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 â— such is one Principle taught also by the Apostles and by them practised Acts 8.17 19. â— And if we
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 Supposition to their threefold Hypothesis 1 That their Church Constitution is not true 2 Separation from them proved lawful 3 The Truth and Authority of the Doctrine about which they Separate vindicated Humbly presented to all concerned J. Griffith a cordial desirer of the flourishing 〈◊〉 of the Church in Unity and Peace with 〈◊〉 and Truth but Societas in 〈…〉 tantum abâ—st ab 〈◊〉 plâ—… nâ—…aria con 〈…〉 pariter 〈…〉 Prov. 18 17. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Printed for the Author 1669. To the Baptized Disciples not under laying on of Hands is heartily wished the true knowledge of God and sincere Love with submission to the whole Doctrine of Christ desired in the way of Truth WHen we first saw your Book read the Title and how you pretend your Questions are for Conscience sake we thought Silence for some time would be the best Answer considering what hath formerly past between us about the Difference still depending and the present face of things as they now shew themselves in the world But when we came to take a view of your Epistle finding it writ by some spirit inraged rather than one desirous of satisfaction from any serious sober conscientious scruple or doubt We were invited the more to consider your Questions and finding them to strike at the root fill'd with animosity taunting and insulting terms rather than a spirit so much as sprinkled with conscious candid and serious aims though you give your selves the name as the obscure Parents of this in some sense abortive Child of the Lovers of Truth and Peace which bespeaks the Babe both conceived and brought forth under the melevolent Aspects of some froward contentious and yet pretended glorious and Christian design Your Epistle which as the Midwife that brought the Child into the world we find ushers it in with caluminations so foul and of such a sort as if it were intended to scale Rome's Walls and bid Defiance to the Man there that usurps the Keyes of Heaven and Hell And withal that way may be made for its more laudable entrance and progress she no sooner speaks but like Athalia she cryes Treason treason the Lord's Prerogative is invaded when alas she was the Traytor her self and then she marcheth on and proclaims them she is sent to with so much pretended calmness to be like the Man at Rome usurpers of the Keyes of Hell and Death But how much the mark is missed is evident enough for who more free and ready to stop up the way to Hell and open the way to Heaven so far as lies in them by all the abilities they have and endeavours they can use than they whom you brand with the aforesaid Usurpation Though we would not make the road to Heaven as the foolish Woman and clamourous doth the way to her House saying Stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant to her guests And though your Babes-Usher hath got the knack on 't to clamour with so much scurrility by such oyly lines perhaps borrowed from some other Pen yet is it an argument of a weak Cause rather than otherwise it being usual when there is no better weapons to make use of such with this gloss The Lords Prerogative is invaded and what wilt thou do to thy great Name and the like when you your selves are the invaders of that Royal Prerogative of the Lord 's Anointed by not suffering his Princely Authority to be obeyed without controule from you and such his leige People to whom his Prerogative and Name is more dear than their lives as sufficient testimony hath been given and further may through his grace should he call for it You study against wayes of obtractation But how easie a matter is it for men to pretend to Conscience in their own Case and with the same Pen bespatter the Consciences of others with foul inormities of meer pretences under that cloak as if they made bates and pretended Conscience but let the sober inspect this new-born Babe and they will see make-bate writ in the face of him though it hath Conscience for its Name and is sirnamed a Lover of Truth and Peace and do but trace it in its proceedings and let but its conception be calculated and they will find it both conceived and brought forth to that end it being furnished with Confidence sufficient to pass it without suspition of being tardy of any such thing as make-bate while it can talk of Peace and Unity among Brethren and pretend to more than ordinary zeal to it and that it may go abroad without jealousie of the contrary all that stands in its way must be rendred as maintainers of Notions catch'd up and charged upon Conscience without regard had to the interest of Religion yea and renting and running away from all that agree not with them when there is nothing less intended by you