John 1; see: Acts 21:17; I
Tim 1:17. They are some of
tl,em on otber accounts called
bisbops, pastors, teachers,
wherein Christ is pleased to grant
it; Eph. 4:7, see also I Cor.
12:4,7,8-10; Rom. 12:6-8; I
Pet. 4: 10, wherefore diHerent
gifts are llie first foundation of
different offices and duties.
Tl,ird. Tl,at diHerent gifts are
required unto ti,e different works
of pastoral teaching on the one
band, and practicalmle on ti,e
other, is evident, first, from the
ligbt of reason, and the nature of
tbe works themselves being so
different. And, second, from
experience; some Inen are fitted.
ministers, guides; but
what belongs to any
of them in point of
rule, or what interest
they have therein, it
belongs unto them as
elders, and not
otherwise, Acts
20:17,18. The
Scriptures affirm,
first, that there is a
worl< and duty of rule
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in the Church, from the
work and duty of pastoral
feeding, by the preaching of tl,e
Word and adminiBtration of the
Sacraments, Acts 20:28; Rom.
12:8; I Cor. 12:28; I Tim. v.
17; 2 Tim 4:5; Heb. 13:7, 17;
Rev. 2:3.
Second.Different imd distinct
gifts are required unto the
discharge of these distinct works
and duties. This belongs unto ti,e
harmony of the dispensation of
the gospel. Gifts are bestowed to
answer all duties proscribed.
Hende they are ti,e first
foundation of all power, work,
and duty in the church. Unto
every one of us is given grace
accol"ding to the measUre of ti,e
gift of Christ, that is, ability for
duty, according to the measure
by gifts for the dispensation of
the word and doctrine in a way of
pastoral feeding, who have no
useful ability in the worl. of mle;
and some are fitted for rule, WllD
have no gifts for ti,e discharge of
the pastoral war!. in preaching.
Yea, it is very seldom that both
these sort of gifts do concur in
any eminent degree in ti,e same
persons, or without some notable
defect.
Fourth. The work of rule, as
distinct from teaching, is in
general to watch over the walk or
conversation of the members of
tl,e church witl, autbority,
exhorting, comforting,
admonishing, reproving,
encouraging, and directing of
them, as occasion shall require.
The gifts necessary bereunto are
diligence, wisdom, courage, and
gravity; as we sball see afterwalds.
The pastoral worl. is principally
to "eveal the whole counsel of
God, to divide the word aright, or
to labor in the word and doctrine,
botl, as unto the general
dispensation and particular
application of it, in all seasons
and on all occasions. Hereunto
spiritual wisdom, knowledge,
sound judgment, .experience, and
utterance are required; all to be
improved by continual study of
the word al1d prayer. But this
diUerence of gifts unto these
distinct works doth
not of itself
constitute distinct
offices, because the
same persons Illay be
suitably furnished
with those of both
sorts.
Fifth. Yet distinct
works and duties,
though some were
furnished witl, gifts
.for both, were a ground in fue
wisdom of the Holy Ghost, for
distinct offices in tbe churcl"
where one sort of them were as
much as those of one office could
ordinarily attend unto, Acts 6:2-
4. Ministration unto the poor of
the church, for the supply of
their temporal necessities, is an
ordinance of Christ, instituted
that the apostles might give a
more diligent attendance unto
tl,e word and prayer.
Sixth. The worl. of the
miniBtry in prayer, and preaching
of the word, or labor in the word
and doctrine, whereunto tbe
administration of the seals of the
covenant is armexed, with all the
duties that belong unto the
special application of tl,ese things
before insisted 011 unto ti,e flock,
are ordinarily sufficient to tal.e .
April, 1996 f THE COUNSEL of Chalcedpn f 19
up the whole man, and the
utmost of their endowments who
are called unto the pastoral office '
in the church. The very nature of
the work itself is such, as that the
apostle giving a short description
of it adds, as an intimation of its
greatness and excellency, "who is
sufficient for these things?" 2
Cor. 2: 16. And the manne. of
its performance adds unto its
weight. Fot not to mention that
intenseness of mind in the
exercise of 'faith, love, zeal, and
compassion, which is required of
them in the discharge of their
whole office; the diligent
consideration of the state of the
flock, so as to provide spiritual ,
food for them; with a constant
attendance unto the issues and
effecis of the word: in the '
consciences and lives of men; is
enough for the most part to take
up their whole time and sirenst,h.
