A42758:131
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyterial government.An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyteriall government.
Edinburgh: printed for James Bryson, 1641Edinburgh: printed for Iames Bryson, 1641
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, he saith, among Elders some laboured principally in governing and ministering the Sacraments, some in preaching. So Paul showeth that he preached and laboured more then all the Apostles,1 but baptised few or none. And when Paul and Barnabas were companions, and their travels equal; yet Paul was the chief speaker; so that though both were worthy of double honour, yet Paul especially. But for answer to this. First, we would gladly know what warrant had he for expounding Pauls more abundant labouring then all the Apostles, of his preaching alone? Secondly, what warrant for such a distinction of Elders, that some laboured principally in governing, some in preaching? Because Paul preached and did not baptise, and because he was the chief speaker when he and Barnabas travelled together: therefore some Elders laboured in governing, some in preaching; good Logic forsooth. Thirdly, thought he that the Apostle ⟨p. 49⟩did ever account such Ministers as do not mainly labour in preaching to be worthy of double honour: nay, it was never the Apostles mind to allow any honour, far less double honour, either to non-preaching or to seldom preaching Ministers.2 Ut quid enim doctor appellatur nisi ut doc•at? saith Chrysostom. 4. Tell me whether is preaching a duty belonging to all the Ministers of the Gospel or not? if it be not the duty of all, then it is the duty of none, but a work of supererogation or some such thing; for if some be not bound to preach by their Presbyterial order and vocation, what is there that should bind others to preach? The order and calling of a Presbyter is alike common to all. Now if all be bound to preach (which Field himself seemeth to say in his first gloss, when he calleth pains in teaching, a part or duty of the Presbyterial office, no less then governing) how shall those Presbyters be worthy of double honour, who do not the duties of their Presbyterial office, but leave the one half of them undone?
Secondly, he saith, among Elders some laboured principally in governing and ministering the Sacraments, some in preaching. So Paul sheweth that he preached and laboured more then all the Apostles,1