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 precision as makes it evident, that he meant to have it particularly attended to in the churches. "The elders (faid he to the fcattered tribes) which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder," 1 Pet. v. 1. In two different letters, the one to an elect Lady and her children, and the other to Gaius, the well beloved, John called himself," the elder," 1 John i. 2, 3.

And, at an earlier period than either of these, we find the fame defignation given to all the apoftles, 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 such 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 caufe to the fynod at Jerufalem, as their fuperiors in the Lord, and yet, that they were not refolv. ed to acquiefce in their judgement; is to fuppofe, that they referred the caufe, and kept it in their own band at the fame time :-than which nothing could be imagined more ridiculous and inconfiftent.

And, therefore, without ftraining the hiftorian's

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 icale the fynodical decree fhould caft the ba· lance.

This doctrine does not, in the least, incroach upon the full right of discipline that every gospelchurch 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 respective 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 decision 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 Christ, 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 consisted of one congregation only.

OBSERVATION V.

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

Syuod

i

Synod of Jerufalem FIRST reasoned upon it, and THEN came to an unanimous fentence.

But, that we may illuftrate this part of the fubject with the greater precifion, 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 diftinguished.

0.

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 conftituents, to the church,-it was not without reafon, 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 caufM 2

"ed

"ed 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 ftated for the information of the apoftles 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 respective 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 feem 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 difciples, 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, "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 canfe, to the fynod of Judea ?-By no means. -But declaring, what miracles and wonders

"God

"God had wrought amongst the Gentiles, by them." In this hiftorical part, only, the church or multitude had immediate concern; and, therefore, to it, exclufively; they are faid to have lift'ned.

As the difciples acted according to their proper province, with refpect to the hiftory; the apostles and elders acted, likewife, according to theirs, with refpect to the reference from Antioch.

Having heard the queftion, as reprefented,--it is not faid, that they and the multitude proceeded to the confideration of it ;--but exprefsly affirmed, That the apostles and elders came together for "to confider of this matter," Acts xv. 6.

In that federunt, indeed, as transmitted by the hiftorian, the particular members of court are not condefcended on; but then, their distinguishing qualities are exprefsly mentioned. They were all either apostles or elders. No word of the church in general, nor of difciples in particular; the apostles and elders alone were referred unto, and therefore, they alone, entered on the confideration of the cause.

The manner, in which thefe venerable eccleftaftics proceeded in the affair, falls now under view. They did not all at once form their judgments; ...did not, upon a bare hear-fay, come to a fentence: but, lying open to fuch light as fhould be caft upon either fide of the queftion by the views which different members might have of it,they convened, and convened as a court of Chrift properly conftituted, to weigh the whole circumstances in the balance of the fanctuary. :

The difference in judgment, which prevailed at Antioch, was kept in countenance, by the like vàriety of fentiments, which appeared, alfo, amongst the apoftles and elders at Jerufalem. For, though the historian hath neither tranfmitted an account of