It is gross ignorance ot
negligence that causeth any to be
otherwise minded. As the work of
the ministry is generally,
discharged, con.isting only in the
weekly provision of sermons, and
the performance of some -stated
offices by reading, men have time
and liberty enough to attend
unto other occasions. But in
such perSons we-are not at
present concerned. Our rule is
plain, 1 Tim 4:12-17.
Seve':'th. It doth not hence
follow, that who are called
unto the ministry of the word, as
pastors and who are
elders also, are divested of their
right to rule' in church, or
discharged form the exercise !Of
it, because others; \,ot called
unto their office, are appointed
to be assistant unto them, that is
, helps in the government. For
the right and duty of rule is
inseperable hom the office of
elders, which all bishops and
pastors are. The right is still in
them, and the exercise of it, ' ,
consistent with their more
excallent work, is required of
them. The apostles in the
constitution of elders in every ,
church derogated nothing hom
their own authority, nor
discharged themselves of their
care. So when they appointed
deacons to take care of supplies
for the poor, they did not forego
their own right, nor the exercise
of their duty as their other work
would them, Gal. 2:9,10.
And in particular the apostle
Paul manifested his
herein, in the care he took about
collection for the poor in all
churches.
Eighth, As we observed at the
entrance of this chapter, the
whole work of the church, as
unto authoritative teaching and
. rule, .is committed Unto the
eld.rs. For authoritative teaching
and ruling, is teaching and'ruling
by virtue of office: and this office
whereUnto they do belong is that
of elders, as is Undeniably
attested, Acts 20:17, etc. All
that belongs unto the care,
inspection, oversight, rule , and
instruction of the church, is '
committed unto the elders of it
expressly. For elders is a name
derived hom the J ewe, denoting '
them that have authority in the '
church.
Ninth. To the complete
constitution of any church, or to
the perfection of its organical
state, it is required that there be
many elders in it; at least more
than one. I do not determine
20 THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon April, 1996
what their number ought to be;
but it is to be proportioned to the
work and end designed. Where
the churches are' small the '
number of elders must be so also.
So many are necessary in each
office as are able to discharge the
work which is allotted unto them.
But that church, b. it small or
great, is defective, which hath
not more elders than one; so
many as are sufficient for their
worl . The pattern of the first
churches constituted by the
apostles, which it is our duty to
imitate and follow as our rule,
plainly dedares, that many elders
were appointed by them in eVery
church, Acts 11:30, 14:23,
15:2,4,6,22, 16:4,20:17; I
Tim 5:17; PhJ.1:1; Tit. 1:5; 1
Pet.5:l.
Tenth. We shall now make
application of these things unto
our_present purpose. I say then,
first, whereas there is a work 'of
rule in the Church, distinct ' hom
that of pastoral feeding: second,
this work is to be
attended unto with diligence,
which includes the whole duty "f
him that attends Unto it: third,
that the ministry of the word and
prayer, with all those duties that
accompany it, is a full
employment for any man, and so
consequently his principal and
proper work, which it is unlawful
for him to be remiss in, by
attending on another with
diligence: fourth, that, in the
wisdom of the Holy Ghost,
distinct works did require distinct
offices for their discharge: and,
fifth, whereas there ought to be
many elders in every church, that
both the works of teaching and '
ruling may be cObstantly
attended unto; all which, we have
proved already: our inquiry
herein is, whether the same Holy
Spirit hath not distinguisl,ed this
office of elders into those two
sorts, namely, those who are
called unto teaching and rule
also, and those who are called
unto rule only, which we affirm.
The testimonies whereby the
trutl, of this assertation is
confirmed are generally known
and pleaded. I shall insist on
some of them only, beginning
with that which is of
uncontrollable evidence, if it had
anything to conflict with but
prejudices and interest, and tl.is
is I Tim. v. 17, the meaning of
which is, the elders or presbyters
in office, elders of the church
that rule well or discharge their
presidency for rule in due
manner, are worthy, or ought to
be reputed worthy, of double
honor; especially those of them
who labor, or are engaged in the
great labor and travaJ of the
word and doctrine.
