The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

Now for answer hereunto, it may be considered, that good government, either of a mans life, or of the people, or as the Apostles words be, their ruling well, may either be taken properly and strictly, as rule is distinguished from ministry of the Word and Sacraments; or more largely for the whole office of a good Elder, Been praeesse, to be a good president. If to rule well, be taken in the former sense properly, then it acknowledgeth Elders that attend to rule, to be worthy of double honour, without respect to their labour, in the ministry of the Word, which is the sense of the place that we build upon; for if it should be said, that the Apostle speaketh of Ministers or Preachers, that they ruling well, are worthy of double honour, though they do not labour in Word and Doctrine; the wiser sorts of opposites do discern that would not suite with the Apostles mind, who would be so far from thinking, that well ruling, but not painful preaching Ministers should be worthy of double honour, that he would account them worthy of little or no honour at all. And they fitly quote for this purpose, the place before alleged, 1 Thes. 5.12. where when the Apostle calleth for singular love, and honour to their overseers, for their works sake, he putteth in there, Labouring amongst them (to wit, in the Word) without wch no such respect were due to them. They therefore take the Apostles words in the latter sense; understanding by well ruling, the whole office, even all the duties of good presidents: As if the Apostle had said, the Elders that rule well, that is, who are good rulers, and presidents, They are worthy of double honour; chiefly they who labour in preaching the Word. And they ⟨p. 24⟩give for example this instance: Logicians, who reason well, that is, all good Logicians, are to be honoured, especially those who judge well, or are judicious; where, not two sorts of Logicians are held forth, but two duties or faculties of all Logicians, in respect of which they are to be honoured; the one general to reason well, the other special to judge well; and these disposed, not in a distribution, but in a comparative sentence, preferring the later before the former.

Now for answer hereunto, it may be considered, that good government, either of a mans life, or of the people, or as the Apostles words be, their ruling well, may either be taken properly and strictly, as rule is distinguished from ministery of the Word and Sacraments; or more largely for the whole office of a good Elder, Bene praeesse, to be a good president. If to rule well, be taken in the former sense properly, then it acknowledgeth Elders that attend to rule, to be worthy of double honour, without respect to their labour, in the ministery of the Word, which is the sense of the place that wee build upon; for if it should be said, that the Apostle speaketh of Ministers or Preachers, that they ruling well, are worthy of double honour, though they doe not labour in Word and Doctrine; the wiser sorts of opposites doe discerne that would not suite with the Apostles minde, who would be so far from thinking, that well ruling, but not painfull preaching Ministers should be worthy of double honour, that he would account them worthy of little or no honour at all. And they fitly quote for this purpose, the place before alledged,