than to run divisions among us that are united in that thing under debate And for the more effectual accomplishment of this design we must also be rendred as such that take upon them to judge all that come not up to the same dimensions with us not to have God nor to have communion with God when our judgment in that case is Those that transgress and abide not in the Doctrine of Christ have not God as his Church hath not that thereby you or any man is judged by us to have or not to have God And as for you we have before given our Testimony that we can and do love you for the Truths sake you own so far as you have gone or so far as you do own the Truth but we cannot nay we dare not love you with the love of Brethren in the true and right order of the Gospel See Gods Oracle and Christs Doctrine page 94. then have you no cause to render us as judging all but our selves in no sense to have God nor communion with God And if you have better Arguments to prove your in erest in Christ than laying on of Hands we have no cause to grieve at it but to rejoyce and can with all our hearts wish you have for laying on of Hands can be none for you and it will be well if it be none against you who have so long opposed it with so much bitterness as you have done and and still do But be we esteemed your Friends or your Enemies for saying you are not a Church rightly Constituted and so have not God as his Church we must still say it until our Judgments and Consciences be otherwise perswaded by his Word and if you will not believe what we say we must leave it to the revelation of the righteous Judgment of the Lord
and doing what is according to the Will of God that will make them a right constituted Church and Members in particular though you are or may be esteemed baptized Disciples Quest 2. Whether any other qualifications c. viz. then is set down in the first Question are required of God as pre-requisits to Church Communion and Church Membership if so shew us what those things are and where they are so required Answer 1. If we should grant as we do not that God requires no other qualification than what you mention as pre-requisits to Church Communion yet have you not found the Schism but must search nearer home for it if you intend to find it because you are not the men so qualified as you intimate you be as may well be perceived without secret search by any let but those qualifications you speak of be compared with the actions of those time after time that are of highest esteem amongst you 2. But if you were qualified as you say you are yet will not that prove you a Church whose Constitution is right for God requires laying on of hands which is one Principle of the Doctrine of Christ and one of the first rudiments of Christianity as you have confessed as pre-requisits to Church Communion But then you demand where God requires it as a pre-requisit to Church Communion We then demand of you where God requires Water Baptism as a pre-requisite to Church Communion If you shall say that Baptism is one Principle of Christs Doctrine so is laying on of Hands as well as Baptism numbred among the principles of Christs Doctrine Heb. 6.1 2. But if you shall say that there is more in the Scripture to be said for Water Baptism than there is for laying on of Hands we say if there be more said for Baptism in the Scripture than is for laying on of Hands all that is said cannot make it more than a foundation principle and so is laying on of hands 3. What if there be more said in the Scripture for Faith towards God than is for Baptism of Water as there is in many things agreeing to it yet is it no more than a foundation principle of Christs Doctrine and so is the Doctrine of Baptism Heb. 6.2 And will it then follow because there is more said in Scripture for Faith towards God than is said for the Baptism of Water that therefore Baptism is not required of God as a pre-requisite to Church Communion even so should it be granted that there is more said for Baptism in some one thing or more than is for laying on of Hands it doth not follow but that laying on of Hands being numbred by the Apostle among the foundation principles of Christs Doctrine as well as Baptism Heb. 6.2 is required of God as a pre-requisite to Church Communion and Membership as well as Baptism 4. Again where is the belief of the Resurrection of the Dead required of God as pre-requisite to Church Communion yet is that a principle of Christs Doctrine Heb. 6.2 and such a one that if not owned and believed you would not own such a People should be admitted to Church Communion and Church Membership If you should say that to deny the Resurrection is an Errour which makes Faith vain and concludes us yet in our sins we say that it is no more than a Principle of Christs Doctrine and so is laying on of Hands and yet you cannot shew where it s required of God viz. The belief of