were infidels; of these St. Paul speaketh, 1 Cor. vi. 1-7.  These governors and moderators of their brethren’s quarrels and contentions I find, others I find not in the apostle’s writings, but such as withal were watchmen and feeders of the flock.”  Thus inconsistent he is with himself:  one while these governors must be pastors; another while arbitrators or daysmen about private differences; another while gifts, not officers; another while he cannot easily prove what they were.  But they have been proved to be ruling elders, and the proof still stands good, notwithstanding all his or others’ exceptions.

Argum.  III.  The third argument for the divine right of the mere ruling elder shall be drawn from 1 Tim. v. 17, “Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honor, especially they that labor in the word and doctrine.”  From which words we may thus argue for the divine right of the ruling elder: 

Major.  Whatsoever officers in the Church are, according to the word of Christ, styled elders, invested with rule in the Church, approved of God in their rule, and yet distinct from all them that labor in the word and doctrine; they are the ruling elders in the Church which we inquire after, and that by divine right.

This proposition seems clear and unquestionable.  For, 1.  If there be a certain kind of church officer which Christ in his word calls an elder, 2.  Declares to have rule in his church, 3.  Approves in this his rule, and, 4.  Distinguished from him that labors in the word and doctrine; this is plainly the ruling elder, and here is evidently the divine right of his office.  Such a divine approbation of his office, testified in Scripture, implies no less than a divine institution thereof.

Minor.  But the officers mentioned in 1 Tim. v. 17, are, according to the word of Christ, styled elders, invested with rule in the church:  approved of God in their rule, and yet distinct from all them that labor in the word and doctrine.  This assumption may be thus evidenced by parts.

1.  The officers mentioned here in this word of Christ, are styled elders.  This Greek word translated elder, is used in the New Testament chiefly in three several senses:  1.  For men of ancient time, not now living; and so it is opposed to modern:  Tradition of elders, Matt. xv. 2, i.e. of them of old time, see Matt. v. 21. 2.  For elders in age now living; so it is opposed to younger, 1 Tim. v. 1; 1 Pet. v. 5. 3.  For elders in function or office, opposed to private men not in office, as Acts xiv. 23; and in this last sense it is to be taken in this place, an office of ruling being here ascribed to these elders.  They are called elders, say some, because for the most part they were chosen out of the elder sort of men:  others better, from the maturity of knowledge, wisdom, gifts, gravity, piety, &c., which ought to be in them.  This name elder seems to have rule and authority written upon