OFFICE RULING ELDER. BY THE Rev. J. FEW SMITH, D.D. PHILADELPHIA: PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, 1334 CHESTNUT STREET. NEW YORK: A. D. F. RANDOLPH, 770 BROADWAY. % i j t 5 \ OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. The object of this treatise is a practical one. It is not a discussion of the scriptural authority of the Ruling Eldership. But, with a brief statement of the grounds on which the claims of the Elder¬ ship to the regard of the Church are rested, it aims to present the nature and duties of the office, with the desire to aid in securing for it the highest mea¬ sure of efficiency. In the prosecution of this pur¬ pose, the topic first claiming consideration's THE WARRANT FOfc THE OFFICE. The Church of God is not simply an aggregate of individual believers in Christ. More truly, it is an organized body, composed indeed of individual mem¬ bers, each retaining his own personality, and made wise 1 for himself and not for another, yet all governed by common principles and animated by a common life . 2 This body needs some form of government. Cer¬ tainly the Church as it still is on the earth, in a pro¬ gress towards completeness in the spiritual world, and now engaged in its ministry of reconciliation, must have some external organization and form of govern¬ ment. Without these, it can have no well-directed 4 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. power in the earth, even if we could imagine it re taining an existence without them. Certainly without them all things cannot he done “ decently and in order.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme Head of the Church, from whom all authority is derived . 1 The Bible is the only rule of faith, and our only authorita¬ tive directory for government and worship. The canons and the rubric that have the sanction of the “ chief Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” are the only ones that are binding on our conscience. We hold, in the words of our confession, that 2 “ God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it* free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or beside it in mat¬ ters of faith or worship.” To his ancient Jewish Church God gave very de¬ finite and precise rules for government and worship. But in the Hew Testament we do not find any dis¬ tinct form of Church-government positively enjoined. Hence there may be honest differences of opinion on the subject of ecclesiastical polity, and no particular form and method of ruling the Church can be of bind¬ ing authority. At the same time, certain leading principles may be discovered, to which all ought to conform. The essential ideas of Presbyterianism, as a form of government, are the independence of the Church of any secular power or any ecclesiastical hierarchy; the parity of the ministry; the right of the people to elect their own church-officers and regulate their own affairs, subject to the law of Christ; the government of the church by elders, or officers elected from among 1 Matt, xxviii. 18; Ephes.i. 20-22, iv. 7-13. 2 Chapter xx. sec. ii. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 5 the people, representing them, and solemnly ordained for this purpose; and the uniting of local or individual churches, by means of their officers, into general councils representing the Church at large, without legislative, but with advisory and judicial, authority. Without claiming for Presbyterianism a prescriptive authority, we hold that it is abundantly sanctioned by the Scriptures and sustained by history. The government of the Church, as seen in the New Testa¬ ment, was assigned to a distinct body of officers, set apart for that work from among the people them¬ selves, and constituting collectively the Presbytery or Eldership. The Church at large being necessarily divided into local congregations or churches, each of these administered its affairs by its own officers; while there were occasional assemblages of these officers from a number of the churches in a given district, for purposes of consultation and the deciding of questions of general interest. These elders of the Church con¬ sisted of two classes: first, there were those whose office it was to preach the gospel, and to have the general care of the interests of the Church: these w r ere the pastors, or the teaching and ruling elders. Secondly, there were those whose office it was to unite with the pastors in managing the affairs of the Church, without exercising the office of public teachers: these were the ruling elders. It is a widely-held opinion that the early Christian churches, so far as they received any formal organiza¬ tion, were regulated after the model of the Jewish synagogue; not that the apostles purposely and deliberately took this as a model, but that, being familiar with it, they were naturally led by their Jewish habits and associations to construct their Christian organizations after this manner. In the 6 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. synagogue u there were certain men of reputation in¬ trusted with the direction of the assembly, and called rulers,” or elders, one of whom presided and officiated in the public assemblies. But the title and office of elder are of much older date than the synagogue, and formed a part of the established Jewish ecclesiastical system from the beginning down to the time of the apostles. And it is, not without reason, regarded by some as the one feature of ecclesiastical government designed by the supreme Head of the Church to be perpetual, while all else connected with the Jewish system was temporary and symbolical . 1 1 “The office of Presbyter or Elder was the only permanent, essential office of the Jewish Church, and as such was retained under the new organization without any formal institution, and therefore without any distinct mention in the history, such as we find afterwards in reference to the organization of the Gentile Churches, where the office had no pre¬ vious existence and must therefore be created by the act of ordination. (Acts xiv. 23.) This is a much more probable account of the institution of the Christian Eldership than that which derives it from the con¬ stitution of the Jewish Synagogue, which was itself probably of later date, and, as a separate organization, without divine authority.”— Alex¬ ander on Acts xi. 30. See also the same on Acts vi. 9 and xiv. 23. The following passages from Dr. Stuart Robinson’s recent work on “ The Church of God” are worthy of regard for their earnest and elo¬ quent setting forth of his opinions on this point and some others in¬ volved in this discussion,—even though we may hesitate to concur with him entirely. “While yet the two divine governmental institutions—the Church and the State—remained embosomed in the still earlier divine institution of the family, the power of rule delegated by the Great King to men was exercised by the patriarchs, or natural elders of the community. So soon as, under the covenant with Abraham chartering a distinct community of the chosen, such a community actually existed, as the shortening of human life no longer permitted a patriarchal rule, the Elders, as the successors of the patriarchs, are found intrusted with the Church visible. Before the national organization under Moses, there were Elders in charge of the covenant people; and to them must Moses THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. T Without insisting' on any divine ordinance regu¬ lating the matter, the apostles.might readily, from the exhibit the seals of his commission, as the authorized agent of the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, come to execute the stipulations of the ancient Covenant.