Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	church_n	communicate_v	communion_n	1,771	5	9.7997	5	true

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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

from hence I would Query by what rule of Christ it is that you could have Communion with us and the case being thus we can any longer Communicate with you For my part I must profess before the Lord and before the whole World that how to satisfie my conscience and maintain the truth of God in such Communion I know not if I could I should do it I know it 's that they reflect upon us that we want love to them as the ground why we cannot Communicate with them But the Lord he is Judge and he knows that it 's our love to the truth of Christ and the order he hath prescribed in his house that will not suffer us Especially as the case stands with them as is before minded And therefore if there be any love in them towards us let us be partakers of those weighty Reasons grounded upon the Word of truth which may convince us that it is our duty still to have Communion with them notwithstanding their opposition against this truth Object But by this some may say It seems that if they did not oppose the truth you could Communicate with them Answ. I answer No for we have no such custome neither the Churches of Christ Search the Scriptures and see if ever Christ left such a rule to walk by or that God allowed or approved of any such practise We are glad to hear where there is any so moderate as not to oppose it and it is not burden some to us to wait upon God in his way labouring their convincement and imbracing of the truth for it is that which is their duty as well as Baptisme and a part of the foundation of the house of God as well as repentance and faith and therefore to build with them without this principle in the foundation were to presume to do that we have no warrant for and to make a breach in that order God hath appointed and that in the very foundation of his service 2. I Answer that we have good ground to maintain separation from those though Baptized that deny this Ordinance of laying on of hands and that 1. Because we are Commanded to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 2 Thes. 2. 15. Therefore Brethren standfast and hold the Traditions which you have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle and herein were the Corinthians praised by the Apostle which is also written for our Example 1 Cor. 11. 2. Now I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you From whence it is manifest that to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered is that which is praise-worthy to the Saints well pleasing unto God and the will and minde of God unto his people But to Communicate with those that do deny the laying on of hands will put us out of that capacity this our experience doth witness to us VVe might speak much unto this of the opposition we had when I was in such a condition 2. Because from those persons who do not hold the Ordinances as they were delivered we are commanded to withdraw 2 Thes. 3. 6. Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition you have received of us yea a good ground we have to observe this Command from their opposition in that they raile print speak and dispute against the truth calling it a Doctrine from beneath a counterfeit thing which gives us a good ground to observe the Apostles Exhortation 1 Tim. 6. 5. From such withdraw thyself and certainly as we are to withdraw from those who are evil in their Conversation so likewise from those who do declare against that which is part of the worship of God yea a foundation-principle of his service 3. Because laying on of hands is a foundation-Doctrine a principle upon which a right constituted Church of Christ is built Heb. 6. 1 2. A Doctrine which was not notionally as many say but practically imbraced by the first Churches as the Hebrews the Samaritans and the Ephesians which were exactly built according to the direction of Christ himself Now this is generally received that though there may be Communion with persons where differences are in circumstantials yet not where they are in fundamentals and for this reason those who are Baptized have refused Communion with the Independants because they erre in a fundamental point therefore they cannot build with them and is not this reason strong for us because laying on of hands is a foundation-Doctrine or principle as well as Repentance faith Baptismes and Resurrection and eternal Judgement therefore this being a foundation-principle we ought not to build with those who are destroyers thereof and therefore for this Reason we ought not to Communicate with them 4. Because they live in the Breach of and in opposition against a Command of God Even this beginning-word of Christ and so indeed to partake with them were to make our selves guilty of their sin Now that they are such that they do so live is plainly manifest by their writing printing preaching and disputing Thus opposing this Law oracle of God Heb. 5. 