the Resurrection of the Dead as a pre-requisite to Church Communion it doth not therefore follow but that if you are so qualified as you say you are should you deny or not believe the Resurrection of the Body that you are a Church Communicable or Church Members therefore there is other qualifications than those you speak of pre-requisite to Church Membership and Communion Quest 3. If it shall be said that Churches ought to be found in the knowledge and practice of all Christs Doctrines We demand whether the knowledge and practice of all truths be indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members Answer 1. We say that Churches ought to be found in the knowledge of all Christs Doctrine not Doctrines and so we think will you say 2. We do not say never the more for that that the knowledge and practice of all truths is indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members for there are many truths Churches rightly constituted may be ignorant of but the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ none ought to be ignorant of or without the knowledge and practice and be true constituted Churches and Church Members Quest 4. If you say the knowledge and practice of all truths is not indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members then we demand that you would define what truths the knowledge and practice whereof is so indispensably necessary as aforesaid and what truths and practices the ignorance of may be consistant with a true Church and Church Membership Answer 1. What truths the knowledge and practice of are indispensably necessary to the constituting of Churches and Church Members we have given you the definition of in our Answer to your 3d Question 2. Those truths of highest moment the ignorance of may be consistent with a true Church and Church Members are such as belong to the perfecting and compleating the Church and Church Members in Christ which a true Church may be ignorant of in her minority as the Hebrew Church was about many things Paul had to say hard to be uttered because they were dull of hearing and were still as Babes who are unskilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.11 12 13. 3. Those truths of less moment consistent with a true Church are washing of Feet saluting with a holy Kiss taking an Oath to end strife the matters of Apparel and such-like and who pray makes these things the Essentials of Communion though you falsly say they are so made no Congregation in England as we know of 4. Yet may the matter of Apparel give just cause of reproof when Church Members shall exceed the bounds of moderation and sobriety in their Apparel to the grieving wounding and offence of their fellow Brethren and may amount to a sin against Christ when they shall stop their ear and stiffen their necks against them that are so grieved and offended 5. There may be many things done by Churches and Church Members that are sinful which may justly deserve reproof and if not repented of may merit the censure of the Church The Angel of the Church of Pergamos was reproved for sin for having those in the Church that held the Doctrine of Balaam to eat meat sacrificed to Idols and to commit Fornication which Fornication was mixt Marriages as saith Josephus and we think his authority as good in this case as you can think Dr. Hammond's is in laying on of Hands 6. The Angel of
so fit neither as we could and do desire our Members would make choice of however not so fit as to be Church-Members at the Lord's Table Quest 12. If a People congregated upon profession of Faith Baptism and a Holy life be a Church of God and God requireth no other conditions in order to the constituting of Churches and Church-members as appears by the light of the former questions and â—our own practice and confession at some turns Then we demand whether he that first separated and those with him did not make a separation from such a Church and whether such a separation from the Communion of or disowning Communion with such a Church be not to make Divisions and Schism in the Body of Christ Answer 1. We have already shewed you that such a People no otherwise qualified than you are cannot be a Church rightly constituted and that God doth require more conditions than you have in order to the right constituting of Churches and Church-members 2. Nor doth it appear by any light your questions give that you have a true Church state for had we no other light to walk by in finding out â— right constituted Church than your questions we should be in the dark stumble and fall as many of late have done the more it 's to be â—amented 3. Nor doth it appear that you are a Church rightly constituted never the more for what some back-sliders have practised and confessâ— at some turns 4. You may well call them turns for tuâ—â— they are indeed for had they not turned froâ— the truth as they were taught