propounded Heb. 6. 1 2. 2. From the care of the Apostles in the seeking to God in the use of this * So I call it for five Causes 1. Because of Prayer the Moral part 2. Because of Imposition of Hands the Ritual part 3. Because of the Promise to which it refers as the blessing signified by it 4. Because it is placed among the Fundamentals of Religion or called a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ 5. Because it will bear the denomination of an Ordinance as well as Imposition of Hands on Deacons or other Officers of Christs Church Ordinance that the Churches might enjoy the benefit of the Promise of the Holy Spirit which they knew belonged to them as they were the called of the Lord. And because the Nature and extent of that great Gospel Promise is a weighty consideration whereupon to ground the practice of Prayer with the Imposition of Hands and without which the practice would be very insignificant I shall therefore add something to shew the perpetual Right of the Church to that blessed Promise even to the end of the world For it is remarkable that those that oppose us in the fourth Principle deal much after the manner of the Quakers in their opposing Baptism hammering only upon the practick part which they can easily despise but when the more spiritual part of these Ordinances is considered this takes off the courage of the most confident opposer Of the second Ground of the Practise of Prayer and Laying on of Hands to wit the Promise of the Spirit and the Churches right to it to the end of the World M. D. is pleased to say pag. 47. That in neither of those two places meaning Acts 8. Acts 19. can we find that there was a Laying on of Hands immediately after Baptism nor with any certainty upon all and every Member of the Church nor to such an end as can be attainable in after times But though Mr. D. cannot find the two first yet many have Answ 1 found them there unless by the word immediately he would be more curious then wise for that this service was performed Acts 8. within a short time after and as soon as they had a fit opportunity to do it is plain enough vers 15. 16 17. and for Acts 19. 5. T is said when they heard this they were Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus and in the very next words 't is said when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them And that the same individuals said to be Baptized are as clearly found to have hands imposed and Prayer made for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit is so very plain that nothing but exceeding great weakness or great perversness can hinder any man from seeing it And whether the end for which Prayer with Imposition of Hands can now be attained is the business now to be considered And if it Cannot the reason is for that the Promise made to the Church then is since taken away do jure so that we may not lawfully ask it for men not having the Promise is no argument James 4. 2 3. ye have not because ye ask not ye ask and have not because ye ask amiss Now that the gratious promise of the Holy Spirit at least as it belonged to the Members of the Church in the Primitive times and that in every part of it from the time of its first effusion upon the day of Penticost Acts 2. doth belong to the Church throughout all Ages to the end of the world I hope to evince to the satisfaction of such as desire to know the Truth in this matter which I shall do by transcribing and somewhat inlarging what we have already offered in our Paedobaptist Apology for the Baptized Churches * But Note that we have proved that the promised Spirit is truly received where the sealing Graces are received though gifts be not received and the promise being received the end of Imposition of Hands is received See our Sigh for Peace Beside the Cloud of Witnesses ‖ Some of which I will here incert in a Column by themselves Job 14. 16 17. And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth Joh. 7. 38. He that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water but this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on his Name should receive Acts 2. 23. Therefore being by the right hand of the Father exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Spirit he hath shed forth that which you now see and hear Acts 2. 38 39. For the Promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even to as many as the Lord our God shall call ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Eph. 4. 4. There is one Body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling And he gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Tearchers till we all come to the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Ephes 4. 30. The Holy Spirit of God by which ye are sealed to the day of Redemption 1 Cor. 31. Covet earnestly the best Gifts Covet to Prophesie and forbid not to speak with Tongues we Prophesie in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away Gal. 3. 13 14. Christ hath Redeemed us that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles that they might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith Isa 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit which is upon thee and the words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed from hence forth for ever which the Holy Scriptures do afford in this Case we shall more particularly consider what the Apostle hath offered 1 Cor. 12. 13 14. Chapters And 1. whereas it is his designed Subject to discourse of the Gifts of the Spirit so he doth inform us that God hath Set those Gifts in his Church i. e. hath placed and fixed that one spirit whose opperations are divers or many in that one body not for a few dayes onely and then to leave her as a Body without a Spirit for ever after in respect of SPIRITUAL GIFTS but to abide there as in his Temple both by Gifts and Graces even the same which Christ by virtue of his ascention obtained when he ascended on high which gifts are given to the Church for the work of the Ministry for the edification of the Body till the whole be compleated Againe the Promise of the Spirit is made by our Lord himself 2. From the extent of the Promise to the Church for ever John 14. 16. I will pray
