fes and quarrels that grew betwixt man and man, lest the
Christians, to the shame of themselves, and slander of the gospel,
should pursue each other for things of this life before the magistrates,
who then were infidels; of these St. Paul speaketh, 1 Cor. vi. 1-7.
These governors and moderators of their brethren's quarrels and
contentions I find, others I find not in the apostle's writings, but
such as withal were watchmen and feeders of the flock." Thus
inconsistent he is with himself: one while these governors must be
pastors; another while arbitrators or daysmen about private differences;
another while gifts, not officers; another while he cannot easily prove
what they were. But they have been proved to be ruling elders, and the
proof still stands good, notwithstanding all his or others' exceptions.

_Argum_. III. The third argument for the divine right of the mere ruling
elder shall be drawn from 1 Tim. v. 17, "Let the elders that rule well,
be counted worthy of double honor, especially they that labor in the
word and doctrine." From which words we may thus argue for the divine
right of the ruling elder:

_Major_. Whatsoever officers in the Church are, according to the word of
Christ, styled elders, invested with rule in the Church, approved of God
in their rule, and yet distinct from all them that labor in the word and
doctrine; they are the ruling elders in the Church which we inquire
after, and that by divine right.

This proposition seems clear and unquestionable. For, 1. If there be a
certain kind of church officer which Christ in his word calls an elder,
2. Declares to have rule in his church, 3. Approves in this his rule,
and, 4. Distinguished from him that labors in the word and doctrine;
this is plainly the ruling elder, and here is evidently the divine right
of his office. Such a divine approbation of his office, testified in
Scripture, implies no less than a divine institution thereof.

_Minor_. But the officers mentioned in 1 Tim. v. 17, are, according to
the word of Christ, styled elders, invested with rule in the church:
approved of God in their rule, and yet distinct from all them that labor
in the word and doctrine. This assumption may be thus evidenced by
parts.

1. The officers mentioned here in this word of Christ, are styled
elders. This Greek word translated _elder_, is used in the New Testament
chiefly in three several senses: 1. For men of ancient time, not now
living; and so it is oppose