stering the sacraments_? Thus, _Paul preached much, baptised but
few_: therefore, _there were some that only administered the
sacraments_: well concluded. Yet Paul baptized some, 1 Cor. i. 14, 16,
distributed the Lord's supper to some, Acts xx. 7, 11; so that he both
preached and dispensed the sacraments. Let any show where any person
dispensed the sacraments that was not a preacher. Again, _Paul and
Barnabas equally travelled together, but Paul was chief speaker_: what
then? therefore _some labored in the word, others in the sacraments
only_. This is woful logic. 4. To whomsoever the power of dispensing the
sacraments was given by Christ, to them also the power of preaching was
given; dispensing the word and sacraments are joined in the same
commission, Matt, xxviii. 18-20: what Christ joins together let not man
put asunder. 5. Touching the preaching elder there is mentioned only one
act peculiar to his office, viz. _laboring in the word_, &c.; but,
taking a part for the whole, we may understand his dispensing the
sacraments also, and what else is peculiar to the preaching elder's
office, though for brevity's sake it be not here named.[77]

_Except_. 5. By elders that rule well may be meant certain governors, or
inferior magistrates, chosen to compose controversies or civil strifes.
Suitable hereunto is the late Erastian gloss, that by elders ruling well
may be meant kings, parliament-men, and all civil governors.[78]

_Ans_. 1. It is well known that in the primitive times there was no
Christian magistrate in the Church, and for the Church to choose heathen
judges or magistrates to be arbitrators or daysmen in civil
controversies, is a thing utterly condemned by the apostle, 1 Cor. vi.
1, &c. 2. The apostle speaks here of ecclesiastical, not of civil
officers, as the latter phrase intimates. The main scope of this epistle
was to instruct Timothy how to behave himself, not in the commonwealth,
but in the Church of God, (1 Tim. iii. 15,) and here he speaks of such
officers as were in being in the Church at that time. 3. If kings,
parliament-men, and all civil governors be these ruling elders, then
ministers have not only an equal share with them in government by this
text, which the Erastians will not like well; but also are to have a
superior honor or maintenance to kings, parliament-men, and all civil
governors. Certainly the magistrates will never triumph in this gloss,
nor thank them that devised it. 4. Sutlive seems