Laying on of Hands Upon Baptized Believers, Treatise 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Shewing that tho this holy Inſtitution of Chriſt hath been corrupted by Antichriſt, yet it ought not therefore to be rejected.
MR. Danvers, Pag. 6. proceeds to ſhew how Laying on of hands has been aſſerted by the Antients, and by the Canons and Decrees of ſeveral Councils; Pag. 15. how by the Church of Rome; Pag. 17. how by the Church of England; Pag. 24. how aſſerted by ſome both of the Presbyterian and Independent Perſwaſion, &c.
What earnings or advantage he could propound to himſelf by filling up ſo many Pages in his Book with Stories of this kind, I know not. Many (as I am informed, and ſome in my owm hearing) do judg what he has done in this reſpect, makes more againſt himſelf than us; Nay ſome, who are for this Ordinance, ſeem to be much confirmed by what he has ſaid concerning Antiquity in reſpect thereof, and look upon themſelves as beholden to Mr. Danvers for his pains in ſearching into Authors, and in producing ſo much, both from Antient and Modern Writers, for Laying on of hands as immediately following Baptiſm, and as neceſſary to Church-Communion: And I muſt confeſs, I did not think ſo much could have been produced from Authors and Antiquity in the caſe, as I perceive there may, having through his means, according as I am capable, made ſome ſearch; Tho I muſt ſay, if there were ten times more to be urged on that account, had we not the Authority of God's Word to warrant our Practice, it would ſignify nothing: For we will ſay with Ignatius; Whoſoever ſpeaks more than is written, altho he faſt, altho he keep his Virginity, altho he work Miracles, altho he propheſy, yet let him ſeem to thee a Wolf amongſt the Sheep: Epiſt. ad Hierom.
But to proceed, I wonder Mr. Danvers ſhould condemn, and wholly caſt away Laying on of hands upon baptized Believers, and have nothing to do with it, becauſe it had been corrupted by the falſe Church; the Subject, and Manner of Adminiſtration being quite altered, and changed; the Ordinance, or pure Inſtitution being turned into abominable Superſtition: may he not as well caſt away Baptiſm and the Lord's Supper alſo, ſince they have been every way as much corrupted, changed, and polluted as this? Nay, what Ordinance has not? Our work is to diſcover, and remove all Popiſh Additions and Pollutions, which in the days of darkneſs crept in, that ſo we may ſee every Inſtitution ſhining forth in its primitive purity and ſplendor; and not reject any Ordinance of Chriſt, becauſe polluted by Antichriſt. What tho (as he ſaid) thoſe Popes, Councils, and Fathers, that enjoined and impoſed Infants Baptiſm for an Ordinance of Chriſt, enjoined that of Confirming Infants?
Reply. If it was as early corrupted, altered, and changed as Baptiſm, ought we not, ſince God has given us the Light of his Word and Spirit, to recover it from thoſe Corruptions as well as Baptiſm? Infants Baptiſm we all ſay, is a Popiſh Tradition, or humane Innovation; yet is Baptiſm Chriſt's Ordinance: ſo in like manner we ſay, is laying on of hands upon Infants, or ſuch as have only been baptized in Infancy, a meer Popiſh Rite, and Innovation: yet Laying on of hands upon baptized Believers as ſuch, is an Ordinance of Chriſt, as divers worthy Men have clearly proved from God's Word▪ And tho the Antient Fathers and Councils he ſpeaks of, together with thoſe of the Church of Rome and England, do wholly fly unto Tradition, to prove their practice of Laying on of hands upon Children; this will no more weaken our practice of Laying on of hands upon baptized Believers, than their flying to Tradition, and Uſage of the Church, to prove their Infants Baptiſm, weakens our practice of baptizing Believers.
Moreover, thoſe of the falſe Church, who wholly make uſe of Tradition to prove their Pedobaptiſm, might without doubt, had God been pleaſed to open their eyes, ſeen that Baptiſm was a Divine Inſtitution practiſed by the Apoſtles; even ſo might they alſo have eaſily ſeen, that that Laying on of hands practiſed by the Apoſtles next after Baptiſm, was Chriſt's holy Appointment; tho they could not find their ridiculous Rite, and Popiſh Ceremony of Confirming Children ſo to be, there being not the leaſt Word of God for it.
But from what our Opponents ſay of Authors, I obſerve, that in the Antichriſtian Church, ever ſince the Apoſtacy from the good old way of the Goſpel, there has been ſomewhat practiſed and kept up in the room and imitation of that Laying on of hands (inſtituted by Chriſt, and practiſed by the Apoſtles) upon baptized Believers as ſuch, and as neceſſary to Church-Communion, as well as they have kept up ſomething they call Baptiſm, in imitation of the true Baptiſm. And 'tis evident, that as the Romiſh Church has abominably corrupted the Ordinance of Baptiſm as to the Subject and Manner of Adminiſtration, and added many ridiculous, and ſuperſtitious Fopperies to it; even ſo they have done by Laying on of hands: The Silver is become droſs, and the Wine mixed with Water, Iſa. 1.22. He ſhall (ſaith Daniel) think to change Times and Laws (ſpeaking of the little Horn) and they ſhall be given into his hand, &c. Chap. 7.25.