able to teach another which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God And indeed upon this Rock hath Mr. D. run himself after all his Expositions on Heb. 6. 2. and is forced pag. 49. to suppose that he is not able to tell us what laying on of Hands is intended Heb. 6. 2. ‖ But alas it s more then a supposition for if he do know infallibly what it is why doth he not tell us which it is or why are we counted immodest for shewing it possitively unless he arrogate more to himself then he will allow to us and gives this as a reason of his supposition viz. There are many things in Pauls Epistles which are hard and difficult to be understood which says he the Ignorant do wrest Which sentence he hath verified for not knowing what to say concerning Heb. 6. 2. certainly he hath by saying many things at a venture exceedingly wrested this place and first by supposing this Laying on of Hands to be one of the hard things in Pauls Epistles The contrary being most plain for these Principles Heb. 6. 1. 2. are opposed to the things that are hard to be uttered Heb. 5. being also called Milk for Babes and not strong Meat As also because the Hebrew Cristians are blamed for that they might have been and were not teachers of these Principles but needed to be taught again which were the first Principles Yea verily this is to make all things in Christianity hard and difficult for if the first Rudiments be so what can be easie It is high time therefore for Mr. D. and others with him to see the vanity of these pretences and speedily to consider that there is as much need to be possitive in the business of the fourth Principle Heb. 6. 2. as any of the rest and that a Teacher may with as much ground and credit plead ignorance to them all as to any one of them and how dangerous it is to make Principles or any of them but probabilities only a man that hath but half an eye may easily perceive Secondly Mr. D. sets down two Principles as he calls them to be as a Line to carry us through the work * As if Mr. D. his Principles were more Infallible then those in Heb. 6. viz. 1. That to every Ordinance of Christ there must be some plain positive word of Institution to Confirm it 2. To practice any thing in the worship of God for an Ordinance of his without an Institution is Will-worship and Superstition But surely the first of these propositions is not to taken without some such exposition as this viz. That what any Man affirmes to be a solemn part of the worship of God for the Church of God it must be warranted by the holy Scriptures without wresting them But Mr. D. taking the first proposition in a ridged sence counts all we say from Heb. 2. as nothing unless we can shew where it 's said Let all Baptizâ—d Beleivers have hands laid on them with as much plainness as it s said Let all Beleivers be Baptized and eat the Lords Supper But this is very irrationall to imagin that every institution of Christ must be expressed in the Scripture with equall Plainness for if they be but found there it is Sufficient Nay the very ordinances he mentions are not equall in their plainness in respect of the Individualls that are to partake of them Precept and President being in that behalfe much plainer for Baptism then the Lords Table Again the goverment of the Church by Messengers Bishops and Deacons c. is an Institution of Christ But if I ask for a precept in terminis that in the ordination of these officers prayer and Imposition of hands must be used I dare say Mr. D. cannot shew it Neither is he able shew me any President that any but the Apostles Laid Hands on Deacons Nor any President at all of any one Elder of any particuler Church that was ordained by Prayer with the Laying on of Hands yet surely there is sufficient in the Scriptures to warrant us in these things respectively and thus we shall come to consider more Particularly what Mr. D. hath done to cleare the same of Heb. 6. as he promises in his title page and yet in his lines pretendes it cannot be cleared as I have shewed whilst the most he himself arrives at or allows us with his Good liking to attain to is but probability P. 40. Heb. 6. 1. 2. For the ground of our practice in praying to the Lord with the imposition of Hands The Connexion of the Principles or the order wherein they are propounded to us is eminently considerable because principles or first rudiments of Religion both in faith and practice as they are practicall do Equally concern individuals both in respect of the things so denominated and the order of them except in cases of immergency as is more fully shewed in our S. for peace Part. the Second Mr. D. P. 41. denyes that there is the Least warranty in this text for the faith or practise of the Church in praying with the imposition of hands c. and yet in the next page he tells us it is very true the Doctine of Laying on of hands is here reckoned among the principles of the Doctrine of Christ But withall he denys laying on of hands on all Baptized Beleivers to be taught or practised by Christ observing from the Waldenses that John did not lay hands upon Christ after he Baptized him c. I Answer Christ himself being he that was sent of God to Baptize with the Holy Ghost as the great Author of that Donation from the Father it was not meet that John should pray for Christ yet behold the very order wherein Christ received the Spirit is very teachable to the Saints in their waiting upon God for that Heavenly gift for when he was Baptized then he prayed and the holy Ghost desended upon him being them sealed by God the Father who also by voyce from Heaven declared him to be his beloved Son Math. 3. 