but from all other particular churches; so the church at Cen-
chrea was not the same with the church at Corinth, though
but at a little distance from it. Onesimus and Epaphras
were of the church at Collosse, and not of another, Col. iv. 9.
12. From all which it follows, 8. That a church of Christ
is not parochial, or men do not become church members by
habitation in a parish; for Turks and Jews may dwell in the
same parish: nor is it diocesan; for we never read of more
churches under one bishop or pastor, though there may have
been, where churches were large, more bishops or pastors in
one church, Phil. i. 1. nor provincial, for we read of churches
in one province; as of the churches of Judea, and of Galatia,
and of Macedonia: nor national; nay, so far from it, that we
not only read of more churches in a nation, but even of
churches in houses, Rom. xvi. 5. 1 Cor. xvi. 19. Col. iv. 15.
Philem. verse 2. nor presbyterian; for we never read of a
church of presbyters or elders, though of elders ordained in
churches; by which it appears there were churches before
there were any presbyters or elders in them, Acts xiv. 23.
But a particular visible gospel church is congregational. A
church of saints thus essentially constituted, as to matter and
form, have a power in this state to admit and reject members,
as all societies have; and also to choose their own officers;
which when done, they become a complete organized church,
as to order and power.

OF THE DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS OF A
CHURCH TO EACH OTHER.

THERE are several duties incumbent on church members, which it is highly necessary to observe. As,

I. And which is a principal one, to love one another. 1. This is the great law of Christ, as King in his church, John xiii. 34. and xv. 12. 17. 2. The example of Christ should influence and engage unto it, John xiii. 34. and xv. 12. 1 John iii. 16. 3. The relations that members of churches stand in to each other oblige to love. 1 Pet. ii. 17. and iii. 8. 4. Mu

tual love is an evidence of being the disciples of Christ, John xiii. 35. 5. It is this which makes communion in a church state delightful and comfortable, as well as honourable; Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! nothing is more pernicious and ruinous to a church state than want of love, Gal. v. 15. This love of members, one to another, ought to be fervent, unfeigned, and universal to the saints, weaker as well as stronger, poor as well as rich.

II. It is incumbent on church members, as much as in them lies, to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace: to press to which, the apostle uses various arguments in Eph. iv. 3-6. Care should be taken to promote and pre. serve unity of affection, Phil. ii. 2. and unity of mind and judgment, 1 Cor. i. 10, 11. unity of faith, Eph. iv. 5. 13. and unity of worship, Zeph. iii. 9. Rom. xv. 6. Proud and contentious men, who seek to promote strife and division, are not to be encouraged in christian communities, 1 Cor. xi. 16.

III. It is the duty of members of churches, to sympathise with each other in all conditions and circumstances they come into, Rom. xii. 15. this sympathy should be with respect to calamity, affliction, and distress, of whatsoever kind; it becomes fellow members; to comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, and bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

IV. It is the duty of church members to communicate to each other in such circumstances. In outward things, to such as are in want of them, Rom. xii. 13. Gal. vi. 10. and in spiritual things, to mutual comfort and edification.

V. It is the duty of church members to watch over one another; not only pastors of churches are to watch over them for this purpose, but members of churches are to look diligently, or act the part of a bishop or overseer in some respect, any man fail of the grace of God, Heb. xii. 15.

lest

VI. It is incumbent on members of churches to bear with one another; the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak: and

to bear one another's burdens, and to forbear with each other, and not bear hard on one another; but to forgive one another, as Christ, and God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven them; and especially when repentance is declared and discovered, then forgiveness should be extended, not only to seven times, but to seventy times seven; for if we forgive not, neither will our heavenly Father forgive our trespasses, Rom. xv. 1.

VII. It is the duty of members of churches to pray for one another; even for all saints, as the apostle intimates, Eph. vi. 18. and especially for such who are in the same church state.

VIII. It becomes church members to separate themselves from the men of the world, and not touch persons and things which are defiling; as a church state, is a garden in closed.

IX. Church members should be constant in assembling together for religious worship; it is remarked of the members of the first christian church, to their honour, that they continued steadfast in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer, Acts ii. 42. A bad custom prevailed among some of those christian Hebrews, to forsake the assembling of themselves together, which the apostle takes notice of to their dishonour, Heb. x. 25.

