Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	send_v	son_n	30,173	5	6.6540	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42146	The searchers for schism search'd, or, Their pretended questions for conscience sake answered wherein is proved that those baptized congregations under laying on of hands are not guilty of schism in separating from them : shewing, in opposition to their threeforld hypothesis, that their church constitution is not true, separation from them proved lawful, the truth and authority of the doctrine about which they separate, vindicated / humbly presented to all concerned [by] J. Griffith ...	Griffith, John, 1622?-1700.	1669 (1669)	Wing G2003; ESTC R41670	59,153	128

will allow us to use the Bread and Wine as the means to commemorate the Lords Body and Blood and not reject it and cast it off as useless So in like manner if laying on of hands be a figurative speech and understood for the Spirit that was given thereby we hope you must allow that laying on of hands ought to be used and practised as the means by which the Spirit was obtained and is given as well as you will the Cup and the Bread and Wine in your figurative instances and we desire no more 3. But we further say That laying on of hands is not figurative but is a plain practical Ordinance joyned with solemn and fervent Prayer to the most High in the Name of Christ for his holy Spirit that according to his faithful and never-failing promise them that believe and are baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ might receive the Spirit by which as the means the Spirit was given to some of the Baptised in the primitive times in more than an ordinary manner and was necessary to the establishing Christian Churches than which extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit given then is a confirmation to us now that not onely the other Principles of the Doctrine of Christ are to be believed and practised but this in debate also as one Principle of the Foundation of Christianity God having confirmed them all to be the Word spoken and Foundation-Doctrine taught by the Lord bearing witness to them both with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and Gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will and then how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 4. Quest 27. If you shall say That simply the Act and Ceremony it self as you practise it is put for a Foundation Doctrine of Christ then we demand Whether the Apostles ever taught any thing for a Doctrine of Christ whereof we do not read Christ did either preach or practise before his Ascension And if you say That Christ did teach and practise laying on of hands upon all Disciples both Men and Women before his Ascension or any thing from which such a practice may be inferred pray shew it and we will believe it Answer 1. We say That Prayer and Laying on of hands as we practise is a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ one of the first Rudiments of Christianity But you demand Whether the Apostles ever taught any thing for a Doctrine of Christ whereof we do not read Christ did either preach or practise before his Ascension 2. What is it to the purpose when Christ taught laying on of hands whether before his Passion or after or before his Ascention or after by his Spirit It sufficeth he did teach it for it is one of the Principles of his Doctrine And can it be a Principle of his Doctrine and he not teach it We are certain it cannot And taught it was likewise by his Apostles for a Doctrine-Principle and an Oracle of God Heb. 5.12 6.1 and they did not only teach but practise it also Act. 8.17 19.6 And do you think they would both teach and practise it and never receive it from Christ but must invent it themselvs We cannot believe you do so think Then was it taught by Christ and taught and practised by his Apostles as a foundation-Principle And that sufficeth us and might you if you were willing and obedient See this answered before in Christs Doctrine p. 58. Quest 28. If laying on of hands upon all baptised Believers be to be practised in your sence as an indispensable Duty then we demand Why all the other Principles in Heb. 6. should be expresly and particularly commanded believed or practised in Christs time and not this as it is practised by you if there be that weight in it as you lay upon it c. Answer 1. If laying on of hands say you upon all baptised Believers be to be practised in our sence as an indispensable Duty then you demand Why all the other Principles Heb. 6. should be expresly commanded believed and practised in Christs time and not this as it is practised by us if there be that weight in it as we lay upon it We told you above that it matters not when Christ taught laying on of hands whether in the time of his Life or not And whereas you say That Faith and Repentance the Baptism of Water the Resurrection of the Dead and eternal Judgement were in Christs time plainly taught Pray where did Christ in the time of his Life before his Ascension or after it either so plainly command baptising with water Though we do not deny but there was both Faith Repentance the Resurrection and eternal Judgement plainly enough taught according to that Dispensation and so they were before Christs Incarnation by the Prophets of old nor do we deny but grant that there was Authority enough from Heaven for the