it, when applied to any church officer; and it is by the Septuagint often ascribed to rulers political, elders in the gate, Judges viii. 14; Ruth iv. 2, 3; 1 Sam. v. 3; 1 Chron. xi. 3.  In this place (as it is well noted by some[66]) the word elders is a genus, a general attribute, agreeing both to them that rule well, and also to those that labor in the word and doctrine:  the one sort only rule; the other sort both rule and preach; but both sorts are elders.

2.  The officers here mentioned are not only styled elders, but invested with rule in the church.  For it is plain both by the text and context duly considered, and the apostle’s scope in writing of this epistle, 1 Tim. iii. 15, that these elders are officers in the Church.  And that in the church they are vested with rule appears not only by their name of elders, which when applied to officers, imports rule, authority, &c., as hath been said; but also by the adjunct participle that rule, or ruling, annexed to elders—­Let the elders ruling well.  So that here we have not only the office, the thing, but the very name of ruling elders.  The word seems to be a military term, for captains and commanders in an army, foremost slanders, (as the word imports,) that lead on and command all the rest that follow them:  hence metaphorically used for the foremost-standers, rulers, governors in the church.  It noteth not only those that go before others by doctrine, or good example:  but that govern and rule others by authority.  For, 1.  Thus the word is used in Scripture:  “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity,” 1 Tim. iii. 4:  where it plainly notes an authoritative ruling.  Again, “If a man know not how to rule his own house,” 1 Tim. iii. 5.  And again, “Ruling their children and their own houses well,” 1 Tim. iii. 12.  And can any man be so absurd as to think that a master of a family hath not a proper authoritative rule over his own children and family, but rules them only by doctrine and example?

2.  Thus learned divines[67] and accurate Grecians[68] use the word to denote authority:  so that the Holy Ghost here calling them ruling elders, implies they are vested with rule:  and those that deny this place to hold out two sorts of elders, yet confess it holds out two sorts of acts, ruling and preaching.

3.  These ruling elders are here approved of God in their rule; and that two ways, viz:  1.  In that God’s Spirit here commends their ruling, being duly discharged, ruling well, excellently, &c.  Did no rule in the Church belong to them for matter, God would never command or approve them for the matter.  He cannot be accounted with God to do any thing well, that hath no right to do it at all. 2.  In that God’s Spirit here commands their well ruling to be honorably rewarded. Let them be counted worthy of double honor: or, Let them be dignified with double honor.  Here is not only reward, but an eminent reward appointed them, and that urged from Scripture, ver. 18.  Where God thus appoints rewards, he approves that for which he rewards; and what God thus approves is of divine right.  See part 1, chap.  V.