that labor_--are
the same, i.e. both of them ordinary presbyters, both of them ruling,
only to one of them the office of _laboring_ in the word and doctrine is
superadded; yea, the very women that _were_ godly were said _to labor in
the Lord_, Rom. xvi. 6, 12, not for their far travels up and down
several countries to propagate the gospel, for where are Mary and Persis
reported to have done this? Yet doubtless such good women privately
labored much to bring in others, especially of their own sex, to hear
the apostles, and entertain the gospel; and if the women may be said to
_labor much in the Lord_, in respect of their private endeavors, how
much more may labor be ascribed to presbyters in respect of both their
private and public employments! So that this word _laboring_, which is
applied in Scripture not only to ordinary presbyters, but also to women,
cannot (without violence) be drawn peculiarly to signify apostles and
evangelists, as this exception intends.

_Except_. 10. Seeing in every minister of the word three things are
requisite, unblamableness of life, dexterity of governing, and integrity
of doctrine; the two first are commended here, but especially the labor
in doctrine above them both; therefore here are set down not a two-fold
order of presbyters, but only two parts of the pastoral office,
preaching and governing; both which the apostle joins in the office of
pastors, 1 Thes. v. 2-13.[86] "The guides of the church are worthy of
double honor, both in respect of governing and teaching, but especially
for their pains in teaching; so noting two parts or duties of
presbyterial offices, not two sorts of presbyters."[87]

_Ans_. 1. It is true, pastors have the power both of ruling and
preaching belonging to their office, as is intimated, 1 Thes. v. 12, 13,
and Heb. xiii. 7, and in other places; but doth it therefore follow,
that none have the power of ruling, but those that have the power of
preaching? or that this text, or 1 Tim. v. 17, intends only those rulers
that preach? 2. Bilson, in this exception, confesseth that _laboring_
belongs to ordinary fixed pastors, and therefore contradicts himself in
his former objection, wherein he would have appropriated it to unfixed
apostles and evangelists; yea, by this gloss it is granted, that
preaching presbyters are to be more honored than non-preaching ruling
prelates. These are miserable shifts and evasions, whereby they are
necessitated thus to wound their own fri