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

I conceive, the place 1 Tim. 5. saith, that Widows were in the Apostolic Church, both poor aged Women, who were to be maintained by the Church, and also auxiliary helps, for mere service to help the Deacons in these hot Countries. Both is apparent from the Text▪ honour Widows that are Widows indeed, that is as ^hHugo Cardinalis expoundeth it, who want both the comfort of an husband and of Children to maintain them; and so also ⁱChrysostom, before him expounded it; and ^kHugo Cardinalis, the honour that is due to them, is, say Chrysostom, Theophylact, Anselmus, that they be sustained by the oblations of the Church. Ecclesiae oblationibus sustententur, say ^lSalmeron and ^mEstius; and Cornelius ⁿà lapide, saith, as (honour thy Father and thy Mother) doth include (h• norem sustentationis) that children are to give the honour of maintenance to their indigent parents, no less then the honour of obedience and reverence, so are Widows to have this honour. (2) It is said, if any Widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show mercy at home, and to requite their Parents; Ergo, the children or grand children of these Widows were to sustain them, and not to burden the Church, with them, and so they were poor Widows; and this. 3. The Text clearly holdeth forth, while the Apostle proveth that the children who are able, are to help the Parent being a desolate Widow; ⟨p. 173⟩because v. 8. all are to provide for these of their own house, and to maintain them in their indigence, else they be, in that, worse then Infidel children, who by natures love, do provide for their poor parents. 3. This is clear from, v. 16. if any man or woman that believeth, hath widows, let them relieve them, and let not the Church be charged, that they may relieve them that are widows indeed; Ergo, these widows called also, v. 3. widows indeed, did some way burden the Church with their maintenance, and they were not to be laid upon the Churches stock, to be maintained thereby, except they were desolate and without friends.