The Searchers for Schism Searched, Treatise · Answer 24 – Question 25
Anſwer.
1. You demand, Why the Wonders which the Apoſtles did, and the Cures they wrought, by laying on of hands upon ſuch as they healed, …ing that which Chriſt taught, and himſelf and the Apoſtles practiſed, might not rather be eſteemed a beginning of the Doctrine of Chriſt, …an that which we practiſe?
The laying on of hands to heal the Sick, was …ot preceptively taught by Chriſt, but promiſ…vely, in the way of a Promiſe annexed and made to them that did believe; Theſe ſigns ſhall …ollow them that believe, Mark 16.17. They ſhall lay hands on the Sick, and they ſhall recover, verſ… 18. By which ſignes the preceptive part of Chriſts Word and Doctrine was confirmed to be from Heaven, and not of Men; And they wen… forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, confirming the Word with ſigns following, Amen, verſ. 20. Then laying on of hands to heal the Sick, not being preceptively taught by Chriſt, by way of command, but promiſſively, by way of Promiſe, it cannot be eſteemed that laying on of hands, which is a Principle o… the Doctrine of Chriſt, Heb. 6. now under debate, but that by which that Principle of Chriſt… beginning Word or Doctrine, was (among the reſt of them) confirmed to be from Heaven, and not of men.
2. Again, If laying on of hands to heal the Sick, was preceptively taught, by way of Command, and ſo ought to be eſteemed that part of the beginning Doctrine of Chriſt, Heb. 6.2▪ Then is caſting out Devils, ſpeaking with new Tongues, taking up Serpents, drinking any dead … thing and not be hurt, taught alſo by way o… Command; and then every one of them is a well the beginning Doctrine of Chriſt, Heb. 6… and your duty to do, as to be baptiſed: An … why then ſhould not caſting out Devils, and every one of the reſt be eſteemed a Principle i… Chriſts Doctrine, and the firſt Rudiments o… Chriſtianity? We have then better Reaſon tha… …ny you have to the contrary to eſteem laying …n of hands on baptiſed Believers as ſuch, pra…tiſed by the Apoſtles, Act. 8.17. Act. 19.6. to …e one Principle of the beginning Doctrine of Chriſt, rather than that to heal the Sick, becauſe it was promiſſively and not preceptively …aught by Chriſt.
3. But you ſay, Rather to heal the Sick, than …hat we practiſe, for which we have but a doubtful Example at the beſt.
How can you be ſo clouded, as to ſay, We …ave for laying on of hands but a doubtful Example at the beſt? What practice can have more clear and apparant example than we have for …urs? See Act 8.17. & 19.6. Moreover it's one of the firſt Principles of the Oracles of God, Heb. 5.12. One of the Principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt, a Foundation-principle, Heb. 6.1, 2. Authority enough to all that have reaſon, and will uſe it, whoſe minds are not darkened.
4. And as you ſay, ſo we ſay, This laying on …f hands to heal the Sick, was practicable to none out the Sick: But how then could it be one of the firſt Rudiments of Chriſtianity, when no Chriſtian Man or Woman could be built upon this Foundation, except he or ſhe were firſt ſick, and then you may eſteem Sickneſs to be a foundation to this foundation, and ſo rather a beginning of the Doctrine of Chriſt. But you ſay, It was teaching to all: And we ſay, So it was practiſed on all; and therefore it cannot be the beginning Doctrine of Chriſt, Heb. 6. becau… they laid on hands to heal the Sick that were … Church-Members, but of the world, Luk. 1… 11, 12, 13. Act. 28.7, 8, 9. The Lord working wi… them, confirming the Word with ſigns following according to Mark 16.20.
Queſt. 25.
But whereas you ſay, Laying on of hands is … Foundation-Doctrine, or a part of the Foundation of Chriſtianity, and therefore you cannot communicate with ſuch as do not own it; We demand whe… the Text ſaith any ſuch thing? And wheth… there can be any other Foundation laid, than th… which is laid, which is Jeſus Chriſt? 1 Cor. … 11, 12. —
And we demand, whether this be not the ver… words and ſence of the Text, when the Autho… ſays, Heb. 6. he would not lay again the Foundation OF Repentance, and the Foundation OF Faith, and the Foundation OF the Doctrine o… Baptiſm, and the Foundation OF laying on o… hands, &c.
From all which we demand, Whether this practice of yours, in laying on of hands upon all Baptiſed Diſciples, (though it ſhould be intended in Heb. 6. which we deſpair of ever ſeeing the proof of) … a Doctrine or Principle without which Gods Houſe cannot be, or a Doctrine or Principle without which it cannot ſo well and ſo compleatly be? If you ſay, It is that without which Gods Houſe cannot be; prove it, and we will believe you: But if you ſay, God may have a Houſe, though leſs perfect, without it; then are not you all guilty of Schiſm in making a Separation from it?