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

Doctor Fields second reason is for that Paul, 1 Tim. 3. showing who should be Bishops and Ministers, who Deacons, yea, who Widows; passeth immediately from describing the quality of such as were to be Bishops and Ministers of the Word and Sacraments, to the Deacons, omitting these ruling Elders that are supposed to lye in the midst between them, which he neither might nor would have omitted, if there had been any such. To this the answer is easy. 1. As we collect the actions and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and the institution of the last supper, not from any one of the Evangelists, but from all of them compared together, for that one toucheth what another omitteth; so do we judge of the office-bearers of the Church not from 2 Tim. 3. only, but from the collation of that and other places of Scripture of that kind. Ruling Elders are found in other places, and in the fifth Chapter of that ⟨p. 82⟩same Epistle, though not in the third. 2 Neither were there any absurdity to hold, that the Apostle in that third Chapter comprehendeth all the ordinary office-bearers in the Church under these two Bishops and Deacons, and that under the name of Bishops, he comprehendeth both Pastors, Doctors, & ruling Elders: for as all these three are overseers, so to them all agree the qualities of a Bishop here mentioned, whereof there is only one, which seemeth not to agree to the ruling Elder, viz. that he should be apt to teach,¹ vers. 2. Yet Beza maintaineth against Saravia, that the ruling Elder teacheth as well as the Pastor, only the Pastor doth it publicly to the whole congregation; the ruling Elder doth it privately, as he findeth every one to have need. And we have showed before that as a private Christian is bound in charity to teach the ignorant, so the ruling Elder is bound to doe it ex off•cio.

Doctor Fields second reason is for that Paul, 1 Tim. 3. shewing who should be Bishops and Ministers, who Deacons, yea, who Widowes; passeth immediatly from describing the qualitie of such as were to be Bishops and Ministers of the Word and Sacraments, to the Deacons, omitting these ruling Elders that are supposed to lye in the midst betweene them, which he neither might nor would have omitted, if there had beene any such. To this the answer is easie. 1. As we collect the actions and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and the institution of the last supper, not from any one of the Evangelists, but from all of them compared together, for that one toucheth what another omitteth; so doe we judge of the office-bearers of the Church not from