Baptism of Water then practised and that there was them that did fore-tell that the holy Spirit should be afterwards given and so it was by the Prophet Joel all which were as preparatives to what afterward Christ should command and teach when he had suffered and was risen and all power in Heaven and Earth was given unto him Mat. 28.18 So John was sent to prepare the way and he taught the Baptism of Repentance saying They should believe on him that was to come so that between both the Faith and the Baptism then and that after Christ was come had suffered ascended and the holy Ghost was given there must needs be a vast difference therefore as you affirm Paul baptised the twelve Disciples he found at Ephesus again because they were onely baptised into John's Baptism who as was his Baptism so was his Doctrine of Faith and Repentance John verily baptised with the Baptism of Repentance saying to the People That they should believe on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus Act. 19.4 From whence or from which Dispensation we do not take the Authority of the Foundation-Doctrine of Christ no not of Repentance Faith Baptisms Laying on of hands Resurrection and eternal Judgement but from Christ dead risen and ascended to the Father from whom he sent his holy Spirit to confirm them all to be his Doctrine on which he hath built his Church Yet might these Principles be nay doubtless were left and commanded by Christ before his Ascension which they better understood and put in practice when they were endowed with power from on high Acts 2. by the Spirit of Truth which Christ sent to them to guide them into all Truth John 16.13 and of them whom Christ commanded by word of mouth to observe and teach these Principles have we received them as the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus of which Doctrine laying on of hands on baptised Believers ● such is one Principle taught also by the Apostles and by them practised Acts 8.17 19. ● And if we

the Church of Pergamos is by the Spirit commanded to repent of this evil the command backed with a commination which proves that such must be put out of the Church that so hold much more such which so do 7. But laying on of Hands we do indeed make Essential to Church Communion because it is a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ as hath been proved now and heretofore and never was disproved by you except asking questions be refutation Quest 5. We demand whether there was not a Church of Christ in the world before his Ascention and whether any other qualification was then pre-requisite to Church Membership than Confession of Sins and Faith in Christ for the remission of them together with a being Baptized into his Name and walking in a holy life and conversation if you say any thing else was then required and practised as Essential to Church Membership shew us what that was and where it was so required and practised And if you say nothing else was then required and practised we demand whether the Church of Christ was wanting of any thing then that was Essential to its being whatever it might want as to its well-being If you say it wanted nothing then that was Essential to its being then we further demand how this People so continuing in Faith Baptism and Holiness of life could cease to be a Church of Christ after his Ascention though they might not come up to some of those others Truths that were afterward revealed when the Spirit was made manifest c. Answer 1. We do not find that Christ before his Ascension doth give the Name or Title of a Church to any but onely calls his Followers Disciples as we might enumerate a multitude of places in the Evangelists 2. We find that our Lord Jesus when Peter confessed that he was the Christ the Son of the Living God answered Peter and said Upon this Rock will I build my Church He doth not say I have built my Church upon this Rock but I will c. speaking in the future tense Hereafter when I do build it not that he had then built his Church but was about the work making all things ready as materials both for the Foundation and Building 3. Nor is what we say destitute of good reason for his Disciples might then confess and believe him to be the Christ but could not believe him dead risen ascended and that the Comforter was come upon which as upon ● Rock or sure Foundation Christ would build hi● Church and hath since his last Will and Testament is in force by his Death Heb. 9.16 17 for his Church now is founded upon these Basi● Christ is come and died for our Sins according to the Scriptures believing that we in dut● ought to be baptised in his Name for the Remission of them Act. 2.38 22.16 and pray with laying on of hands for the gift of the Spirit which now is come since Christ is ascended to the Father according to his promise John 16.7 to guide us into all Truth and to be with us for ever John 14.16 17. as his alone Vicar on Earth John 16.13 14 15. by which Spirit we are baptised into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 believing that as he is risen from the dead he will also raise us up at the last day John 6.40 and will come the second time sitting upon the Throne of his Glory to Judgement and to render to every man as his work shall be On all which as on a Rock or Foundation the Disciples could not be built in the time of Christs life not till after his Ascension because they