oor, viz. deacons; both were
worthy of double honor, especially they that labored in the word,
&c.[71]

_Ans_. 1. This is a new distinction of elders without warrant of
Scripture. Deacons are nowhere in all the New Testament styled
elders;[72] nay, they are contradistinguished from elders, both teaching
and ruling. "He that giveth _let him do it_ with simplicity: he that
ruleth, with diligence," Rom. xii. 8. "Helps, governments," 1 Cor. xii.
28. Compare also Tit. i. 5, 6, &c., 1 Tim. iii. 2, &c., with 1 Tim. iii.
8, &c. 2. As deacons are not elders, so deacons have no rule in the
church. It is true, they are to "rule their children and their own
houses well," 1 Tim. iii. 12; this is only family rule: but as for the
church, their office therein is to be _helps_, 1 Cor. xii. 28; _to
distribute_, Rom. xii. 8; _to serve tables_, Acts vi. 2, 3; but no rule
is ascribed to them.

_Except_. 2. But by ruling well, some understand living well, leading a
holy, exemplary life. The apostle would have ministers not only to live
well themselves, but also to feed others by the word and doctrine; they
that live well are to be double honored, especially they who labor in
the word, &c., as 1 Thess. v. 12, 13.[73]

_Ans_. 1. The apostle here speaks rather of officers than of acts of
office: of persons rather than of duties, if his phrase be observed. 2.
Living well is not ruling well here in the apostle's sense, who intends
the rule of elders over others; he that lives well rules well over
himself; not over others: else all that live well were church rulers;
they conduct by example, do not govern by authority, Altar. Damasc. c.
xii. 8. If well ruling be well living, then double honor, double
maintenance from the church is due for well living, (1 Tim. v. 17, 18,)
consequently all that live well deserve this double honor. 4. This seems
to intimate that ministers deserve double honor for living well, though
they preach not. _How absurd_! 5. D. Downham, once pleased with this
gloss, after confessed it was not safe.

_Except_. 3. Those that rule well may be meant of aged, infirm,
superannuated bishops, who cannot labor in the word and doctrine.[74]

_Ans_. 1. Here is no speech of prelatical bishops, but of ruling and
preaching elders in this text. 2. How shall old, decrepit bishops rule
well, when they cannot labor in the word and doctrine? 3. By this gloss,
the preaching elders that labor in the word and doctrine, should be
preferred bef