The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

After the Apostle hath spoken of Widows, and their service in the Church, he passeth from them to speak of excellenter Officers, to wit, of the ruling and the teaching Elders. There be many interpretations (say the opposers of ruling Elders) given upon this place; and therefore it is hard to build a new Church-officer on a Text so obnoxious to various debates.

AFter the Apostle hath spoken of Widdowes, and their service in the Church, he passeth from them to speake of excellenter Officers, to wit, of the ruling and the teaching Elders. There be many interpretations (say the opposers of ruling Elders) given upon this place; and therefore it is hard to build a new Church-officer on a Text so obnoxious to various debates.

Answ. This would be concludent in part, if the nature of the Text were the native seminary of these various interpretations; but most of these debates arise from the wits of parties interested ⟨p. 145⟩in the question, such as Papists, Prelates, or deniers of all Church-government. But I provoke to all the Fathers, especially to Chrysostom and the Greek Fathers, who have expounded the place, if any ever did deny but this place holdeth forth two sorts of Elders, though I grant they vary concerning the Elders, which labour not in the word and doctrine. And this interpretation, Elders who rule well are worthy of double honour, especially [Greek or Hebrew], id est, [Greek or Hebrew], because, or upon this consideration and respect, that they labour in the word and doctrine, was never known till of late. But we desire these five circumstances in the Text to be considered; for we build not our interpretation on any one, or two, or three of them, but we desire they may be looked on copulatively; for I confess a participle being attributum, or quasi attributum, though doubled or multiplied, doth not multiply subjects, because two, six, an hundred attributes may agree to one subject; and the Scripture and Greek language can well bear this. As Col. 2. 5. I am present with you in the spirit, ([Greek or Hebrew]) rejoicing and beholding your order. One Paul only did both rejoice and behold. And