* Through the Elders was given to the Church the ordinance of the Passover.f Before them as representatives of the Church was the typical rock smitten.J To the Church, through her Elders, after solemn preparation, were the revelations of Sinai made, and these in form of a solemn Covenant between Jehovah and his people.|| The Elders partook with Moses of the solemn sacrificial feast in the mount, as preparatory to. the reception of the ecclesiastical and ritual Constitution from Jehovah.§ The Elders, with the priests, con¬ stituted the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal to which all appeals should come.^f Even in Israel under the apostasy the form of government was not lost sight of, but the Elders sat with Elisha.** So too even after the fall of the nation as such, the Elders met with God’s prophet on the river Chebar.ff And in the wasted and corrupt Jerusalem, the form of Jehovah’s appointed court of the Church survived all regard and fear of Jehovah, and a corrupt court of the priests and elders condemned to death his prophet Jeremiah for speaking the warnings of Jehovah.JJ When Messiah came to his own, and his own received him not, the re¬ gard for the divinely-appointed form of ecclesiastical government is found still surviving, though men made void the Divine Law through their traditions. Priests and Elders formed the council that condemned the Son of God. The Elders, under the dispensation of the Spirit, still occupy their position toward the Church, appointed by the Holy Ghost to take oversight as in the Church of old. And again, in the prophetic- vision of the glorious Church of the future, John saw the great congre¬ gation, still in eternity as in time, represented by four-and-twenty elders,—twelve for the ancient and twelve for the new dispensation,— but one body, uniting together in casting their crowns, the symbol of their official authority, at the feet of Him whom they unite to acknow¬ ledge as Head and Source of all authority in the Church in all ages.”— pp. 65-67. * “Now, the Scriptures exhibit, accordingly, this actual uniformity of government, by a series of tribunals representing the different extents of the^ meaning of the word ‘ Church,’ as existing under every dispensa- * Ex. iii. 15, 16; iv. 29-31. f Ex. xii. 3, 21. { Ex. xvii. 5, 6. 11 Ex. xix. 7, 8; xxiv. 7, 8. g Ex. xxiv. 9,11. % Deut. xvii. 9-12. ** 2 Kings vi. 32. ff Ezek. viii. 1. Jer. xxvi. 8,17. 8 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. force of custom, and from the fitness of the thing itself, introduce such a form of government into the Christian Church; or it might seem to grow up naturally there, as those converted to Christ asso¬ ciated themselves for worship. At all events, we find that in the early Christian churches the government of affairs, and the conducting of public services, were intrusted to a number of men called elders , or presby¬ ters, or overseers, or bishops ,—for all these words are equivalent in scriptural usage, presbyter (or elder) and bishop being used interchangeably with reference to the same persons . 1 There was in the primitive Church a plurality of elders, that is, several elders belonging to a single church. And it is a fair presumption that they were not all pastors or preachers. For why should several preachers or pastors be needed for a single church? And is it probable there could be found in every one tion. Elders and ministers of the word form their constituent ele¬ ments,—and that in tribunals having jurisdiction of various degrees of extent, from a single community of worshippers up to that over the whole visible body. Such was the structure of*the ecclesiastical tribu¬ nals, as distinct from the civil, under the first general organization of Moses ;* such it appears in all the subsequent history whenever occa¬ sion calls for a reference to it.f Such we find it, beyond all contro¬ versy, at the opening of the New Testament,—as appears from the nume¬ rous allusions to the synagogue with its elders and chief ruler, and to the sanhedrim of chief priests, priests, and elders; and such, with scarce a single important modification, do we find the government of the Church under the apostles,J and so left as the perpetual order of government for the Church.”— lb. pp. 93-94. 1 Compare Acts xx. 17 with verse 28; 1 Peter v. 1, 2. “ Overseer” is the exact translation of the Greek word from which our word “bishop” is derived. The Greeks gave it as a title to officers sent into the provinces as inspectors of their condition. * Deut. xvii. 8-12. f 2 Chron. xix. 8-11. X Acts XT. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 9 of the churches several men with the requisite qualifi¬ cation for the pastoral office ? For we must remem¬ ber that the special gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased at the end of the apostolic age, and that thenceforth the Church was conducted by the wisdom of men under the ordinary guidance of the Holy Spirit. Besides, we find that there were individual pastors spoken of in connection with churches to which a plurality of elders is ; ascribed. 1 And is it not altogether most natural to suppose that while (after the manner of the apostles) one gave himself up to the ministry of the word, he had associated with him a number of judi¬ cious and earnest men, to aid him by their counsels and by sharing with him the responsibility of govern¬ ment? That such was the case after the time of the apostles, we have evidence in the writings of some of the fathers. But, glancing at a portion of the scriptural testimony on this point, we find a plurality of elders spoken of in several instances. For example, at Jeru¬ salem, 2 where they are mentioned in distinction from the apostles and other members of the Church; and again “the elders” of the Church at Ephesus are spoken of. 3 The Apostle James (v. 14) writes to the sick to send for the elders of the church. Paul and Barnabas, on their return from their missionary tour, ordained elders in every church. 4 Titus is directed to ordain elders in every city. 5 How, observe that we find a distinction made between the elders who teach and the elders who rule. Thus, we find “helps,” “governments,” and “ruling” spoken of as distinct offices in 1 Cor. xii. 28, and Eomans xii* More explicitly we have this passage :—“ Let the elders 1 Compare Rev. ii. 1 with Acts xx. 17. 3 Acts xx. 17. 4 Acts xiv. 23. 2 Acts xi. 30, xv. 4, 6. 5 Titus i. 5, 10 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. who rule well he counted worthy of double honour , espe¬ cially those who labour in the word and doctrine” 1 Here plainly two classes of elders are spoken of—elders who only rule well, and elders who both rule and labour in the word and doctrine ; and this is exactly our modern 'distinction between ruling elders and pastors or ministers. 