of the beginning of Christ which the the Apostle saith Every Christian babe ought to be taught 1 Pet. 2.2 as being a part of that sincere milke of the word which he ought to use in the infancy of his profession whiles yet he is unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse Heb. 12.13 We have talked much of the Six Principles of Christian Religion but alas it hath been but an uncertain sound from unskilfull Trumpets whereby Christs Souldiers have not prepared themselves to the battell Act 8.30 through their obedience so that if a Philip should demand Vnderstandest thou what thou readest or hearest who could give a clear answer A great noise is made of Six Principles and yet this Gent. saith that one of them is not a standing Ordinance as wanting a warrantable foundation thus the number of our Principles are only five by his account And Christ himself affronted as a deceiver For if this be true that the Gent. saith there is a title yea and more then a title of a law word or doctrine far exceeding the law of Moses that is fallen to the ground and no more a standing Ordinance Christs lips being not a warrantable foundation it seems by this assrrtion to support it But who would not tremble that ever was truly awakened to hear a practicall Doctrine of Christ which at first was spoken by the Lord * Heb. 2.3 with 6.1 2. to be so flighted He that despised Moses law died without mercy O that timely repentance may avert that so much sorer punishment Heb. 10.29 due to those who bring another Doctrine to raise a foundation Principle of Christian Religion as no standing Ordinance Contrary to many clear Scriptures as Mat. 28. ult Phil. 4.9 2 Tim. 2.2 2 Pet. 1.15 Joh. 14.26 Heb. 2.1 2 3. which clear Scriptures with many more do prove the continuance of all Gospel Ordinances throughout all ages and yet this plain institution of Christ himself seems to the Gent. Luk. 24.11 like Maries message but an idle tale no standing Ordinance as having no warrantable foundation From which absurd and unjust conclusion the Gent. proceeds to twist a rope of sand in a strange Syllogism for the subverting a people who are little better acquainted with mood and figure then their plow-shares to whom Logick is as much a stranger as the truth of this Principle of Laying on of hands But though the Gent. differ not much from a Barbarian to them in this Logicall dresse yet to a prejudiced people set led upon their lees any thing that looks but against this truth will serve turn The substance of what he asserts in such a multitude of words is That Christ hath given no command to his Church to practise the Laying on of Hands upon all Disciples But so far are those Scriptures he quotes from proving his assertion that they return vigorously upon his own head For from the first of them I do in Gods name expostulate with him Isa 1.12 Who hath required this at your hands to contradict and oppose one of the Principles of Christian Religion Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandements and teach men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 5.19 that is utterly cut off Act. 3.22.23 His second Scripture directs us to the Law and to the testimony Isa 8.20 which through distinguishing grace hath engaged gratious hearts in obedience to this law of Laying on of hands whiles he rejecteth the Law and shunneth the clear testimony that Christ hath given to this equall with other of his Ordinances Heb. 2.4 His third Ezck. 43.7 Me thinks should lay a loving restraint upon him no more to defile the pretious things of Christs house of which Laying on of hands hath the fourth place And O that his fourth proof might prove armour of proof upon his Joh. 15.14 and many others hearts to stop their carreer against the commands of Christ for how can he mention this Scripture Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you whiles he sheweth himself an adversary to this command of Christ which the Apostle shews is necessary to be taught Christs babes Heb. 5.12 and doubtlesse they acted according to their commission which runs thus teaching them to do all things whatsoever I have commanded you Mat. 28.20 Yea the Spirit expresly testifyeth that what the Apostles did teach or write are the commands of Christ 1 Cor. 14.37 Then doubtlesse Christs true friends will hear and observe these teachings Heb. 5 12. Ye have need that one teach you again which are none other then Christs own commands The Gents. Rom. 4.15 fifth Scripture informs us that where no law is no trasgression But why did he produce this Scripture or what is this to the Fourth principle or Christian Religion but only to ratifie and confirm this law of Christ unlesse it can be imagined that Christs foundation principles are not his own lawes he commands nothing but what he teacheth he teacheth nothing but what he commands yea what his Apostles teach he teacheth Luk. 10 16. He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Let such therefore as tremble at Gods word take heed of the transgression of his own laws issuing from his own lips such as this foundation Principle is fully proved Lest they share in Nadabs judgement Levit. 