16. 17. Luk. 3. 21. John 6. 27. How Suitable therefore is it to the example of Christ for all such as are Baptized speedily to waite upon God for the gift of his holy Spirit with Prayer and Imposition of Hands haveing the Apostles walking in that very path before us and God Almighty Crowning that way by giveing a blessing to his Children even then sealing them also to the day of Redemption by the Spirit of Promise Acts 19. 6. Ephes 1. 13. and 4. 30. But saith Mr. D. we find not that Christ taught this laying on of hands c. To which it were sufficient to say that we do not finde where Christ either taught or practised Laying on of hands on Deacons or other officers all that we finde is that he Lift up his hands and Blessed his Apostles and yet who dare doubt but that the Apostles were taught of God how to ordain his
the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever c. I say this Promise is made to the Church for it were a strange exposition to restrain this FOR EVER to the age of the Apostles as some do for seeing the Apostles or the Churches could neither pray nor Prophesie as they ought but as that Spirit of Promise did help their infitmity it is strange the Succeeding Churches should be able to do those duties though deprived of that gratious assistance for it is evident that the Spirit of Promise is a Spirit of Prayer and Prophesie is one of the most excellent gifts thereof as before we have shewed That great Apostle S. Peter dates the Promise of the holy Spirit very Largely as descending to the very skirt or Last age of the Church of God on earth whiles he asserts it is the right and interest of all Saints even as many as the Lord your God should call Acts. 2. 39. And he hear takes the Promise in that sence wherein Joel meant it and the Christian Church had then received it which clearly intends both the gifts and graces of it for as t is sure they then received great gifts so t is said great grace was upon them all this very promise of the Father is by this Apostle appropriated to all the called of the Lord as we said even the servants and handmaids in these daies Now These daies must either be a few daies at the beginning of the Gospel or it must be refer'd to the whole time of that glorious dispensation if the first then how shall all the called of the Lord receive it Or who will tell us when these daies expired But we know that these daies the Latter daies Last time and Last daies are used with some frequency in Scripture to point out the whole time of the Gospell or Christian Church as it succeeds the time of the Law During all which time we are sure that the duties in generall 3. From the Nature and perpetuity of the duties of the Church and perhaps some difficult undertakings not formerly known which were imposed upon the first Churches are laid upon the Church to the end of the World Matth. 28. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you c. Must the Churches now contend earnestly for the faith and that against both old and new errors must she be still the salt of the earth the light of the world Must she still strive to Preach the Gospel of the Kingdome to all Nations must she keep herself in the Love of God building up her self in her most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost c. if these Duties remain and the Lord requires that she should glorifie him in the constant and faithfull discharge thereof as also in suffering for his sake it cannot reasonably be immagined that he should recall his holy Spirit in the gifts thereof from his Servants who when they had all those gifts had nothing that was superfluous but stood in need of all to furnish them for the work they had to do as the Churches of Christ sith then our God doth require the same services of his Churches now which in generall he required of the Churches in the first ages of the Gospel Let us not imamagin he will require the same Brick and not allow the same Straw for he is not like Pharoah but just in all that he requireth That the gifts of the Spirit here intended by our Apostles are 4. That the Nature and perpetuity of the Exhortations to seek for the Spirit the portion of the Church in every age as her right appeareth further from the Nature of the exhortation she is under to ask them Luk. 11. 13. How much more shall your Heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to them that askt it ask and it shall be given unto you ver 10. How frequent is the Apostle in these three Chapters in exhortations to this Church and in them to all Churches to desire Spirituall gifts to covet earnestly the best gifts to covet to Prophesie wishing that they may speak with tongues and warning them not to Prohibit that gift Now to what purpose is all this if these gifts be ceased and if the Church may not now expect them why should she ask them I hope no man will say these exhortations are now out of date least in so doing â—… deprive us of the exhortation to Charity also for they are so Linked together as the one cannot cease as it is an exhortation before the other Follow after Charity and desire Spirituall gifts 1 Cor. 14. 