ight not teach nor exhort, &c.; many gifts may be
common in one man, many offices cannot.] For who is so little versed in
the Scriptures, but he knows that apostles, pastors, elders, deacons,
are distinct officers one from another; yet all the inferior offices are
virtually comprehended in the superior, and may be discharged by them:
elders may distribute as well as deacons; and beyond them, rule: pastors
may distribute and rule as well as deacons and elders, and beyond both
preach, dispense sacraments, and ordain ministers. Apostles may do there
all, and many things besides extraordinary. Much more may the prophet
teach and exhort, and the deacon distribute and show mercy; these being
the proper acts of their office. 3. Nor, finally, is this proved by that
suggestion, that all these gifts in the apostles' times were common to
all sorts and sexes, women as well as men; as he after takes much pains
to prove, but to very little purpose. For not only in the apostles'
times, but in our times also, all Christians may teach, exhort,
distribute, show mercy, &c., privately, occasionally, by bond of
charity, and law of fraternity towards one another mutually: but may not
teach, exhort, rule, distribute, &c., authoritatively by virtue of their
office, so as to give themselves wholly to such employments, which is
the thing here intended; yet it is worth observing how far Bilson was
transported against ruling elders, that rather than yield to their
office, he will make all these gifts common to all sorts and sexes, men
and women. This is new divinity; all sorts and sexes may both preach and
rule. Let Bilson have the credit of symbolizing with the Separatists, if
not of transcending them.

2. Here is good ground in the context to make us think that the apostle
here spoke of distinct church officers, and not only of distinct gifts.
For, 1. In the similitude of a natural body (whereunto here the church
is compared) he speaks of distinct members, having distinct offices,
ver. 4. "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have
not the same office." 2. In his accommodation of this similitude, he
speaks not only of gifts, but also of offices according to which these
gifts are given, which he calls _grace_, ver. 6, (as was noted.). This
grace given, or this office given of grace, is branched out, first, into
two general heads, viz. _prophecy_ and _ministry_, ver. 6, 7. Then these
generals are subdivided into the special offic