Of Laying on of Hands, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. That the Laying on of Hands, practiſed by ſome in theſe days, on all Baptized Believers, was never Inſtituted, Commanded, or Practiſed by Chriſt or his Apoſtles in all the New Teſtament.
HEre indeed lies the ſtreſs of the Controverſy, which chiefly occaſioned me to write theſe few Lines, that we might undeceive, and reduce ſuch as are already under the vanity of this practiſe, and to prevent others from owning of, and ſubmitting to ſuch a Scripture-leſs thing as this is, which ſome (who know not what they ſay, nor whereof they affirm) call an Ordinance of Chriſt, though without any the leaſt word or warrant for it, in all the New Teſtament of our Lord.
Certainly this hath been a received Principle, we have of late years taken up, and muſt continue to go by, if Chriſts Diſciples; That we muſt introduce nothing into the worſhip of Chriſt, but what we have an expreſs Word for, from that great Prophet in his New Teſtament. See Acts 3. 22, 23. For this very cauſe we have all along ſeparated from the Biſhops, & the Church of England, and ſhall we now return again? God forbid.
Now that which hath not one word of Inſtitution, or command for it in all the New Teſtament, is no Ordinance of Chriſt, but Will-worſhip, and Superſtition. (Superſtition ſignifying ſomething more then appointed.) But this Laying on of Hands, on all Baptized Perſons, hath not one word of Inſtitution, or command for it in all the New Teſtament. Therefore no Ordinance of Chriſt, but Will-worſhip and Superſtition.
That there is no Inſtitution or Command for it in all the New Teſtament, appears, becauſe the greateſt Contenders and ſticklers for this practice, did never yet alledge any one place, that does in the leaſt, prove any ſuch thing; if there had been any, certainly they would have produced them. They themſelves inſtance but two places, where the words are found, beſides Heb. 6. viz. Acts 8. & Act. 19. with which they have raiſed ſuch a duſt, that hath indeed blinded the eys of ſome honeſt, well-minded people; and by good words, and fair ſpeeches, have deceived the hearts of the ſimple. But to lay this duſt which they have raiſed, and to diſcover the (but) pretences they have made. We ſhall firſt conſider their fore-mentioned Allegations in the General, and then view them more particularly.
Firſt, neither any one, nor all of theſe places, have the leaſt word of Inſtitution or Command in them: Nor one ſyllable of proof brought from them, that this ſhould be done to all Baptized perſons. Beſides the Ends of Laying on of Hands in theſe days, is a different thing from the Ends in theſe Texts; all which will more appear in the particular view of them, which is the ſecond thing propounded to ſpeak to.
And firſt for Heb. 6. 2. Neither the Subjects nor the Ends, are particularly mentioned and expreſſed in this place, and therefore we muſt go to other Scriptures, to find out what Laying on of Hands is moſt agreeable to this Text, as we do in the caſe of Baptiſm in the ſame place: The Text neither telling us, who ſhould have Hands laid on them, not to what End; neither is the word All in it, as was before noted, & we have already proved … from other Texts, and clear Arguments, that this Laying on of Hands is to another End. See Chap. 3.
The two other places they bring (we put them both together, becauſe they are of the ſame nature) are Acts 8. 14. 17. where Peter and John Laid their Hands on them at Samaria: and Acts 19. 6. where Paul Laid his Hands on the twelve at Epheſus.
That the Laying on of Hands in theſe Texts, was for the giving of the extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit, we have already proved, Chap. 1. There is not one word of Command here requiring us to do as they have done. They Laying on their Hands, as moved thereunto by the Holy Spirit, having received power to miniſter the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, as appears, becauſe thoſe Gifts did immediatly follow their Laying on of Hands.
We have alſo before proved, that the power of giving theſe Gifts being ceaſed, the Rite and Ceremony as to this End ought to ceaſe alſo; and cannot but preſumptuouſly be practiſed at this day, the gifts never following, much leſſe reckoned for a principle in Religion. But theſe gifts did both times immediatly follow in the Acts. The gifts now being neither found in the Miniſter, norfollowing the Adminiſtration.
Have we not as good ground, to adventure the Laying on of Hands, miraculouſly to heale the ſick, having I am ſure as good a warrant, and may hope to ſpeed as ſucceſsfully.
Beſides theſe two places they have not another, to pretend to, where the words are found.