and as they hâ— believed and as the Truth is in Jesus thâ— had never so practised and confessed as yâ—â— say they have 5. Then he that first separated from you aâ— those with him did not separate from Church whose Constitution is according to tâ—â— will of Christ 6. And then separation from you and diâ—owning Communion with you whose Churcâ— state is not true is not to make Divisions 〈◊〉 Schisms in the body For 7. The Apostle Paul after he had laid hanâ— on the twelve he found at Ephesus went into 〈◊〉 Synagogue and spake boldly for the space of thâ— Months disputing and perswading the thiâ—â— concerning the Kingdom of God Acts 19.8 8. He that separated from you and thâ— with him after they were under Laying oâ— Hands continued disputing and perswadiâ—â— the things concerning the Kingdom of Goâ— for more than the space of three months The Apostle Paul when divers were hardâ— and believed not but spake evil of the way befâ— the multitude departed from them and separaâ—â— the Disciples vers 9. 10. So he that separated from you when â—â—vers of you were hardened and believed not 〈◊〉 spake evil of that way before the multitude â—aying Laying on of hands was an invention 〈◊〉 the Devil Such a one's hands were holy and â—ould keep their heads warm with such-like as â—at departed from you and separated the â—isciples Quest 13. Whether or no to deny Communion or not to reâ—ive such so qualified into Communion as aforesaid doth not savour of pride singularity and uncharitableness And whether this doth not sympathize with the spirit of Diotrephes who did not â—â—ly refuse to receive the Brethren but forbid those â—hat would 3 John 9. Answer 1. For those under laying on of hands to deâ—y Communion and not to receive such into Communion no otherwise qualified than you â—re doth not savour of pride singularity nor uncharitableness because your Church-constitution is not right 2. If so it hath no sympathy with the spirit of Diotrephes to refuse communion with you nor to forbid those that would But it may be â—ride hardness of heart and unbelief in you â— the cause you stoop not to Christ but do â—ill persist in making opposition against a Principle of his Doctrine as you have done and now do Quest 14. Whether all that maintain such a Separâ—â—â— from any Congregations that do believe in Gâ—â— and are baptised and walk holily as aforesaid â— not guilty of Schism and the sin of Diotrepâ— aforementioned Answer This is much the same with the last questâ—â—â— therefore we shall say onely this That neiâ— all or any which maintain a Separation from â— upon the grounds we do are guilty of Schâ— or the sin of Diotrephes for we maintain â— Separation from Churches nor Church-Members rightly constituted Quest 15. Whether we who you have separated from â— denied Communion to have not used all Chrisâ— and candid ways of Accommodation that can reasonably be thought on Have we not profess'd â— you That if we saw laying on of hands in the â— you practise it a Duty we would submit to â— Have we not also declared That we are willing â— the better finding out the Truth that you shaâ—â— come and preach it among us Have we not â— promised that we would never preach or diâ— against it to avoid offending of you Nay â— we not practised this by suffering your Counâ—â—â— Elders freely to preach among us who preacheâ— your practice without any opposition from us â— further have not many desired to come under â— â— on of hands if you would not make it the bounds â— conditions of Communion and tie them from â—ning us or having Communion with us afterâ—â—rds Whether then to refuse Communion with 〈◊〉 after such large and loving Condescensions as â—se be not Schism greatly aggravated Answer 1. We believe you have of late used ways of â—ccommodation as you call them but wheâ—â—er Christian and candid we have cause to â—pect When one of you shall desire hands â—â—ght be imposed on him by the Elders upon â—s confession given under his own hand viz. â—â—ese may therefore certifie that I do believe the Doctrine of laying on of hands mentioned Heb. 6. â— be one of the first Rudiments of Christianity â—d yet now he is one of the chief Opposers of â—t laying on of hands which he prophanely to â— no more submitted to Which how Chriâ—â—â—an and candid he therein was may easily be â—â—â—cerned by any 2. What if you have professed that if you 〈◊〉 laying on of hands to be a duty in the way â— practise it you would submit to it Will 〈◊〉 make your Church-state true It is more â—â—n probable that those in the Presbyterian and â—â—dependant way are as ready candidly to proâ—â—â— That did they see Baptism as you and we â—â—â—ctise it and laying on of hands also to be â— Duty they would submit to both doth it follow that your separation and ours from tâ— is Schism 3. And what if you have declaired that â— are willing for the better finding out of Trâ— as you pretend that some under laying oâ— hands should come and preach it among yâ—â— Will that heal your sore and give you a riâ— and due Church-constitution 4. And if you have promised never to preâ— nor dispute against it and if you have practâ—â—â— so by suffering some Countrey Elders freely â— preach it among