1. Thus we see the Church being under Perpetual exhortations to Seek for Spiritual gifts without any restriction necessarily infers her perpetuall right to them and every of them which consideration alone is Sufficient as I conceive to satisfie any Christian that the promise of the Spirit even the same that was given to the first Churches generally in respect of its gifts as well as graces belongs to the Church of Christ thoughout all ages Let us now consider whether the Church of God do not 5. From the continuation of Spiritual gifts in the Church to this day even now enjoy the promised Spirit in the gifts and graces of it at this day For the graces I think none do question it and yet should the fruits or graces of the Spirit as they may be distinguished from gifts which now appear be strictly considered by what did formerly shine forth in the Churches it might without all peradventure put us to some pause yet may we not thence conclude that the graces thereof are ceased but it would surely become a Provocation to cry mightily unto God for an enlargment of what in that behalfe we have received And as I intend not to boast of the gifts of any so I may safely presume that the gifts received in these daies by the Church of God are far greater then I can set down or give you account of because the Church being diffused though many Nations her gifts must needs be unknowne to me I will then restrain my observations to the Churches in this poor Island who may not vie with all Churches but rather in humility conclude themselves inferious to many in respect of gifts And yet shall we say she hath none of the gifts of Gods holy Spirit or may we not rather say she hath many that are endowed with a Word Of Knowledg and that meerly by gift from God having otherwise no capacity or faculty more then others but therein far short of many of their Brethren only the gift of God and no natural faculty maks the differance How have men of knowledg in this world been found to have no skill in the things of God and the foolish to attain knowledge and some to excell so far as to confound the wisdome of the wise and to bring to naught the understanding of the
desire that the least gift of God be preferred in Ministring the Word above the greatest of Human Arts otherwise we are in danger to incur the guilt of despising Prophesyings Lastly the Truth under enquiry appeareth from the great 6. From the utter silence of the Scripture as to the privation of the gifts of the Spirit silence of the Scripture as to the privation or taking away of any of the gifts of the Spirit till that which is perfect be come 1 Cor. 13. 8 9. Charity never faileth but whether there be Prophesies they shall fail whether there be Tongues they shall cease whether there be Knowledge it shall vanish away for we know in part and we Prophesie in part But when that which is perfect is come THEN that which is in part shall be done away Hence observe a final and full determination of the matter in question if any ask when the gifts of Knowledge Prophesie and Tongues c. shall cease The Apostles Answer is even THEN when that which is perfect is come or when we come to see face to face or as we are seen So then seeing the gifts of the Spirit do yet remain to the Church de jure and every of them as her need requires are attainable it remains that we humbly consider our wants and desire spiritual gifts yea let us covet earnestly the best gifts The Conclusion is that howsoever it is too true that the gifts received by the present Churches are but low and truly so are her graces yet hence we may not we ought not to infer that the gifts promised are ceased or that the Church hath now no interest therein but contrariwise as it is evident the promise both of gifts and graces belongs to us as we are the called of God we ought to stir one another up with all dilligence and full assurance to seek for the promise of the Spirit which being received will abundantly supply our wants help our infirmities convince the contrary minded by its powerful evidence and demonstration in the Ministry of the Word and Prayer There be two things Objected against that which we have said The First If the promise of the Spirit do thus belong to the Church Object 1 then this will follow that the Doctrines delivered by such gifted men must pass for Oracles of God being the effects of the spirit of Truth whose property it is to lead into all Truth And hence some have conceived the Decrees of their Counsels to be Infallible and others have given out of their private Letters or Books that they were as infallibly the word of God as the Scriptures 1. Those gifts do not argue the Infallibility of him that hath Answ 1 them for then all the gifted Brethren at Corinth had been Infallible which yet they were not witness their great want of Wisdom how to use their gifts to edification as also the Apostles referring what they delivered to tryal and censure telling us of gifted Persons in general and as such not excluding himself that they see but darkly Prophesie but in part know but in part so that perfection herein is not to be pretended 2. That the Apostles did deliver infallible and undoubted Verities for all others to submit as to the very word of God proceeded not hence viz. because they were gifted men but as they were the chosen witnesses of God and purposely ordained by him to that very end for which cause they say that just one heard the words of his Mouth and by Infallible proofs were assured of the Resurrection of our Lord and of his Will concerning his Church or Kingdom Joh. 15. 16. Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name he may give it you Act. 10. 40. 41. Him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God even to â—… who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the Dead Act. 〈…〉 The God of our Fathers hath chosen thee that thou should 〈…〉 and see that Just one and shouldest hear the Voice of his 〈…〉 FOR thou shall be his witness unto all men of what thou hast SEEN AND HEARD These are the Fathers of the Churches the Foundation Layers the Master Builders in such an elevated consideration as that the Authority of one of them is to be valued above the authority of ten thousand subsequent Teachers which is a greater number then ever yet conveined in a general Councel 1 Cor. 4. 15. These were such Fathers as laid up such a Stock of Doctrine for their Children as whoso bringeth not along with them is not to be received 2 Joh. 8. 9 10. verses and whosoever corrupteth their Doctrine by adding taking away or perverting the same is to be held accursed to be 〈…〉 in the City of God and the Book of Life The result is this gifted Persons on whom the Holy Ghost fell as it did on the Apostles at the beginning were not thereby impowered to propose new Oracles or to be 〈…〉 Competitors and if any pretend to such power in 〈…〉 they shall fulfil that sentence 2 Tim. 3. 9. They shall 〈…〉 no further for their folly shall be made manifest to all men â—… their 's also was If the Gifts of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. have continent in the Object 2 Church as you teach 't is strange we have no account of them since their days unless we shall regard the Papacy who have claim'd the gift of Miracles in every Age which also they urge as an undoubted argument that they onely are the Church of Christ It is true that People do pretend to Miracles as â—…is said in Answ 2 the objection But it is not now my business to 〈◊〉 the goodness of that pretence only this I say they cannot fine their Church to have had a Being in every Age since Christ and therefore very unlikely to prove what they say in the case of Miracles They oft tell us of Antiquity but sacred Antiquity they have none for in the Apostles time they had â—… being in the World for if they had had then any Being the Apostle Paul would certainly have given some account of such a Church-state as they maintain in his Epistle to the Romans But this he hath not done in any part of that Epistle and yet speaks expresly of the Estate of the Church of Christ then at Rome therefore the Papists at that time had no being at Rome and consequently no where else for the Church at Rome and all other Churches in the Apostles days were of one manner of Constitution and Government 2. But put case now that since they have had some being in the world some signs or wonders have been done among them yet hence to infer the Truth of their Church-state is very unsafe sith
the business of his Office the whole matter and contexture of the former part of the Chapter being such as touched not his Office but his State as a Christian This Text being duly considered helps more to the opening Heb. 6. 2. then any other place in this respect viz. for that it plainly shews the common graces of the Spirit was as really the end of Prayer with the Imposition of Hands as the gifts which are notified by many Nor is it material which some object in this Case that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is interpreted elsewhere of Miraculous gifts c. Because 1. If the Interpreter had so done he had forsaken the proper scope of the Apostle whose business being to support Timothy against fear c. The Spirit of inward grace and fortitude was most suitable to be insisted on to that purpose 2. Because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is frequently used to express inward strength or fortitude of mind for Example 1 Cor. 12. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 potens sum I am strong or when I am weak then I am strong Ephes 6. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 confortamini in Domino be strong in the Lord. Of the meaning of Acts 8. 15 17 19. 2. 6. How clear places these are that the Apostles prayed with laying on of hands for the newly Baptized indifferently even for both Men and Women that they might receive the Spirit of Promise and that as generally as Baptism it self was performed in the Cities of Samaria and Ephesus and by consequence first at Jerusalem and so in other places also I need say but little in this place having fully spoken to these things in my S. for Peace and Pedobapt Apol. which are yet unanswered yet I shall endeavour to shew the mistakes of Mr. D. concerning them And first He will needs suppose Peter and John to perform Prayer with Imposition of hands at Samaria by virtue of their extraordinary gifts not being willing to allow their Office as Ministers or Apostles to have any thing to do with that action But this is far from Truth for if extraordinary gifts had sufficiently capacitated men to do this work without Ministerial authority Philip the Deacon being eminently gifted that way might have imposed hands for the Promised Spirit as well as Peter and John yet he meddles not with this Service at all neither his Office as a Deacon nor his gifts to do wonders impowering him thereto in his own Judgment for had he been otherwise minded or understood his privilidge to be such as Mr. D. supposed it to be he had opportunity and occasion enough to do that work as well as any other but his forbearance is an argument he knew it did not belong to his Ministery in an ordinary way sith there was a Ministery to be had to whom that