Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	bishop_n	ordain_v	presbyter_n	6,414	5	11.1866	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77508	The sacred ordinance of ordination, by imposition of the hands of the presbytery. As it was lately held forth in a sermon preached at the solemn ordination of ministers in the city of Norwich June 11. 1656. / By John Brinsley minister of the Gospel at Great Yarmouth. VVhereunto is also affixed the word of exhortation given to the persons then and there ordained, being usefull to all others of the same tribe. By Nic. Ganning, B.D. minister of the Gospel at Barnham-Broom.	Brinsley, John, 1660-1665.; Ganning, Nicholas, d. 1687.	1656 (1656)	Wing B4726; Thomason E1601_3; ESTC R208903	43,850	99

Instit l. 4. cap. 3. Sect. 16. yet no precept So as though it may bee done yet there is no necessity that it should bee so Answ 1. Suppose it that wee have not yet as Calvin concludes inasmuch as wee finde it in such constant use among the Apostles and their next successors their so exact observing of it may well bee instead of a Precept unto us 2. But secondly if wee have not an express precept for it yet an implicite one wee have which is tantamount what else meaneth that of Paul to Timothy where hee chargeth him not to lay on hands suddenly on any man 1 Tim. 50.22 surely that Caution implyeth an injunction whilest he prohibits the manner hee requireth the thing whilest hee forbids him to lay on hands suddenly hee intimates it as his duty to do it regularly Obj. But it may bee said However this was then used yet there is no necessity it should now bee continued in as much as this G●●●●ny hath lost the vertue which then it had Even as it is with ●utream unction the annointing of the sick it was then practised with an Apostolical warrant Jam. 5.14 but having since lost that efficacy which then it had it hath from those times been laid aside A. But so hath not Imposition of hands in Ordination which that ever it was miraculous wee read not however not the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery The same use which then it had it still retaineth and so as it hath been so still it ought to bee continued in the Church But I come not here to dispute this point Vide jus divinum Ministerii Evangelici Part 1. Cap. 12. and M. Laz. Seamans Answer to Chillenden Hoe postremô habendum est non universam multitudinem manu● impo●uisse sai● manistris sed solos Pastores Calv. Instit ubi supra which hath been sufficiently done by the pens of others of late times Passe wee on In the third place As hands are to bee imposed in Ordination so see what or whose hands Not the Peoples They indeed may with some colour lay claim to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but not so to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a lifting up of their hands as the manner anciently was in the electing or approving of their Ministers but not a laying on their hands in ordaining them Surely as this findes no warrant from scripture so neither is it consonant to Religion or right reason that they who are not invested with any such power themselves should derive it unto others so giving that which they have not whether formally or vertually And if so what needed Paul to have left Titus in Crete to ordain Elders in every City which he did Tit. 1.5 if the people might have done it Surely this must be the Presbyters work 4 And that not of one single Presbyter however qualified however dignified Scripture speaking of this Imposition it still speaketh of hands in the plural number not singular 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Text The laying on of hands And that not of one single person but more not of one Presbyter but of the Presbytery Thus was Timothy here ordained Obj. But here a stone lyeth in my way which must bee removed was not Timothy ordained by Pauls hands and his alone The Text is expresse 2 Tim. 1.6 where giving him the like charge concerning this gift hee minds him that hee hath received it by the putting on of his hands How then by the hands of the Presbytery Answ To this it is answered by some that the Gift there spoken of is not the same with this in the Text but some miraculous gift So Diodate conceives of it Diodate in 2 Tim. 1.6 It should seem saith he that by the Imposition of Saint Pauls hands Timothy received the miraculous gifts and by the Imposition of the Colledge of Elders hands hee was installed in the Ministery But in as much as wee do not finde either from Scripture or any sure record of Antiquity that Timothy had any such miraculous gifts therefore wee wave that conjecture 2 More probably and genuinely it is conceived by others and that by the generality of Expositors that Paul and the Presbytery did joyn in the same Ordination in ordaining Timothy to his Ministerial office they laid on hands together Nullus est dubitandi locus quin Timotheus a seniorum collegio electus fuerit qui toti Collegio praeesset Cameron Praelect in Mat. 18. 