that aâ—â— under laying on of hands if they have communion with those that are not under laying on 〈◊〉 hands because it is disorder and confusion anâ— also a transgression against the Doctrine â— Christ 6. We do not refuse communion in matteâ— of Apparel otherwise than is said in the Answer to the fourth Question 7. There is sufficient ground to deal with such Members as will eat Blood and things strangled to the trouble and offence of their fellow-Brethren Act. 15.29 21.25 for we would have you to know that Members of Churches may hold that in their Judgments and Practice and that in their Lives though they are under all the first Principles of the Oracles of God that may deserve the censure of the Church and yet the Church not adopt them first Rudiments of Christianity for we have no Fundamentals adopted by us nor do we own more than those Heb. 6. for all this taunting Talk of yours And yet we shall say That there is good reason why we should differ with those that deny the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Christ is the second Person in it God of one substance with the Father yea and refuse communion with them that say he is a creaâ—ed Being and was not nor had no being before he was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary and indeed this wicked and absurd opinion did get Proselytes and found opportunity to make a Schism in the Body of Christ 8. Your memory fails you as well as you say you can remember for we can better know and remember that before we came under laying on of hands we did esteem it a Foundation-Principle and submitted to it as to one but did indeed keep and continue with you for some time preaching disputing and perswading you to obey the Lord Jesus but other communion we had none until many of you were hardened and believed not but spake evil of this way before the multitude then we departed and separated the Disciples 9. There is none by our Arguments we have to separate from you can separate from us because we still continue through the grace of God in the Doctrine of Christ nor say things are of the Doctrine of Christ that are not Nor do we by what means we take to defend that Truth which you oppose put Weapons into the hands of any to divide Churches but the means you take to resist the Truth will furnish those that list to make use of them wiâ— Weapons to fill the Church with Error and Siâ— till it becomes as filthy as Rome it self 10. Therefore though you would argue uâ— falsly into great inconveniencies we may be â—uiâ— it upon your selves from what you maintain â— and argue thus If communion may be helâ— with them that disown the practice of laying on of hands then with them that disown anotheâ— Principle of the Doctrine of Christ and so â— third and them that adore two Gods the truâ— God and a dumb Idol sinful Marriages thâ— Christ is a meer created man and onely a Goâ— made as Moses and David was and sinful swearing Then may we not break communion though all Rome's trash and filth should be brought in And where will this kind of reasoning run you at last Here ends their Questions grounded upon their second Hypothesis The third follows with our Answers to them Quest 23. But if you shall say Laying on of hands is reasoned by the Scripture Heb. 6. to be a Doctrine of Christ and a Foundation-Doctrine and therefore though some Opinions may be called Foundation-Doctrines without warrant yet that doth not hinder but you may call a Doctrine so when you have â— Warrant as you have for this and therefore if 〈◊〉 differ from you in denying a Fundamental Doctrine you can have no communion with us We demand How you can infallibly infer your â—ractice from this Text Heb. 6. if you do but conâ—â—der first That there are many learned men of the Church of England who though they practise layâ—â— on of hands upon all their Members as you do 〈◊〉 as you so they use their endeavours to prove â—h a practice from hence yet Dr. Hamond as â—â—arned and Judicious as most of that Way and as 〈◊〉 read in the Customs of the Primitive Times 〈◊〉 us in his Annotations upon that place that the laying on of hands there spoken of is understood for a laying on of hands upon such as had fallen after Baptism which was done to signifie their Restoration to the Church And this he further proves from Paul's advice to Timothy 1 Tim. 5.22 where he is not speaking of any other thing but Church-Censures as how that an Elder should not be accused but by two or three Witnesses vers 19. that those that sin should be rebuked before all ver 20. and that he should not in judging