The Fourth Principle of Christs Doctrine Vindicated, Title page – Dedication
THE FOURTH PRINCIPLE OF Chriſts Doctrine VINDICATED.
BEING A Brief Anſwer to Mr. H. Danvers Book, Intituled, A Treatiſe of Laying on of Hands.
Plainly Evincing the true Antiquity and Perpetuity of that Deſpiſed Miniſtration of Prayer, with Impoſition of Hands for the Promiſe of the SPIRIT.
To which is added, A Diſcourſe of the Succeſſors of the Apoſtles, wherein the Office of the Meſſengers of Chriſt and the Church is Aſſerted to be Perpetual, and of Divine Authority, in the ſame Nature as Biſhops, Elders, &c.
By THO. GRANTHAM.
Pſ. 119. 173.
Let thine hand help me, for I have choſen thy Precepts.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1674.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
To all the Paſtors of the Baptized Churches, more eſpecially to thoſe who either omit, or are indifferent about the Fourth Principle, Heb. 6. 2.
Brethren and Fathers,
YOƲ muſt needs have a greater ſence of the matters Treated on in this Book then other men, and are more Eminently concern'd to conſider what is to be done in them. God hath made you the Stewards of his Myſteries, and among the reſt, hath committed the Fourth Principle, Heb. 6. 2. to your Truſt; a neceſsity therefore lieth upon you to be as Faithful in that as in the Reſt.
I ſhall upon this occaſion offer a few things to your Enquiry and Conſideration, and the firſt is this.
Whether ever it entered into your Hearts to Teach with Diligence, and to handle diſtinctly the Duties and Bleſsings which concern this Principle, ſo that the Breaſts of your Churches have afforded the ſincere Milk of this Word or Principle, as well as of the reſt? And if not, then whether the true Reaſon be not, becauſe you know not what to ſay or do about it?
2. Whether ſleightly to paſs over one Principle or Foundation Doctrine, do not endanger making the reſt like it, and whether we can well ſupport our other Principles againſt ſuch an Adverſary as ſhould take us upon the Account of our neglect in this particular.
3. Whether the neglect of this Principle do not lead Chriſtians too much to neglect one of the greateſt Bleſsings of the New Covenant, even the Sealing Spirit of Promiſe, whiles the means once ſo uſeful to obtain it, is by you wholly laid aſide.
I humbly beſeech you to conſider theſe things, as alſo what I have here preſented to you in the enſuing Diſcourſes; To the Pening whereof, had I not been conſtrained by the unneceſſary and unſeaſonable oppoſitions made againſt the Truths contended for; I ſhould more gladly have ſpared this Labour, for to me it is nothing Pleaſant but very Grievous, that when many are ſeeking for thoſe things that might make for Peace, ſtill new occaſions do Intervene to Revive (if not to augme… Controverſie.
How ſeaſonably Mr. Danvers was in…ated to forbear Writing againſt his Brethren, ſome of you are not ignorant, and how little he hath gained by his unneceſſary undertaking, will be yet more evident; and if his Zeal ſhall yet inforce further oppoſition, he may rationally believe thoſe that make Conſcience of this Truth, cannot but endeavour to defend it.
God hath endued ſome of you with moderate and healing Spirits, I intreat all ſuch to ſtand up for Peace, to do what they can to prevent theſe publick Jars, I deſire to be ſo happy, as to ſee an end of this Controverſy.
What I have written, is my judgment and Conſcience, I have not writ for Diſcourſe ſake. Nor have I injured the ſence of any Author I meddle with, ſo far as I know, but have dealt with all good Conſcience therein, what I faile in by reaſon of humane frailty, I know every good Chriſtian will Pardon me therein. I am
Your Brother and Fellow Servant. THOMAS GRANTHAM.