12. and as they do thus live in the Breach of a Command of God an oracle and a principle of Christ Doctrine so certain it is that we cannot have Communion with them without transgressing the Command of the Spirit of God where we are exhorted to withdraw from such 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. 5. Because where there is not an uniting in the principles of the foundation of the service of Christ there can be no safe or comfortable Communion for indeed Union is the ground of Communion Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together except they are agreed and saith our Saviour Wherein two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that you shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 18. 19. from whence it is plain that where there is no Union no Agreement there can be no fellowship no walking together no asking the Father for any thing for consider how can we ask the Spirit of God to be given and that according to his promise with or among them who do oppose the means to wit laying on of hands it's abomination unto them and therefore how can we have Communion with them or they with us Surely if things were rightly considered our separating from them will be found upon as good ground if not better then their separating from the Independants so called for wherein do they differ but in Baptizing the practise of Baptisme they deny not though not rightly performed nor applyed But the practise of laying on of hands upon believers Baptized as such is denyed by our opposers Object But now some may say Though I am satisfied that laying on of hands is an Ordinance of Christ yet they

be here meant and that for these Reasons 1. Because every Babe is capable thereof which they are not of the former 2. Because every Babe hath need thereof which he hath not of the former 3. Because we finde Babes in the practise thereof Acts 8. 17. Acts 19. 6. yea the Hebrews when Babes were in this practise they learnt it in that condition Heb. 5. 12 13. 2. Because officers are not for the being but the well-being of a Church of Christ When things are not in such a Capacity as in their beginning to watch over one another then they are to consider of some amongst themselves according to their wisdome who are faithful into whose hands in the Name of Christ they give authority committing the Charge of the house of God unto them Also we finde the foundation of the service of God laid and a house unto God built before there were officers chosen amongst them as these Scriptures do witness Acts 13. 1 2 3 4. Chapt. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. And therefore laying on of hands upon persons to office is not the foundation-principle minded in Heb. 6. 2. To the second part of your proposition whereas you say that none of the other laying on of hands was practised amongst them this is false for the contrary hath been already proved that the Jews in Acts the 2. were under it yea they were in the practise thereof as it was milk for Babes Heb. 5. 12. so that as your former Arguments did not neither doth this prove the laying on of hands upon persons to office to be the foundation-principle Heb. 6. 2. verse 4. Your fourth Argument is this Because this laying on of hands to wit upon officers onely remains in force the other two not capable to be practised nor have been for many hundred of years 1. Whereas you say this laying on of hands to wit upon officers only remains to be practised To which I answer you are herein mistaken For as hath been already manifest laying on of hands upon believers as such being an Ordinance of Christ is still in force for their obedience and therefore capable to be practised 2. Whereas you say that this laying on of hands upon believers as such hath not been capable of practise for many hundred of years I Answer it is very true but let 's consider what 's the Reason that this Ordinance of Christ was not capable to be practised is not the same why other Ordinances of Christ were uncapable of practise was it not because of that confusion or Mystery of Iniquity that hath long reigned and doth to this day 3. I answer if the promise of God which is the end of this Ordinance to wit laying on of hands upon believers as such be now made good upon his people then they are capable of this Ordinance But the promise of God is still made good unto his people Acts 2. 38. it being made unto them for Christ is the same Yesterday to day and for ever and his Word yea and Amen Likewise this Ordinance was the way or means through which God made good his promise as is plainly seen Acts 8. 17. 19. 6. Therefore I conclude they are capable of this Ordinance and therefore neither doth this Argument of yours serve the purpose you bring it to 5. Your fifth Argument because this laying on of hands to wit upon officers concerns the whole Church which is necessary a principle should do but the other do not concern the whole as I have shewed To which I answer 1. That there are many things that do concern the whole Church of Christ which are no principles of the foundation as for Instance breaking of Bread with many other duties which may be minded doth concern the whole and yet no principle of the foundation and therefore this considered your Argument is void 2. Whereas you say it doth concern the whole body as a principle But I pray how doth your Argument make it to appear that it is one of the principles Heb. 6. 