Offenders 〈◊〉 any thing by partiality vers 21. neither lay oâ— hands too suddenly upon any that had been censureâ— by the Church and had not truly repented of theiâ— sins lest he thereby became partaker of theâ—â— sins c. We from hence demand Which of all these laying on of hands is intended Heb. 6. and is thâ— which you call a Doctrine of Christ And whether if the laying on of hands spoken of Heb. 6 â— a Doctrine of Christ it is not more safe to understand it for that Doctrine which Christ preached 〈◊〉 practised and his Apostles afterwards practised â— healing the Sick than for those other laying oâ— hands which Christ never taught nor practised â— which the Apostles never practised in conformitâ— a Command but by way of Accommodation to â— laudable Customs of the Jews as they did in diâ— other Cases and if they did practise that oâ— laying on of hands Acts 8. 19. in obedienâ— a Command shew those Commands and also your practice of laying on of hands on all you baptise both Men and Women who have no such Blessing to communicate as they had doth agree with their practice and we shall be satisfied And since we read of divers laying on of hands and divers men are differently perswaded concerning that in Heb. 16. yea and such men whose interest leads them to think of it as you do and yet they cannot reasonably so understand it we demand Whether this is not a sufficient ground for us to doubt whether the laying on of hands practised by you be instituted by God Whether it can reasonably and infallibly be inferred from this Text And if not whether it be not great presumption for you to judge all incommunicable that come not up to you in a matter that is so dubitable Answer 1. Never put an if to it for we do say laying on of hands mentioned Heb. 6. is one Principle of the first Oracles of God and of the Doctrine of Christ one of the first Rudiments â—f Christianity c. You then demand How â—â—om this Text Heb. 6. we can infallibly infer â—ur practice Considering Dr. Hamond as
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 â— Rock or sure Foundation Christ would build hiâ— 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 Basiâ— Christ is come and died for our Sins according to the Scriptures believing that we in dutâ— 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 noâ— did they as we read You may further object That Christ did break Bread with them and therefore they weâ— 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 weâ— 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 thaâ— they were taken apart from the other Disciples as those that were appointed by the Lord to bâ— Witnesses in a more eminent way and manneâ— than the rest of all those things he should suffer And those whom Jesus had chosen and giveâ— commandment to not onely by his own mouth but through the Holy Ghost also Act. 1.2 whaâ— they should teach others to believe and observe Mat. 28.20 Breaking Bread then at this timâ— might not be solemnized as Church-communion which ought to be when the whole Body cometâ— 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 enâ—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
then you will not onely say but do something Quest 40. Again whereas you have both Preached 〈◊〉 Printed that you cannot prove laying on of handâ— as you practise it any otherwise than by Inferenâ— and Deductions how can you be so daringly confident as to call those things Gods Oracles and Essentials of Religion that are but your interpreâ—â—tions of Scripture unless with the Church of Rome you will say the Church cannot err Not but that we believe many profitable truths may be collected and infer'd by consequence from Scripture And Conjectures as one well observes if mannerly observing their distance and not impudently obtruding themselves for certainties deserve if not to be received to be considered So that if Laying on of Hands in your sense should be a truth yet it being but conjecturally so We Query why it should be advanced into the number of those express Duties which are essential to Salvation and Church Communion Answer How can you be so daringly impudent as to forge such an untruth and say that we have both Preached and Printed that we cannot prove laying on of hands as we practise it otherwise then by Inferences and Deductions where is such a thing Printed or who ever Preached so that hath not turned back to his vomit in some degree or hath not out-lived his love to those Principles he had received and was once built on May you not be ashamed of this when we have again and again by Printing Preaching and otherwise proved laying on of hands as practise it to be a Foundation-Principle of Christs Doctrine by plain and uninterpreted Scripture and without Inferences and Deductions as fully as any Duty that is practical can be proved without them and was never refuted by you yet how then can you