As for that place, Act. 9. 17. where Paul had Hands Laid on him; from their own confeſſion this will not ſerve their turne, for it was before his Baptiſme, verſe 18. and it was for the receiving of his ſight, as well as for his being filled with the holy Spirit, if not principally for the recovering of his ſight, ſee ver. 12. Only we will note in generall that this Laying on of Hands to extraordinary or miraculous ends, had not at all reſpect to Baptiſme, for it was as well before Baptiſme, as after it; as in this caſe before us. Nor do we think it needfull to make anſwer to thoſe Texts, brought in by ſome of them, for number but not for weight, as Eph. 2, 20. we are built upon the Foundation &c: and Heb. 3. 14. we are made pertakers of Chriſt, if we hold the beginning &c: And 2 Epiſt. of John, 9, 10. whoſoever tranſgre…th, and abideth not in the Doctrine of Chriſt, &c: and ſuch like Texts as theſe are, where they can find the word beginning, Doctrine or Foundation. We cannot but judge, the very recitall of theſe Texts, a ſufficient confutation, to any man that hath his reaſon in his head. And wiſh with all our hearts, they might not incurre that ſevere cenſure of the Apoſtle, of Handling the word of God deceitfully, 2 Cor. 2. 17. and 4. 2.
And thus we doubt not, but all unprejudiced and unbiaſſed people, conſidering what we have ſaid, will ſee they have no footing in the Scripture (which muſt be our Rule and Directory for our whole worſhip) for this their Laying on of Hands, much leſſe to make it a principle of Religion, and ſo (as they do) a Boundary of Communion.
The truth is, they themſelves are ſo much at a loſſe in this matter, that they agree not about the end. They make more Ends of their one Laying on of Hands, then of the ſeveral kinds of Layings on of Hands, in the New-Teſtament. Some for one end, and ſome for another, and ſo proceed to a third and a fourth end, as if God indeed had ſent among them, the confuſion of Tongues, inſtead of ſpeaking with Tongues, and the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Some would have Hands Laid on, for the obtaining of the extraordinary gifts of the holy Spirit, in imitation of Act. 8. and Act. 19. to this we have once and againe ſpoken.
Some would have Laying on of Hands, for Confirmation as they call it, and though they ſhrowd themſelves under the forementioned Scriptures, yet to ſpeak truth, their beſt argument is the Common Prayer book; and ſome of them have beene ſo ingenuous to confeſſe as much; and have very much boaſted and gloried, in this one inartificiall unconcluding Argument: for the Scripture owns them not all in this caſe.
Doctor Gouge, on Heb. 6. ſaith, that though Laying on of Hands, were anciently practiſed by the Fathers to this end, yet it is not expreſly ſet down in Scripture. But thanks be to God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, we have beene better taught in theſe laſt daies, then to own any thing in the worſhip of Chriſt, from their Tradition or Authority, unleſſe alſo grounded on the word of God. What is this practice then, but ſetting our poſts by Gods poſts, and bringing in a Tradition of men, inſtead of an Appointment of Chriſt?
A third ſort there are, who practiſe this Laying on of Hands, as a meanes to receive more of the Holy Spirit, and that in the ordinary meaſures of it.
I confeſſe, here they ſay well, if they could make the leaſt proofe of ſuch an End from the Holy Scriptures. This fair Pretext to obtaine more of the Spirit, hath beguiled many a poore, weake, unſtable ſoul. We profeſſe our ſelves ſo farre one with them in this thing, that we cannot Judge him a Chriſtian, nor worthy to be accounted Chriſts Diſciple, that would not uſe all meanes, appointed by God to obtaine more of the Holy Spirit: we are ſo ſenſible of the daily need of more of the ſupplies of the Spirit: and could they but ſhew one place, where ever Laying on of Hands, was practiſed upon all Baptized Believers, upon ſuch an Accompt, we would in great meaſure ſuddenly become their Proſelytes. But in this matter (by their leave) we are as confident as the ſilence of Scriptures can make us, that there is not any one Text, in all the New Teſtament, that doth in the leaſt, juſtifie and warrant ſuch a practice.
This is to appoint a means, that was never of Gods Inſtitution, and therefore in the Uſe of it, cannot expect his bleſſing, but rather, Who hath required this at your Hands.
Let experience teſtifie how much more of the Holy Spirit, they have received, then others of their Brethren, who were never under this practice. It hath not been our obſervation alone (and with greife of heart we ſpeake it, & could wiſh it were otherwiſe) that inſtead of the Holy Spirit, a ſtrange Spirit, another Spirit, hath generally followed this practice, ſo juſt it is with God, to give over perſons, to their own Spirit, when they introduce a tradition of their own, for a commandement of God, and pretend the Spirit for it.
