one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
Even if such a viewpoint is true, which this author doubts, it would be far better to choose able family men with children; and something else should be done, if at all, with the greatest reluctance and with the absolute necessity of doing so if any elders at all were to be appointed.  This view is included here because of the usual dependability of its advocate, and not through any agreement with it, but also for the purpose of strengthening the argument for allowing fathers of only one child to be appointed.  The overstressing of the "children" requirement has reduced the process of choosing elders in some churches to a mere census of the children!