2 This is an outline of the argument for the scriptural validity of the office of ruling elder. We believe this office is sanctioned by apostolic authority and by the example of the primitive Church. We believe that there were then men selected from the members of the church and associated with the pastor in the government and discipline of the church. And we see an advantage in such an institution, which, apart from its scripturalness, greatly commends it to our regard. The elders serve on the one hand to form a popular check on any attempt of the pastors or minis¬ ters to lord it over God's heritage, and on the other, to secure a more dispassionate and impartial adminis¬ tration of the interests of the church than if this were left to the popular assembly of the whole body of church-members. They are an invaluable board of counsel to the pastor, and are invested with such official relations to the congregation as give them opportunities for great usefulness. Those who are familiar with this subject know how readily numerous authorities might be adduced to sustain these positions, and to show also the high estimate which good and wise men of other denomi¬ nations than our own have formed of the eldership. We will cite only these words of the learned Dr. Owen and of Eichard Baxter. Dr. Owen says, “ To ‘1 Tim. y. 17. * See also 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; Heb. xiii. 7. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 11 the complete constitution of any particular church, or the perfection of its organical state, it is required that there be many elders in it,—at least, more than one. ,r “ With these elders the whole rule of the church is intrusted: all these, and only they, do rule it. Of these elders there are two sorts. The first sort doth rule, and also labour in word and doctrine. They are elders with the addition of pastoral or teaching authority. But there are elders which are not pastors or teachers. Elders that rule well, but labour not in the word and doctrine, are ruling elders only.” 1 “ And, besides what is expressly spoken concerning the appointment of this sort of elders in the Church, their usefulness, in the necessity of their work and employment, is evident.” 2 Baxter, though declining to admit the divine institution of the ruling eldership, says, “My judgment is, that ordinarily every par¬ ticular church (such as our parish churches are) had more elders than one, but not such store of men of eminent gifts as that all these elders could be such. But as if half a dozen of the most judicious persons of this parish were ordained to be elders of the same office with myself, but, because they are not equally fit for public preaching, should most employ them¬ selves in the rest of the oversight, consenting that the public preaching lie most upon me, and that I bo the moderator of them for order in circumstantials. This I think was the true episcopacy and presbytery of the first times.” 3 1 True Nature of a Gospel Church. Chap. vii. sec. 9, 13. Works, vol. xvi. pp. 112,117. 2 A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God. Q. 31. Works, voL xv. p. 505. 5 Quoted by Dr. Miller, “ On Ruling Elders/ 1 chap. vii. pp. 148-149. 12 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. Let us look next at THE NATURE AND DESIGN OF THE OFFICE. These may be expressed in the following proposi¬ tion. The Ruling Eldership is a spiritual office designed to secure the good order and healthy life of the Church. I. As to the nature of the office. — The ruling eldership is a spiritual office. It is a spiritual office in the same sense in which the pastoral or ministerial office is spiritual. It is concerned directly with the maintenance and spread of religion, and with the life of religion in the souls of men. This we argue from the manner in which elders and pastors are spoken of under the same expressions; from the facts of their being solemnly ordained to their work, and joining in ordaining others; from the work which they seem to have per¬ formed in the early churches; and from the directions given them by inspired apostles. 1. In several cases in which bodies of elders are spoken of, it is impossible to show that both teaching and ruling elders are not meant, while the inference is a fair one that both are included: for example, in Acts xx. 28, the appointment of the elders is ascribed to the Holy Ghost, also Acts xv. 4; 1 Pet. v. 1, 2; 1 -Tim. v. 17; Titus i. 5, et seq. In these cases they seem to be placed in the same category with minis¬ ters, though elsewhere specific duties are assigned to them. They may no more be regarded as secular officers, or called officially to a secular work, than the ministers; though as members of the church they may attend to secular matters. „ 2. They were solemnly ordained to their work by the laying on of hands. (Acts xiv. 23; Titus i. 5.) THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER, 13 This denotes a specific setting apart to a solemn re¬ ligious work,—not merely secular. And though we 9 cannot perhaps prove that ruling elders took part in the laying on of the hands of the presbytery in ordi¬ nation, yet the contrary cannot be established. And it is altogether probable that they participated in the appointment of candidates for ordination, just as now with us they take part in examining and admitting candidates for the ministry, though custom has as¬ signed the direct act of ordaining by the imposition of hands to the ministers. If it be said that deacons were also set apart to their work by the laying on of hands, and they had to do with secular things, it is answered that we claim that the office of deacon is also spiritual in its nature, and that the secularises with which it is concerned are, so to speak, spiritual secularities. Specifically, they were originalty appointed to take care of the poor, to collect* and disburse the charities of the Church. They were not designed to attend to the revenues of the Church, to erect buildings and watch over what are now known as the temporalities of the Church. The first deacons were important helpers of the apostles and elders, and in the infancy of the Church doubtless did much in the way of preaching the gos¬ pel and spreading Christianity, some of them to that end being endowed with miraculous power. 3. As t'o the specific work which the elders performed in the early Church, we have few facts in Scripture to* guide us. We find them addressed as managing the affairs of the Church, 1 commended as labouring for the spiritual welfare of the Church, 2 ruling the Church, 3 taking part in the councils of the Church, ' 1 Pet. v. 2 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; Heb. xiii. 3 Rom. xii. : 1 Cor. xii, 2 14 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. and associating with the apostles in mattters of in¬ terest and authority and in the exercise of dis¬ cipline. 1 Only once, we believe, are they spoken of 9 as concerned in a pecuniary matter, and that was their receiving from the hands of Barnabas and Saul a contribution sent from the Church at Antioch to the suffering Christians at Jerusalem. 