According to this sense the
words of the tex!: have a plain and
obvious Signification, which at
first view presents itself unto the
common sense and
understanding of all men. On
the first proposal of this tex!:,
that the elders that rule well are
worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the
word and doctrine, a rational
man, who is unprejudiced, and
never heard of the controversy
about ruling elders, can hardly
avoid apprehen;;ion tl.at tl,ere are
two sorts of elders, some that
labor in the word and doctrine,
and some who do not. This is the
substance of the huth in the
tex!:. There are elders in tl,e
Church; tl,ere are or ougl,t to be
so in every chural,. With these
elders the whole rule of the
Church is entrusted; all these,
and only tl,ese, do lUle in it. of
these eldel's there are two sorts;
for a description is given of one
SOlt distinct from tl,e other, and
comparative with it. The first
SOlt doth, and also labor in the
word and doctrine. That these
wo,1s are distinct and different
was before declared: yet by the
institution of Cbrist tbe right of
rule is inseparable from the office
of pastors or teaallers. For all
that are rightly called tbereunto
are elders 'also, whial, gives them
an interest in rule. But there are
elders whicb are not pastors or
teaabers. For tl,ere are some who
rule well, but labor not in the
word and doctrine; that is, who
are not pastors or teacl1.ers.
Elders which rule well, but
labor not in the word and
doctrine, are ruling elders only;
for he who says, the elders who
rule well are worthy of double
honor, especially they who labor
in the word and doctrine, saith
that there are, or may be elders
who well, who do not labor
in the word and doctrine; tl,at is ,
who are not obliged to do so.
The argument fTOm these
words may be otherwise framed,
but this contains the plain sense
of this testimony.
Our nex!: testimony is from
tl.e same apostle, Rom. 12:6,7,
"He that ruleth with dJigence."
Onr argument from hence is
this: there is in the Church one
that ruleth witl, authority by
vidue of his office. For the
discharge of this office there is a
differing peculiar gift bestowed
on some, v. 7, and tl,ere is the
special manner prescribed for the
discharge of this special office, by
vidue of tl.at gift; it is to be done
with peculiar dJigence. And tl.is
ruler is distinguislled from him
that exl,odeth, and him tl,at
teacheth, with whose special
work, as such, he hath nothing
do; even as they are
distinguisl,ed from those wl,o
give and show mercy; that is,
there is an elder by office in the
Church, whose worl. and duty it
is to to rule, not to exl,od or
teach ministerially, which is .our
lUling elder. He that lUleth is a
distinct officer, and is expressly
distinguished from all others.
Rule is ti,e principal pad of him
that ruleth; for he is to attend
Wlto it with JJigence; that is,
such as is peculiar unto rule, in
contradiction unto what is
principally required in other

There is the same evidence
given unto the tratl, argued for
in another testimony of the same
apostle, I Cor. 12:28: that tl.ere
is here an enumeration of offices
and officers in the Church, both
extraordinary for tl,at seaSOll,
and ordinalY for continuance, is
beyond exception. Unto tl,em is
added the present exercise of
some ex!:raordinary gifts, as
miracles, I,ealing, tongues. That
by helps the deacons of tl.e
Church are intended most do
agree, because their original
institution was as I,elpers in ti,e
aHairs of ti,e Church,
Governments are goveluors or
rulers; tbat is, sucl, as are
distinct from teael,ers; such hath
God placed ill tI,e Church, and
such tl,ere ought to be. It is said
that gifts, not officers, are
April, 1996 t THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon t 21
intended; the gift of government,
or' the gift for governrnent. If
God hi.th given gift. for.
government to abide in the
Church, distinct from those
given unto teachers, and unto
other persons than the teachers,
than there is a distinct office of
rule or government in the
Church, which is all we plead for.
of the Duties of
. RulmgElders.
. To watch diligently aver
the walk, and conversation
all the members. of the church,
to see that it be blamJess, ,
'offe):1ge, .
exempl"ry, and in all things '
answering the holiness the
of Christ, the honor
of the' gospel, and the profession
thereof ;hich theym,;].e in the
world. Andup0):1 the observation
which they m.,).e in the watch.
wherein they pl"ced, to
instruct, admonish" charge,
exhort, encourage, or comfort as
they see cause. And this they are
to attend unto, with courage and
diligence. "
. Sec\md. T 0
prevent every thing that,iIi
up,to. that ;love whlch the
Lord Christ requireth in a
peculiar and manner to
be found among his dispiples . .
