iligence," &c. Here we have a list of the ordinary officers of Christ,
one body, the church. Here is the teacher: _he that teacheth_. Here is
the pastor: _he that exhorteth_. Here is the deacon: _he that giveth_.
And here is another officer distinct from all them, _he that ruleth_.
His description attests, that _ruling_ is, if not his only, yet his
principal work. He that _ruleth_ is here marked by a distinct character,
as having a different _gift_, and a distinct work from his
fellow-officers. This office therefore must be _distinct_. 2. From 1
Cor. xii. 28, where the _Spirit of God_ informs us, that God hath set
some in the Church, GOVERNMENTS. These must be understood of
_governors_, as _miracles_ are afterwards explained of _workers of
miracles_. These governments and governors are said to be _set_ in the
church, not in the state; by God, not by men: they are declared to be
distinct officers by themselves. Their title, government, implies, that
_ruling_ is their principal work. 3. From 1 Tim. v. 17, where the divine
warrant for ruling elders shines with more peculiar brightness than
anywhere in the book of God: "Let the elders that rule well be counted
worthy of double honor; especially they who labor in the word and
doctrine." The ruling elders here mentioned necessarily pertain to the
church. Two sorts of ruling elders are here plainly distinguished: some
that only rule well; others that also labor in word and doctrine. There
is not one place in the New Testament, nor perhaps in any Greek author,
where the word here translated ESPECIALLY does not distinguish between
different persons or things, Gal. vi. 10; Phil. iv. 22; 1 Tim. iv. 10; 2
Tim. iv. 13; and it would be absurd to suppose, that it does not
distinguish here also. Therefore this single text shows the divine right
of both the teaching and ruling elder.

_Quest_. What are the duties of ruling elders?

_Ans_. To exercise ecclesiastical rule in church courts with the same
authority as the preaching elder; to watch over the flock; impartially
to receive or exclude members; to warn and censure the unruly; and to
visit and pray with the sick.

_Quest_. Where is the divine warrant for deacons?

_Ans_. From Acts vi., where we are informed of the original and design
of their office; and from 1 Tim. iii. 8-12, where the inspired apostle
describes their necessary qualifications.

_Quest_. What are the duties of deacons?

_Ans_. To look into the state and to se