History of Presbyteriam'sm

there are notably some who, besides ruling, have also the additional charge of laboring “in word and doctrine.” These are the teaching elders whom we find elsewhere designated "the presidents” or angels of the churches, and hence in every properly equipped congregation we may safely conclude there should at least be one of these whose appropri— ate prerogative it is, besides discharging the other duties of this class, to preside over all official coun- cils of the eldership in general, over all the constitu- tional church meetings, courts and assemblies; but above and beyond all else, whose most pressing function it is to labor faithfully “in word and doc- trine,” to preach the gospel publicly and from house to house, to feed the flock of God by dispensing to them all the ordinances of his own appointment. The duties of the remaining members of this order is “to rule”; but this includes in it much more than, it is to be feared, is usually apprehended by a very large proportion of those who commonly occupy this distinctive branch of the office. Besides admit— ting and excluding individuals to and from church fellowship, serving at the Lord’s Table, and a few other things which officers of this class ordinarily attend to in the routine government of the church, it is also their incumbent duty as well as their special privilege to be examples to the flock; to watch for souls, both by observing the peculiar dangers to which they may be exposed and also by giving timely warning;r and suitable counsel to all who may at any time stand in need of their friendly Chris-

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