15 Onely hee as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the leader and fore-man in that service which well hee might bee being an extraordinary person they joyning with him as ordinary officers Thus did Timothy and Titus afterwards ordaine not alone but with others onely themselves being as leaders in the work A pattern which was afterwards followed by the Church Ex Dei ordinatione perpetua necesse fuit est erit ut in Presbyterio quispiam loco dignitate Primu● actioni gubernandae presit Beza de Ministr Evang. Grad Cap. 23. Tales Episcopos divinitus quasi ipsi●s Christi voce constitutós absit ut unquam simus inficianti Idem ibid. Cap. 21. which in her ordinations was wont to have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Primus Presbyter one first to whom after ages appropriated the name of a Bishop which in the Apostles time was alike common to all Presbyters who for orders sake lead the way having the first hand in services of this nature So as these two may well stand together Timothy was ordained by the laying on of Pauls hands and yet by the hands of the Presbytery Quest But here falls in a question which some may think to bee pinching to us who are here met together about this service this day Where there is not the same order observed is the ordination valid May the Presbytery without such a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without a Bishop lay on hands Answ In Answer to this I shall not much regard either what they of the Church of Rome or any over-heated spirits among our selves have determined who in the want of this order make a nullity of the Ordinance pronounce the ordination invalid and void by which harsh censure of theirs what do they but most uncharitably and even unchristianly degrade though not all yet the greatest and most considerable part of the Ministers of Christ in the reformed Churches throughout the world making them no Ministers and so unchurching their Churches Leaving them As for the more moderate spirits among our selves with whom I desire onely to deal and for whose sakes it is that I speak what I do how ever they look upon this as the more regular way more agreeable to the practice of Antiquity and the Scripture pattern yet they freely yeild it that where this is not to bee had where either there are no such Bishops or those not fit or not willing to ordain any but of their own faction themselves being not Orthodox

they are known This is one of the characters that the Apostle giveth of a Bishop a Gospel Minister 1 Tim. 3.7 Hee must bee one that hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good Testimonial a good report yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those that are without without the Church no members of it much more of them that are within such must the conversation of a meet Candidate bee not onely unblameable but laudable And withall hee ought to be such a one as upon whom a humane and conjectural prophesy hath passed one whom others look upon for his parts and gifts as a hopeful instrument of doing service in the Church of God 2 And besides this humane let them look for somewhat of a divine Testimony though not in an extraordinary way as Timothy had that is not now to bee expected yet in an ordinary that they be such persons as in whom in the judgement of a well regulated charity they themselves may see somewhat of God of his grace and spirit sanctifying of them and so fitting them for this so weighty a service And now these two concurring they may comfortably go on in ordaining and setting apart such a one thereunto which how it is to bee done the next clause will inform you With the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Where again wee must make further enquiry what is here meant by the Presbytery what by Laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Quest 1. For the former 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hereby some would understand the office of a Presbyter So Erasmus here transsates it Authoritate sacerdotis To which sense I finde what I wonder at Mr. Calvin here not wholly averse yea Omuibus expensis diversum sensum non male quadrare fateor ut sit nomen officii Calvin ad Text. Quod de Impositione manuum Presbyterii dicitur non it a accipio quasi Paulus de seniorum collegi● loquatur sed hoc nomine Ordinationem ipsam intelligo Calvin Instit lib. 4. Cap. 3. Sect. 16. Cameron Praelect in Mat. 18.15 elsewhere wholly for it but by the favour of so judicious an Expositor then whom I know none more we may take notice first that the word here used is never taken in scripture in this sense Neither can it well bear it True indeed as the learned Cameron notes upon it were it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it might be so construed Presbyteratus the office or dignity of a Presbyter but not so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And secondly If the word would bear it yet the scope of the place will not For should we so read it with the laying on of the hands of the office or dignity of a Presbyter I must professe with the same Authour I should not know what sense to make of it And therefore letting that passe enquire we how this word is elsewhere used That wee may soon see there being but two other Texts where it is to bee found The one Luke 22.66 where wee read of the Elders of