al
part of that ministry. We read of a ministry of the word, Acts vi. 4; a
ministry received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace
of God, Acts xx. 24; a ministry of reconciliation, 2 Cor. v. 18; and a
ministry into which some are put by the Lord Christ, 1 Tim. i. 12. This
ministry is not left open to all the members of the church, in such a
manner as that everyone who finds himself disposed, of supposes himself
to be qualified, may engage in it as he finds opportunity; but
office-bearers are appointed for it by the Lord Christ, Eph. iv. 11,12:
"And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ." Some
of these officers were extraordinary and temporary; they had an
extraordinary call, and were endued with miraculous powers, which are
now ceased: but the work of the ministry, and particularly the preaching
of the gospel, is to continue to the end of the world, as appears from
the promise given for the encouragement of those that are employed in
it, Matt, xxviii. 20. There are accordingly ordinary officers, pastors,
and teachers, appointed for the continued exercise of that ministry.

To these instituted office-bearers is this ministry exclusively
committed, Mark xvi., Matt, xxviii. The gospel of Christ, in respect of
the public ministry thereof by preaching, is frequently mentioned as a
special and peculiar _trust_ committed unto them, 2 Cor. v. 18-20; 1
Tim. i. 11, and vi. 20. In all the passages of Scripture where we have
any mention of a charge or commission to preach the gospel, it would be
easy to show that it is directed only to persons in office; and a
variety of names are given to those that are employed in a ministry of
the word, all of which are expressive of their peculiar office. They are
called ministers, 1 Cor. iii. 6; officers and stewards, 1 Cor. iv. 1;
ambassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. v. 20; heralds (so the word preacher
signifies) and teachers, 2 Tim. i. 11.

There is no room to plead here, that though a constant ministry of the
word, in a pastoral charge, belongs only to persons in office, yet all
may occasionally exercise their gifts in preaching the gospel. The word
of God acknowledges no such distinction as that between a constant and
an occasional ministry of the gospel. It enjoins upon those who are
called to the work of the minist