2 But this was a religious act, a distribution of charity committed to them as the responsible representatives of the Church, or they may‘have simply received it and handed it to the deacons for distribution. All that we find con¬ cerning them shows theirs to be a spiritual, not a secular office. 4. If now we look at the directions given to the elders in the New Testament, the fact that theirs is a spiritual office is brought out more distinctly. The address of the Apostle Paul to the Elders of the Church at Ephesus (Acts xx.) very fully indicates this. There can hardly be any reason to doubt that the ruling elders of the Church, as well as the pastors or teachers, are here addressed. How large the Church at Ephesus then was we do not know; nor do we know whether more than a single congregation were represented at this conference with Paul. But the language implies a number too large to be simply ministers , and is inappropriate if confined to them, though applicable to them in connection with others. “ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the ciders of the Church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and tempta- 1 Acts XY. 2, l, 6, 22, 23; xxi. 18-25. A c J £ xi. 30. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 15 tions which befell me by the lying in w T ait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profit¬ able unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly and from house to house” Again, “ And now, behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more.” This language surely implies more than a few ministers as the persons addressed. TIow many were present we do not know; but the probability is that they were quite a body, and all of them elders,— the elders of Ephesus,—those who ruled well and those who laboured in word and doctrine. Then follow these words, teaching the nature of their office, and enjoining on them their duty :— u Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood;” and he closes his address with the words, “I have shown you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” How, an office to which the Holy Ghost appoints men, which relates to the care of the Church of God, which calls them to take the oversight of the Church from the love of souls and love to God, and to be examples to the flock,—such an office must surely be regarded as spiritual in its nature. II. As to the design of the office.— Its design is to secure the good order and healthy life of the Church. And, first, to secure the good order of the Church. Under the Jewish system, the elders exercised a wider authority than under the Christian, constituting a 16 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. judicial body, and to some extent a civil court. Still, their principal functions were ecclesiastical, regulating questions of order and discipline. It is not a little remarkable that in the New Tes¬ tament the lines which divide the province of one class of church-officers from that of another are so faintly drawn. * This clearly indicates that in the in¬ fancy of the Church the apostles and brethren were more concerned with great fundamental principles than with formal organization, seeking the conversion of sinners and each others’ edification, as co-equal brethren, all “ a royal priesthood” uniting to worship God. If suggests, too, that the outworking of Chris¬ tian principles found for themselves suitable and simple forms. Besides the apostles, elders and deacons are men¬ tioned ; yet the word deacons , or deaconship, (dia- eonate,) we find applied to all three officers, and even to the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Still, upon exami¬ nation, and using the light of subsequent history, we find that the teaching elders, or ministers, were in trusted with the preaching of the gospel, the adminis tration of the sacraments, and general oversight of the spiritual condition of the Church; that the ruling elders, representing the Church, aided in the general government and oversight of the Church, as helps to the pastor and guardians of the people; while the deacons, so far as we can trace, were in one sense helpers of the pastor and elders, charged specifically with the charities, sometimes with the temporalities, of the Church. ' The word “governments” implies that the office of Christian elders pertained to their regulating the order of the Church, as do the terms “rule” and THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. IT “ruling ” which we find applied to them. 1 The same thing is clearly seen in Acts xx^28. They are “over¬ seers” of the flock, (perhaps better, in or among the flock, to denote that they are not exalted to an irre¬ sponsible and despotic authority over them.) They are to take the oversight of the flock, not as lords over God's heritage, but as examples to the flock. They are to “feed” the Church. The word here trans¬ lated “feed,” it is well known, includes the idea of governing , directing. It literally signifies to perform the office of a shepherd; and perhaps it is as often used to mean rule as feed or teach. It is translated rule in four out of five of the early English versions of the first of these passages, and govern in the fifth; while in the passage from Peter it is in all of them rendered by feed. 2 The word denotes the care of the flock: guiding, guarding, and supplying with suitable nourish¬ ment. 3 Hence we say that it is the ‘design of the office of ruling elders to take care of the Church ,—to see that all things be done decently and in order that pertain to the service of God and to the organization and action of the Church. But, further than this, They are to secure the healthy life of the Church. Not only the external order and discipline of the Church are committed to their charge, but the spiritual interests of the flock are to be attended to by them. “Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased ‘Rom. xii. 8; 1 Cor. xii. 28; 1 Tim. v. 17; Heb. xiii. 17. 2 It is also translated rule in Matt. ii. 6; Rev. ii. 37; xii. 5; xix. 15. 3 The word was used by classical writers to denote the rule of kings, and its corresponding noun to signify king, or governor. 18 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. with his own blood." The duty of public teaching and preaching devolves on the pastors or ministers of the Church; but conjointly with them are the elders responsible for the spiritual well-being of the flock. Their office calls them to watch over the members of the Church; to strengthen the weak; to reclaim the wandering; to see that each has a portion in due season; to preserve the purity of the Church; to judge of the fitness of candidates for church-member¬ ship; to administer discipline to erring or offending members; to secure a faithful adherence to covenant engagements in the observance of family worship, the regard for the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, the religious training of children; to see that the people are instructed in sound doctrine, that the pulpit is supplied; and to bear part in the general councils of the Church, for the defence of the truth, the maintenance of Christ's kingship, and the exten¬ sion of his kingdom. The office of ruling elder is thus one of high spi¬ ritual character, and of solemn importance and respon¬ sibility. It is an office warranted by the divine Word, to which the Holy Spirit appoints men, and to which is intrusted very largely the care of the Church of God. Such seems to be clearly the teaching of the Scriptures concerning it. And such is the view taken in our Form of Government. “ Buling elders are properly the representatives of the people, chosen by them for the purpose of exercising government and discipline in conjunction with pastors or ministers." 