the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other Act. 22.5 where wee meet with the estate of the Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In both places thereby meaning the great Councel of the Sanhedrim a Colledge or company of officers to whom the Government of the Church was committed Here is the Original both of the name and thing from whence it was derived as most other things concerning Ecclesiastical Government were unto the Christian Church which in like manner had its Presbyteries Societies and Companies of Church officers to whom the Government of the Church was in like manner committed And in this sense without question are wee to look upon the word here in the text as denoting Caetum seu Collegium Presbyterorum a Company of Presbyters Herein the generality of Expositors both Ancient and Modern Presbyterium qui hic collectivum nomen esse putant pro Collegio Presbyterorum positum recte sentiunt meo judicio Calvin ad Text. both Protestant and Romish do fully accord Mr. Calvin also among the rest upon second thoughts yeilding his free assent thereunto Quest Only the question remains what kinde of Presbyters were these Answ To this shall wee give the Doctors of the Church of Rome leave to return the Answer most of them will roundly tell us that they were Bishops Bishops as distinct from Presbyters wherein they plead the consent of some of the Ancients Such was the office say they to which Timothy was ordained not of a Presbyter but of a Bishop Now it was never the custome for Presbyters to ordain Bishops No The lesse is blessed of the better the greater faith the Apostle speaking of the Priestly office Heb. 7.7 Not the greater of the lesse Presbyters are ordained by Bishops not Bishops by Presbyters And herein we finde them seconded by some of our own of late times who contend that the office to which Timothy was ordained was the office of a Bishop an Arch-Bishop a Metropolitane And consequently the Presbytery here spoken of must bee a company of Bishops at least not of ordinary Presbyters In pursuit whereof some there are who spare not to affirm that in Pauls time there was no such order in the Church No Presbyters properly so called True indeed in a large sense say they the Apostles some of them sometimes stile themselves so as Peter and John who write themselves Presbyters 1 Pet. 5.1 2 Epist Joh. 1. and 3. Epist 1. But strictly and properly there was then none of this order None at least till St. Johns time the last of the Apostles Then indeed say they was this order introduced as a middle office betwixt Bishops and Deacons But before that there were no other ordinary offices in the Church but these two taking the word Bishops in a strict acception and consequently the Presbytery here spoken of could bee no other So high are some flowne in these distracted times being as they say of some Meteors set on fire by an Antiperistasis But as for this opinion as it is but novel newly hatched and singular so I suppose it is not like to be long lived it being such as the best friends to Episcopacy which the moderate party are I presume will not bee willing to own Neither indeed is there any reason they should in as much as it runnes so directly crosse as to clear evidence of Scripture so to the general if not universal consent of all divines both Ancient and Modern who look upon the office of a Presbyter as in Order and Time precedent to that of a Bishop Yea so necessarily preceding it that who ever shall be ordained a Bishop per saltum not having first a Presbyter they pronounce his Ordination invalid a meer nullity So it is agreed both by Protestants Papists Yea by the moderate on both these parts it is also yeilded that Presbyiery is the highest order of ordinary Gospel ministery Episcopacy not being a different Order from it but onely

or else which is all one not permitted to exercise that part of their supposed Jurisdiction now the Presbytery ordinary Presbyters may do it without them So our eminently learned and judicious Davenant lately a star of the first magnitude in this our Horizon being himself also soon after a Bishop hath plainly determined it In Ecclesia turbata ubi Episcopi omnes in haeresin aut Idololatriam inciderunt c. si Orthodoxi Presbyteri ne pereat Ecclefia alios Presbyteros cogantur ordinare ego non ausim hujusmodi Ordinationes pronunciare irritos inanes Davenant determi Quest 42. In Ecelesiâ turbatâ c. In the troubled state of the Church where ordination cannot bee received from Episcopal hands it both may and ought to be from the hands of Ordinary Presbyters To which Armacham by him cited in one case agrees viz. when the Bishops are all dead And indeed what he there also taketh notice of it is no lesse than a wonder that those who in some cases in case of imminent danger will allow any private person a midwife or whoever to baptise an Infant which by divine institution belongs only unto Ministers and account it valid yet will rather suffer the Church to go to wrack and perish than to admit of Ordination by the hands of Presbyters which if rightly considered and applyed to the present times I presume may bee sufficient to satisfy any such well-advised and moderate spirits