Question 28 — Wherein principally doth the authority of the elders of the church consist?
John Owen A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God d e diligently, dividing it aright; to preserve and contend for the truth; to administer all the ordinances f of the gospel duly and orderly; to stir up and exercise the gifts they have received in the discharge g of their whole work and administration of all ordinances; to instruct, admonish, cherish, and comfort all the members of the church, as their conditions, occasions, and necessities do require; h to attend with diligence, skill, and wisdom unto the discharge of that authority which in the rule of the church is committed unto them. a 1 Tim. iii. 1–7, iv. 12; 2 Tim. ii. 3; Col. i. 24; Phil. ii. 17, iii. 17. b Heb. xiii. 17; Acts xx. 28. c 2 Tim. ii. 15, iv. 2; Rom. xii. 6–8. d 1 Tim. vi. 20; Acts xx. 28; Jude 3. e 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2; 1 Tim. iii. 15. f 1 Tim. iv. 14–16. g Acts xx. 18–20, 25, 27; 1 Thess. iii. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25. h Rom. xii. 7, 8; 1 Tim. v. 17.
The answer is full and plain.
Question 28 — Wherein principally doth the authority of the elders of the church consist? a Answer — In that the rule of the church and the guidance thereof, in things appertaining unto the b worship of God, is committed unto them. And, therefore, whatever they do as elders in the church, according unto rule, they do it not in the name or authority of the church by which their power is derived unto them, nor as members only of the church by their own consent or covenant, but in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, from whom, by virtue of his law and ordinance, their ministerial c office and power are received. So that, in the exercise of any church-power, by and with the consent of the church, there is an obligation thence proceeding, which ariseth immediately from that authority which they have received of Jesus Christ, which is the spring of all rule and authority in the church. a Acts xx. 28; Heb. xiii. 7, 17; 1 Pet. v. 2; 1 Cor. xii. 28. b 1 Tim. iii. 5; Col. iv. 17; 2 Cor. x. 4, 8.
John Owen A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God c 1 Tim. iv. 11; Titus ii. 15; 1 Pet. v. 2–5.
Explication — The answer unto this question explains the power or authority of the elders of the church, from whom they do receive it, and how it is exercised by them; the right stating whereof is of great importance in the whole discipline of the church, and must, therefore, here be farther explained. To this end we may consider, —
First, That all church-power is originally vested in Jesus Christ, the sole head and monarch thereof.
God the Father hath committed it unto him, and intrusted him with it for the accomplishment of his work of mediation, Matt. xxviii. 18.
Secondly, That he doth communicate of this authority by way of trust, to be exercised by them in his name, unto persons by him appointed, so much is needful for the ordering and disposing of all things in his churches unto the blessed ends for which he hath instituted and appointed them; for no man can have any power in his church, for any end whatever, but by delegation from him. What is not received from him is mere usurpation. And whoever takes upon himself the exercise of any rule, or authority, or power in the church, not granted unto them by him, or not rightly derived from him, is an oppressor, a "thief and a robber." This necessarily follows upon the absolute investiture of all power in him alone, 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 11, 12.
Thirdly, The means whereby the Lord Christ communicates this power unto men is by his law and constitution, whereby he hath granted, ordained, and appointed, that such and such powers shall be exercised in his church, and that by such and such persons, to be derived unto them in such a way and manner; so that the word of the gospel, or the laws and constitutions of the Lord Christ therein, are the first recipient seat and subject morally of all church-power whatever, Matt. xvi. 19, xviii. 17–20.
Fourthly, The way and means whereby any persons come to a participation of this power regularly, according to the mind of Christ, is by the obedience unto, and due observation of, his laws and commands in them unto whom they are prescribed; as when an office, with the power of it, is constituted and limited by the law of the land, there is no more required to invest any man in that office, or to give him that power, than the due observance of the means and way prescribed in the law to that end. The way, then, whereby the elders of the church do come to participate of the power and authority which Christ hath appointed to be exercised in his church is by their and the church's due observance of the rules and laws given by him for their election and setting apart unto that office, Heb. v. 4, 5; Acts xiv. 23.
Fifthly, On this account they receive their power from Christ himself alone, and that immediately; for the means used for their participation of it are not recipient of the power itself formally, nor do authoritatively collate or confer it, only the laws of Christ are executed in a way of obedience. So that though they are chosen and set apart to their office by the church, yet they are made overseers by the Holy Ghost, Acts xx. 28. Though they have their power by the church, yet they have it not from the church; nor was that power whereof they are made partakers, as was said, formally resident in the body of the church, before their participation of it, but really in Christ himself alone, and morally in his word or law. And thence is the rule and guidance of the church committed unto them by Christ, Heb. xiii. 7, 17; 1 Pet. v. 2; 1 Tim. iii. 5.