Of Laying on of Hands, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. What Laying on of Hands, is, and muſt be meant, Heb. 6. 2.
FOr the better reſolving this Queſtion, we muſt take notice, that it is Laying on of Hands, here in the ſingular number, foreign. &c: therefore can be but one Laying on of Hands, that is called here a Principle, &c: and not more, as ſome would have it; for then it ſhould be Layings on of Hands, in the plural number.
As in the ſame place, when the Apoſtle would underſtand more Baptiſms then one, he ſaith, The doctrine of Baptiſms, in the plurall number.
This being conſidered, we muſt remember, what went before, that it is neither Laying on of Hands for healing the ſick, nor for giving the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Then it muſt be, Laying on of Hands for ordaining of Officers.
Which will more clearly appeare by this Argument.
It muſt be Laying on of Hands, either for healing the ſick, or for giving the extraordinary gifts of the holy Spirit, or for Ordaining of Officers.
But neither for healing the ſick, nor for giving the extraordinary gifts of the holy Spirit.
Therefore for ordaining of Officers.
For the firſt Propoſition, That it muſt be for one of theſe three Ends, becauſe there is no other Laying on of Hands, upon any other account in all the New Teſtament.
For the ſecond Propoſition, that it is neither for healing the ſick, nor for giving the holy Spirit, hath beene already proved, Chap. 2.
Therefore it follows, it muſt be Laying on of Hands, for appointing of Officers. And this ſhall ſuffice, for the firſt Argument.
2. That Laying on of Hands for Officers, is here meant, will further appeare, becauſe this Laying on of Hands, is called a Doctrine, ver. 1. and therefore muſt be a Laying on of Hands, which is ſome-where elſe taught. But the other Layings on of Hands, were never once taught. But this Laying on of Hands, was taught, viz. by the Apoſtle Paul, 1 Tim. 5 22. Lay Hands ſuddenly on no man, that is, Admit none raſhly, or too haſtily into office: and that this concernes Officers, ſee before, Chap. 1. In this verſe. there are two things taught, one expreſſed, the other neceſſarily implied: that which is expreſſed, is, that Timothy ſhould not ſuddenly Lay Hands on any man; that which is implyed, is, that it was to be done, if adviſedly; If not to be done at all, it were frivolous to ſay, it ſhould not be done ſuddenly.
Thus you ſee the Apoſtle Paul teacheth this Laying on of Hands which in Heb. 6. he calls a Doctrine.
Now leſt any ſhould ſay, that this laying on of Hands, concernes all Baptized believers, we therefore ſhall enmind them, that from their own principle and practice, this cannot be; becauſe they Lay Hands on all their diſciples, immediately upon their Baptiſme, and therefore leave no roome for this word [ſuddenly] in the Apoſtles exhortation: and it is ſore againſt their wills, if they may not Lay their Hands ſuddenly upon Baptiſme: and, in their own ſence, there is none fit for Baptiſme, that is not thereupon fitly qualified, for this their impoſition: nor do they ever ſtay till they are further qualified for this ceremony; and therefore the Apoſtles would in vaine have exhorted them, to Lay Hands ſuddenly on no man. But that this was for Officers, the moſt amongſt themſelves, that I have wet withall, do confeſſe.
We might yet further adde, if need were, that this Laying on of Hands, for office, was injoyned and commanded by the holy Spirit, Act. 13. 2, 3. but now they cannot ſhew, where the other Layings on of Hands, was in the leaſt enjoyned & commanded by the Holy Spirit. Therefore we conclude againe, it muſt be Laying on of Hands for Officers, which the Apoſtle here calls a Doctrine.
3. Againe this Laying on of Hands, this Church of the Hebrews, had practiſed amongſt them, Act. 6. 6. they Laid their Hands upon the Deacons, to aſſigne them to their office. But none of the other Layings on of Hands, was practiſed amongſt them, as we find. Now it cannot rationally be ſuppoſed, that the Apoſtle, writing to the Hebrews, ſhould call that a principle, &c. which they were not acquainted with, but rather that Laying on of Hands, which they were under the practice of: and therefore it muſt be this Laying on of Hands for Officers, Heb. 6. 2.
4. Beſides, this Laying on of Hands only remains in force, the other two not capable to be practiſed, nor have been for many hundred years. It muſt therefore neceſſarily follow to be this Laying on of Hands, which is ſtill in force: becauſe called a part of the Foundation, Heb. 6. 1. Now a Foundation muſt always be the ſame, & of conſtant & ſtanding uſe to the whole building.
5. This Laying on of Hands only, concerns the whole Church, which is neceſſary a Principle ſhould do. We have already ſhewed you how the other do not concern the whole; but this does, in regard every member is bound to live under the Government of the Church, and to be obedient to their Officers, to whom the Rule and care of the whole Church is committed. And therefore this muſt be the Principle, &c. Heb. 6. 2.
Having thus ſufficiently proved, what Laying on of Hands, is here meant. Heb. 6. 2. We ſhall now further ſhew you, what is here meant by this phraſe of Laying on of Hands, that is to ſay; The Government of the Church, which was put into the Hands of men appointed thereunto, by this Ceremony of Laying on of Hands. The very Order of the Principles, as they are laid down, Heb. 6. 1, 2. further confirm this.
Therefore leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt, (or the beginning words of Chriſt) let us go on unto perfection: not laying again the Foundation of Repentance from dead works, and of Faith towards God, of the Doctrine of Baptiſms, and of Laying on of Hands, and of the reſurrection of the dead, and of eternal Judgement.
For as the next thing to be done, after Faith and Repentance, is to be Baptized: ſo the next thing after baptiſm, is to be added to the Church. Act. 2. 38. 41, 42. 47. the Officers whereof were always appointed by the Laying on of Hands. And this was the conſtant practice of the Primitive times.
And as in theſe ſix Principles, the two firſt, viz. Repentance and Faith: and the two laſt, viz. the Reſurrection and eternal Judgement, are abſolutely neceſſary unto ſalvation: So the two middlemoſt, viz. Baptiſm, and Laying on of Hands; are neceſſary to a right and orderly Church conſtitution, and progreſſion. Baptiſm, to admit into the Church; and this Ceremony of Laying on of Hands, noting the Miniſtery and Government of the Church, when come in.
We take leave yet to add, that this is the Judgment of moſt moderne and later writers, on the Text, that we have met with. We ſhall inſtance only ſome few in Engliſh. Wilſons Chriſtian Dictionary. Dr. Gouge in his late large comment on this Epiſtle. Trap upon the place, ſaith, That by this phraſe of Laying on of Hands, is meant, the Miniſtery and Government of the Church. And Cartwright upon the Rhemiſt-Teſtament on this Text, and elſe where in his Harmony, ſaith, That he which denies Church Government, denies a Principle of the Chriſtian Religion.
Now that there might be Government and order in the Church, Officers were appointed thereunto by Laying on of Hands.
The very light of Nature, and common Experience teacheth, that Government is a principle in all Conſtitutions, whether of Nation, Family, or the like: without which, all would ſuddenly be out of order, for Anarchy hath alwaies been the fore-runner of confuſion, if not of utter diſſolution. So of a houſe, without a Foundation there can be no building. Hence the Metaphor in the Text, Not laying again the Foundation. Implying, that as a Foundation is to the building, to ſupport and uphold it, ſo neceſſary is Government in the Church.
Hence it is, that the Apoſtles alwaies appointed Elders, in every Church, in every City Acts 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. and theſe Elders were ordained, by Laying on of Hands; as before.