X. 14. But when Jesus saw it, he

was much displeased, and said un- to them, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God, Com/tared -with Mat. xix. l.'i. 'I'liCn were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray : and the disciples rebuked them. Ver. 14. But Jesus said. Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me : for of such is the kingdom of heaven. I.uke xviii. 15. And they brought uiuo him also infants, that he would touch them : but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Ver. 16. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God.
^ Jer. iii. ]5. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed yon with know- ledge and understacding. Ver. 16. Ajid
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The Form of Church-Government.
First, it belongs to his office,
To pray for and' with Jiis flock, as the moutli of tlie people unto God ^, Acts vi. 2, 3, 4. and xx. 56. where preaching and prayer are joined as several parts of the, same office''.. The office of the elder (that is, the pastor) is to pray for the sick, even in private, to Avhich a blessing is especially promised ; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the publick execution of his office, as a part thereof'.
To
And it shall come to passj when ye be multiplied and increased in the lane), in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord ; neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done any more. Ver. 17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lqrd, to Jerusalem : neither shall they walk any more after the imagi- nation of their evil heart.
f 1 Pet. V. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, bi:t willingly; not for filthy lucre, but gf a ready mind. Ver. 3. Nei- ther as being lords over God's heri- tage, but being ensamples to the flock. Ver. 4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall re- ceive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and son.e pastors and teachers; Vtr. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edify- ing of the body cf Christ ; Ver. 1 3. I'lll we all cojjie in the unity of che faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, un-
to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
S Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the v.-ord of God, and serve tables. Ver. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest re-- port, full of the Holy Ghost and wis- ' dom, whom we may appoint ever this business. Ver. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word^ Acts XX. 36. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and pray-., ed witii them all.
Ji James v. 1 4. Is any man sick among you ? let him call for the eiders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: Ver. 15, And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
i 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then ? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also : I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Ver. 16. Else, when thou shalt bless wuh the spirit, how shall he that occupiech the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing
The Form of Church-Government.
567
To read the scriptures publickly ; for the jnoi.f ,r which,
1. That the priest and Levites in the Jewish churcli \\ ere trusted with the pu!)lick reading of the word, is proved ' .
2. That the ministers of the gospel have as ample u charge and commission to dispense tlie word, as well as other ordinances, as the priests and Levites had under the law, proved, Isa. Ixvi. ^1. Mat. xxiii. 54. where our Saviour entitleth the oflicers of tlie New Testament, whom he will send forth, by the same names of the teachers of the Old '.
Which propositions prove, that therefore (the duty being of a moral nature) it foUowetli by just consequence, that the publick reading of the scriptures belongeth to the pastor's office.
To feed the fiock, by preaching of the word, according to which he is to teach, convince, reprove, exhort, and comfort '°.
To
seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest ?
It Deut. xxxi. 9. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the f riests the sons of Levi, which bare 1^1'-' ark of the covenant of the Lord,
". unto all the elders of Israel.
r. 10. And Moses commanded tliem, saying, At the end of every seven years is the solenmity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles. Ver, 1 1. When all Israel is come to appe::ir before the Lord thy God in the pluce whicli he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Neh. viiL I. And all the people gathered themselves to- gether as one man, into the street that was before the water-gate, and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Closes, which the Lord had com- manded to Israel. Ver. 2. And Ezra the l^riest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and wo-
men, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. Ver. 3. And he read therein — Ver. 1 .3. And on the second day were "gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the peo- ple, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
1 Isa. Ixvi. 'J I. And I will also take of them for priests, and for Levites, saith the Lord. Mat. xxiii. 34. Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophet?, and wise men, and scribes; and seme of them ye shallkill and crucify, and some of them thall ye scourge in your syna- gogues, and persecute them froni city to city.
"^ 1 Tim. iii. ?. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good be- haviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. iii. ]G. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, i'oT correction, for in jtruction in righ- teousness :
5G8
The Form of Church-Govcrmnent.
To catechise, which is a 'plain laying down the first principles of the oracles of God ", or of the doctrine of Christ, and is a part of preaching.
To dispense other divine mysteries ".
To administer the sacraments p.
To bless the people from God, Numb. vi. 25, 24, 25, 26. Coinpared with Rev. xiv. 5. (where the same blessings, and persons from whom they come, are expressly mentioned 'i,)
Isa.
teoiisness : Ver. 1 7. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fur- Tiished unto all good works. Tit. i. 9. Holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been tauglit, tliat he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to ex- hort and to convince the gainsayers.
^ Heb. V. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God ; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
° 1 Cor. iv. ] . Let a man so ac- count of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Ver. 2. Moreover, it is re- quired in stewards that a man be found faithful.
P Mat. xxviil. 1 9. Go ye there- fore, and teach ail nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- manded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the weld. Amen. Mark xvi. 1 5. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Ver. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord that •which also I delivered unto you.
That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. Ver. 2-1. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, which is broken for you : this do in remem- brance of me. Ver. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, say- ing, This cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Compared ic'itli 1 Cor. X. 2G. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blooil of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ .?
^ Numb. vi. 23. Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Is- rael, saying unto them, Ver. 24. The l^ord bless thee, and keep thee. Ver. 25. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee — Ver. 26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Co/njiaral ivith Rev. i. 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him wliich' is, and which was, and which is to come ; and from the seven Spirits which are befoi'e his throne: Ver. 5. And from Jesus Clirist, who is the faithful witness, and the first-begctten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth, Isa. kvi. 21. Aud I will also take of them
for
The Form of Church-Government.
bi)^
sa. Ixvi. 21. where, under the names of Priests and Le- ites to be continued under the gospel, are meant evan- gelical pastors, who therefore are by office to bless the )eople \
To take care of the poor '.
And he hath also a ruling power over the flock as a )astor '.
Teacher
jr priests, and for Levites, saith the ,ord.
■^Deut. X. 8. At that time the .ord separated the tribe of I^evi, to ear the ark of the covenant of the -ord, to stand before the I-ord to iiinister unto him, and to bless in his lame, unto this day. 2 Cor. liii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, nd the love of God, and the com- Qunion of the Holy Ghost, be with ou alL Amen. Eph. i. '2. Grace >e to you, and peace, from God our •"at her, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
\ct8 xi. SCk Which also they Bd, and sent it to the eiders by the lands of Bnn^abas 2nd Saul. Acts