JohnV
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
The next thing to add would be to suggest a division between the office and the man in the office. It would seem that the concept of office jure divino would suggest a limitation of such a division. On the side of doctrine and rulership the office is to be kept in view, and under the side of opinion, even learned opinion, the man in the office is to be kept in view. That is, the man in the office is to keep these in view as he holds the office, keeping the distinction as clear as he can. Even when he must rule on matters for which he does not have direct warrant, he still has the warrant to rule in that respect in that he must rule both Scripturally and expediently for the peace and order of the church. The non-officed member must keep the respect of the man and the office in mind. It would be that if the man in the office divides them wrongly that disrespect is sown, by ruling on matters that are not his to rule on. It would not be his place to unilaterally decide which view of Christian discretion is to be taught from the pulpit, nor to do so when it is neither warranted nor expedient for good order to do so.
It would seem to me that this kind of distinction would be suggested by the concept of the ruling offices of the church being by divine right and by divine commission. It would represent a clear distinction between what is given in Scripture, which is both perspicuous and sufficient, and that which is added by men. That is, the limit of subscription applies specifically to the offices in particular, and that by definition.
As I understand it, that is how the old Dutch Reformed had it, and is still outlined in some present day Dutch Reformed denominations, with BC art. VII, XXIX, and XXX, the Form for the Ordination (or: Installation) of Ministers of the Word, the Form for the Ordination of Elders and Deacons, and the Form of Subscription, "that a minister 'must hold fast to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.' ( Titus 1:9 )" ( from the Form for the Ordination ( or: Installation ) of Ministers of the Word. ) And, (addressed to the congregation): "Remember that through him ( i.e., the minister ) God Himself speaks to you. Receive the Word which he, according to Scripture, shall preach to you, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God." ( same source ) The elders, of course, would rule accordingly.
It would seem to me that this kind of distinction would be suggested by the concept of the ruling offices of the church being by divine right and by divine commission. It would represent a clear distinction between what is given in Scripture, which is both perspicuous and sufficient, and that which is added by men. That is, the limit of subscription applies specifically to the offices in particular, and that by definition.
As I understand it, that is how the old Dutch Reformed had it, and is still outlined in some present day Dutch Reformed denominations, with BC art. VII, XXIX, and XXX, the Form for the Ordination (or: Installation) of Ministers of the Word, the Form for the Ordination of Elders and Deacons, and the Form of Subscription, "that a minister 'must hold fast to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.' ( Titus 1:9 )" ( from the Form for the Ordination ( or: Installation ) of Ministers of the Word. ) And, (addressed to the congregation): "Remember that through him ( i.e., the minister ) God Himself speaks to you. Receive the Word which he, according to Scripture, shall preach to you, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God." ( same source ) The elders, of course, would rule accordingly.
