It is answered to the first, that although the Apostles are called Elders, yet they are so called virtually, not formally, and but because Apostleship contains all Offices in it, so as they are Elders but upon this ground, that they are Apostles, and therefore John in that very Epistle where he stiles himself an Elder, he yet writes Canonical Scripture as an Apostle, and takes on him to threaten Diotrephes as an Apostle, to remember him, which as a formal Elder he could not have done; and surely those Offices which Christ distinguisheth, Ephesians 4. He gave some Apostles, some Pastors and Teachers, the same person is not formally both, though virtually he may be; All that they did in that Church of Jerusalem they are said to act as Apostles, their preaching is called the Apostles doctrine, their bringing their monies to them, as to the Officers of that Church, is to them not as Elders, but as Apostles, They laid it down at the Apostles feet; yea in that Act of ordaining the seven Deacons, it is said, They set them afore the Apostles, (Chap. 6. Vers. 6.) and they laid on their hands; And it is very hard to distinguish and say that the men were Apostles, but the power they acted by was as Elders, when the name of an Apostle imports the Office; Yea in that very Act of government about Deacons they must needs act as Apostles, for they do not simply ordain the men, but do anew, by virtue of Apostolical authority, institute the Office of Deacons by declaring Christs mind, which none but Apostles could immediately and at first have done, so as the same persons in this same Act instanced in, must act partly as Apostles, and partly as Elders, and by what infallible rule shall we distinguish.
It is answered to the first, that although the Apostles are called Elders, yet they are so called virtually, not formally, and but because Apostleship containes all Offices in it, so as they are Elders but upon this ground, that they are Apostles, and therefore John in that very Epistle where hee stiles himselfe an Elder, hee yet writes Canonicall Scripture as an Apostle, and takes on him to threaten Diotrephes as an Apostle, to remember him, which as a formall Elder hee could not have done; and surely those Offices which Christ distinguisheth, Ephesians 4. Hee gave some Apostles, some Pastors and Teachers, the same person is not formally both, though virtually he may bee; All that they did in that Church of Hierusalem they are said to act as Apostles, their preaching is called the Apostles doctrine, their bringing their monies to them, as to the Officers of that Church, is to them not as Elders, but as Apostles, They laid it downe at the Apostles feet; yea in that Act of ordaining the seven Deacons, it is said, They set them afore the Apostles, (Chap. 6. Vers. 6.) and they laid on their hands; And it is very hard to distinguish and say that the men were Apostles, but the power they acted by was as Elders, when the name of an Apostle imports the Office; Yea in that very Act of government about Deacons they must needs act as Apostles, for they doe not simply ordaine the men, but doe anew, by vertue of Apostolicall authoritie, institute the Office of Deacons by declaring Christs mind, which none but Apostles could immediatly and at first have done, so as the same persons in this same Act instanced in, must act partly as Apostles, and partly as Elders, and by what infallible rule shall wee distinguish.
