The Searchers for Schism Searched, Treatise · Answer 32 – Question 40
Anſwer.
1. What if we grant that laying on of hands was not practiſed before the Spirit was given, …y which they were endowed with power from on high, to put in practiſe laying on of hands, and all other practical Duties? And what if we ſay that laying on of hands, and alſo other Duties that were commanded by Chriſt after his …aſſion, and before his Aſcenſion, were all ſuſpended till the Apoſtles were endowed with power from on high, and during the abſence of the Spirit; yet not for the reaſon you give, but for reaſons we have and ſhall give, when they ſhall meet with due place.
2. That there is a Command for laying on of hands, is ſufficiently proved, and therefore …our not receiving it Now, though the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit be abſent, will not be excuſed. Let us unfold this Myſtery: For you hereby ſecretly conclude, that they that adminiſtred laying on of hands then, had the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit; but no man hath the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit now; therefore we may be excuſed from receiving laying on of hands now. We ſay if this be good reaſon, it will lay aſide, as not practical, the whole Doctrine of Chriſt, thus: They that …reached Repentance and Faith, the Doctrine of Baptiſms, and Laying on of Hands, the Reſurrection of the Dead, and eternal Judgement, then, had received the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit: No man hath the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit now? Therefore all men may be excuſed from preaching and from he… ing the Doctrine of Repentance, Faith, … the Doctrine of Baptiſms, of Laying on … hands, the Reſurrection of the Dead, et… nal Judgement, now. And what is the tende… cy of ſuch reaſoning, but Infidelity and Ath… iſm? And whereas you think to be excuſed fro… laying on of hands, becauſe the extraordinar… Gifts of the Spirit are not given now; we … that will not excuſe you before Chriſt at his appearing, becauſe you crave excuſe upon a fa… bottom; ſuppoſing that the extraordinary Gif… of the Spirit was the onelyonly end of the practi… of the laying on of hands; yet was it not, … the reception of the Spirit only was as a common end aſſigned, Act. 8.15. of prayer and la… ing on of hands, and not this or that Gift thereof, ordinary or extraordinary: Though it's true the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit were give… upon prayer & laying on of hands; God appearing ſo eminently in that Appointment, did be… witneſs & confirm it to be part of that word ſpoken by the Lord, Heb. 2.4. yet was thoſe Gifts never propounded as the end of laying on of hands no more than they were promiſed to them tha… obeyed Chriſt by repenting, and being baptiſe… in his name, Act. 2.38, 39. & 5.32. The… though the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit … not now given, that will not excuſe your diſobedience to Chriſt, in not doing or receivin… … now. And truly the reaſon (if we may ſo …all it) that you make your Plea, doth lie againſt …aptiſm, and all other Goſpel-Duties, as we …ewed before.
But then you demand, How that can be, ſince …aptiſm was practiſed before the extraordinary …ifts were given?
We ſay the Baptiſm of John was practiſed be…or the extraordinary Gifts were given.
But then you ſay, Baptiſm was adminiſtred by …em that never did miracles, ſo was not Laying on …f Hands.
We grant you John baptiſed and did no mira…e; but how do you know laying on of hands …as not adminiſtred by them that never did mi…cles? What miracle did Ananias do? …ct. 9.
Again, you ſay, Baptiſm was practiſed on them … had received the Gifts of the holy Ghoſt before …ey were baptiſed; but where do we read of any …at having firſt received the holy Ghoſt before lay…ng on of hands, that afterward had laying on of …ands adminiſtred to them?
We ſay that neither we nor you read that any …d received the Spirit before laying on of …ands was firſt adminiſtred to them, ſaving Cor…elius and his houſhold, Act. 10. who indeed …eceived the Gifts of the holy Ghoſt before …aptiſm, or laying on of hands either; but …hat then? What if the like inſtance is not to be read, the Scripture being ſilent in the Ca… whether Cornelius and his Houſhold had layin… on of hands adminiſtred to them? VVill th… leſſen the Authority of any part of the Doctrine of Chriſt, and make void and null … Apoſtolical and Primitive Practice?
