a member of Christ's
organical body. 2. Hath an office of ruling in this body. 3. This his
office is not extraordinary but ordinary, standing, and perpetual. 4. He
is an officer distinct from all other ordinary officers in the Church.
5. God himself is the giver and author of this office. 6. And God
himself is the guider and director of this office: and then see if we
may not clearly conclude,

_Conclusion_. Therefore, he that ruleth, mentioned in Rom. xii. 8, is
the ruling elder we seek, and that by divine right.

The adversaries of ruling elders muster up divers exceptions against the
alleging of Rom. xii. 8, for proof of the divine right of their office,
the weakness of which is to be discovered ere we pass to another
argument. _Except_. 1. This is an arguing from a general to a special
affirmatively. It doth not follow, because the apostle here in general
mentioneth him that ruleth, therefore in special it must be the ruling
elder.[49]

_Ans_. This exception is the same with first exception against the
second argument hereafter laid down. There see. For the same answer
appositely and satisfactorily is applicable to both.

_Except_. 2. But the apostle here speaks of them that rule, but we have
nowhere received that such elders have rule over the church--and he
speaks of all that rule in the church, who therefore would wrest this
place only to elders? One cannot rightly attribute that word translated
_he that ruleth_ to elders only, which is common unto more. If these
elders he here meant, neither pastors nor teachers ought to rule, for
this word agrees no otherwise to him that ruleth, than the word of
exhorting to him that exhorteth.[50]

_Ans_. 1. That such elders rule in the church is evident, both by Rom.
xii. 8, where this word implies rule as hath been showed, and he that
ruleth is reckoned up amongst ordinary church officers, as hath been
said, therefore he rules in the church: these the apostle also calls
ruling elders, 1 Tim. v. 17, viz. officers in the church, and distinct
from them that labor in the word and doctrine; as in the third argument
will appear: yea, they are governments set of God in the church,
distinct from other officers, 1 Cor. xii. 28, as in the second argument
shall be evidenced: there see; therefore these elders have rule.

2. Though in this term the apostle speaks of him that ruleth, yet he
speaks not of every one that ruleth. For, 1. He speaks singularly, he
that ruleth, as of one