Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	bishop_n	paul_n	timothy_n	1,948	5	11.2588	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

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.