Further, Though what you demand is not to b… read, yet let us tell you that what you ſay wi… lie as full in the reaſon of it againſt Baptiſm, … you conceit it doth againſt laying on of hands becauſe the Gift of the Spirit in the promiſe … it, is annexed to Baptiſm, as the Gift of th… Spirit was aſſigned in laying on of hands, as th… end of it: Now Cornelius and his Houſhold ha… no reaſon to be baptiſed in Water, becauſe the… had firſt received and poſſeſſed that, which wher… baptiſed they could not lay claim to any thing more than the promiſe of; no reaſon, we ſay, but the Authority of the Lord Jeſus, who ha… commanded it: And therefore though they had received the Spirit before they were baptiſed▪ yet muſt they be baptiſed in Water, in obedience to Chriſts Doctrine and Command. So i… like manner, if Cornelius and his Houſhold mu… be baptiſed, though he had firſt received the Spirit, which Gad had annexed the promiſe of t… Baptiſm; then muſt they be bound in Duty … well to ſubmit to laying on of hands, thoug… the Spirit be aſſigned as the end thereof, an… they had firſt received the Gift of the Spiri… before laying on of hands, from the ſame reaſon of obedience to Chriſts Doctrine and Command, though we do not read it was adminiſtred unto them.
4. But what is this to your Caſe? Do any of you pretend to have ſuch a meaſure of the Spirit as Cornelius had; or ſo much, you need not that any ſhould adminiſter laying on of hands, that you might have more, and ſo think to be excuſed doing or receiving it? O… do you doubt whether it be your Duty to practiſe it, becauſe the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit are now abſent? Your Doubts now being removed, we have the ſame ground left we ever had, to divide from you about it, till you ſhall remove our ground by doing and receiving it.
Queſt. 33.
Whether it be not uncharitable for you to ſay we …ppoſe or deny laying on of hands, becauſe for the reaſons implied in the former Queſtions, we queſtion your practiſe of it, with reſpect to its being a Duty incumbent upon all Diſciples? May you not as well ſay, That thoſe people that believe not that Chriſt died for all, do deny the Death of Chriſt, becauſe they do not believe he hath died for all; as … may ſay we deny laying on of hands a Duty, becauſe we do not believe it a Duty for every Man …nd Woman that is baptiſed? And may you not as …ll ſay, They denied the Prieſtly Office of Chriſt, …. 5. that were ignorant of many things that related thereunto, as ſay that we oppoſe a Doctrine of Chriſt, becauſe we are ignorant of ſomething relating to it, which for the reaſons implied in the former queſtion, we cannot yet underſtand? And further, may we not as truly ſay, Many of you deny Christ, and ſo have not God, becauſe they deny he took Fleſh of the Virgin Mary, as ſay we deny a Doctrine of Christ, becauſe we deny, or rather doubt, of laying on of hands on all Diſciples, Men and Women, as you practiſe it?
Anſwer.
1. To ſay the Truth, is not to be uncharitable; and when we ſay you oppoſe or deny laying on of hands, as you have done more than twenty years, is not to be (we hope) uncharitable: For that laying on of hands we practiſe, you do deny and oppoſe, though you may colour your oppoſition under the pretence of doubts and queſtions, and under the pretence of owning laying on of hands to heal the Sick, or to ſet Men apart to Office in the Church, though not on all baptiſed Men and Women, that they might receive the Spirit: Nor is your reaſon by which you would wipe off that blemiſh ſufficient, for we may not as well ſay that thoſe people which believe not that Chriſt died for all, do deny the Death of Chriſt; becauſe the… do believe he died, and died for them, and more too: But you do not believe that layin… on of hands on baptiſed Believers as ſuch, t… …ey might receive the Spirit, is the duty of any.
2. Neither can it be ſaid, that the Hebrew Church denied the Prieſtly Office of Chriſt, becauſe they were dull of hearing, and could not receive thoſe great Myſteries thereof that were hard to be uttered, Heb. 5.11. And though you pretend you are ignorant, yet we think you would not take it well ſhould we ſet you down for ſuch. And as for what you may ſay, ſay your pleaſure; and ſay if you will, many of us (if you ſay true) deny Chriſt took fleſh of the Virgin Mary: We can ſay, and ſay truth, that many of you deny Chriſt, and have not God, becauſe you deny him to be God of one Subſtance with the Father; and ſay that he is a created being, and took his beginning in the Womb of the Virgin, beſides your denying laying on of Hands on all Diſciples, Men and Women, as we practiſe.