But to proceed, do our Brethren utterly detect all thoſe impious Forgeries and Ceremonies uſed in Baptiſm, and contended for by thoſe Fathers, Councils, and corrupt Churches they ſpeak of, and ſo clearly witneſs againſt them, for changing the Subject, and Manner of Baptizing; and yet all the while hold for Baptiſm it ſelf, and faithfully contend for it; yea and conclude too, notwithſtanding thoſe Abuſes, and Corruptions by the Antients, and in the falſe Church, Baptiſm all along was maintained? this I ſay, rather confirms and proves the thing it ſelf to be an Ordinance of Jeſus Chriſt than otherwiſe (tho not as they perform and practiſe it) why cannot they do the like concerning that Rite of Popiſh Confirmation? We do detect and abominate all thoſe ſuperſtitious Ceremonies uſed by them, and witneſs againſt them for changing of the Subject, viz. from baptized Believers to ſprinkled Infants, or ſuch as were rantiſed in their Infancy; and yet contend for the thing it ſelf, as practiſed in the Apoſtles time: and little reaſon they have to blame us herein; ſince the work of Reformation, or to labour to reduce Ordinances to their primitive Purity and Luſtre, is by all accounted a glorious Work; yea, and it is a full and compleat Reformation we all long for, not only for one Ordinance to be reſtored and refined from the droſs, and abominable filth of Popiſh Traditions, but every Appointment and Ordinance of Chriſt.
Mr. Danvers, p. 30. (having given us an account how Laying on of hands, or Confirmation, has been aſſerted and practiſed,
By the Antients;
By Councils;
By the Church of Rome;
By the Church of England;
By ſome of the Independent, and Presbyterian Perſwaſion;
And Laſtly, By ſome of the Baptized Churches) He comes to examine upon what ground ſuch a great Ordinance has been, and is enjoined.
Reply. Doubtleſs it concerns us all to ſee what ground, or Scripture-warrant we have for whatever we do, or is done in the Worſhip and Service of God; and as to Confirmation or Laying on of hands, as aſſerted and practiſed by ſome he ſpeaks of, I marvel not that they leave the Scripture, and fly to Tradition: For firſt, as to that which the Popiſh Church calls an Ordinance of Jeſus Chriſt, 'tis ſo blaſphemous and ridiculous (as he well obſerves) that the very naming of the particulars thereof may fully detect the folly and impiety of it; whether reſpecting the Name, which is called Chryſm, Ʋnction, Perfection, &c. or the Nature, which is done by putting the ſign of the Croſs, with the Biſhop's finger, in the forehead of the Confirmed, with theſe words: I ſign thee with the ſign of the Croſs, and with the Chryſm of Salvation, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the Party being in a white Garment, his Head bound with Linen, his Hair cut, and attended with Goſſips, or Sureties; this is (ſaith Mr. Danvers) what ſeveral Popes and Councils have by their Canons and Decrees determined, and enjoined as the great Sacrament of Confirmation, pag. 3.
Reply. Well might Hommius tell us, that it is not only contrary to the Scriptures, but Blaſphemous and Idolatrous, and the vain Invention of ſuperſtitious Men. And well might Tilenus call it, an Excrement of Antichriſt: And Ameſius ſay, the reaſons given for the ſame by the Papiſts, are both empty, and vain; and Mr. Calvin cry out againſt it, as is minded by Mr. Danvers. To which I might add a paſſage out of a Treatiſe of Mr. Hanmer, a Presbyterian, who tho very clear as touching Laying on of hands upon Adult Perſons Baptized before they are admitted to the Lord's Table, yet cries down the Papiſts practice herein in reſpect of manner and form; they uſe (ſaith he) anointing with Chryſm, a compound of Oil and Balſam, conſecrated by the Biſhop; which as it was never inſtituted by Chriſt nor his Apoſtles, ſo ſaith he (as ſome affirm) it had its original from Calixtus Biſhop of Rome, Anno 218, who ordained Confirmation to be performed with Chryſm, which before was done with impoſition of hands without Chryſm. ☜And further he ſpeaks of the form, which (ſaith he) they make to lie in theſe words: Conſigno te ſigno Crucis, & confirmo te Chryſmate ſalutis, in nomine Patris, & Filii, & Spiritus Sancti: I ſign thee with the ſign of the Croſs, and confirm thee with the Chryſm of Salvation, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt; A meer humane invention and device (ſaith Mr. Hanmer) that has not the leaſt ſhadow for it from the Scripture *See Mr. Hanmer on Confirmation the antient way of compleating Church-Members, pag. 45.. Alſo another exception he brings againſt the Popiſh way of Laying on of hands, viz. in reſpect of the Subject, they confirming Infants, when according to the Apoſtolical Inſtitution it belongs only to ſuch as are Adult. And it appears that Calvin from hence bore his witneſs againſt Confirmation, viz. in reſpect of the abuſe and corruption of it, as appears in his Inſtitut. lib. 4. cap. 19. To which agrees the Teſtimony of Chemnitius: Our Men (ſaith he) have often ſhewed, that the Rite of Confirmation, if the unprofitable ſuperſtitious Traditions, and ſuch as are repugnant to the Scripture, were removed, may piouſly be uſed to the edification of the Church, according to the conſent of the Scripture. Exercitat. upon Confirm. pag. 65.
