A42758:139
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.
I find in Didoclavius three other interpretations beside the former:1 First, Bridges saith, That by Elders who labour not in the word and doctrine, are meant rulers or inferior Magistrates, chosen for compounding of civill controversies. Answ. 1. This is a strange language to call civill Magistrates by the name of Elders. 2. The Apostle is speaking of Ecclesiastical not of Civill office-bearers. 3. This exposition maketh Pastors who labour in the word and doctrine, to be a sort of civill Magistrates, because they are a kind of Elders that rule well.
I finde in Didoclavius three other interpretations beside the former:1 First, Bridges saith, That by Elders who labour not in the word and doctrine, are meant rulers or inferiour Magistrates, chosen for compounding of civill controversies. Answ. 1. This is a strange language to call civill Magistrates by the name of Elders. 2. The Apostle is speaking of Ecclesiasticall not of Civill office-bearers. 3. This exposition maketh Pastors who labour in the word and doctrine, to bee a sort of civill Magistrates, because they are a kinde of Elders that rule well.
- 1Altar Damasc. cap. 12.
Next, Bishop King expoundeth this place of old and infirm Bishops, who cannot labour ⟨p. 56⟩in the word and doctrine. Answ. 1. The Apostle speaketh of Presbyters, not of Prelates. 2. To rule well importeth as great labour as preaching, and somewhat more, as I showed before, so that they who cannot labour in preaching, cannot labour in ruling neither. 3. They who have eviscerate and spent themselves in the work of the Ministry, who have been (as long as they could stand upon their feet) valiant Champions for the truth, against the enemies thereof, who have served their time according to the will of God, without the stain of Heresy, Schism, Apostasy, or unfaithfulness, when they become old and infirm, they ought not to be the less honoured (as the impious verdict of this Prelate would have it) but so much the more honour ought to be given to their hoar head found in the way of righteousness.