Argum.  I. The first argument for the divine right of the ruling elder in the Church of Christ, shall be drawn from Rom. xii. 6-8:  “Having, then, gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence,” &c.  Let the scope and context of this chapter be a little viewed, and it will make way for the more clear arguing from this place.  Briefly thus:  The apostle having finished the principal part of his epistle, which was problematical, wherein he disputed—­1.  About justification, chap, i.-vi.; 2.  Sanctification, chap. vi. 7, 8; and, 3.  Predestination, chap. ix. 10, 11, he comes to the next branch, which is more practical, about good works, chap. xii.-xvi.  This twelfth chapter is wholly in the way of exhortation, and he herein exhorts to divers duties. 1.  More generally that we should even consecrate ourselves wholly to the service of God, ver. 1; that we should not conform to the world, ver. 2.  More specially he descends to particular duties, which are of two sorts, viz:  1.  Such as concern ecclesiastical officers as officers, ver. 3-9; 2.  Such as concern all Christians in common as Christians, both towards one another and towards their very enemies, verse 9, to the end of the chapter.  Touching ecclesiastical officers, the apostle’s evident scope is to urge them not to be proud of their spiritual gifts, (which in those days abounded,) but to think soberly, self-denyingly of themselves, and to use all their gifts well.  This he presseth upon them, 1.  From the nature of the Church, which is as a natural organical body, wherein are many members, having their several offices for the good of the whole body; so the members of Christ’s body being many, have their several gifts and offices for the good of the whole, that the superior should not despise the inferior, nor the inferior envy their superior, ver. 3-5. 2.  From the distribution or enumeration of the several kinds of ordinary standing officers in this organical body, the Church, who are severally exhorted duly to discharge those duties that are specially required of them in their several functions, ver. 6-8.  These officers are reduced first to two general heads, viz:  Prophecy (understand not the extraordinary gift of foretelling future things, &c., but the ordinary, in the right understanding and interpreting of Scripture) and ministry; and the general duties thereof are annexed, ver. 6, 7.  Then these generals are subdivided into the special offices contained under them, the special duty of every officer being severally pressed upon them.  Under prophecy are contained, 1. He that teacheth, i.e., the doctor or teacher; 2. He that exhorteth, i.e., the pastor, ver. 7, 8.  Under ministry are comprised, 1. He that giveth, i.e., the deacon; 2. He that ruleth, i.e., the ruling elder.  The current of our best interpreters to this effect resolve this context.  So that here we have a very excellent and perfect enumeration of all the ordinary standing officers in the Church of Christ distinctly laid down.  This premised, the argument for the divine right of the ruling elder may be thus propounded: