Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	act_n	apostle_n	church_n	2,046	5	4.4187	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57271	Laying on of hands asserted: or, A plain discovery of the truth thereof under those several considerations, minded in the New Testament. 1. Upon persons for healing: with a brief discovery of that ordinance of Christ, (to wit) anointing with oile. 2. Upon persons to office. 3. Upon believers, baptized, as such: and that principle of Christs doctrine cleared, for their obedience: with objections answered to each particular. To which is annexed, a confutation of four chapters written by some person, or persons, in opposition to this principle of the doctrine of Christ, (to wit) laying on of hands upon believers baptized, as such; wherein the weakness of their reasons against the truth, is plainly discovered, and the truth further asserted, and vindicated. By VVilliam Rider, servant to the Church of Christ.	Rider, William, fl. 1656.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1444A; ESTC R217997	59,976	201

that know the will of God yet walk not in the practise thereof It likewise reproves those congregations that have for some season looked upon themselves as Churches of Christ and yet want this order among them Oh that they would consider the reason why they are short in this particular that they might see whether or no the Lord have not a controversie with them for their neglect and their opposition against one principle of his Doctrine that which Christ taught unto which believers as believers were obedient which is a great transgression their neglecting to hear Christ in that saying of his which is the last particular of laying on of hands I have minded as I shall indeavour in it's place by the Lords assistance to make forth unto you Secondly Of laying on of hands upon persons to office THis was likewise an Ordinance or way of God by which those persons who were called to office by the Church of Christ were set apart and so indeed are to be set apart as it was the practise of the first Churches and of those who first trusted in Christ whose footsteps we are to follow in this way they went see Acts 13. 3 vers. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them to wit Paul and Barnabas they sent them away From whence observe and that first the work it was great it was to the Ministry according to what the Lord had spoken concerning Paul that he was a chosen vessel and that to preach the Gospel unto the Gentiles as you may see in the 26 of the Acts 15. 16 17 vers. so the work was great to the performance of which they would need much of the power and presence of the Lord with them therefore they fasted and prayed and layed their hands on them c. 2. Observe the persons who laid on hands they were the Prophets and Teachers in this Church as in the 1 and 2 verses So likewise somtimes it was done by the Apostles themselves as Acts 6. 6 vers. so also by Paul and Barnabas who were called as before to the office of Apostles to lay the foundation to do the work of an Apostle Acts 14. 23 vers. so also by Timothy who was the first Bishop of the Church of Ephesus 1 Tim. 5. 22. vers. and also Titus Tit. 1. 5. vers. so likewise by the Presbytery the Company of Eldership in the Church who were by the Church of Christ called to officiate in the wayes of God unto his people by whom Timothy was ordained a Bishop 1 Timot. 4. 14. vers. So that we see this way of God and the manner of the performance thereof in some small measure discovered I shall give but this touch of this second thing minded and that for this reason Because our opposers of laying on of hands upon believers as believers have owned the laying on of hands upon officers though in a disorderly manner they have gone forth in the practise thereof as will appear First from what Mr. Collier writes in his book of Right Constitution pag. 31. where saith he the qualifications of Elders and Deacons are expressed 1 Timot. 3. Answ. I have read of Bishops and Deacons and of Apostles and Elders who were Deacons but never of Elders and Deacons My reason is because a Deacon is an Elder in the Church 2. This discovers according to their practise what they have set persons apart for as their pastoral Charge in the Church of Christ they were set apart for Elders so also as Ministers of the Gospel they were ordained for Elders though their great disorder is in building before the foundation was rightly laid yet observe the wise mistaken in their proceeding though by this practise of theirs with fair words they have stopped the mouths of many poor souls who were clearing themselves from such disorder as they were in they stopped their consciences with this that they are under laying on of hands as well as those that do practise it upon believers as believers I say In this how confused have they appeared in their setting persons apart for Elders not knowing or at least not minding that in the word Elders is comprehended all officers in the Church with the Ministerial work also 1 Pet. 5. 1 vers. 2 Epistle Iohn 1. vers. 3. 1. vers. and so Elders is distinguished into several offices in the Church as Bishops and Deacons the Deacons were to be men full of the Holy Spirit and faith so indeed fit for the work of the Lord among his people as well as Bishops and so were Elders in the Church see Acts 6. 6. vers. and Act. 15. 22. vers. where the Deacons spoken of in the 6 Chapter are called Elders in the 15 Chapter again Philip 1. 1. vers. where the Apostle writeth to the Saints with the Bishops and Deacons so Paul to Timothy writes of the qualifications of the Bishops and Deacons not Elders and Deacons you shall never in all the Scripture find Elders and Deacons expressed So that I hope this may be a word of use unto them however it will be unto the Church of Christ though from a weak and unworthy instrument I shall now leave them as to this but as for the ordination it self they having now at last come forth in the practise thereof they must stand to maintain it and therefore knowing their abilities I shall leave them to contend for this truth with those if there be any that do oppose it it being that I do believe and have allowed of therefore I shall only take notice of one or two objections made by some and then proceed to the third thing minded Objection Some there are who say there are no Apostles now they laid hands upon persons to office then therefore that practise is deased To which I shall give this two-fold answer 1. That those who were not Apostles as to their call But Bishops or Pastors of Churches were exhorted to walk in this way Tit. 1. 5. vers. 1 Tim. 5. 22. vers. yea Prophets and Teachers by the authority of the Church of Christ may lay on hands Acts 13. 1 2 3 vers. 2. By this appears a great mistake in the understanding of many men according to this objection Object That the Ministry of the Apostles is ceased I Answer The office of an Apostle is the first office in the Church of Christ and that is to lay the foundation the foundation of the service of God therefore saith Paul I have laid the foundation 1 Cor. 3. 10. vers. the foundation that is the Lord Jesus Christ in his Doctrine that which Christ and his Apostles did teach upon which the Church of Christ was built see Ephes. 2. 20. which foundation was the beginning-Word of Christ that which persons ought to know and to believe before they are sit for the service of God But now that this viz. to lay the foundation is the first office in the house of God see the 1 Corint 12. 28 vers.

