ends, and to cross their own
principles. 3. According to this gloss, this should be the sense, "Let
the ministers that rule well by good life, and skilful government, be
counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word
and doctrine." Now doth not this tacitly insinuate, that some ministers
may rule well, and be worthy of double honor, though they labor not in
the word and doctrine? and how absurd were this? But if the text be
interpreted not of several acts of the same office, but of several sorts
of officers, this absurdity is prevented, _Let ruling elders be doubly
honored, especially those that both rule and preach_. 4. The text
evidently speaks not of duties, but of persons; not of acts, but of
agents; not of offices, but of officers; for it is not said, "Let the
elders be counted worthy of double honor, for well ruling; especially
for laboring"--but, _Let the elders that rule well, especially they that
labor in the word, &c._ So that this gloss is vain, and against the
plain letter of the text.

_Except_. 11. Though the emphasis of the word, _they that labor_, be not
to be neglected, yet the difference betwixt presbyters is not put by
that word, but by those (_in the word and doctrine_.) This does not
signify two kinds of presbyters, but two offices of ministers and
pastors; one general, to _rule well_; another special, _to labor in the
word and doctrine_. To rule well, saith Hierom, is to fulfil his office;
or, as the Syriac interpreter expounds it, "to behave themselves well in
their place;" or as the Scripture speaks, _To go in and out before God's
people as becomes them, going before them in good works in their
private conversations, and also in their public administrations_; whence
the apostle makes here a comparison betwixt the duties of ministers
thus, "All presbyters that generally discharge their office well are
worthy of double honor; especially they who labor in the word, which is
a primary part of their office."[88]

_Ans_. 1. For substance this objection is the same with objection 10,
already answered, therefore much more needs not to be added. 2. It is to
be noted, that the apostle saith not, "Let the presbyters that rule well
be counted worthy of double honor, especially because they labor in the
word--for then he should have pointed at the distinct offices of
ministers;" but he saith, _especially they that labor_, which clearly
carries the sense to the distinction of elders the