X. There should be no respect of persons among members of churches in their assemblies, and when met together on church affairs, with regard to rich or poor, greater or lesser gifts; all the strife should be in honour to prefer one another; and such who are highest, with respect to spiritual gifts, or worldly riches, should condescend to men of low estate, Rom. xii. 10. 16.

XI. It behoves them to strive together for the faith of the gospel, and earnestly to contend for it; nor suffer any human inventions and unwarranted practices to be imposed up

on them.

XII. It becomes them to be examples to each other in a holy walk and conversation, and in an observance of all the

duties of religion; by a strict attention to these several duties of religion, they will shew that they behave themselves in the house of God as they ought to do.

OF THE OFFICERS OF A CHURCH, PAR.

TICULARLY PASTORS.

HAVING treated of a church, as essentially considered, I shall now proceed to consider it, organically, or as an organized church, having its proper officers. In the first churches there were officers both extraordinary and ordinary; the extraordinary officers were apostles, prophets, and evangelists.

I. Apostles, 1 Cor. xii. 28. These had the first and chief places in the church, and the signs of the apostles were found with them: they had their call and mission from Christ; they were infallibly guided into all truth; they were not limit ed to any particular church. This office is now ceased; the apostles have no successors in it.

II. There were set in the churches, secondarily prophets, 1 Cor. xii. 28. Eph. iv. 11. who had

extraordinary gifts for

the gift of tongues, to

explaining the word of God; and had preach in them to all nations; such were in the church at Antioch, and such were Silas and Judas, Acts xiii. 1. and xv. 22. and who also had the gift of foretelling future events. This office is also no more.

III. Evangelists: This name is sometimes given to the writers of the four gospels; but evangelists were companions of the apostles in their travels. This office is now extinct; only that every truly gospel preacher may be called an evan. gelist or evangelizer. The ordinary officers of the church are pastors and deacons, and these only; though antichrist has introduced a rabble of other officers, the scripture knows nothing of.

I. Pastors these are shepherds under Christ, the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls; such Christ has given to his churches, Jer. iii. 15. Eph. iv. 11. and still gives; to whom he says, as he did to Peter, Feed my lambs, feed my sheep, John

xxi. 15, 16. These pastors and teachers are the same with bishops, or overseers, whose business it is to feed the flock, they have the episcopacy or oversight of. These bishops are the same with elders; when the apostle Paul had called together at Miletus, the elders of the church at Ephesus, he addressed them as overseers, episcopous, bishops, Acts xx. 17. 28. and when he says, he left Titus in Crete, to ordain elders in every city, he proceeds to give the qualifications of an elder under the name of a bishop; a bishop must be blameless,

c. plainly suggesting, that an elder and a bishop are the same, Tit. i. 5. 7. These are called the angels of the churches, Rev. i. 20. ministers of Christ, or his under-rowers, as the word uperetas, signifies, 1 Cor. iv. 1. Stewards of the mysteries of God, and sometimes, Good stewards of the manifold grace of God, 1 Pet. iv. 10.

I. The qualifications of them for their office; which as it is a good office, the necessary qualifications should be found in those who are put into it, and which the apostle directs to, 1 Tim. iii. 1. &c. Some of which, 1. Respect the spiritual character, and accomplishments of a bishop or elder: he must not be a novice,* 1 Tim. iv. 12. he must have a competency of knowledge and understanding in divine things, so he may be able to teach others also, 2 Tim. ii. 2. he must not only be able to teach, but he must be apt to teach; which aptitude lies in a good degree of elocution, and a free utterance of speech, Matt. xiii. 52. The apostle Paul himself desired the Ephesians to pray for him, that utterance might be given him, Eph. vi. 19. 11. There are other qualifications of a bishop or pastor, which respect his domestic character. He must be the husband of one wife. Polygamy having been much in use among Jews and Gentiles, the first christians were not easily brought off that practice; however, the apostle thought

Novam plantam, Grotius; Nuper baptizatum & ascriptum in numerum christianorum Vatablus.-A new plant. Lately baptized and recorded in the number of Christians.