God hath set some in the Church first Apostles c. so Christ did ascend and gave gifts unto men and that some to be Apostles as well as other offices in the Church Ephes. 4. 8. compared with the 11. vers. Object But now some may say Christ did chuse Apostles he chose Twelve which he called Apostles therefore they ceasing the office ceased Answer To which I Answer that this was before Christ ascended but after he ascended he gave some Apostles that is to that work to lay the foundation Ephes. 4. 11 vers. and so Paul and Barnabas were Apostles Acts 14. 4. and 14. vers. and others also spoken of in the 2 Cor. 8. 23. vers. 1 Cor. 14. 1. compared with 6. and 9. vers. He that doth authoritatively as the first Apostles or by vertue of the authority of the Church of Christ lay the foundation of the service of God he is properly an Apostle he doth the work of an Apostle for other foundation no man can lay that is to be approved of by the Lord yet other men may lay the same even preach the same Doctrine of Christ which he did c. Thirdly Of laying on of hands upon Baptized believers as such to the end they might receive the Spirit THat laying on of hands upon Baptized believers as such is one part of their obedience to the Lord which he requires of them an Ordinance of the Lord Jesus Christ I shall thus prove unto you First because it is a saying of our Lord Jesus Christ that which he taught and that for believers obedience as well as repentance faith and Baptisme see Heb. 6. 1 2. Many persons do say If we could but see where ever Christ taught it Surely we should not gainsay it O that now they would consider for their conviction this Scripture Heb. 6. 1. vers. where the Apostle calls it the Doctrine or Teaching of Christ and a more sufficient witness that Christ taught it we cannot have then the Apostle is The Doctrine of Christ that which he taught as he did repentance faith resurrection and eternal judgment Now consider Doctrine doth imply teaching and teaching doth infer practise that so believers might learn for teaching and learning are relations as a Father and Child the one infers the other Now to inforce this reason for our obedience we may consider these three things First what the Apostle saith in Acts 3. 22. vers. where we are injoyned to a hearing of Christ in all things and that also from the danger that will follow our neglect as in the 23 verse 2. In that it is placed amongst those foundation-principles Hebr. 6. 1 2. and that in the midst of them as if the Spirit of the Lord did foresee the opposition that would be made against this truth 3. Because it is one of Christs first teachings and therefore those words in Heb. 6. 1. may be rendered the beginning-word of Christ the A.B.C. of a Christian one of those first lessons that believers then did learn and now should learn which is this to wait upon God in this way of his for the Spirit of promise which is their right whereby they might be inabled as they do desire to do him service Object But now unto this some object and say that all things that Christ did and said we are not to be followers of him in as to raise the dead to command the winde to cease and the like Answer To which I answer though this may be true yet what is this to the purpose Because we are not to say in all things as he did therefore we must say in nothing as he did neither as he taught us this is error with a witness We grant that in all things we are not to do and say as Christ did But yet in all things that does relate to the worship and service of God as repentance faith and Baptism or our duty in our conversation we are to do as he hath said for unto this God himself commands us see Luke 9. 35. Acts 3. 22. Him shall ye hear in all things c. Object Further to make voyd this reason some object and say that Christ taught the resurrection of the dead and eternal Judgment as well as laying on of hands but that is only to be believed the resurrection and Judgment we know we cannot practise Answ. To which I answer first This is that we ought as believers to do if possible we can to attain to the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. 11. 2. That Christ taught it we grant and that it is for our obedience we do also affirm and that is so far as he requires it 3. I do hope you do also know that so far as Christ hath taught us we ought to be obedient to him that which he taught which was Notional we ought to believe that which he taught which was practical we ought to obey Now consider laying on of hands is a practical Doctrine as is manifest by the Apostles actings and the Saints obedience Acts 8. 17. Acts 19. 6. Now let the opposers of this truth of Christ shew where ever laying on of hands was taught by Christ as the resurrection and eternal Judgment only to be believed and then they will say and do somthing to their purpose Object But say some In Heb. 6. 1. the Apostle calls it a Doctrine but not a practise and so by this would make voyd this way of God Answ. This objection was answered by Doctor Chamberlain in his dispute with Captain Kiffin as you may see in the 10th page of his book where saith Doctor Chamberlain Because the Apostle calls it a Doctrine therefore so far from being not practised that it ought the rather to be practised for without practising no learning Again saith he you wrest this Scripture whereas the express purpose of the Holy Spirit is To teach Doctrines that so believers might do what is taught For the proof of which he cites Mat. 28. 20. Mat. 7. 21 24. Ioh. 13. 17. and 15. 14. Iam. 22. 23 24 25. Phil. 4. 9. and many other places yet saith he you wrest it to the direct contrary and you say therefore it is called a Doctrine that it might not be practised for indeed so much such an objection doth import But Mr Perry in his book of Animadversions in answer to Doctor Chamberlain pag. 14. as he doth therein conceive that which is true so he doth suppose that where in he is mistaken and that is to think and so to write that Doctor Chamberlain minded Mr Kiffens wresting of the Scriptures above mentioned whereas indeed we may plainly see in his book and in this I have written of his words that he minded him of wresting Heb. 6. 1. which was the ground of this objection and therefore we may take notice that the Scriptures above mentioned do sufficient prove what Doctor Chamberlain brought them for which was this that Heb. 6. 1. was wrested by Mr Kiffin from