Queſt. 34.
Did you ever come to us, or ſend any to us, to lay Hands upon us, and we rejected you? why then …ould you reject us?
Anſwer.
When we firſt received laying on of Hands, we were with you, and continued reaſoning, …d perſwading you to receive the truth; but … then oppoſed us, and it; yea, and at length …e hardned and believed not, but ſpake evil of the way, and then we departed and ſeparated from you; and know no reaſon we have to come, or ſend to you to lay Hands on you, except you repent, and receive the truth candidly in the love of it, until then we have reaſon to reject you.
Queſt. 35.
Do we not practiſe laying on of hands upon Officers, and are not many willing to ſubmit to it a Members for peace and accommodation ſake, and together with you wait upon God for further light in this matter? why then ſhould you impoſe believing of it on us as a Command upon all Diſciples both Men and Women: I, and ſuch a Command as is eſſential to Communion and Church-memberſhip, when you have no ſuch Command nor Example in all the Scriptures, either that it was practiſed upon Men and Women that were Baptized, or that it was judged eſſential to Communion, or that it was ever practiſed, but on the account of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, or that it was ever adminiſtred on any, if they had received the gifts of the Spirit before?
Till theſe ſober Scruples are removed, and the Duty of Laying on of Hands proved eſſential to Communion, what ground have you to refuſe Communion with us?
Anſwer.
We know not whether you practiſe laying on of Hands upon Officers or no; but if you do, what Command have you for it? Nor are thoſe terms for peace and accommodation ſake ſufficient, Chriſt hath no need to be beholding to you; Where do you read that any were received to, or practiſed any Goſpel Ordinance upon thoſe terms? We muſt therefore, if you receive it from us, impoſe it upon you as a Command upon all Diſciples both Men and Women, becauſe it is ſo, as appears Acts 8. for the Apoſtles practiſed no more, in Holy and Divine Adoration and Invocation, than what they were taught and commanded by their Lord and Maſter Chriſt to do; yea, and ſuch a Command (or rather Duty) it is, that is eſſential to Communion, and Church-memberſhip, we having both Command and Example in the Scripture, as we have ſhewed; and it would …e but reiteration to ſhew it here again, nor was it practiſed upon the account of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, the Scripture no where aſſigning them as the end thereof.
2. And if the Scripture be ſilent in the …aſe of Laying on of Hands on Cornelius and his Houſe, it doth not follow but that he did receive laying on of Hands after he had received the Spirit, as well as his being Baptiſed …n Water after he had received the Spirit, …here being the ſame weighty and preſſing rea…ons for both, viz. Chriſt's Doctrine and Command. We do not know when you will ſay your ſober Scruples are removed: for Laying on of Hands is proved to be eſſential to Communion; therefore we have ground to refuſe Communion with you.
Queſt. 36.
Are you not divided among your ſelves in this matter? have not ſome of you ſaid Laying on of Hands was for Confirmation? Others, that it was for the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit? Others, that it was for the Spirit in any meaſure?
Anſwer.
We know not any that ſaith, That Laying on of Hands was for the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, but you and others of your mind; and if ſome do ſay that Laying on of Hands is for the receiving the Spirit in any meaſure; and others will ſay it was for Confirmation; there is not much difference between them: we ſay then, we are not divided among our ſelves about laying on of Hands.
Queſt. 37.
Have not others of you both Printed and Preached, that Laying on of Hands is one of the ſever Pillars that Wiſdom builded her houſe upon, Prov. 9.1. and may not the Church of Rome as wel… prove her ſeven Sacraments from hence, as you prove Laying on of Hands? Beſides, do you … by thus expounding the Word of God create ſever Principles inſtead of ſix you talk of? and may y… not as well ſay that becauſe the New Jeruſalem Wall had twelve Foundations, that therefore the Church muſt have twelve Fundamentals, without which ſhe cannot be a Church communicable?
