DPW and Multiple Ministers

[Prufrock]

I wasn't sure whether this thread belonged under Worship, Preaching or Church Order, so please, feel free to move it.

In the Directory for Public Worship, in the section on preaching, it states:

Where there are more ministers in a congregation than one, and they of different gifts, each may more especially apply himself to doctrine or exhortation, according to the gift wherein he most excelleth, and as they shall agree between themselves.

Can someone explain, practically, what they historically intended here?

1. Were there many puritan churches with more than one preacher?
2. If so, does such indicate that one Lord's day they would have a "doctrine" sermon, and the next an "exhortation" sermon? Such seems to violate the other principles laid out in this very chapter. Perhaps one would preach in the service, and another exhort outside the service?
3. I suppose the best way of answering this might be in anyone knows examples of such churches from the time

 

[NaphtaliPress]

The DPW was before the debates on government and office; so I suspect this has reference to the somewhat controverted office of doctor and division of labor not the kind of preaching. See the Westminster Form of Government under "Teacher or Doctor".

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

It is also helpful to consult the Westminster Directory of Church Government which provides proof texts:

Teacher or Doctor.

THe Scripture doth hold out the name and title of Teacher, as well as of the Pastor, 1 Cor.12:28. Ephes.4:11.

Who is also a Minister of the Word as well as the Pastor, and hath power of administration of the Sacraments.

The Lord having given different gifts, and divers exercises according to these gifts in the Ministery of the Word, Rom. 12:6,7,8; 1 Cor. 12:1,4,5,6,7. Though these different gifts may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister, 1 Cor. 14:3; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit.1:9. yet where be severall Ministers in the same Congregation, they may be designed to severall imployments, according to the different gifts in which each of them doth most excell, Rom. 12:6,7,8; 1 Pet .4:10,11. and hee that doth more excell in exposition of Scripture, in teaching sound Doctrine, and in convincing gain-sayers, than he doth in application and is accordingly imployed therein, may be called a Teacher, or Doctor ( the places alledged by the Notation of the Word doth prove the Proposition ) Neverthelesse, where is but one Minister in a particular Congregation, he is to performe so far as he is able the whole work of the Ministery as appeareth in the 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 1:9. before alleadged, 1 Tim.6:2.

A Teacher or Doctor is of most excellent use in Schooles, and Universities, as of old in the Schooles of the Prophets, and at Jerusalem, where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors.

http://www.puritanboard.com/f117/westminster-directory-church-government-35047/

For more information on the office of doctor, see this thread:

http://www.puritanboard.com/f47/office-doctor-4508/

but especially consult Robert W. Henderson, The Teaching Office in the Reformed Tradition: A History of the Doctoral Ministry.

Henry Ainsworth, though not a Presbyterian, is a notable example of a doctor in the church, a teaching minister rather than a pastor.