10.1 2.13 remembring that of the Apostle Jam. 2.10 Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all for he that did teach repentance faith and Baptisme did also with the same lips teach Laying on of hands Now if thou be Baptized and yet doest not submit to the Fourth Principle thou art become a transgressour of the Law * Jam. 2.11 And when once the seal is opened and the trumpet hath sounded forth that opened Gospell truth nothing remains but the powring out of Gods Vials upon such as refuse it Certainly he hath no discerning eye that beholds not sad marks of Gods displeasure upon severall persons who have turn'd their backs upon this fourth foundation Principle in those parts where this Gents. papers are spread abroad of which I may speak particularly in a convenient season for because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thess 2.10 11. therefore God doth send them strong delusions to believe lies The good Lord make the fearfull fals Schisms Apostasie and blindnesse of some to be a timely warning unto others 1 Cor. 10.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 4 3 4. But I must proceed to declare that we make no such matter of the word Oracle as the Gent. deems for though all the lively oracles of God are his commands to be imbraced if Notionall and to be obeyed if Practicall as Baptism and Laying on of hands yet they are no such niceties that we insist on neither resting on
the Lord and confirmed to his Apostles and by them faithfully taught us Mind it Christian 't is for thy life thou canst not escape if thou let it slip after warning if thou receive not the truth with love God will send thee strong delusions to believe a lie Ah! how have I seen the Lords professed people carried away captive that have slighted this Ordinance Hurryed by Satan to blaspheme other glorious truths drowned in the world and the love of it 1 Joh. 2.15 given up to horrible lying bitternesse emulation envy strife sedition making schisms rents divisions what not O thou believer that professest Christ mind this word of Christ these four first verses of the Epistle to the Hebrews Remember that this fourth principle was first spoken by the Lord himself and is plainly called The word of the * Heb. 6.1 beginning of Christ and was confirmed by signs and wonders and miracles 2. Miracles are given for conviction of Heathens Act. 8.6 16.27 29 30. But alas this avails not at all if love manifested by obedience to all Christs commands be wanting 1 Cor. 13.2 A person may have this gift and perish The third gift of this nature is extraordinary Prophesie or foretelling of events such as may wonderfully possesse a Balaam a Saul a Caiaphas a Witch this may confirme truths and convince sinners but the Prophet be damn'd 't is an excellent gift in a gratious heart but short of ordinary Prophesie The fourth extraordinary gift that is according to Court custome not the chief is kinds of tongues not new tongues for that is a speciall gift peculiar to true believers a reall sign of an effectuall work of grace for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Rev. 14.1 wherefore those 144000. Redeemed Virgins are presented with a new song in their mouth which none else could learn Act. 17.19 When once Paul becomes a Convert he Preacheth a new Doctrine he was before a Blasphemer but now he hath learned a new lesson He is not a believer that hath not learned a new language * Ephes 5.4 These miraculous tongues are never called new tongues but strange tongues and other tongues to convince a strange people to preach to other Nations as was needfull then but now cannot well be employed since Popish inquisitions and Turkish slavery hath shut the Gospell out of their territories Act. 13.46 Neither have Christs Ministers any warrant to attempt the publishing of Gospell truths in other Nations who are known to be dogs swine and persecutors Mat. 7.6 10.23 And therefore Satan and not Gods Spirit hath engaged some foolish deluded souls called Quakers to passe the Seas in expectation probably of some miraculous ability to publish their poison against Christs Ordinances but have only performed the work of Barbarians and so returned But certainly should Christ call into forain parts he would enable his servants to help sick souls abroad as well as to heal sick bodies at home Alas our native Countrey hath need enough of more labourers Wherefore saith the Apostle tongues are for a sign Not to them that believe 1 Cor. 14.21 but to them that believe not This gift therefore belongs not to thee thou dear Disciple of Christ It is our mercy that the Ordinance I now contend for came once under hand and seal from heaven our Masters hand and this sign of tongues confirming it Since therefore this fourth Foundation Principle of thy Religion is thus by this miraculous gift ratified and thy pretious soul converted thouart not to expect such needlesse unsutable gifts as these which Gods word tels thee are not convenient for thee But fince the Spirit of truth hath more excellent treasure then tongues or the interpretation of tongues take thou the counsell of the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet earnestly the best gifts and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way there are some gifts more excellent then others and there are graces more excellent then any other gifts the best gifts will be fewel to thy choice graces and set thy heavenly heart all on a holy flame Wherefore covet earnestly the best gifts for this end And fince 't is evident that the golden gifts of Christ * Zech. 4.12 passe through golden pipes or Ordinances into the bowl of the Candiestick that is the Church put thy affectionate mouth to these pretious pipes that contain such pretious gifts and draw with the buckets of joy out of the wels of salvation It is undeniable that this fourth foundation Doctrine of Christ is one of those pipes or channels through which these eternall streames do run and doubtlesse did not poor creatures drownd in delusions conclude these streams were