I. Pastors and teachers are the ordinance of Jesus Christ.  This is generally granted on all sides; and therefore these few particulars may suffice for the demonstration of it, viz: 

1.  They are enumerated in the list or catalogue of those church officers which are of divine institution.  “God hath set” (or put, constituted) “some in the Church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers,” 1 Cor. xii. 28.  These are some of the triumphant gifts and trophies of Christ’s ascension:  “Ascending up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men:  and he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” Eph. iv. 8, 11.  Thus in that exact roll of ordinary officers:  “Having, therefore, gifts different according to the grace given unto us; whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministry;” (here is the general distribution of all ordinary officers under two heads, prophecy and ministry:) “or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation,” (here is the teacher and the pastor, that come under the first head of prophecy,) Rom. xii. 6-8.  “Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made” (or set) “you overseers,” Acts xx. 28.  Note—­God hath set in the Church; Christ hath given for his body; the Holy Ghost hath made overseers over the flock, these pastors and teachers:  and are not pastors and teachers church officers by divine right, having the authority of God, Christ, and of the Holy Ghost?

2.  They are to be thus and thus qualified according to divine direction.  The qualifications of these pastors and teachers, (called presbyters and overseers,) see in 1 Tim. iii. 2-8, “An overseer,” or bishop, “must be blameless,” &c.; and Tit. i. 5-10, “To ordain presbyters,” or elders, “in every city—­If any be blameless,” &c.  Now, where God lays down qualifications for pastors and teachers, there he approves such officers to be his own ordinance.

3.  They have manifold church employments committed to them from Christ, as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, (1 Cor. iv. 1, 2,) they being intrusted in whole or in part with the managing of most if not all the ordinances forementioned in part 2, chap.  VII., as there by the texts alleged is evident.  Matters of order and special office are committed to them only divisim:  matters of jurisdiction are committed to them with ruling elders conjunctim.  If Christ hath intrusted them thus with church ordinances, and the dispensing of them, sure they are Christ’s church officers.

4.  The very names and titles given them in Scripture proclaim them to be Christ’s own ordinance; among many take these:  “Ministers of Christ,” 1 Cor. iv. 1; “Stewards of the mysteries of God,” 1 Cor. iv. 1; “Ambassadors for Christ,” 2 Cor. v. 20; “Laborers thrust forth into his harvest by the Lord of the harvest,” Matt. ix. 38; “Ruling over you in the Lord,"[44] 1 Thess. v. 12.