_, are here generally taken by
interpreters for two distinct officers. 6. Nor, finally, can the
teaching elder here be meant; for that were to make a needless and
absurd tautology, the teacher being formerly mentioned in this same
verse. Consequently, by _governments_ here, what can be intended, but
such a kind of officer in the church as hath rule and government
therein, distinct from all governors forementioned? And doth not this
lead us plainly to the ruling elder?

3. These governments thus set in the Church, as rulers therein, are set
therein by God himself; God hath set some in the Church, _first,
apostles--governments--God hath set, put, made, constituted_, &c., (as
the word imports,) _in the Church_. What hath God set in the Church?
viz. apostles and--governments, as well as apostles themselves. The
verb, _hath set_, equally relates to all the sorts of officers
enumerated. And is not that officer IA the Church of divine right, which
God himself, by his own act and authority, sets therein? Then doubtless
these governments are of divine right.

4. Finally, these governments set in the Church under the New Testament
as governors therein, and that by God himself, are distinct from not
only all governing officers without the Church, (as hath been showed,)
but also from all other governing officers within the church. For here
the apostles make a notable enumeration of the several sorts of church
officers, both extraordinary and ordinary, viz. eight in all. Five of
these being extraordinary, and to continue but for a season, for the
more effectual spreading and propagating of the gospel of Christ at
first, and planting of Christian churches, viz. apostles, prophets,
powers, gifts of healings, kinds of tongues: three of these being
ordinary, and to be perpetuated in the Church, as of continual use and
necessity therein, viz. teachers, governments, [i.e. ruling elders,] and
helps, [i.e. deacons, who are to help and relieve the poor and
afflicted.] This is the enumeration. It is not contended, that it is
absolutely and completely perfect, for that some officers seem to be
omitted and left out, which elsewhere are reckoned up, Eph. iv. 11; Rom.
xii. 7, 8. Evangelists are omitted in the list of extraordinary
officers, and pastors are left out of the roll of the ordinary officers;
and yet some conceive that pastors and teachers point not out two
distinct sorts of officers, but rather two distinct acts of the same
officers;