dryed up they would not neglect this pipe this ordinance of hands as they do But so they think and so they speak for say they the power or gifts of the Spirit are ceased and therefore the ordinance is of no use Well when I shall clearly demonstrate that the best gifts are to this day continued as I have already proved that no gift is ceased that is needfull for believers And when it shall appear that these best gifts have been conveyed through impofition of hands Then surely both the Ordinance and gifts will be earnestly desired and affectionately embraced by gratious souls These best gifts which being continued 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. Saints should covet are 1. Wisdome 2. Knowledge 3. Faith 4. Prophesie 5. Discerning of Spirits It must be granted without controversie that these are the best gifts of the Spirit and that they are continued in power and efficacy to this generation And first of Wisdome Prov. 4.7 Job 28.18 2 Sam. 14.20 which the eternall Spirit that gives it hath recorded as the principall thing and therefore it is here in the Catalogue of gifts deservedly set in the first place The price thereof is above Rubies it 's a defence better then strength it transformes the person so that he appears as an Angell of God Marvellous encomiums of deserved praise are given by the Spirit to this most excellent gift far surpassing all those other gifts before mentioned as Healing Tongues Miracles c. which the devotion of a Didymus doth so much dote upon making so great a noise in the world so that all 's lost with such a professor because tongues are ceased and miracles do not appear to satisfie his sense Ah poor shallow creatures shadowes of Saints that thus cry out as undone for the want of what they may perish with Scarce one word of wisdome to be heard nay the very Ordinance which is most particularly designed for the conveyance of Spirituall gifts must be cut off though it be a foundation Principle because they see not the prints of the nails and spear The power is gone we want Apostles the Fourth Principle is void Gifts do not now appear the power is gone This is the great cry of these times to cry
thy Principles The Lord make my counsell acceptable to thee which is To live in the perpetuall exercise or practise of all thy Principles Yet mistake not I would not have thee set them up for Idols Judg. 17.13 and live upon them to say Now I know that the Lord will doe me good seeing I have got a Levite to my Priest Take heed of so practising any of thy Principles Now I have done enough once to believe a Magus may do so or repent Act. 8.13 Judas did it or be baptized so was Ananias and Sapphira In this respect Phil. 3.13 14. thou must forget what is behind and presse forward In this respect Heb. 6.1 thou must leave thy Principles and go on to perfection But how must thou leave thy Principles What never to look at them any more No such matter Mat. 19.5 But as thou must leave thy father and mother and cleave to thy wife so thou must leave thy Principles Whosoever shall teach thee in a marryed state to be disobedient to or utterly to leave and forsake thy Parents I shall bequeath to him the Legacie fit for a blind Pharisee Mat. 15.6 And the like portion to him that shall counsell thee to learn thy Six Principles but not to practise them or at any time to leave them so As for the first Principle which is Repentance Why thou poor soul as oft as thou callest for thy dayly bread so often thou must practise thy Repentance For thou dost dayly contract new flaines therefore thou must dayly go to that sountain * Zech. 13.1 Rev. 7.14 to wash thy robes and make them white in the bloud of the Lamb. Crying Father which art in heaven forgive my trespasses as I forgive others that is manifest forgivenesse seal my pardon satisfie my soul that all my sins are imputed unto Christ and his righte-ousnesse to me And can thy soul live a day without this satisfaction without this assurance The Lord would have thee aske to purpose not barely pardon but assurance that thou art pardoned Aske and ye may receive Joh. 16.24 that your joy may be full And thus thou must not leave but practise Repentance Secondly for Faith If ever thou didst receive it embrace it Rom. 1.5 and yeeld obedience to it be carefull constantly to live in the exercise of it Why thou no longer livest then thou believest Vers 17. therefore go thy wayes on from faith to faith in the mounting steps of Abrahams faith as one of the houshold of faith Rom. 4.12 Gal. 6.10 Take heed of Hymeneus sin * 1 Tim. 1.19 and let Pauls exercise be thine Act. 24.16 O beware of men that will yeeld thou shouldest learn it but not practise it As for Baptisme If ever thou was buried with Christ in it Rom. 6.4 one buriall will serve the turn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that is once baptized or washed needeth not save to wash his feet * Joh. 13.10 compared with 2 King 5.10 14. Heb. 10.22 and yet there is dayly need of Mortification Col. 3.5 this thou must be practising all the dayes of thy Pilgrimage thou dost never learn it till thou practise it There 's dayly need of a holy walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6.4 Wherefore thou Baptized Believer whatever men say be thou dayly in the practise of this Principle A chast Virgin often resisted Satans temptation with this weapon Christiana sum I am a Christian As oft as the enemy makes his appoaches against thee tell him thou art espoused to Christ and hast not in thy childish infant state when perhaps thou wast asleep made a bold manly profession of thy subjection to