stand in the face of God and his Congregation when you dare do thus Had there been upon you the feeling thoughts of those Texts Rev. 21.8 22.15 you would not have brought forth such a Monster into the world it being therefore false what you say we dare be so confident as to call laying on of hands as we practise it one of the first Principles of the Oracles of God and an essential of Religion without saying with the Church of Rome the Church cannot err we will leave that for you to say and with as much manners and modesty as the authority of so sacred an Ordinance will permit Laying on of Hands then is a Truth and such a one as is by Christ and his Apostles not by us advanced as you call it into the number of those express Duties which are Essential to Church-Constitution and Church-Communion FINIS POST-SCRIPT SInce the Searchers for Schism did direct their Questions to the Baptized Congregations under Laying on of Hands and did expect an Answer from them as appears by the latter end of their Epistle it may by some be thought strange that I should undertake to Answer them seing they were propounded to the above-said Congregations in general That therefore which hath moved me thereunto was partly the importunity of some Friends it being some considerable time after I saw their Questions ere I had any thoughts to offer any thing in Answer to them at least in so publick a manner thinking it was more the Concern of some other of my Brethren to engage now than mine because I had once and again appeared in Print according to my ability in answer to those gainsayers and opposers of laying on of hands but they being silent whose Zeal for Truth should as I might well hope and expect have put them with much forwardness upon the work together with the report that went abroad how many young and weak Christians were somewhat moved and stumbled others that have declined in some sort the Truth did boast and were encouraged put me upon this third Encounter being not well able to forbear having to this day praised be the Lord my God remaining in me some love to Christ and to that sacred and precious Word of his viz. Laying on of Hands yea and to the souls of them who are ready to be tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine and among the rest by the blast which was blown from the Bellows of those Questions which their Authors pretend are for Conscience sake but however whether they were for Conscience-sake or for Strife and Contention this I can truly say they are answered with good conscience to God and love to the Authors of them that God may be glorified by their obedience and by the establishing and confirmation of the Churches in the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus from part of which at least it both hath been and still is the more it is to be lamented the endeavour of some especially the Authors of these Questions who not only now but heretofore have laboured to trouble the peace of them which have obeyed that form of Doctrine which Christ taught and was delivered by his Apostles to the primitive Saints But let my ends and aims in what I have writ be what I say they are yea and had I the Pen of never so ready and exquisit a Writer yet must I not expect nor do but to be smitten for my love and pains by them who bend their tongue like their bow for lyes but are not valiant for the Truth upon the Earth it being too commonly seen that he which departs from iniquity makes himself a prey when he that runs with a multitude to do evil shall have honour and praise but however I am esteemed my comfort is I seek not the honour nor praise of men neither do I fear the slanderous tongues of any mine only end as God knoweth being their soul eternal felicity who shall carp at me be it the Inquirers or others and therefore should they reward me with evil for the good I intend them they will in so doing wrong themselves and not me I will then leave the issue of these Anâ—wers of their Questions to the Lord heartily desiring that Truth and Righteousness were imbraced in sincere love by all them that name the Name of Christ that there may be a departing from Iniquity and Error which is the cause of all Divisions and then and not till then will the Wound be healed Had the Searchers for Schism then considered that their Disobedience to and Errour in a Fundamental-Principle is the cause why those under Laying on of hands can have no Communion with them which I hope this brief Answer to their Questions may help them to see they would not be so irrational to conclude that Schism should be found where Truth is obeyed and walked in but that it is more likely by far to be where Errour and Disobedience dwells and such to be â—â—e Dividers who refuse to obey but no more â—ow only desiring the Lord to make my poor Endeavours a Blessing to the Souls of them and all others and then I have my End VALE