This he qJk his own
c':'mmand; with respect unto his
authority it, his
example first illustrafi):lg it in the
world, 'a):1d the peculiar fruits and
effects of it which he revealed and
taught. Wherefore, the due ,
observance of this law of love in
itself ,and all itsfnuts, with the
or
of all that is
contrary unto it, is that in ;"4;ch
the rule doth in a great measure
consist. And considering the
weakness, the passions, the
temptations of men, the mutual
provocations and differences that
are apt to fall out even among
the best, the influence that
earthly objects are apt to have
upon their minds, the
frowardness sometimes of men's
natural tempers; the attendance
unto this one. duty, or part of
rule, requires the utmost .
diligence of them that are called
unto it:
Third. To warn all the
members of the church of their
special church duties, that they
may not be found negligent or
wantilig in them. These are
special duties required
respectively of all church
members, according unto the
distinct talents which they have
whether in things
spiritual ortemporal. SOme are
rich and some are poor; some old
and;some young; some in peace
and some in trouble; some have
received more spiritual gifts than
others, and have more
opporhmity for their exercise:
therefore it belongs unto the rule
of the chuxch, that all be
admonished, instructed, and
exhorted to attend unto their
respective duties, by those in
rule; to the observation
which they make of people's
diligence or negligence in them.
Fourth. To watch against the
beginning of any church
disorders, s;"ch as those that
infested the church of Corinth,
or any of the like sort; and to see
that the members of the church
attend regularly upon the
ordinances of the gospel, as by
22 THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon f April, 1996
slothfulness in this, decays in
faith, love, and order have
insensibly prevailed in many, to
the dishonor of Christ, and the
danger of their own souls.
Fifth. I belongs unto them
also to visit the sick, and
especially such as their inward or
outward conditions do expose
them unto more than ordinary
trials in their sickness; that is,
the poor, the afflicted, the
tempted in any kind. This in
general is a church duty by virtue
of divine institution, ordaining,
that the disciples of Christ may
have all that spiritual and
temporal relief, which is
necessary for them, and useful to
them, in their troubles and
distresses.
Sixth. To assist the pastor in
watching over and directing the
flock, and to advise with the
deacons concerning the relief of
the poor. According to the
advantage which they have by
their peculiar inspection of the
conversation of all the members
of the ch=h, they ought to
acquaint the teaching with
the state of the flock, as to their
knowledge, conditions, and
temptations, which may be of
singular use unto them, for their
direction in the exercise
ministry. The . .
contributions at Antioch for ilia'
brethren which dwelt in Judea,
were sent by the hands of
Barnabas and Saul unto the
elders in Judea, Acts 11 :27, 30.
Seventh. To unite with
teaching elders in admitting
members into the fellowship of
the church, upon, a visible
evidence of theirhe$rig quali:fied
as the Scriptu"';s direct. Unto
them God batl, given the l<eys of
tbe kingdom of heaven, to open
tl,e door of admission unto tl,ose
whom God hath received, Matt.
16:19.
Eigl,th. To meet and consult
witl, llie teacl,ing elders about
such things of imporlance as are
to be proposed to the members of
the church for their consent.
Hence notl,ing rash or
indigested, nolliing unsuited to
the duty of llie church, will at
any time be proposed therein, so
as to give occasion for contests,
"Let the
elders
that rule
well be
counted
worthy of
double
janglings, or disputes, contrary to
order or decency, but all things
may be preserved in a due regard
unto the gravity and autl' 0rity of
tl,e rulers.
Nintl,. To sit in judgment
upon offenders, to take the
proof, to weigh the evidence and
determine accordingly, justifying
tI1.e innocent, and ordaining
censure to be inflicted on tl,e
convicted brother, according to
tl,e nature of the offence, Matt.
18:15,17,18.
T entb. Whereas there is
generally but one teaci,ing elder
in a el1Urcl" upon his death or
removal, it is tl,e work and duty
of tbe ruling elders to preserve
tbe cl1Urcl, in peace and unity, to
tal<e care of tbe continuation of
its puhlic ordinances, to prevent
irregularities in any persons or
parties among tbem, and to give
all necessalY aid and advice in tl,e
choice and call of some otber
meet person t o be their pastor, in
tbe room of the deceased or
removed.
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