Of Laying on of Hands, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Which of theſe Layings on of Hands is not, and cannot be meant Heb. 6. 2.
BEfore we reſolve this Queſtion, we readily acknowledge, that A Laying on of Hands is a Principle of Religion, and a part of the Foundation of the Chriſtian building, Heb. 5. 12. & 6. 1, 2.
Why elſe ſeemed it good to the holy Spirit, by this Pen-man, to put and reckon it, amongſt ſuch Principles of the Chriſtian Religion, as Repentance, Faith, Baptiſme, the Reſurrection, and eternall Judgment, and theſe granted by all, under the leaſt profeſſion of Chriſtianity, to be Foundation-Doctrines.
This being premiſed, we notwithſtanding deny, that it is either laying on of Hands, for Healing the ſick; or for giving the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit; (much leſſe the laying on of Hands practiſed by ſome in theſe days, as you may further ſee in Chap. 4.)
I. Here cannot be meant, laying on of Hands for healing or recovering the ſick; and that for theſe reaſons;
1. Becauſe the gift or power of healing by laying on of Hands is ceaſed. Now that cannot be a Principle, &c: which is not in force in all ages, nor any man capable to practiſe it.
At the firſt promiſe of giving this power, it was accompanied only with miraculous gifts, Mar. 16. 17, 18. In my name ſhall they caſt out Devills, they ſhall ſpeake with new Tongues, they ſhall take up Serpents, and if they drinke any deadly thing, it ſhall not hurt them; they ſhall lay Hands on the ſick, and they ſhall recover.
Now how dangerous and deſtructive a principle is this, that miracles ſhould be of the eſſence of Religion (as Principles are) and yet no power to practiſe them
2. As it is neceſſary, a foundation-Principle ſhould continue and be in force in all ages; ſo it is neceſſary alſo, it ſhould concerne the whole Church, and every member thereof, as a Foundation doth the whole, and every part of the Building, to ſupport and uphold it.
Admit then this power were now in force; how would the healing of any one particular member, concerne the whole body as a principle? &c.
Therefore we conclude, that Laying on of Hands, for recovering the ſick, cannot be that Principle, &c: Heb. 6.
II. The Laying on of Hands, for giving the extraordinary gifts of the holy Spirit, cannot be meant here; and that for theſe reaſons:
1. Becauſe (as before) this power of giving the extraordinary gifts of the holy Spirit, is now ceaſed.
As appears by the practice of it at this day, for although ſo many have had hands laid upon them, to this end; yet theſe extraordinary gifts, have never followed, to any one of them; but both they and the adminiſtrators are, and remaine, as other men.
Yet to call this a Principle &c: what were this but to grant, that one of the Foundation-ſtones of the Chriſtian Building were now loſt? And if but a part of the Foundation faile, how tortering muſt the whole building ſtand, and will ſoone decay, and come to nothing. And it is well known, that a principle in all Arts and ſciences, is of conſtant and ſtanding Uſe.
2. That this laying on of Hands, cannot be the principle, Heb. 6. becauſe this Laying on of Hands, is there called a Doctrine, Ver. 1, 2.
But, that laying on of Hands, to give the holy Spirit, was never once taught in all the New Teſtament, no not by them that practiſed it.
3. If this laying on of Hands were the principle,
Then this very Church of the Hebrews (the firſt conſtituted Church in the New Teſtament after Chriſts Aſcenſion) this Church being the ſame with that, Act. 1, & 2) had wanted a principle in Religion, which were very abſurd to imagine; for they themſelves had not Laying on of Hands to this end. Act. 8. being the firſt place that ever it was practiſed: and ſure in all matters about worſhip, the written word muſt be our Rule; and to the Scriptures ſilence, we muſt give conſent, according to that Proverb: Where God hath not a mouth to ſpeake, we muſt not have an Ear to hear.
Beſides: that they had not Laying on of Hands, to this end, is evident, becauſe they received the extraordinary gifts of the holy Spirit without it, Act. 2. Verſ. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: &c.
Therefore we conclude, that neither of theſe two Layings on of Hands can be meant, in Heb. 6. 9.