Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

Our Reasons that make us think that either all or many of these Elders or Bishops were over the particular Church of Ephesus, are these. 1. It is expressly said in the Text, that they were Elders of the Church, referring to Ephesus next before mentioned. He sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church. And it cannot be proved in all the New Testament that the Bishops of other Churches and Cities, are called Bishops of a greater City, because it is the Metropolis. 2. Here is mention but of one Church and one Flock in the singular number, and not of many: when yet it is acknowledged that he speaketh not of the Universal Church (for then that language were not strange) but of a particular Church. And it is the use of the Apostles to speak still in the plural number when they mention the particular Churches of many Cities, and not to call them all one Church or Flock. 3. And it may seem else that the Elder of each one of these Cities hath a charge of all the rest. For they are required to take heed of all the Flock: which though it may possibly be by taking every one his part, yet if one should fail, the rest seem to have his charge upon them, which is more then they can do. 4. Paul was now in so great hast in his journey to Jerusalem, that Luke measureth it out by the days. And it is not like that Paul could in such hast call the Elders from the several Cities of Asia. If he had passed through ⟨p. 8⟩the British Seas in such haste, and lodged at Plymouth, and had thence called to him the Elders of Paris, he must have staid many days or weeks, before he could have gathered also the Bishops of Rhemes, Arles, Orleans, and the rest of France. 5. The numbers of Prophets and gifted men in those times, and the state of other particular Churches, doth give us sufficient reason to conjecture that Ephesus was not so scant of help, as to have but one Presbyter. Grotius thought that Timothy with his Come-Presbyters made this appearance; but others have given very probable reasons that Timothy was none of them. 6. The Judgement of Expositors ancient and modern running so commonly the other way, commandeth some respect from us.

Our Reasons that make us think that either all or many of these Elders or Bishops were over the particular Church of Ephesus, are these. 1. It is expresly said in the Text, that they were Elders of the Church, referring to Ephesus next before mentioned. He sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church. And it cannot be proved in all the New Testament that the Bishops of other Churches and Cities, are called Bishops of a greater City, because it is the Metropolis. 2. Here is mention but of one Church and one Flock in the singular number, and not of many: when yet it is acknowledged that he speaketh not of the Universal Church (for then that language were not strange) but of a particular Church. And it is the use of the Apostles to speak still in the plural number when they mention the particular Churches of many Cities, and not to call them all one Church or Flock. 3. And it may seem else that the Elder of each one of these Cities hath a charge of all the rest. For they are required to take heed of all the Flock: which though it may possibly be by taking every one his part, yet if one should fail, the rest seem to have his charge upon them, which is more then they can do. 4. Paul was now in so great hast in his journey to Jerusalem, that Luke measureth it out by the daies. And it is not like that Paul could in such hast call the Elders from the several Cities of Asia. If he had passed through