2. vers. which if your Argument were good it should do I do grant that laying on of hands upon officers doth concern the whole body and that thus God having appointed this way and order in his house for setting persons apart for office Now this way and order the Church of Christ ought to maintain and this doth concern them as well as a principle of the foundation doth concerne them which yet is not the principle Heb. 6. 2. and therefore you are mistaken for I have already shewed you how laying on of hands upon believers as such doth concern the whole body yea every particular member thereof as the principle Heb. 6. 2. and that as they are Babes in Christ which the other in this sence doth not but to some particulars who are strong men as is before minded though of concernment to the whole 3. Whereas you say you have shewed how the other doth not concern the whole you may by what I have said plainly see your mistake which I wish the Lord may shew unto you for laying on of hands upon believers as such doth concern the whole body not only as a principle but as the principle as is before discovered But you have a seeming Reason to prove your Argument which is because every member is bound to live under the Government of the Church and to be obedient to their officers to whom the rule and care of the whole Church is committed and therefore this must be the principle Heb. 6. 2. Answ. To which I answer granting your proposition yet denying your conclusion because it 's every ones duty to maintain communion with the Church in breaking of Bread doth it therfore follow that breaking of Bread is a foundation-principle Thus you may see the weakness of your Reasons which you bring to prove laying on of hands upon persons to office to be the foundation-principle Heb. 6. 2. As for your Phrase of laying on of hands upon persons to office that it holds forth the Government of the Church I shall not at this time enter the debate thereof though I do Judge there is some exception in it as it 's laid down by you But you further say to inforce what you have spoken that this is the very order of the principles as they are laid down Heb. 6. 2. I Answer that here again you are mistaken for laying on of hands upon persons to office is no foundation-principle as I have already proved And therefore what the principle is we contend for which is indeed that in order there laid down I shall further clear unto you by this Argument That which was administred next in order after Baptisme is the foundation-principle But laying on of hands upon believers Baptized as such was administred next in order after Baptisme and therefore the foundation-principle as it is laid down Heb. 6. 2. 1. That it was administred next in order after Baptisme is very plain from Acts 8. 17.

a gift he is to be up and doing to administer the same Query But some may say Is there no Ordinance that the Lord Jesus Christ hath left unto his people to wait upon him in for healing in the time of sickness Answer Yes and that is prayer and anoynting with Oile in the Name of the Lord this is left as an Ordinance or way unto believers to wait upon the Lord in in the time of sickness wherein the Elders of the Church of Christ ought to administer as is manifest from Iam. 5. 14 15 vers. Is any sick amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anoynting him with Oile in the Name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him From whence we may observe that this duty is injoyned by the Apostle upon those that are sick Herein the soul ought to wait upon God and in this way to look up unto God for healing But Oh! the evil of professors in this our day who run to the Physitian but not to God but few wait upon God in his way the Lord complained of this of old as a great evil as the 2 Kings 1. 16 vers. yea we may see this was Asa's sin 2 Chro. 16. 12 vers. though he were in much affliction yet he sought not unto the Lord but to the Physitian And is not this the sin of many Professors in this our day O! that God would make them sensible thereof and make this word of use to them that they may look more up unto God that they may exercise more faith upon him for healing that if they can but with the poor Woman Mark 5. 26 27 28 vers. touch the hem of Christs garment for there is much vertue still in him Object Some will say We cannot see this way to continue in the Church of Christ amongst believers unless we did see the effect thereof Answer First If you Judge of the minde of God that which is laid down your duty by the effect you may run your selves into many temptations as the Jews of old did when they saw not the glory of the last Temple to be so great as the glory of the first Temple was Hag. 2. 