Is not this making the Word of God like the Lesbian Rule, who having built crooked and irregular, ſo as the Work was not conformable to the Rule, went and made their Rule conformable to their Work?
Anſwer.
1. What if ſome of us have from thoſe Pillars Wiſdom builded her houſe upon, Prov. 9.1. alluded to the Foundation Doctrine of Chriſt, Heb. 6.1, 2. and of the Apoſtles, Eph. 2.20. But if you ſhall ſay that Heb. 6.1, 2. makes mention but of ſix Principles, and Prov. 9.1. mentions ſeven Pillars; we hope you that ſay Chriſt is the Foundation, and thoſe Principles cannot be a Foundation, nor no part of the Foundation of Chriſtianity, will not be againſt it, if ſome of us do ſay, that Chriſt being the Chief Corner-ſtone in that Foundation, Heb. 6. and ſo that text, Prov. 9.1. may allude to ſeven.
2. And pray, is there not as good a harmony and analogy between Prov. 9.1. & Heb. 6.1. and Epheſ. 2.20. as you can have ground of proof from Numb. 18.19, 22, 23. and Deut. 34.9. That the Apoſtles, in divers caſes, laid on Hands, not in conformity to a Command, but by way of accommodation to the laudable Cuſtoms of the Jewes, as in your 23d Queſtion you do.
3. You go about to prove from thoſe places, and conclude the Apoſtles did ſo; but who do you know either by Printing or Preaching, undertake to prove that laying on of hands is Commanded, or is a Duty, to be practiſed from Prov. 9.1. as you do to prove the other from thoſe places mentioned above; ſomething might be offered from thence as is aforeſaid, and by way of illuſtration. Then is your talk but idle about Romes ſeven Sacraments, and the twelve Foundations of Jeruſalems Wall, and your Lesbian Rule; for who would make the Rule conform to the Work more than you, which have built your houſe irregularly, and crooked, and, ſo would if you could tell how, have the Word, which is the Rule, conform to your Work.
Queſt. 38.
And whereas the Scripture tells us of ſeveral laying on of hands, and we have oftentimes demanded how you prove that the laying on of hands, as practiſed by you, is that ſpoke of in Heb. 6. you anſwer, if we would have a proof in ſo many words, that ſaith ſuch a laying on of hands, as you practiſe is there mentioned, we muſt ſeek one our ſelves, for you have none; then we demand, whether you ar… not very uncharitable to exclude any from the Communion of Gods Church, becauſe they cannot ſee that to be a Duty, which you have no plain Text for the proof of, by your own Confeſſion?
Anſwer.
1. As often as you have demanded, how we prove that the laying on of hands we practiſe, is that meant Heb. 6. ſo often you have been anſwered; but you may well bluſh for ſhame, that ſo falſly render what we have ſaid in this matter. Do we ſay, as you conclude, that we have no plain Text to prove laying on of hands to be a Duty? where or when did any of us ever ſay ſo? You quote indeed Gods Oracle and Chriſts Doctrine, page 52. but 'tis page the 53. and there let the moſt prejudiced Reader uſe but reaſon, ſee and judge whether you are not moſt injurious to the truth and us; and let any impartial Reader weigh well what is ſaid before, in that Book, and they will find we have ſufficiently proved, that the laying on of Hands on baptiſed Believers, as ſuch, is that laying on of hands, mentioned Heb. 6. there ſaid to be a Foundation-Principle.
