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…

The third argument shall be taken from that [Greek or Hebrew] that constituting, appointing or making of Church officers which is plainly held forth in Scripture. The seven Deacons being elected by the multitude of the Disciples, were appointed, set and constituted over that business by the Apostles, Acts 6. 3. Pastors and Teachers have much more need to be appointed to their office, and for them let us note two Scriptures, one is Luke 12. 42. Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make [[Greek or Hebrew]] ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in dew season? Grotius upon the place noteth, that the former parable concerning watching is intended for all Christians, so Mark. 13. 37. but this of stewards belongs ⟨p. 44⟩to the Pastors of Churches, for 'its upon occasion of Peters question concerning the former parable, (Lord speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?) Christ answers by this parable of stewards, appointed or ordained over the household, whom he distinguisheth from other servants by their ruling power, verse▪ 42. by their greater knowledge, and consequently greater guiltiness, if wicked, vers. 47. and by the greater trust committed to them, vers. 48. Now least it should be thought, that this making or appointing of stewards over the household of Christ, is only meant of the Apostles, as it were of purpose to discover the vanity of that Socinian error, 'tis said, vers. 43. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Till Christ come again, and at his coming, there shall be stewards appointed and set over his house: Which cannot be without the mediate and ordinary way of making, appointing, and ordaining. The Bishops or Elders, as well as Apostles are the stewards of God, Tit. 1. 7. And so I come to the other Scripture concerning those teaching and ruling officers. The Apostle left Titus at Crete that he might ordain Elders in every city, vers. 5. The [Greek or Hebrew] mentioned in the beginning, replieth to this Text, that [Greek or Hebrew] signifieth to fix, settle, establish one who was in office before as appears by Psal 2. 6. See now with how little reason this man oppugneth the received principles. The Septuagint (sayeth he) readeth Psal: 2. 6.