were not then laid nor could not till Christ was dead risen and ascended to the Father Yet in the time of his Life as his Disciples he was diligent to instruct teach and inform them of all these things as such which should be done and accomplished in their due and appointed time viz. after he had suffered was risen and ascended to the Father But it may be objected That Christ saith Mat. 18.17 If he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church there Christ calls them a Church That doth not follow those being words of direction and instruction which Christ gives them by which they might be guided when they had received power from on high to proceed as a Church to censure unholy and disorderly Walkers not that they before they were endowed with that power from on high were to act as a Church to censure the impenitent no● did they as we read You may further object That Christ did break Bread with them and therefore they we● then a Church It is true Christ did before his Passion institute the Supper he brake the Bread and gave it to his Disciples but it was onely with the Twelve the rest of the Disciples being absent then doth it not follow that the Disciples we● in the capacity of a Church because the Twelve are singled out from the rest of the Disciples which shews excepting him that was lost tha● they were taken apart from the other Disciples as those that were appointed by the Lord to b● Witnesses in a more eminent way and manne● than the rest of all those things he should suffer And those whom Jesus had chosen and give● commandment to not onely by his own mouth but through the Holy Ghost also Act. 1.2 wha● they should teach others to believe and observe Mat. 28.20 Breaking Bread then at this tim● might not be solemnized as Church-communion which ought to be when the whole Body comet● together to commemorate the Body and Blood of Christ the one as broken the other shed and to shew the Lords death till he come but rather was instituted then by Christ at the feast of the Passover to shew them what they should after he was ascended do also to teach others what they should do and observe when they were endowed with power from on high and thereby were en●ighted to all things relating to Church-Power and the administration of all Church-Ordinances which until they were so impowered they were onely to wait at Jerusalem Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 If otherwise why should the rest of the Disciples be excluded and not called to this last Supper of the Lord If they broke Bread as a Church the rest of the Disciples had as much right to that Communion as the Twelve or else the Twelve onely were the Church and the other Disciples no part of it And if a Church why must they wait for power at Jerusalem This we humbly and modestly offer to consideration And as for the rest of your Queries and Demands which you multiply in this Question they are either removed and answered or require none further But say you further if you shall say they wanted something while Christ was among them essential to Communion then we demand whether this doth not reflect a want of care in Christ who left them so and indeed want

those parts of the Doctrine of Christ that belong'd to perfection and their further growing up in him but not the Foundation or beginning part of Christians Nor though they were dull of hearing and could not receive those things hard to be uttered relating to the Priestly Office of Christ yet were they not Denyers Opposers and Disputers against it as you have been against laying on of hands more than twenty years 4. The Churches in Asia were true constituted Churches and yet they transgressed and did not abide in all Christs Doctrine for which cause though the Spirit commends them in some things they would not have God long as his Church except they repented of those Transgressions I will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent Rev. 2.5 By which it may plainly be perceived that their not abiding in the Doctrine of Christ would unchurch them that were true constituted Churches without Repentance and doing their first works though we will not say that they were ipso facto declared no Churches of Christ and such as have no communion with God as his Church Though we dare say that you whose Church-constitution was never right have not God as his Church and we dare say That the Churches in Asia and the Church of Corinth for suffering the incestuous person and for saying some of them the Resurrection was past c. after all lawful endeavours made and means used to purge them from those evils had they not repented but still persisted in their Sin and Impenitency they would soon find they should cease to be a Church in God and incommunicable for their not abiding in the Doctrine of Christ and Oracles of God And thus much we dar● say of them or of any that fail like them Tha● then as afore they are no Churches have no● communion with God as his Church becaus● they abide not in all his Doctrine 5. Your Argument then is not of such forc● to turn the edge of ours upon us as you think ● for we answer it by distinction thus If in you● minor Proposition by failing and coming sho●● of many things Christ taught them you mea● fundamental things we deny your minor O● if you mean a failing and coming short of man ● things Christ taught as in the Churches of Asia and the Church of