2. It is true, there is no Text that doth ſay in ſo many words, that that laying on of hands Heb. 6. is the laying on of hands to heal the ſick, nor that to ſet men apart to Office in the Church, nor that it is Laying on of Hands on baptiſed Believers; What then? Chriſt ſaith, Go teach all Nations, baptizing them, Matth. 28.19. And the Scripture mentions ſeveral Baptiſms; and there be ſome that deny Baptiſm of Water; where have you a Text that in ſo many words will ſay, That the Baptiſm of Water which you practiſe, is the Baptiſm-Chriſt commanded, Mat. 28.19. You muſt confeſs you have none; and can it be fairly & honeſtly concluded that therefore you have no plain Text for the proof of your practice, as you do by us; let the Reader conſult Gods Oracle and Chriſts Doctrine from page 44. to page 54. where it is ſufficiently proved, That the laying on of hands mentioned Heb. 6. is the laying on of hands on baptiſed Believers, practiſed by the Apoſtles, Acts 8.17. and 19.6. Then are we not uncharitable, though we exclude you from the Communion of Gods Church, becauſe you do not do your Duty, which we have plain Texts, and ſound Reaſon for the proof of.
Queſt. 39.
And whereas you ſay the Apoſtles practice must expound the 6th of the Hebrews in this caſe as well as in Water-Baptiſm; we anſwer ſo it ſhall. But then where did they lay hands on Women, and where did they Command laying on of hands in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, as they did in Baptiſm, Acts 12.8. Acts 10.47.48. and where did they lay hands ON any, after they had received the gifts of the Spirit? but we do find they Baptized them afterwards, I, and Commanded ſuch to ſubmit to it in the Name of the Lord Jeſus: produce us the like Inſtances, and you ſay ſomething.
Anſwer.
If the Apoſtles practice ſhall expound Heb. 6. as well as in the caſe of Baptiſm, Then have you never a Text in all the Scripture that will in ſo many words ſay, Chriſt meant Water-baptiſm, when he ſaith, Go teach all Nations, baptizing them, but muſt expound the Commiſſion by their practice, and then how unworthily have you done by the Truth, concluding as you do in the 38. Queſtion: But then, inſtead of doing what you ſay the Apoſtles practice ſhal expound, you leave the matter, and ask where they laid hands on Women: Why we told you that before, & you may read Acts 8. and then you ask, where they Commanded laying on of hands in the Name of Chriſt? We will leave that to you to determine in whoſe Name the Apoſtles did it and commanded it; & then you ask, where did they lay on hands on any after they received the gifts of the Spirit? though we have anſwered this twice before, but you never ſpoke one word to that Caſe you ſo falſly render; and then as falſly conclude, that we confeſs we have no plain Text for the proof of laying on of hands, but bid us produce the like Inſtances, and we ſay ſomething. Suppoſe there be not the like Inſtances to be produced in all occaſional Circumſtances, or otherwiſe in Baptiſm o… Water, as is in thoſe Principles of Faith a… Repentance; will all that can be ſaid for th… Baptiſm of Water be nothing, except the… can be produced is many Inſtances agreeing … all reſpects to Baptiſm as agrees in expreſſne… of terms to Repentance and Faith? if ſo, an… if Baptiſm of Water be no Duty except as … foreſaid; you will not be able, nor none elſe to give ſuch proof for water Baptiſm, nor ſome other practice you will own to enforce the du… of it on any that ſhall oppoſe you. VV… having ſaid then ſo much for laying on of hand as you will never be able to un-ſay from Scripture or Reaſon; nor can anſwer, except it b… by granting it to be by Scripture proved a Foundation-Principle of Chriſts Doctrine, and accordingly ſubmit to it upon Chriſts terms, an… then you will not onelyonly ſay, but do ſomething.
Queſt. 40.
Again, whereas you have both Preached … Printed that you cannot prove laying on of hand… as you practiſe it, any otherwiſe than by Inferen… and Deductions; how can you be ſo daringly confident as to call thoſe things Gods Oracles and Eſſentials of Religion, that are but your interpre… tions of Scripture, unleſs with the Church of Rome you will ſay the Church cannot err?
Not but that we believe many profitable truths may be collected and infer'd by conſequence from Scripture, And Conjectures (as one well obſerves) if mannerly obſerving their diſtance; and not impudently obtruding themſelves, for certainties, deſerve (if not to be received) to be conſidered.
So that if Laying on of Hands in your ſenſe ſhould be a truth, yet it being but conjecturally ſo; We Query, why it ſhould be advanced into the number of thoſe expreſs Duties which are eſſential to Salvation and Church Communion?