ence with it, by prayer, and the impofition of their own hands, as the alone method of fetting the men apart to the office, propofed, Acts vi. 5, 6.

The first kind of officers, to whom the reference was made, were the literal apoftles, whofe office, as immediately derived from Chrift in perfon, was peculiar to themselves. Accordingly, we are affured, that the twelve, whom he chofe, from among his disciples, "He named Apoftles," Luke. vi. 13.

By the other referees, again, two different claffes of officers are to be understood;-teaching, namely, and ruling elders.

The former were fet apart to dispense gospel ordinances in general; -were fuch as Paul and Barnabas ordained, wherever they found a church; Acts xiv. 23. and fuch as Titus was appointed to ordain in every city through Crete, Tit. i. 5. And,

The latter were fuch as affifted, only, in the government of the churches. Accordingly, we read of God's having fet in the church, governments, as well as apoftles, prophets, and teachers, 1 Cor. xii. 28. He that ruleth is called to exercife that gift with diligence, as well as other officers their refpective gifts, Rom. xii. 8. And churchmembers are commanded, to remember, obey, and Jubmit themfelves to fuch, in the Lord, Heb. xiii. 7, 17.

Though the latter of thefe claffes be thus diftinguished from the former, it is included in it. Governors and rulers do not always difpenfe gofpelordinances in the church; but those who difpenfe gofpel-ordinances are rulers, alfo, over their particular flocks.

Thus, we find the coalition of thefe offices in the teaching elder, as well as the diftinction between them, exprefsly taught by the apostle of the Gentiles." Let the elders (fays he) that rule well, be

counted

counted worthy of double honour; especially, "they who labour in word and doctrine," 1 Tim. v. 16.-i. e. who not only rule well, as do both; but who labour alfo, as do only pastors and teach

ers.

Nor is the ruling more included in the teaching elder, than both their offices were in the office of the apostles.

Accordingly, Peter took this defignation to himfelf; and took it with fuch precifion as makes it evident, that he meant to have it particularly attended to in the churches. "The elders (faid he "to the scattered tribes) which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder," 1 Pet. v. 1. two different letters, the one to an elect Lady and her children, and the other to Gaius, the well beloved, John called himfelf, "the elder," 1 John i. 2, 3.

In

And, at an earlier period than either of these, we find the fame defignation given to all the apostles, without exception. When the difciples in Syria had raised a contribution for the poor faints in Judea, "they fent it to the elders," i: e. the apoftles, "by "the hands of Barnabas and Saul," Acts xii. 30.

Moreover, in the deliverance now under view, there was a reference, in order to obtain fuch decifion as might be effectually binding on all concerned.

This, we apprehend, is fuch a natural confequence. of the fubordination formerly established, that farther reafoning upon it would be fuperfluous. To fuppofe, that the prefbyters at Antioch referred their cause to the fynod at Jerufalem, as their fuperiors in the Lord,--and yet, that they were not refolved to acquicfce in their judgement; is to fuppofe, that they referred the cause, and kept it in their own hand at the fame time than which nothing could be imagined more ridiculous and inconfiftent.

And, therefore, without ftraining the hiftorian's words,

M

words, their fending commiffioners to Jerufalem about this question, was not only to obtain a judgment of the apoftles and elders,-but intended to exprefs their purpose of acquiefcence, into whatever fcale the fynodical decree fhould caft the balance.

This doctrine does not, in the leaft, incroach upon the full right of difcipline that every gofpelchurch hath within herfelf. For, when a referenc, complaint, appeal, or whatever men please to call it, comes to a prefbytery it comes only to a larger feffion;-when it goes to a fynod, it goes only to a larger prefbytery; and, if it is brought to a General Affembly, it is brought only to a larger fynod, or an affemblage of all the feffions, reprefenting their refpective congregations;-which is neither more nor lefs than the whole church judging in an affair relating more immediately, to fome member or part of it.

If references, complaints, or appeals, were to be brought, from a decifion of the church of Scotland, to the church of England, or any other different church in Europe ;-then, indeed, it would argue, that the church from whence they were taken had not, under the immediate headship of Chrift, full power of difcipline within herfelf. But, as long as the appeal, reference, or complaint is confined to any judicature within the fame church, it is equally reasonable, as if the church had confifted of one congregation only.

OBSERVATION V.

That after the commiffioners, from Antioch, had reached the metropolis of Judea,-produced their credentials, and opened up their caufe :—

-The

Syuod

Synod of Jerufalem FIRST reafoned upon it, and THE N came to an unanimous fentence.

But, that we may illuftrate this part of the fubject with the greater precision, it will be necessary to put my reverend and dear hearers in mind of a few circumstances by which that famous federunt feems to have been distinguished.

Permit me then to begin with obferving, that Paul and Barnabas, with their fellow commiffioners, feem to have produced their credentials, and opened up the cause in a full meeting,--not of the apoftles and elders only, but, of the private Chriftians at Jerufalem, alfo.-For, "when they were "come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apoftles and elders;" Acts

XV. 4.

Though the reference was not made, by their constituents, to the church,-it was not without reason, that the difciples were prefent, upon that occafion.

The question, in debate at Antioch, fuppofed the converfion of Gentile finners; nay, in opening up the one, the other behoved to be told; and, therefore, though the difciples were not to judge in the question, they were deeply interested in the bleffed event which gave rife to it :-Confequently, it was highly proper they fhould hear the deputies, upon their first compearance at the bar of the fynod.

This was fo much the cafe, that, though the delegates, from Antioch, had no inftruction to open their commiffion until they arrived at Jerufalem, they related the event, which occafioned the debate, wherever they found difciples by the way.

For, paffing through Phenice and Samaria, they declared the converfion of the Gentiles, and can

"cd great joy unto all the brethren," Acts xv. 3.

Accordingly, it appears, that, in this promifcuous affembly, thefe commiffioners faithfully dif charged the truft repofed in them, by declaring, on the one hand, "all things that God had done "with them," verf. 4. in converting the Gentiles thro' their miniftry and, on the other, reprefenting how fome alledged, "that it was needful to cir"cumcife" the Gentile converts, "and to command "them to keep the laws of Mofes," verf. 5. The fuccefs of the gofpel was told for the edification and comfort of all the church; and the question, in debate, clearly stated for the information of the apofles and elders.

The commiffioners from Syria having done their duty, it is next worthy of our particular notice, that thofe difciples, and thefe office bearers, immediately acted, according to their refpective provinces, in this important affair.

The church, we faid, or brethren, at Jerufalem, had a peculiar intereft in the history of the gospel, both as to it's fpread and fuccefs; and, therefore, they leem to have confined their attention to that ground of the Chriftian joy, alone.

If the 4th and 12th verfes of the chapter are viewed together, this obfervation, concerning the difcifles, will appear in a clear and strong light.

In the former, we are told, that the commiffioners from Antioch "declared," in a full meeting of the church, as well as of the apoftles and elders, "all things that God had done with them." And in the latter, that all "the multitude kept filence, 6: and gave audience to Barnabas and Saul, declar

ing"-What difputes they had, at Antioch, about circumcifion; and the reference that was made of the caufe, to the fynod of Judea?-By no means. -But declaring, "what miracles and wonders

"God