A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

There is another Gloss which the Erastians (who love not the name of Presbytery, with any power at all jure divino) are glad to take hold off. 'Tis that which Bilson, Stutlivius and other Episcopal writers made use of, distrusting (as it should seem) that other Interpretation last mentioned: And they had it from Bellarmine, and some Popish expositors. See Gorranus upon the place: I confess it was also one of Calvins few (for they were but very few) mistakes, and 'tis diligently catched at by those who set at nought Calvins judgement in other things. But quandoque dormitat Homerus.

There is another Glosse which the Erastians (who love not the name of Presbytery, with any power at all jure divino) are glad to take hold off. 'Tis that which Bilson, Stutlivius and other Episcopall writers made use of, distrusting (as it should seeme) that other Interpretation last mentioned: And they had it from Bellarmine, and some Popish expositors. See Gorranus upon the place: I confesse it was also one of Calvins few (for they were but very few) mistakes, and 'tis diligently catcht at by those who set at nought Calvins judgement in other things. But quandoque dormitat Homerus.

I think it worth the while to examine this Gloss. And I shall offer these reasons following, to make it appear that [Greek or Hebrew] is not here the office of an Elder, but the Assembly of Elders, commonly called the Presbytery. 1. The word [Greek or Hebrew] is no where used by the holy Ghost, for the office it self, or degree of an Elder: But 'tis used in two other places in the new Testament, for an Assembly or Counsel of Elders, ⟨p. 99⟩Luke 22. 66. Acts 22. 5. in which places Arias Montanus▪ rendereth it by Senatus. Beza in the first of these places, retaineth the word Presbyterium. In the other place, both his version and the Tigurine hath totus Seniorum ordo. But the old English translation, readeth the company of Elders. However both places are clearly meant of the company of Elders, not of the office it self, for the office of Elders could not meet together, as in that place of Luke: Neither could the office of Elders bear witness to Paul, as in that place of the Acts. Mr. Selden in his upon Ebraica, lib: 1. cap: 15. understands the word [Greek or Hebrew] in both these places to be used by Luke, for the great Sanhedrin, the highest Assembly of Elders. Now then, why shall we not understand the same word, 1 Tim: 4. 14. to be the Assembly, not the office it self of Elders. And I shall ask those who think the Apostle means the office of Elders, upon what imaginable ground can they conceive that this is the Apostles meaning, or how come they to divine this thing, or how could the Apostles words be understood in that sense? The holy Ghst never useth the word in that sense. The Septuagint never use the word in that sense, for they use it not at all. No Greek Author that lived before Paul, can be found to have used the word in that sense, for the word it self is not found in heathen writers. I find only one place where the word [Greek or Hebrew] is conceived to be used for the office of an Elder. And that is in the Apocrypha story of Susanna vers: 50. But H: Stephanus, tom: 3. pag: 545. makes a doubt whether it should not be written in that signification [Greek or Hebrew], and suppose it be to be read there [Greek or Hebrew], yet that Geek is not so old as Paul, for it is ascribed to Theodotio, as Mr. Selden tells us in that place last cited out of him.