A57969:657
The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…
The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the Church of Scotland ... by Samuel Rutherfurd ...
London: printed by E. Griffin for Richard Whittaker and Andrew Crook, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Nor can he mean here Bishops so old that they are not now able to labour in the word and doctrine, for then pastors for their age and inhability to preach, should because of their age and infirmity, deserve less honour and reward, then the younger who are able to labour in the word and doctrine. This is cross to the sift Commandment, which addeth honour and double honour to age, and grey hairs, being found in the way of righteousness. 2. Against Justice, that because years and pains in Gods Service, hath made them aged, for that they are to have less honour and reward: whereas they deserve the double; rather then that the younger should be preferred to them.
Nor can hee meane here Bishops so old that they are not now ab•e to labour in the word and doctrine, for then pasto•s for their age and inhability to preach, should because of their age and infirmity, deserve lesse honour and reward, then the yonger who are able to labour in the word and doctrine. This is crosse to the sift Commandement, which addeth honour and double honour to age, and gray haires, being found in the way of righteousnesse. 2. Against Justice, that because yeares and paines in Gods Service, hath made them aged, for that they are to have lesse honour and reward: whereas they deserve the double; rather then that the younger should be preferred to them.
Nor. 3. Can the Apostles meaning be, that these who rule well that lead an exemplarily holy life, are worthy of honour, especially painful preachers. Because 1. A person is never called a labourer, and worthy of hire, as the Ox that treadeth out the Corn, because of holiness of life, especially the Church •s not to give stipend to a pastor, for his holy life. 2. Their life should be exemplarily holy, who did not labour in the word and doctrine, that is, we have a pastor passing holy in his life, but he cannot preach, or keepeth an ill conscience in his calling, because he is lazy and a loiterer in preaching. 3. What Word of God, or dialect in the word expresseth a holy life, by well governing, for a holy life is the sanctity of mans conversation be he a private, or a public man. But to govern well, is the paraphrase of a good Governor and officer, in the Greek tongue or any other Language.