1 They are set apart to their work by solemn ordina¬ tion, at which time, after approving and adopting the 1 Chap. v. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 19 Confession of Faith and Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church, they promise, among other things, “ to study the peace, unity, and purity of the Church;” and the people promise “to yield them all that honour, encouragement, and obedience, in the Lord, to which their office, according to the word of God and the Constitution of this Church, entitles them." 1 In conjunction with the pastor, the elders constitute the session of a particular church, which Session “is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the congregation, for which purpose they have power to inquire into the knowledge and Christian conduct of the members of the church; to call before them offenders and witnesses, being members of their own congregation, and to introduce other witnesses, where it may be necessary to bring the process to issue, and when they can be procured to attend; to receive members into the church; to admonish, to rebuke, to suspend or exclude^ from the sacraments, those who are found to deserve censure; to concert the best measures for promoting the spiritual interests of the congregation, and to appoint delegates to the higher judicatories of the Church.” 2 In asserting, then, that the ruling eldership is a spiritual office, designed to secure the good order and healthy life of the Church, no more is asserted than is claimed for it by our Book of Faith and Government and sanctioned by the word of God. It is wisely adapted to share with the pastor the responsibility of feeding the Church of God, and to aid him in de¬ vising and executing plans for advancing its interests. It is designed to relieve him from cares too numerous and onerous for him, so that he may give himself up 1 Chap. xiii. Chap. ix. 20 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. more specifically and entirely to the preaching of the gospel in the pulpit and from house to house. The eiders are the minister’s counsellors and coadjutors, while at the same time the representatives and friends of the congregation; coming one degree, nearer the people than does the minister, being themselves a portion of the flock to whom he ministers. Happy is that pastor who has an efficient board of elders,—men who appreciate the nature of their office, and who endeavour to discharge its duties with a right spirit. Aarons and Hurs are they indeed to him, holding up his hands, cheering his heart, seconding his efforts, and doing much to give them success. One wrong- minded, obstinate, or ill-spirited elder may indeed be a thorn in a minister’s side. Such occasionally are to be found; men who seek to lord it over God’s heritage; to rule indeed in the Church of God; to rule pastor as well as people, and their brother-elders al^o, •—all but themselves; not aware, in their ambition, or vanity, or unconscious love of mischief, that there is an evil spirit within them, that domineers over all that is good in them, and drives them to do wrong. Such elders there are, unhappily. Poor human nature will not throw off infirmity, until the earthly is ex¬ changed for the heavenly life. And we must not for¬ get that the -very mischief which one troublesome elder may cause, is just an evidence of the importance of the office, and of the great value to a pastor of a judicious, earnest, spiritual session. Promptness, energy, judiciousness, impartiality,—these are more likely to be secured by such a representative body. Busy bodies, restless men, men who love the pre¬ eminence, are also found among the people; and a sound session is a great help to a nastoi?, in controlling THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 21 them, and securing the peace and good order of a congregation. And happy is that chureli that is favoured with a wise and pious eldership; an eldership alive to their duties, and anxious to perform them; taking the over¬ sight of Christ’s flock with a willing mind, and at the same time with a solemn sense of responsibility to God. How much may they do to secure the pros¬ perity of the church! counselling church-members and inquiring penitents; visiting the families, and promoting peace and friendliness of feeling; conduct¬ ing social meetings; sustaining Sabbath-schools. How much have the elders of the churches done in these respects during seasons of religious awakening! and in seasons of comparative dcadness, how much have godly, devoted elders done to keep alive the flame of piety and the church’s activity! We do magnify the office. It is not a mere sinecure. It is not a mere form. ‘It is not at all a secular ap¬ pointment. It is of high significance in its bearing on the life of the Church. It has wrought much for Christ’s cause in the past. The history of our Church will tell how the elders have stood side by side with the ministers, in battling for Christ and his cause, or how they have championed the cause of the people, when a worldly or arrogant priesthood seemed to seek predominance; and how they have maintained in our lower and higher courts the principles of freedom, the right of conscience, and the authority of the word of God. It may be made still more effective as a spiritual power, by a thorough use of its functions. And we shall contribute to this, if we exalt it to its due place in the regard of the Church, and if elders themselves will realize the responsibility that rests on 22 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. them, as well as the honour that God and his Church have conferred upon them. We do magnify your office, brethren of the elder¬ ship. .And we would have you magnify it; not in the spirit of boasting or self-sufficiency. Paul had no such feeling when he magnified his office as apostle to the Gentiles, and thanked God for the honour con¬ ferred on him. But we would have you understand to what an office you have been called, that you may appreciate both your privileges and responsibilities. Your appointment is of God; but you are not exalted above your fellow-Christians, to exercise lordship over them. You are rulers in the church; but you rule by serving. You are responsible to God; you are also responsible to the church. Your solemn ordination gives you the oversight of the flock; but you are amenable to your brethren. You are asso¬ ciated with the pastors in the government of the church; but you are not set to be their governors and teachers. You are called to a spiritual work, to a care for souls. In your official capacity, the secular cares of the church do not belong to you. Yours is the spiritual welfare of the flock of Christ. Now, what a demand is here made on your time, your thoughts, your hearts ! What a work,—a blessed, precious work,—a work that has joy in it now and shall have a large reward of faithfulness hereafter,— what