as his was To this I might adde what is taken notice of by others and that from the concessions of some of those who have appeared for Vide jus divinum Regim Eccl. p. 132. and pleaded the cause of Episcopacy among our selves who have freely and ingenuoussy acknowledged what indeed cannot bee denied that Presbyters as Presbyters are indued with an intrinsecal power and authority to ordain others having been onely limited and restrained in the exercise of that power by the Discipline of the Church for orders sake which Discipline being now in this Nation for the present at least layed asleep it cannot bee thought any usurpation in them to assume and exercise that power which is confessedly intrinsecall to their order But I have neither time nor will to wade into debates of this nature I have done with Doctrinal informations To which had I any time further to spend I might now subjoyn some Practical Applications and that both to Ministers and people 1 To Ministers such as would be such as are 1 Such as would bee Candidates Expectants such as intend and desire the work and office of the Ministery which who so are in measure fitted for it and have a sincere intention of doing service to God and his Church in it without any Ambition may do as our Apostle tells us 1 Tim. 3.1 let them here see what door it is that they are to enter at and see that they ENTER in by that door Not taking upon them this office without a calling No man taketh this honour unto himself saith the Apostle Heb. 5.4 speaking not de facto but de jure not what men do but ought to do not take upon them the ministerial office without a warrantable Call thereunto Which Call consisteth not meerly in personal qualification or yet in a popular election but also in a Potestative mission a Regular Ordination And let them enter in at this door which the true Shepheard is said to do John 10.2 And who so doth not hath a black Character set upon him in the verse there foregoing 2 For such as are already entered in by this door let them take up from what hath been spoken both Counsel and comfort 1 Counsel Let this their Ordination which they have received leave upon their hearts and spirits an indelible Character continually minding them how they were thereby set apart dedicated and consecrated unto God for the service of his Church So as now they are no longer their own Ye are not your own saith the Apostle of private Christians 1 Cor. 6.19 much lesse publick Officers Magistrates Ministers they are Gods and his peoples not their own specially the latter who with their own consents are given up to the Lord and his Church and that for ever Now being so let them not live to themselves None of us liveth unto himself saith the Apostle But whether we live wee live unto the Lord Rom. 14.7 8. And so let his Ministers live Live to the honour and glory of their Lord and Master going about his work and service in his name and in his strength Not in confidence of their own Arm but his Which doing 2 Now let them comfort and incourage themselves in the Lord their God being assured that so long as they are with him hee will bee with them his hand shall bee upon them Thou hast beset mee before and behind and laid thine hand upon me saith David speaking of Gods providence towards himself Psal 139.5 And thus shall the hand of God bee upon his faithfull Ministers his good hand his Right hand That is the hand which is laid on in Ordination the right hand And this hand of God shall bee upon his Ministers being faithful in their Ministrations now let them know that hee hath laid his right hand upon them which meditation may bee and let it be usefull to them in divers cases 1 To bear up their hearts and spirits against that mean esteem which they meet withall in and from the world The world sets them on the left hand Wee are made as the filth of the world and are the off-scouring of all things even unto this day saith Paul of himself and his fellow-labourers 1 Cor. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sweepage and offall of the world Such is the lot sometimes oft-times of Gods faithfull Ministers though really such as the world is not worthy of yet they are meanly if not basely esteemed of they are set on the left hand But what of that so long as they are which they are the men of Gods right hand as David saith of himself Psal 80.17 having his right hand laid on them No small honour So it was to Ephraim that hee being the yonger brother his Grand-father Jacob should lay his right hand upon him which the story tells us hee did and that wittingly that he might put the more honour upon him Gen. 48.14 And so it is to the Ministers of Christ who for the most part are as Ephraim was yonger brethren take it metaphorically or literally it still holdeth true and so set as Ephraim also there was on Jacobs vers 13. on the worlds left hand that God should lay his right hand upon them this is no small honour no mean dignity sufficient to countervail what ever contempt the ungratefull world can cast upon them 2 Against meannesse of estate As for left hand blessings worldly wealth they have it may bee but a small portion of it in comparison of others Though it may bee they