to be against this
opinion, (though no great friend to ruling elders,) saying Beza bestows
many words to prove that the judges in 1 Cor. vi. were not of the number
of presbyters: which truly I myself should easily grant him. For there
were none such ever constituted. 5. This is a novel interpretation, as
some observe,[79] unknown among ancient writers.

_Except_. 6. Those words [_especially they who labor in the word and
doctrine_] are added to the former explanatively, to teach us who they
are that rule well, viz. _they who labor much in the word and doctrine_,
and not to distinguish them that labor in the word, from elders ruling
well; as if Paul had said, "Let the elders that rule well be counted
worthy of double honor, greatly laboring in the word," &c. For the word
translated _especially_ here more aptly signifies _much, greatly_, than
especially. For though with the adversative _but_ along with it, it
signifieth especially, yet alone (as it is here) it signifies _much,
greatly_.[80]

_Ans_. 1. If this sentence [_especially they who labor_, &c.] were added
only to explain who are well-ruling elders, viz. such as greatly labor
in the word, &c., then few of the prelatical bishops were to be counted
well-ruling elders, for very few, if any of them, were guilty of
laboring greatly in the word and doctrine. 2. Then also the apostle
would have said, either who especially labor, or simply without the
article, especially laboring; then especially, they who labor, as here
he doth, carrying his speech rather to distinct persons and officers,
than to distinct duties or actions. 3. This word translated
_especially_, hath been already in the minor proposition proved to be
rather disjunctive, than explanatory; a term of distinction to point out
a several sort of elders from only ruling elders, rather than a term of
explication, signifying who are to be reputed these well-ruling elders.
4. The word _especially_ is used for a term of distinction, even in
those places where the adversative _but_ is not joined to it, as in Tit.
i. 10, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,
especially they of the circumcision:" where _especially_ distinguishes
_them of the circumcision_, from all other _vain talkers, and
deceivers_; and in 1 Tim. iv. 10, "Who is the Saviour of all men,
especially of them that believe;" here _especially_ without _but_
distinguishes them that believe from all other men, as capable of a
special sa