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CHAPTER III.

OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.

SECTION I.

Of the extraordinary officers of the church-the apostles, evangelists, and prophets.

68. How many kinds of office-bearers did Christ appoint in his church?

Two kinds, extraordinary and ordinary offi

cers.

Eph. iv, 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.

69. What do you mean by extraordinary officers of the church?

The extraordinary officers of the church, were persons endowed with supernatural gifts and extraordinary authority; of which kind were apostles, evangelists and prophets.

70. For what purpose were they appointed? Christianity, requiring a series of miracles to attest its divine origin, and inspiration to reveal all necessary truth, these officers were appointed

to make known authoritatively, the will of Christ; settle the constitution of the church; and commit the administration of it to ordinary and permanent officers.

Titus i, v. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. 2 Tim. ii, 2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

71. Had they any successors in their char'acter and duties, as extraordinary officers.

None that we read of in the word of God; neither are we there told, that any should succeed them as apostles, evangelists, or prophets.

Acts xiv, 23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

72.

apostle?

What was necessary to constitute an

It was necessary, that the apostles should have personally seen the Lord Jesus Christ; should have obtained their commission immediately from Christ; should be endowed with the gift of working miracles; should be able to communicate miraculous powers to others; and possess authority over all the churches in every part of the world.

1 Pet. v, 1. The elders which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. 1 Cor. ix, 1. Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? Acts xix, 6. And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

1 Cor. vii, 17. But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all churches.

73. Who were evangelists?

Evangelists were extraordinary officers, suited to the infant state of the church, who were commissioned to travel under the direction and control of the apostles, that they might ordain ministers and settle congregations, according to the system laid down by Christ and his apostles.*

Acts xxi, 8. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Česarea; and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, (which was one of the seven,) and abode with him.

74. Who were prophets?

They were persons, who, under the direction and extraordinary influence of the Holy Ghost, explained the scripture, enforced its doctrines, publicly addressed the church, and foretold events. †

"The work of an Evangelist," says Eusebius, "was thisto lay the foundations of the faith in barbarous nations; to constitute their pastors—and having committed to them the cultivating those new plantations, they passed on to other countries and nations." "Such were evangelists," says Stillingfleet," who were sent, sometimes into this country to put the churches in order there, sometimes into another, but wherever they were, they acted as evangelists, and not as fixed ministers."

In their ordinary character, the prophets were presbyters, as appears from Acts xiii, 1-3, and as is fully admitted by Archbishop Potter in his work on the Church. (See pp. 101103, &c.) So also, in their ordinary character as ministers of Christ, the apostles expressly denominate themselves presbyters. (See 2 John 1. 3 John 1. 1 Pet. v, 1. Acts vii, 10. Philem. viii, 9. Acts vii, 58, &c.,) And by every means they identify themselves with such; while Timothy, an evangelist, was, as we are expressly taught, ordained by the hands of a Presbytery.-See Tim. iv, 14, and Potter, do. 107.

1 Cor. xiv, 1, 3, 4. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

75. Were these extraordinary officers of the church exclusively occupied in the discharge of their extraordinary functions?

No, they probably took an active part in the government of the church; while they certainly engaged in the ordinary duties of the ministry.

See Acts x, 44, 47. Acts xv, 6, 22. Acts xxi, 17, 18, and Acts vi.

76. In what sense, then, are the present ministers of the gospel, successors to these extraordinary officers of the apostolic churches?

In their extraordinary character and functions, they can have no successors; but in their ordinary character, all ministers of the gospel, regularly called, who maintain the doctrine of the apostles and prophets, are their true and valid successors.

1 Cor. xii, 28, 29. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 1 Cor. xiii, 8. Charity never faileth but whether there be prophecies they shall fail; whether there be tongues, it shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Rev. ii, 2. I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. Titus i, 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. Acts ii, 42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. See also Eph. iv, 11, 12. Rom. xii, 7, 8. 1 Tim. iii, 3.

SECTION II.

Of the ordinary and perpetual officers of the church—and first the Presbyter or Bishop.

77. Who are the ordinary officers of the christian church?

Presbyters, or elders, and deacons.

Phil. i, 1. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. Acts xx, 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

78. Is there any distinction amongst those who are called in scripture presbyters, or elders?

Yes, elders are divided into the teaching elders or pastors; and the ruling elders or helps.

1 Tim. v, 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor; especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 1 Cor. xii, 28. And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

79. What warrant is there for regarding the teaching elder, pastor, or bishop, as an ordinary and permanent officer in the church?

Such officers were settled by apostolic authority, in every church as its stated ministry-they are of God's appointment-they are the fruit of Christ's exaltation-and they are called by the Holy Ghost, that they may feed the Church of God on earth.

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