An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…

Surely this man had need to be more happy in his third exposition; and now let us know what it is? He saith, that though we could evince, that the Apostle here speaketh of some other Elders besides the Ministers of the word; yet we shall have no advantage for our ruling Elders: for the Apostle being to prove that the Ministers of the word ought to be maintained, why might he not, saith he, use this general proposition, That all Rulers, whether public or domestic, whether Civill or Ecclesiastical, are to be honoured? When the Apostle speaketh of the choosing of Deacons, he will have them to be such as have ruled their own houses well. This is his last refuge, and how weak, let any ma• judge. We have heard of many sorts of Rulers, but who did ever hear (before Sutliffe told it) of Domestic or Civill Elders that rule well. Had not the word Elders been in the Text, but the word [Greek or Hebrew] alone, he might have been the bolder to have given this sense. But since the Apostle speaketh not generally of ⟨p. 55⟩them that rule well, but of Elders in the Church that rule well, this marreth his gloss altogether.

Surely this man had need to be more happy in his third exposition; and now let us know what it is? He saith, that though wee could evince, that the Apostle here speaketh of some other Elders besides the Ministers of the word; yet wee shall have no advantage for our ruling Elders: for the Apostle being to prove that the Ministers of the word ought to be maintained, why might he not, saith he, use this generall proposition, That all Rulers, whether publicke or domestick, whether Civill or Ecclesiasticall, are to bee honored? When the Apostle speaketh of the chusing of Deacons, he will have them to bee such as have ruled their own houses well. This is his last refuge, and how weak, let any ma• judge. We have heard of many sorts of Rulers, but who did ever hear (before Sutliffe told it) of Domesticke or Civill Elders that rule well. Had not the word Elders been in the Text, but the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 alone, he might have been the bolder to have given this sense. But since the Apostle speaketh not generally of ⟨p. 55⟩them that rule well, but of Elders in the Church that rule well, this marreth his glosse altogether.