Corinth joyned with impenitency all lawful means being used to purg● them we then likewise deny your minor B●● if you do not mean Fundamentals nor sins joyned with Impenitency as is aforesaid then ● say God owns such for Churches and w● should sin if we did not though they fail an● come short of perfection in many things B● then it follows not that God owns or that 〈◊〉 ought to own such for Churches that fail an● come short in Fundamentals or the first Rud●ments of Christianity as you do Quest 20. Whether it be not an abuse of that Text 2 Joh● to infer from the Doctrine of Christ there menti●●ed That there can be no Churches nor Churc● Members where every thing that Christ taught is ●●t observed and continued in When by Doctrine ●ere a man of a short sight may perceive is meant ●●e confessing that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh ● appears vers 7. which whosoever abideth not in ●ut shall deny hath not God and if this be not the ●ense but the other viz. That he that continues ●ot in all Christs sayings hath not God and is no Member of Christ then either your selves are no Church or else you are all perfect and guilty of no 〈◊〉 because all sin is a transgressing Christs Doctrine ●●d he that saith he hath no sin is a Lyar and the ●ruth is not in him 1 John 1.10 Answer 1. Who did you ever know infer from ● Joh. 9. That there can be no Churches nor Church-members where every thing Christ ●●ught is not observed and continued in 'T is ●rue we say that every Principle of the Do●trine of Christ which he taught as the first Ru●iments of Christianity must be observed and ●ontinued in or else there can be no Church ●or Church-Members rightly constituted And ● observed believed and practised and not ●ontinued in they that now are a Church right ●n constitution may as afore is said cease to ●e a Church for their transgressing and not a●iding in the Doctrine of Christ 2 John 9. 2. But you say By Doctrine in that place is ●eant as a man of a short sight may perceive the confessing that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh ● appears vers 7. Suppose this should be t● meaning we demand whether every one th● verbally so confesseth and doth not verbally d●ny Christ to be come in the Flesh doth answ●● the mind of the Spirit in that Text and ha● both the Father and the Son so long as he ab●deth by such a Confession we think you wi●● not so say for if you should then must yo● own Rome to be a Church of Christ Becaus● they stoutly confess with their mouths and ●bide by it that Christ is come in the flesh ye● and will burn them that shall deny it now ● this be the meaning of the Text then hath Rom● both the Father and the Son and doth not transgress but continue in the Doctrine of Chris● and thousands more besides who will thus confess Christ to be come in the flesh but know yo● not that in works they deny him If then ● man short-sighted may see that by Doctrine ● meant a confessing of Christ to be come in th● flesh that confession must be more than verb●● as a man very short-sighted may perceive an● that by confessing Christ is to own him to be ● Prince and a Saviour to believe obey and t● do what he hath taught and to continue in hi● Doctrine So then though it may be as yo● say yet is it not to be thought that onely th● single and alone confessing of Christ to be com● in the flesh is there meant by Doctrine ● being so comprehensive a word that it contains in it no less if not more than the foundation-●●rt mentioned Heb. 6. And therefore they that transgress and abide not in that fundamental part viz. Repentance Faith the Doctrine of Baptisms Laying on of Hands the Resurrection from the Dead and eternal Judgment have not God as his Church but he that continues in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son Then is it no abuse of the Text to say as the Text saith But you rather abuse us to say that we infer that there can be no Churches nor Church-Members that continue not in every thing that Christ taught and that they have not God nor are no Members of Christ But we say They cannot be Churches rightly constituted that abide not in Christs Doctrine for they have not God and so saith the Text. And yet there may be Churches truly stated that are not perfect and that will not say they have no sin

do not find it was practised in th● ●ime of Christs life that doth not make invalid what was taught and practised after his Ascension He had many things to say in the time of his life his Disciples could not then bear John 16.12 which he promiseth to instruct them in by his Spirit vers 13 14 15. 