him in this Ordinance What should I fear if truth speak truth Mark 16.16 I did I do believe I was Baptized I shall be saved And for this fourth Principle Be sure thou practise it as ever thou desirest a larger measure of the Spirit for the communicating of which it is appropriated If God do immediatly confer his gifts in or soon after the administration be carefull to improve them to his glory put them not under a bed of ease or a bushell of gain If he deal with thee as with those Hebrew babes keep thee long in thy childhood without some eminent manly gift yet practise this Principle in the exercises of patience waiting for a return to those prayers that did accompany this Ordinance and indeed is an essentiall part of it without which neither this nor any thing else is or can be sanctifyed Luk. 11.13 and upon which pretious promises are entail'd Breaking bread is no ordinance of Christ 1 Cor. 12.11 without prayer and praise Remember the Spirits method who is a free Agent Dividing to every man severally as he will what how and when he pleaseth Some seed in some sort of ground will spring up speedily Though I do not say that is either the best seed or the best soil see Mat. 13.5 And such is the gift of tongnes to such as greedily gape after it and pettishly cast away the ordinance of hands if they may not have it That or nothing will please their palate But the Spirit hath another sort of seeds which may not so suddainly appear but possibly lie all winter under the clods and yet the ground very good and the seed lying so long in it makes it better and although it make not such speed in springing yet it is carefully kept Luk. 8.15 and brings forth fruit with patience At the first practise of this Principle the seed is sown Isa 45.19 and in a sutable season it will spring and appear Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord Jam. 5.7 Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the pretious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill be receive the early and latter rain We are at a great losse for want of waiting for returns of duties Having therefore yeelded obedience to this Ordinance let no man perswade thee thou longing soul to cast off the exercises of a patient waiting for a return but take up thy resolution with the Prophet Psal 85.8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly If God have but bestowed so much wisdome upon thine obedience as to wait with faith and patience for fuller manifestations of himself then I am sure thou hast not found this ordinance empty The fifth Principle If thou be truly spirituall must be thy dayly practise It is a duty incumbent upon thee and beares a date as antient as thy visible profession and reall subjection to Christs commands Rom. 6.4 For in thy buriall with thy Redeemer in the Baptismall sountain 2 Cor. 5.17 Heb. 10.20 thou didst begin thy case in the similitude of his resurrection with an engagement so to run by the rules of the new creature in that new and living way all the dayes of thy life Thou wast a miserable polluted creature Ephes 2.1 before he met with thee dead in trespasses and fins but he hath breathed upon thee by his quickning Spirit and therefore in the power of the same Spirit dayly thou must practise the resurrection Rom. 3.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the death dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Wherefore stop thy ears to any other Spirit that would dull the edge of thy devotion in the practise of the resurrection Live at present in the power of it and make use of all means with the Apostle Phil. 3.11 If by any means I might attain unto the refurrection of the dead Thy God will be found in the use of his own means Col. 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above And Lastly Let the eternall judgment be thy exercise continually Thou hast no other way in this world to avoid the horrour and terrour of it and this way whatever men talke to keep thee in idlenesse thou mayest escape it 1 Cor. 11.31 For if we would judge curselves we should not be judged Cheer up thy drooping spirit take courage and resolution and be as lively as possible in the practise and exercise of all thy Principles The more lively the more like Christ whose meat and drink was to do the will of his father and the more like Christ the more boldnesse thou shalt have in the day of judgement * 1 Joh. 4.17 Wherefore labour diligently to be found in all the will of thy God Let no man spoil thee of any truth but especially of one of thy Foundation principles What though this milk be never so mean 't is the more like a crucified Christ I confesse Laying on of hands is but a simple service Rom. 6.17 no more is its companion Baptisme but t is one of the first words of thy dear Redeemer a part of that form of Doctrine which he delivered and hath owned Act. 8. 19. and by signs and wonders confirmed which he would not so fignally have ratified had it not been a part of his owne service Let not mens conceits of the cessation of this holy Ordinance deprive thy pretious soul of those choice gifts which stream through it which thy panting spirit if thou be truly thirsty soul cannot but find as much need of as thy fellow saints sixteen hundred years since The promise runs as strenuously to this age and the Saints in it though we be those afar off as it did to them that were nigh * Act. 2.39 For he that made promise remains faithfull and what ever men dare affirme to the contrary yet he hath said that It is easier for heaven and earth to passe Luk. 16.17 then one tittle of the Law to fail THE END