and other things for the Settlement of the Church did more properly belong Wherefore we must needs reject that passage of Mr. D. pag. 6. where he tells us the Administrator of Laying on of hands was any gifted Believer c. by which conceit even Women from whom extraordinary gifts are not withheld might administer this Service But that this was an act of Office appears partly by what is already said and partly for that the Church at Jerusalem sent not gifted Brethren only but men endowed with Authority to fet in order such things as were wanting in that Church which though much prepared for settlement by the Labours of Philip yet cannot rationally be supposed to be so settled as was meet for it is said only they were Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus And the first thing we hear they do for them is to pray that they may receive the Holy Ghost c. And this they did for them all both Men and Women as is in part granted by Mr. D. whiles he grants it to be performed upon those on whom the Holy Ghost was not fallen and saith the Text He was fallen on none of them Yet Mr. D. would make an Exception of some of them because Simon was found in the gaul of bitterness But this corruption appearing not till after the Service of Prayer with laying on of Hands was performed it concludes not at all but that Simon might be included in the Prayer of the Apostles and have hands laid on him also yea and receive of those gifts too seeing God doth not withhold them from Hypocrites And beside the words of Peter denying him to have any Part or Lot in that matter refers to the Administration of the Ordinance and not to his submission to it Give me this power also that on whomsoever I Lay my hands he may receive the Holy Ghost In this matter Peter denys Simon to have any part Furthermore Mr. D. doth certainly mistake Act. 19. 2. in saying the Twelve Disciples at Ephesus were of the Church whereas the Scripture and Reason do hoth inform us they could not be Imbodied with the Church there as yet because they are now said to be found and called certain Disciples the words implying they were hitherto unknown for otherwise why should they be said to be found by Paul more then the whole Church if indeed they had been a part of the Church Again their great ignorance of the Holy Ghost shews plainly they were not united to the Body or Church at Ephesus where doubtless Acquilla and Priscilla had not been wanting to teach the way of the Lord perfectly And Lastly their being Baptized again shews plainly they were not of the Church ‖ You see I do adhere to the Antient Exposition of this place rather then to our late Curtail'd Expositions made by the Paedobaptists who because they are unwilling to mend their Errours in Baptism would fain have Paul to be of their mind but they should remember that Reformation or amendment is no Errour for if they had why must not the Church also be Baptized again as well as they Now therefore let it be considered that had there been 120. instead of these 12. persons in the same case with themselves the Question of the Apostle Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye Believed had concern'd them all and then he must be but a partial Minister that would refuse to pray for all seeing all wanted the same Blessing and had equal right to it by virtue of the same promise And that Paul had an eye to the Promise as it is general is most plain by his next Question Vnto what then were ye Baptized as if he should say your very Baptism if it be right did inform you of and intitle to the promise of the Holy Ghost into whose name also ye ought to be Baptized Thus I trust we have sufficiently cleared the first ground of our Religious observation of Prayer with the Imposition of Hands for the Promised Spirit 1. From the consideration of the Nature Order or Connexion of the Principles as they are contained and
prudent yea we still see that out of the mouths of Babes our God ordains strength sometimes to still the Enemie And as WISDOME is usefull to direct so hath God given it to such as feare him who if we respect their education c. could never have acquired it some by a word of wisdome here understand the well ordering of affairs in the Church others the right or most usefull application of the word surely according to these expositions which are not to be contemned the Church hath some given her of the Lord to go before her in the exercise of this gift of the Spirit Neither is the gift of healing so abnegated but that something of it hath appeared as many Living witnesses by experience have testified and how far faith over and beside the common faith of Christianity hath therein appeared as also in some memorable undertakings against Sathan himself or his malicious designes with some Good success becomes others to consider more then it doth me to write as for my own part I rest satisfied herein that Miracles are not ceased de jure as a gift to the Church of God though perhaps de facto they are but rarely found as being in the wisdome of God not so necessary now in many places as in times past Now for the gifts of Prophesie which the Apostle here intends t is certain the Church enjoyes it gratiously in these days sith she hath them that by the gift of Gods Spirit and not by acquired Arts do minister to her the word of Life by exhortation to edification and comfort which yet she could not have if the gifts were ceased seeing Prophesie is not only one of the gifts of the Spirit but the very best and greatest of all the rest Nor is the Spirit of our God removed in the gift of discerning of Spirits for if it were false Spirits had by their subtilty ere this day made havock of the Churches but through the grace of God notwithstanding all their cunning craftiness they have been discovered and their clandestine hypocritical and ruinous designs prevented And though perhaps Charity for some time hath born with such in hope of the best yet this is no other thing then ought to be as may be seen by the carriage of our Lord towards Judas and his Apostles towards others For Revelations there might perhaps sometimes be strange or hidden things made known by some special Gift of God and who can say God may not do such things now however it is not unsafe to understand the Revelations here meant by 1 Cor. 14. 