used in a genuine proper sense, in all the New Testament, notes rule, or government.  It is used metaphorically for taking care (as one set over any business) of good works, only in two places, Tit. iii. 8, and iii. 14.  Properly for government which superiors have over inferiors; and that either domestical, in private families, so it is used in 1 Tim. iii. 4, 5, 12, or ecclesiastical, in the church, which is the public family of God; in this sense it is used, 1 Thes. v. 12, 1 Tim. v. 17, and here, Rom. xii. 8, and these are all the places where this word is found used in all the New Testament.

3. He that ruleth here, hath an ordinary, not an extraordinary office of rule in the church.  For he is ranked and reckoned up in the list of Christ’s ordinary standing officers, that are constantly to continue in the church, viz. pastors, teachers, deacons.  Commonly this place is interpreted to speak of the ordinary church officers, and none other; consequently he that ruleth is such a one.

4. He that ruleth here, is an officer distinct from all other ordinary officers in the Church of Christ.  For in this place we have a full enumeration of all Christ’s ordinary officers, and he that ruleth is a distinct officer among them all. 1.  Distinct in name, he only is called he that ruleth, the rest have every one of them their several distinct name, ver. 7, 8. 2.  Distinct in his work here appropriated to him; the doctor teacheth; the pastor exhorteth; the deacon giveth; this elder ruleth, as the very name signifieth, ver. 8.  Compare 1 Tim. v. 17, 1 Cor. xii. 28.  As the elder ruleth, so he is distinct from the deacon that hath no rule in the church; and as he only rules, so he is distinct from both pastor and teacher, that both teach, exhort, and rule; they both have power of order and jurisdiction, the ruling elder hath only power of jurisdiction. 3.  Finally, he is distinct among and from them all in the particular direction here given these officers about the right discharge of their functions.  The teacher must be exercised in teaching; the pastor in exhortation; the deacon must give with singleness; and the elder, he must rule with diligence, studiousness, &c.  Now what other solid reason can be imagined, why he that ruleth should here have a distinct name, distinct work and employment, and distinct direction how to manage this work, than this, that the Holy Ghost might set him out unto us as an ordinary officer in the church, distinct from all the other standing officers here enumerated?

5.  God himself is the author and giver of this office of him that ruleth, as well as of all the other offices here mentioned.  For, 1.  All gifts and endowments in the church in general, and in every member in particular; they are from God, it is he that gives and divides them as he will, as God hath dealt to every one the measure of faith, Rom. xii. 3. 2.  All the special offices, and gifts