2. It being then clear that laying on of hands is a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ it 's not to the thing in hand where when or how Christ taught it but that you will study doubts rather than obedience And whereas you speak of the Doctrine of the holy Spirit if the Truth were known you as little believe it as you practise laying on of hands for the reception of it as will appear hereafter Concluding from what hath been said That laying on of hands is as clear a Principle of Christs Doctrine as any of the other are having the same Authority we refuse and keep no communion with the Disobedient Quest 29. If you say The practice of the Apostles Act. 8.17 plainly shews that they had a Command for what they did We thereupon demand Though we read they baptised Men and Women promiscously yet where do you read they ever laid hands promiscuously upon Men and Women If you shall say It is implied in the word THEM which the Apostles laid their hands upon which were the same THEM that Philip baptised we demand Whether it may not be as truly said that Philip preache● to every Man and Woman in Samaria because it i● said He went to the City of Samaria and preached Christ to them vers 5. And whether i● may not be as well said That every Man and Woman in Samaria believed and were baptised because it is said That Samaria had received the Word of God and was baptized as you may say That because the Church of Jerusalem sent unto Them Peter and John to lay hands on Them that therefore it must be understood they laid hands on every baptised Man and Woman c. Answer 1. We do say the practice of the Apostles Act. 8.17 and elsewhere doth plainly shew that they had received a Command from Christ for what they did and so must you say unless you will say it was their own humane invention And if you think it was practised by them without command from Christ and so their own invention why do you not say so But if you think they had received sufficient Authority from Christ for what they did why do you make opposition against their practice and refuse to follow them as they followed Christ and keep those traditions they delivered 2. But you demand Though we read that they baptised both Men and Women promiscuously yet where do we read they ever laid hands promiscuously upon Men and Women We say it is in so many words said Act. 8.12 they were baptised both Men and Women and no less plain it is that Peter and John prayed and laid their hands upon them both Men and Women For by as good reason may one conclude that Peter and John were sent by the rest of the Apostles but to some of them that believed and were baptised at Samaria as to conclude that Peter and John prayed for and laid hands on but some of them Nor can it be as well said that Philip preached to every Man and Woman in Samaria because it is said that Philip went down to the City of Samaria and preached Christ unto them nor every Man and Woman in Samaria believed and Were baptised though it be said Samaria had received the Word the former being true though he had preach'd but to twenty and the latter though but six believed and were baptised And to conclude all in Samaria were preached to believed and were baptised were not logical indeed but to conclude that Peter and John prayed for and laid hands on the Women that Philip baptised as well as they prayed for and laid their hands on the Men he baptised is Scriptural and Logical because the Women had equal right to the Gift of the Spirit which was the end of that service by vertue of Gods Promise to them as well as to men Joel 2.28 29. Act. 2.17 18. Then is it Scriptural and Logical to conclude that the baptised Women had equal right to the means by which the Spirit was given as well as the baptised Men. 3. So that the Truth is whereas you say That we are so far from having a Command for laying on of hands on all baptised Believers that we have not a plain Example for it you are so far from knowing and believing the Truth that you will not see any Command there is nor Example neither for laying on of hands on baptised Believers as such that you still remain contradicting and putting it from you thereby judging your selves unworthy of the blessing of Gods holy and guiding Spirit which to his praise is receiv'd thereby There being both Command and plain Example from the Apostles which Command they received from Christ and Christ from God his Father See this answered before in Gods Oracle page 47 48 49. 4. But you say Dr. Hamond questioneth which laying on of hands is here intended and saith it is probable it was upon Disciples for the Gift of the Spirit and doth confess there is a difficulty to resolve whether it be for the laying on of hands for Confirmation or Ordination Dr. Hamond and you might conclude that it was not for Ordination had you but consulted Paul to Timothy when he saith A Novice must not be chosen or ordained a Bishop lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil 1 Tim. 3.6 Then could not Peter and John lay hands on the Baptised at Samaria for Ordination because they were but of yesterday newly come to the Faith Moreover the very end of their laying on of hands was That they might receive the holy Ghost Act. 8.15 Now had your learned and judicious Doctor considered these things he would not have said it was difficult to resolve whether the laying on of hands Act. 8.17 was for Confirmation or Ordination 5. But we perceive the Authority of this Doctor goes very far with you that you will believe when he believes and doubt of what he doubts That if he had said there is a Command for laying on of hands and a plain Example peradventure you would say so too For you say And therefore though laying on of hands as we practise it be true yet it is not so infallibly true because it depends upon our Exposition If you had drawn your conclusion right from what was before premised by you it must have been thus Therefore though laying on of hands as we practise it be true yet it is not infallibly true because Dr. Hamond is at a stand about it and saith it is difficult to resolve whether it be for Confirmation or Ordination and not say Because it depends upon our Exposition which