30. If any thing be Revealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his Peace c. which cannot so well be understood of any new Oracle as of some further Subject or more full Explication of the matter treated on by him that spake first according to which Exposition which is probable enough we may say the Church hath yet the Gift of Revelation which also she is to pray for continually Ephes 1. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him And thus far we seem to be got safe not any thing so materially intervening as to conclude against the continuance of these Spiritual Gifts in the Church to this day so that the present repairers of the House of God his Church I mean may comfort themselves by the consideration of the words of the Prophet Hag. 2. 5. According to the word which I Covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt so my Spirit remaineth among you fear ye not But now the gifts of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues these where shaal we find them Doubtless these gifts are rarely if at all found in these days and in this Nation so as to suite with those who frequently in some Churches received those gifts The reasons are many but none such as conclude any thing rationally for the ceasation of those gifts in respect of the Churches right to them as first these gifts differ much from the rest chiefly in this that they may be supplyed another way for the conversion of persons of all Languages or such as can speak divers Tongues and interpret the same by means of Education doth well supply the absence of those gifts ‖ It is probable that Paul made use of his Education in speaking other Languages as may be perceived by his discourses in the Acts of the Apostles and by the Epistles which he wrote to several Churches using therein frequently the Greek Tongue as is generally confessed 2. The Churches in this and I suppose other Nations have very little present need of these gifts and therefore considering they are not so necessary as the rest the Apostle leaves these with a forbid them not whilst the rest he wills us to covet earnestly But 3. one great cause as I suppose why these gifts are so much absent and the other no more received is because we ask them not at all or else we ask amiss for he is faithful that promised and indeed Christians generally have been so far from asking these gifts of the Spirit that in Truth they have been arguing that these gifts of the Spirit are not attainable and then 't is no wonder they have not been received And where there hath been any measure of understanding of the Interest which we have in these gifts of the Spirit their Faith hath been and perhaps is very low and attended with great wavering and then little is to be expected at the hand of the Almighty Jam. 1. 6 7. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea driven of the wind and tossed for let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. And here let me premonish you that are most concern'd in the service of the Churches of one thing which by my little Reading I perceive to have been one great provocation to the Lord to withdraw the gifts of his Spirit in times past and I doubt now is a desire to be too curious and formal in performing that work which God gave gifts for to wit the Ministering his blessed Word for when the Churches grew populous and great personages came to her Communion the unwary Pastors let go the simplicity of the Gospel addicting themselves so much to curiositie that some Councels decreed that a Bishop or overseer in the Church of Christ should not read Heathen Authors and Gratian is said to have this passage on the like occasion viz. doth he not seem to walk in vanity and darkness of mind who vexing himself day and night in the studies of Logick in the persuit of Physical speculations one while elevates himself above the highest Heavens and afterwards throws himself below the nethermost part of the Earth True it is the use that may be made of Reading is one thing and the abuse is another However this I
Ministers and there is the same reason to beleive they were taught of God to pray with Laying on of hands for the promised Spirit specially when God so signally owned them in that undertaking Act. 8. 17. Mr. D. names many Churches that are not said to have hands Laid on them and that to be reckoned among their principles which is so frivilous an objection as I marvel he should use it he knows there be some Churches who are not said to be Baptized nor to have the Lords Table among them nor any Church save one to have had Decons ordained by Laying on of hands and yet finding these things religiously held in some Churches we safely conclude other Churches had the like And why may not the example of two or three Churches in the case of prayer with Laying on of hands for the promised Spirit satisfie as well as the example of one Church only in another case Mr. D. p. 43. puts this objection why should Laying on of hands be reckoned among the beginning principles if it was not to be practised by all c. which he answers after this manner your Argument is falacious as though no act done upon or practised by others might be matter of Doctrine to us without being engaged to do the same But I reply That the Argument being used only with repect to things Fundamental or the first Principles of the Christian Religion is very sound and concluding and therefore not answered nor touched by Mr. Ds. extending it to all other acts but disingeniously abused for both the Doctrine and practise of all the Principles Heb. 6. 