And who is ſo ignorant, that knows not what a ſtrange rigid cenſoriouſneſſe, hath poſſeſt the hearts and tongues of moſt of this way, as if indeed they had received, by Laying on of Hands, another Spirit, inſtead of the Holy Spirit of God. Witneſſe the ſaying of ſome of them that we are not yet babs in Chriſt: & have forbid ſome their houſes, who were inſtrumental in their converſion becauſe they are not under this ceremony, denying communion with their Brethren, who in their own conſciences are every way equall to them, in Gifts and Holineſſe, and hold the ſame Faith and Doctrine of the Goſpell, and are of the ſame order and practiſe with them, excepting this matter: yea and have proceeded ſo farre, as to excommunicate ſome, for no other cauſe but this. And as I was writing this, one told me, before good witneſſe, he was dealing with, and in danger of Excommunication for this very thing.
Read theſe very men, in Iſa. 66. 5. Your Brethren that hated you, that caſt you out for my namesſake, ſaid, Let the Lord be glorified: but he ſhall appeare to your joy, and they ſhall be aſhamed.
There is yet a fourth End propoſed by ſome; viz. That they are now waiting for the ſame Gifts of the Holy Spirit, that were then given; and therefore continue the Ceremony, as a means to obtain them. This is but little different from the firſt End. But to this we anſwer,
1. That there was never any Laying on of Hands, practiſed in all the New Teſtament, under the waiting, or in the expectation of the extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as a means to obtain them; but, as was ſaid before, was never practiſed by any, till they had firſt received power from on high, and theſe Gifts immediatly followed thereupon.
2. When the Gift or power is reſtored, then let the practice of the Ceremony be reſtored alſo; For as when the power ceaſed, the Rite by right ceaſed alſo; ſo the Ceremony ought not to be practiſed, till the power be again received; for what is this elſe, but to ſet a ſeal to a blanck. And whether this Power ſhall be reſtored again or no, is not our Enquiry at this time. But when the Gift, then the Rite; otherwiſe we ſhould reſtore an empty Form, without its Power. Again, as they cannot agree among themſelves about the End: ſo neither about other Circumſtances herein. Some of them would have the Adminiſtrator to be only Meſſengers. Others would have, Elders alſo.
Though the Truth is, that Laying on of Hands, which they would have the Standard of this their practiſe, was only adminiſtred by Meſſengers. Peter and John Acts 8. & Paul Acts 19. the only perſons Miniſtering in this kind, in all the New Teſtament. However they can agree well enough in this (as Pilate and Herod to crucifie Chriſt) ſo they to deal hardly with, if not to excommunicate their Brethren. We willingly paſs by other incongruities, which they commit, not worth taking notice of. As the neceſſity they put of two being the Adminiſtrators of this work, when as Paul alone, Acts 19. did it. And yet but once more practiſed in all the New Teſtament. viz. Acts 8.
We hope by this time, we have ſaid enough to all impartial men, who are not carried otherwaies, more by Will and prejudice, then by Scripture and Reaſon. For thoſe that are already under this practice, we hope they will conſider, what hath been here delivered, in all humility of mind, as thoſe that have ſpoken the words of truth and ſoberneſs, our Conſciences bearing us witneſs in the Holy Spirit, aiming at nothing more, than the truth of the Goſpel, and the peace of the Churches. We pray that your own names and credit, may not lye at ſtake in this matter, a temptation too incident to fleſh and blood, and we truſt the ſame God, that hath carried out many of you, very far in the waies of ſelf-denial, will teach and help you at this turn alſo, to judge it no diſhonour to recede from error how long ſoever embraced, and to take up truth when e're you find it. Our bowels yearn towards you, and we are ſad at heart, when we think of the ſad account, ſome of you have to give in this particular, either for dividing from Churches, where you have had ſweet communion together with your Brethren, or for dividing of Churches, or at leaſt keeping them from uniting together; and all this, upon no better an account, then (I may ſay) a meer empty Form and Ceremony. We will only ſay this, This will be your loſs in the day of our Lord Jeſus, which is ſhortly coming.
Our heart is enlarged towards you, but we ſhall leave you to judge of this, as God ſhall direct you, in your moſt retired and ſerious thoughts.
Only we have this to adde, that we had not ſet Pen to Paper, had there not beene ſuch a violent impoſition upon the Churches, of your Impoſition of Hands, as to make it eſſentiall to Communion.
The bleſſing of the Almighty, goe along with it, that as we have ſowen, He will by his good Spirit be pleaſed to water, and we ſhall expect a plentifull Harveſt, for we can aſſure our hearts, That we are not as many, which corrupt, or deale deceitfully with the word of God, but as of ſincerity, but as of God, in the ſight of God, ſpeak we in Chriſt.
FINIS.
We hope you will fear the Wo, written againſt them that add to the word of God; …cially in the worſhip of Chriſt. See Deut. 4. 2. & 12. 32. Rev. 22. 18. Prov. 3… 6. Add not thou unto his words, leſt he reprove thee, and thou be found a ….
End of the text · John Gosnold, Of Laying on of Hands (1656)