a work has God given you ! What solemn re¬ sponsibilities has he laid on you ! May yoti so under¬ stand it, and the Church so understand it, and minis¬ ters so understand it, that so the ruling eldership may have due honour, and the prayers of the people; that it may not be an object of unholy ambition, or restless love of prominence; that its entrance may be THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 23 guarded with solemn responsibilities, and its work may be well. done. From this view of the nature and design of the office, we pass now to consider THE DUTIES WHICH IT INVOLVES. Unavoidably some references to these have already been made. In general, the duty of the eldership is to have an oversight of the church ; to see that it is sup¬ plied with the preaching of the word, and the admi¬ nistration of the sacraments; to guard its spiritual character, keeping a watchful eye upon it; promptly, and with a heart of‘kindness, to admonish those who are going astray, and firmly, but with equal kindness, to exercise the discipline of the church in the case ot offenders. This in general. Now to specify some particular The elders have relations to the church and congrega¬ tion to which they specially belong; and relations to the Church at large. I. The elders, together with the pastor of each church, constitute the session of the church, whose duties have already been recited. The chief of these are three. (1.) Receiving members into the church . It becomes their duty*, in connection with the pastor, to examine those who present themselves as can¬ didates for church-membership; to ascertain the ground of their religious hope, their evidence of Christian character, and measure of religious know¬ ledge, and to decide the question of their admittance to the communion of the church. A solemn and re¬ sponsible work, to be conducted with great care, kind¬ ness, sympathy, discrimination. It is no light matter to hold thus the keys of Christ’s earthly kingdom. 24 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. The purity and activity of the church depend much on the right use of this trust. The interests of im¬ mortal souls may be affected by it. (2.) The exercise of * church-discipline devolves on the session. This also is a matter of great delicacy and import¬ ance, deeply concerning the church, and demanding the exercise of prudence and sympathy. It is a duty always trying to the sensibilities; yet it must not be neglected. Faithfulness here may be as essential to the prosperity of the church as prayer or preaching, or care in admitting members. It is a happy thing when, by watchfulness, private admonition, judicious¬ ness, and gentleness, the necessity for judicial action can be avoided. But when this cannot be, judicial discipline is a solemn duty that must be carefully per¬ formed. In the performance of this duty, the elders have a directory in our Book of Discipline, to which it becomes them closely to adhere. (3.) The session are to concert measures for promoting the spiritual welfare of the church. The elders are to give the pastor the benefit of their counsel and co-operation in all that belongs to the spiritual interest of their charge, both, with mutual confidence, being animated with a desire for the healthful progress of the church, and asking from time to time what may be done to secure this. In addition,—- (a.) The elders are charged with the supply of the pulpit, and with the care of the social and religious meetings of the congregation. When no special ar¬ rangement of a different kind is made, in case of the pulpit being vacant, or the pastor being absent, it would devolve on them to secure suitable ministerial services, and, as circumstances might indicate, to sug- THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 25 gest to the congregation such a person as they might think suitable for the vacant charge; while the people naturally look to them to conduct the prayer and conference meetings, as these occur. ( b .) According to the custom of our churches, (with some exceptions,) it belongs to the elders to distribute the elements in the administration of the Lord's Supper. (c.) They should feel themselves called upon to co¬ operate with the pastor in the oversight of the youth of the congregation. They are to take heed “to all the flock." This involves (1) The encouragement and securing, as far as practicable, of parental discipline; enjoining on church-members the bringing of their children to baptism; the observance of family wor¬ ship, and religious instruction at home; doing what they can to have all these practically regarded. It involves (2) The support of Sabbath-schools , the giving to them their countenance and aid; and in general the religious instruction of the young, especially of the baptized children of the church. (3) It involves a regard for the education of young men for the ministry. This is a province in which the elders of our churches have weightier responsibilities than many of them have yet discerned, and in which they may do a noble work for the ministry and the Church at large, while developing the piety and strength of their own congregations. With an earnest, intelligent interest in this matter, imbued with the spirit of the Master in his words, “ The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few : pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest," (Matt. ix. 37, 38,) they may keep this sub¬ ject before the mind and heart of the Church, and enlist her large interest and prayers and contribu- 26 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. tions in its behalf. They may thus call out into the ministry larger numbers of young men, and secure for our institutions of learning the support they need. Another duty devolving on the elders is— (d.) Family visiting . This, while commended to us by its intrinsic excellence, is implied by the very fact of the general oversight committed to them. That they may faithfully execute their office, it is essential that they should be acquainted with the members of the church, and it cannot be doubted—for experience proves it—that great benefit to the spiritual condition of the church arises from a judicious system of visit¬ ing properly executed by the elders. They are not inquisitors; but they are brethren, sustaining along with their fraternal an official relation, and “they have power to inquire into the knowledge and Chris¬ tian conduct of the members of the church.” There is probably not a family in any church or congregation, that would not welcome a visit from its elders. Cer¬ tainly it is the general sentiment that such visits should be made, not as mere formalities, but as friendly religious calls, in which kindliness of feeling shall pre¬ vail and the religious well-being of the family shall be sought. It would be a blessed thing if there were more of this friendly religious intercourse among the members of the Church. The Church is too far from realizing the benefits that would flow from proper Christian intercourse and religious conversation. She has not yet entered into the enjoyment of Mai. iii. 16, 17 :—“ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord cf Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; . THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 