1. 2. belongs equally to all otherwise it will follow that the first Churches had the Principles of Religion both in the Doctrinal and Practick parts but we have only the Theory we must learn them but not practise them for â—…s saith Mr. D. p. 45. Beleivers must be taught it meanning Laying on of hands but that they are obliged therefore to practise it is not here i. e. in Heb. 6. or else where to be found Surely this is the way to destroy such Principles as are practicall to leave nothing of them in the Churches now but talking of them only Mr. D. being pressed by the consideration of Laying on of Hands as it is Milk for Babes in Christ undertakes to shew that some other Laying on of hands may be that also and names the imposition of hands to heal the Sick Mark 16. 18. Surely he may with as much truth and reason tell us that the Answ drinking any deadly poyson Mark 16. 18. is Milk for Babes in Christ also this is the effect of mens stumbling at truth they make themselves ridiculous for who would think that so judicious a person should make that a Principle and such an one too as belongs to all Christians equally as it is a Principle which indeed scarce belongs to one of ten thousand Again Laying on of hands to heale the sick belongs to them that are without the sick persons in the Church having a speciall ordinance provided for there comfort in sickness Jam. 5. and therefore not to be called Milk for Babes in the Church But suppose that Laying on of hands to heal the Sick do at all belong to the Church yet the oldest Christian is as much concerned in it as the youngest Christian who being sick may seek for cure that way as well as the other Neither is this laying on of hands properly called Confirmation as Mr. D. Imagins P. 44. for the word was confirmed with signes which followed prayer and Preaching as well as laying on of hands on the sick yea prayer and laying on of Hands on Baptized Believers had signes also following it so then all these may as properly be called Confirmation as any one of them and yet Mr. D. will not allow Imposition of hands for the holy Spirit to be properly so called But Similie Similus est ratio And to conclude this note further that seeing Imposition of hands for the holy Spirit is for the obtaning of Spirituall Gifts and the Imposition of hands on the sick for the exercise of Spirituall gifts received the first is even therefore much more like to be Milk for Babes then the latter Mr. D. further saith Laying on of hands Heb. 6. 2. contains that for the investiture of Church Officers and his reason is because these Principles are very Comprehensive he saith also that the Lords Supper may pass for a beginning Teaching as well as Baptism He tells us also that the Laying on of hands Heb. 6. 2. is as plurall as Baptisms P. 43. 50. 51. 1. I answer to make Imposition of hands on Decons and other officers a Principle appertaining to the begining of a Christian Man is very obsurd because first Principles are necessary to the being of Churches whereas the Imposition of hands on officers presupposes a Church allready founded and as such to have made their election of some to mannage their affaires as a Church after which election the Laying on of hands to ratifie it is to be performed Secondly Mr. D. faithfullness in thus expounding Heb. 6. 2. may well be suspected for doth he indeed make it his work to Preach that Laying on of hands which is the next Principle to Baptisme Heb. 6. Is the Imposition of hands on Deacons c. doth he I say Teach the Babes this as he Teacheth the other five Principles I believe if he do so he is singular sure I am before the controversy arose about Laying on of hands for the promised Spirit none of them that I could ever hear of said any thing at all about the Imposition of hands Heb. 6. 2. And as I have reason to believe that there is not one Minister in those Churches not under the forth Principle as by us urged that doth teach the babes that they must receive as that Principle Heb. 6. that Doctrine touching the Investiture of Church officers so if they did Teach thus I would gladly know the ground of such Doctrine at least from some example in that case and I am sure all the objections made by them against us would be far more â—orceable against themselves Thirdly I grant the Principles Heb. 6. to be very Comprehensive yet as Principles to be owned by Babes in Christ I say they do not containe all Christian performames for if so it would follow that few or none have yet Learned their Principles and then why the Apostle should make it so strange that the Hebrews should need to be taught these Principles I can see no reason so then the Principles Heb. 6. 1. 2. may be duly Learned where many things in point of Christian faith and practice are not yet attained The foundation I grant hath relation to the Superstructure but yet the foundation may be perfectly laid where the superstructure is yet wanting The seed time and planting leads to the Harvest and time of Fruit but yet these things are truly