3 vers. they were discouraged in the work of the Lord which God required and so indeed this temptation got upon them as in the first Chapter the second verse The time is not come the time that the Lords House should be built but the Lord for this reproves them with Judgments as you may see in the 4 5 and 6 verses and after by his servant Haggai exhorteth them unto the work as in the 8 verse and incourageth them unto it in the 13 vers. Then spake Haggai in the Lords Message unto the people saying I am with you saith the Lord and in the second Chapter 5 vers. According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came up out of Egypt so my Spirit remaineth amongst you fear you not So I say God is a God in Covenant with believers his truths are sealed by the blood of Christ O then take heed of questioning his faithfulness in making good his promise from whence doth this proceed our looking for such and such effects but indeed from our unbelief not believing the promise of God therefore take heed of judging the minde of God by the effects for in so doing you will make the way of God of no force or weight for souls obedience 2. How can you see the effect of that you have never yet attained unto nor believed therefore I may say to you as the Lord Jesus did unto the Jews If you will do his will you shall know of the Doctrine Iohn 7. 17. 3. What effect have you seen of the laying on of hands upon persons to office it is true as many write and do say laying on of hands is a resignation of a person or persons to office therefore they instance Moses laying on his hands upon Ioshua Numb. 27. 23 vers. but you shall find a more excellent effect that which fitted him for that work which he was called unto as Deut. 34. 9 vers. Ioshua the Son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him Learn from hence that as it is Gods way so he meets with his people therein and as in that Ordinance of laying on of hands upon persons to office so also in this of anointing with Oile For his wayes are not in vain unto his people 4. Those who have waited upon God in this Ordinance have found the effect thereof they have met with God therein they have seen his faithfulness been partaker of his grace received healing not onely to their bodies but also to their souls this effect some poor souls who waited upon God in this way have been partakers of so that they are able to bear witness to this truth and also to set to their seals that God is true a faithful God meeting with those who wait upon him in his way therefore I may say of this truth of Christ as one may say of the new Wine in the cluster Isai. 65. 8 vers. Destroy it not for a blessing is in it 5. We do not so much minde in our waiting upon God in this way to see an immediate work of healing which is that which too many doat upon and so like Thomas unless they see a sign they will not believe Iohn 20. 25 vers. But we do chiefly mind our duty believing that it shall not be in vain our waiting upon him therein so leaving the effect of it unto God who knows best when to give in mercyes to his people Now this may be matter of information especially to those who look upon laying on of hands for healing to be the anointing with Oile spoken of by the Apostle Iames that they are and were two distinct things the one being a particular gift of the Spirit which a person might receive of healing immediately by the laying on of hands as the Apostle Paul did Acts 28. 8 vers. and many others also The other an Ordinance of Christ wherein the Ministry of the Church were to act and that not by vertue of any particular gift but of their ministerial office and therefore saith the Apostle Iam. 5. Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with Oile in the Name of the Lord wherein they ought as in all other appointments to look up unto the Lord for a blessing leaving the giving forth of his grace to the poor soul unto himself 2. By what hath been said is reproved the ignorance of the people of God this day that have been long reading and learning of the Scripture and yet are ignorant of this command and likewise those that are Teachers and Leaders of congregations

are good men that I have Communion with such among whom I have found much comfort therefore I cannot withdraw from them 1. We may take notice as this is an Objection made by some amongst the Baptized people so likewise by some that are Baptized who walk with the Independents so called O say they they are good men and we walk lovingly together therefore we cannot withdraw from them not considering that in this they have no rule of Christ and that God never gave unto persons such Liberty of loving each other as that thereby his wayes and truths should be rejected and neglected by them 2. To the Objection I answer that by this thou doest discover how little thy love is to the Lord Jesus Christ and his wayes and how low an esteem thou hast of them that thou preferrest thy love to the Creature before thy love to thy Creator It is true it is that which is thy duty to love those with whom thou hast Communion yea thy Enemies but in this thy loving of them thou must know that thou art to walk according to the Law or rule of Christ towards them for thy love towards them must be subordinate to thy love unto God and his truth and to this purpose Christ speaks Mat. 16. Luke 14. 