27 and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” But the official relations of the elders render this peculiarly incumbent on them. The right discharge of this duty will do much to secure the harmony and friendly feeling of the church, the attachment of members to each other and to their office-bearers, and to promote the comfort and the piety of God's saints, and to bring many into his Church. The loving fidelity and zeal of the elders in many of our churches have been greatly owned and blessed by God in the conversion of many souls, and in the reviving of many Christians. (e.) The elders are also to be examples to the flock , manifesting in their own lives, and in their families, such a spirit and behaviour as they inculcate on others. And this assumes the more significance from the fact that, as laymen, not solely given up to the work of the ministry and sustained by a regular support from the church, elders are engaged in the secular business of life. Hence they are brought more constantly among men, into the world, and have opportunities of manifesting a Christian character, of carrying the influences of religion, where the pastor seldom goes. A wide field of usefulness is thus opened to them, while a large responsibility rests on them, calling for much watchfulness and prayer. II. The elders have relations to the Church at large . It is their duty, as they may be appointed, to repre¬ sent their own church and congregation in the Pres¬ bytery and the Synod, and their Presbytery in the General Assembly. It becomes them to be punctual and prompt in their attendance, and to give their at¬ tention and their counsel, as occasion may demand, in all the deliberations of these bodies. Here some of their most solemn and responsible duties are per- 28 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. formed. The examining of candidates for the ministry, and approving them as suitable for ordination; the investigation and decision of judicial cases, affecting the rights of individuals or bodies, or interpreting fundamental principles of church-government; and the adopting and recommending of plans of action, for the promotion of the interests of the Church, the spread of Christ's kingdom, involving sometimes prin ciples of highest importance; in such matters as these, the elders are called to act for the good of the Church and the glory of God. And it is highly desirable that the brethren of the eldership should in larger numbers join with the brethren of the ministry in our eccle¬ siastical judicatories and in their deliberations. Their punctual presence and active participation in these might add greatly to the efficiency of the Church, while enlarging their own views on the importance of their office and deepening their interest in it. Such is a mere glance at some of the duties of the eldership. Truly it is no sinecure, but a responsible and honourable position, affording large opportunities for usefulness. The elder may say, “Who is suffi¬ cient for these things ?” But he can look for help to God, and covet the reward of faithfulness. He will greatly need divine aid. He will greatly need to lead a life of prayer; to cultivate a familiarity with the Scriptures and an intelligent apprehension of their meaning, and an acquaintance with the condition of the Church and the progress of Christ's kingdom. In order to complete our view of the subject, we ought to glance yet at two points,—the qualifications for the eldership, and the duties of the people towards the elders. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 29 THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ELDERSHIP. What Paul says to Timothy about bishops , and to Titus about elders , using the two terms as synonymous, is certainly applicable to ruling as well as to teaching elders:—“A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, just, holy, tem¬ perate, holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” 1 To mention more particularly a few of the promi¬ nent qualifications, there is— 1. Sound piety. On this point there need be scarcely a remark. An elder ought to be a man of unques¬ tioned and earnest piety; a member in full standing in the church which he is called to serve as an elder, and one whose life commends his piety to the regard of his brethren. 2. He should be a man of some Christian experience; u not a novice;” not one recently converted, knowing comparatively little of his own heart and of the strug¬ gles of the Christian life, and so unfitted to sympa¬ thize wfith his brethren and counsel them, and to examine those applying for admittance to the church, or to sit in judgment on those charged with delin¬ quency. Our book presents us no limit as to age, or length of Christian profession,—the word elder being merely an official title, having no reference to length of days. 2 Each case must be judged by its own merits, 1 Titus i. 7-9; 1 Tim. 3. 2 It is interesting to observe how this title has found a place in the principal languages. Obviously its origin is in the fact that the older men originally bore rule, as commanding respect and reverence for 30 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. for individuals will differ widely in qualifications : tlie Christian of recent connection with the Church may have a deeper experience than some of older standing. But the apostolic rule is, “Not a novice,” 1 and, “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” 2 3. He should be sound in the faith. His should be an intelligent piety, so that he may be able to give a reason of the hope that is in him, to maintain his position, and to defend the truth against gainsayers. He should also be qualified to instruct others. Knowing what are the doctrines of the gos¬ pel, as held by his denomination, and holding them sincerely, he should be able to contend for them earnestly. Our ordination-service requires of the elder to affirm that he does “sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as con¬ taining the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.” Only thus will he be qualified to counsel others as to the views of the Church, or to perform his appropriate part in the session when persons apply for admission to the communion of the Church, or in the higher judicatories. 4. He should be a man of prudence. Prudence is of more importance than learning in conducting the affairs intrusted to the eldership, their age and wisdom and paternal authority. But it soon passed from this primitive signification into a simple name of office. Besides odr word elder , which is of Saxon origin, we have transferred into our lan¬ guage the Greek words “ Presbyter” (of which Elder is the translation) and “Presbytery,” denoting a body of ministers or elders; and from the Latin word of the same signification we have “ Senator” and “ Senate.” Of a similar origin are the French “ Seigneur,” and the “Grand Seignior” of Turkey, and the Spanish “ Senor,” and some others. Out of all these, as well as of our Saxon term “alderman” or elderman, the original idea of age is lost; and they are simply names of office, or titles of address. *1 Tim. iiif 6. 2 1 Tim. v. 22. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 51 though, of course, learning along with prudence in¬ creases the elder's efficiency, and it is ever desirable to have in our boards of elders men of intelligence and enlarged views. But it Is essential, in view of the im¬ portance, delicacy, and intricacy of the matters often involved in the work of the session, that all the elders should be prudent men, acting wisely. 5. He should he a man of good reputation. “ He must have a good report of them which are without." 1 If he bring with him into the eldership a bad reputation among his brethren or among the world, how can he hope to exert a good influence over them, or to preserve unimpaired the purity and integrity of the Church ? If he does not command respect, he will not add to the strength of his pastor and associate elders, or help forward the cause of the Church. The importance of a due regard to these qualifica¬ tions in the choice of elders is the more strikingly apparent from the fact that their office is permanent . They are ordained for life, as ministers are. “The offices of Buling Elder and Deacon," our Book says, “ are both perpetual, and cannot be laid aside at pleasure. Ho person can be divested of either office but by deposition." 2 Cases may occur in which the elder may cease to be an acting elder; and for these our Book makes provision; and in all such cases the people who elect the elder have voice and authority. 3 An elder removing from the church in which he was elected to that office does not carry with him the authority to act as an elder in the church to which he goes. They may choose him, already an elder, to be their elder; otherwise, he remains simply without tlio exercise of the functions of the eldership. Still, the 1 1 Tim. Hi. 7. 2 Form of Govt., chap. xiii. sec. vi. 3 lb. sec. vi. and vii. 32 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. office is perpetual. This is the theory of the Church, and, so far as we can discover, of the New Testament. It may be competent for individual congregations to secure, if practicable, rotation in the discharge of this office, so as to call into service a larger number of members; but clearly the theory of our Book seems to be that elders are ordained for life. Permanency is a prominent feature of the office, one of its excel¬ lencies, and, at the same time, a feature that adds to the carefulness with which it should be regarded, and the seriousness that surrounds it. THE DUTIES OF THE PEOPLE. Ruling elders are chosen by the members of the church from among their own number, and set apart for the work to which their office calls them. They are thus the voluntarily-appointed representatives of the Church, charged with the care of her highest interests. They are a ministry of God in the Church's service. As such, they should receive respect and honour. They are “ powers" and “authorities,” to whom there should be a due subjection, as free men in the Lord submit to his laws. Paul says, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour.’' Again: “We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.” And again : “ Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God.” And again : “ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.” 1 ; Tim. v. 17; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; Heb. xiii. 7 and 17. THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. 33 So, brethren, members of the Church, should you *ver regard those who, by your own free choice, are set apart to the eldership among you. They are set for the government of the Church. You have called them to this. It is presumed they are called also by the Holy Ghost. Regard them as invested with a solemn office, having intimate relations to the best in¬ terests of the Church. As such, give them your affec¬ tionate respect and support. Yield readily to their arrangements for the conducting of public worship and the promotion of religion among you. Give them your earnest co-operation. Make them wel¬ come to your*homes, and open to them your hearts, and ask them for their prayers. Let them be encou¬ raged by your welcome and sympathy, and aided to overcome embarrassment and timidity in their at¬ tempts to serve the Lord. Be not disposed to find fault with them, hastily to censure them, hastily to believe an evil report against them, and to give it currency. Above all, remember that their office is one of great responsibility, requiring them to devote to it much timfe and energy, and needing much grace to enable them faithfully to do their duty; and, there¬ fore, often 'pray for them. Do not forget this. They need your prayers. Praying for them, you will be more interested in them, and, through the grace of God imparted to them in answer to your prayers, they will be able the more faithfully to labour in your behalf and for the Church at large, and thereby for the glory of God. The ruling eldership is a spiritual office, designed to secure the good order and the healthy life of the Church. Puling elders are the representatives of the people, 34 THE OFFICE OF RULING ELDER. chosen from among them, and solemnly ordained by the presiding minister or pastor, to administer the religious affairs of the church and congregation. They are the co-labourers of the pastor in the government of the Church. The pastor’s specific and sole work, to which he gives himself wholly, is the preaching of the gospel and the care of souls. Bach pastor is head of his charge or parish, the presiding officer of the session. The elders are laymen, assist¬ ing him in his work, but not taking his place. They have authority among the people, but only so far as the Constitution of the Church specifies. As the representatives of the people, they act in their name and in their behalf. They have a weighty charge, demanding prudence, piety, the spirit of wisdom and love. They have an honourable office, in which they may do very much for the good of souls and the glory of God. They should have the respect, the confidence, and the co-operation of the people. A ruling eldership profoundly impressed with a sense of its duty, and filled with wisdom from on high, is a mighty power for good in the Church of Christ, designed to sustain, strengthen, and assist the ministry in feeding the flock of Christ. May such be the Eldership in all our churches! May the great Head of the Church write, on the hearts of all the office-bearers of the Church, the words of his Apostle Paul:—“ Take heed , therefore , unto yourselves , and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers , to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood ” v r# PRESBYTERIAN BOOK STORE, 1334 Chestnut Street , OPPOSITE THE U. S. MINT. ILTIEW BOOKS. BOWEN’S DAILY MEDITATIONS, 429 pages, 12mo. $1 75 Tinted paper, gilt edges,... 2 50 We earnestly commend this book to those who desire a deeper Christian experience. LEAVES OP CONSOLATION POE THE AFFLICTED. Selected and edited by Mrs. H. Dwight Williams. 360 pages, 12mo..... 1 50 Tinted paper, gilt edges,. 2 00 LOVE TO THE END. A Book for the Communion Sabbath. By Rev. Chas. E. Knox. 60 pp., 12mo. 50 Tinted paper, gilt edges,. . 65 NEW SABBATH SCHOOL BOOKS. FIVE TEAES IN CHINA. An interesting and valuable memoir of Rev. William Aitchison, missionary in China. By Rev. C. P. Bush. 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