26. that if any man loved Father or Mother more then him he is not worthy of him yea if a man doth not hate his own life if once it come in Competition with Christ or any one of his Laws that he can rather part with truth then deny his life he cannot be Christs Disciple Thou oughtest to praise thy duty in its place and to perform it but if once it come in Competition with Christ or his truth that thou must either suffer the truth of Christ to fall or else be accounted of by some that thou hast little love in thee towards them I say if thou preferrest thy love towards them before the truth that notwithstanding Christ calls upon thee to be a follower of him yet thou wilt not because it may make a breach in thy love towards them thou discoverst thy self to have little love in thee towards Christ and that thou art mistaken in thy right loving of them For thou canst not better love them then to be faithful unto God wherein thou wilt give them a good example for that which is thy duty in this particular ought also to be theirs if so convinced of the truth as thou art Especially in the consideration of this that there are several persons amongst them that have Apostatized from this truth and Doctrine of Christ that have declared for it and have been obedient unto Christ therein but now deny it and are great opposers of it which if thou hadst not ground from the Scripture to maintain separation from them upon any other account thou couldst not according to order Communicate with them Object But say some I dare not deny them to be a Church of Christ as they say you do and therefore they will charge me as they have done others that I do greatly sin in departing from them 1. I Answer do thou follow Christ in his Word according to the form and order appointed by him in his house and though they charge thee with departing from them God will Justifie thee for it is not their crying the Temple of Lord the Temple of the Lord that will excuse their disobedience Ier. 7. 4. for when truth is declared he commands all men to receive it and therefore when it once comes to thy Soul he requires thy obedience For to what end doth God manifest his truth by any poor Soul by any of his people but that others should be obedient consider was it not ever that which followed that old principle of confusion wherewith poor Souls were frighted by them if possible they could into that state wherein both matter and form subjects and order were all contrary to the minde of God Oh! what a noise and cry did they make after poor Souls who for conscience towards God did separate from them O say they they leave the Church and O! what a great evil would they make of this thereby possessing the people as if they had done very wickedly Not to go for further instance Was not this the practise of the Bishops and Prelates and after them the Presbyterians then the Independants and now it is come to be the practise of the Baptized people whereby it is manifest that this is but one of the last shifts of a confused principle When they cannot overturn the truth they will labour to lay stumbling blocks in the wayes of Gods people 2. I Answer though they look upon themselves to be a Church of Christ yet thou by the light of truth manifested to thy Soul doest see that they are short in a principle of the foundation thereof Is not the Church of Christ the house of God and is not Repentance faith Baptismes laying on of hands the Resurrection of the dead and eternal Judgement the foundation thereof see Heb. 6. 1 2. what will you say to make void this truth will you say as many do Christ is the foundation but is he any otherwise a foundation then in his Doctrine as he is declared and is not this his Doctrine or Teaching doth not the Apostle Heb. 6. 1. call it the Doctrine of Christ and is not his Doctrine one with himself Surely Christ his truth are one so far as a Soul knows Christ he will walk in obedience to him and doth not their disobedience to this way of the Lord discover the disorder they are in that indeed they build before the foundation is rightly layed denying a principle thereof 3. Whereas they say we deny them to be a Church it is not true For we desire not to enter Judgement in things that are too deep for us But this is that we have said and do still say let them prove themselves a Church of Christ which if they can so do we can prove them short in a foundation-principle of the service thereof and so disorderly For consider is it according to the rule of Christ to admit of persons though Baptized to Communion that shall say of a principle of the foundation of the service of God upon which he should stand to go on to perfection It is a lye that which Christ never taught though it be in so many words declared Surely such a practise God will never own neither dare we lest he disown us But here I shall take liberty to write Mr. Colliers own Argument for the discovering of a true Church of Christ in the first Page of his book of Right constitution saith he A true visible Church of Christ consisteth both of matter and form or of subjects and order for saith he it is Christs Kingdome and those subjects must be such visibly as Christ owns and that form and order according to Christs Rule or else saith he it cannot be