That Calvin owned Confirmation, or Laying on of hands, to be a Divine Inſtitution, take his own words: Nam ne que ſatis pro ſua utilitate commendari poteſt ſanctum hoc Inſtitutum, nec Papiſtae ſatis exprobari tam flagitioſa Corruptela, quod illud in pueriles vertendo Ineptias, non modo ſuſtulerunt è medio, ſed eo quoque ad impurae & impiae Superſtitionis praetextum turpiter ſunt abuſi. For neither can this holy Inſtitution (ſaith he) be enough commended for its Ʋtility, nor the Papiſts be ſufficiently upbraided with their ſo flagitious corruption of it, that by turning of it into childiſh Fopperies, they have not only taken it away, but have alſo ſo far ſhamefully abuſed it, for a colour of an impure and impious Superſtition. And further he ſaith: Adulterinam enim illam Confirmationem, quam in ejus locum ſurrogarunt, inſtar Meretricis, magno Ceremoniarum ſplendore, multiſ que pomparum fucis, ſine modo ornant. For they do beyond meaſure deck that Adulterous Confirmation, which they have ſubſtituted in its room, like a Harlot, with great ſplendor of Ceremonies. If therefore (ſaith that worthy Author in his ſaid Excercitat. p. 51.) Confirmation ſhall be drained from theſe mixtures of humane Inventions that have for a long time ſo defaced and deformed it, viz. not called it a Sacrament; if their Popiſh matter (both remota, and proxima) of anointing with conſecrated Chryſm the forehead of the Confirmed in the form of a Croſs, be removed; if neither Infants nor Children, who are not yet arrived to years of diſcretion, be admitted, but ſuch as are Adult, who are able to give an account of their Faith, and the work of Grace upon their hearts; finally if thoſe feigned Effects, mentioned by them as the end and uſe of it, together with thoſe idle Additions that have betided it in the declining times of the Church, be rejected and caſt off; and if done only with Prayer and Laying on of hands, for the admiſſion of Perſons as full Members, to the enjoyment of all Church-Privileges, as moſt agreeable to that of the Apoſtolical and primitive times; it will (ſaith he) I conceive be found to be exceeding uſeful and advantageous, as a thing requiſite, if not neceſſary to a right Reformation, and the reducing of the Churches of Chriſt to their native beauty, and primitive pureſt ſtate and conſtitution, &c.
And that it might appear it was not only his own Judgment, together with Calvin, and Chemnitius, he produceth ſeveral other eminent Lights of the Reformed Churches, viz. Peter Martyr, the Divines of Leyden, Pareus, Rivet, Peter du Moulin, Didoclavius, as all witneſſing to Laying on of hands upon the Baptized as ſuch, as an Apoſtolical Inſtitution, and that which ought to be practiſed by the Churches of Chriſt, being refined from all Popiſh Corruptions and Additions, as the beſt Expedient, and readieſt way to a happy Reformation, according to the primitive Pattern. To which I might add Mr. Caryl, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Ralph Venning, and Mr. G. Hughes, who all ſpeak the ſame things concerning Confirmation, as may be ſeen in their Epiſtles to the forementioned Book of Mr. Hanmers, Independents and Presbyterians clear touching laying on of hands, as refined from Popiſh Pollutions,in commendation, and approbation thereof: and indeed to ſee how clear they be in their underſtandings concerning this Ordinance of Laying on of hands, and how learnedly and judiciouſly they have laboured to recover it from thoſe Popiſh Mixtures, and curſed Pollutions of the Romiſh Church, hath been of a refreſhing nature unto me; tho I can't but admire in the mean while, they ſhould ſtill remain ſo blind and dark concerning Baptiſm, not perceiving how that alſo hath been as vilely corrupted and changed from the Apoſtolical Inſtitution, in reſpect of the Subject and Manner of Adminiſtration, as well as in regard of thoſe idle and ridiculous Forgeries and Additions of Chryſms. Conſignations, Albes, Salt, Spittle, Sureties, &c. which they witneſs againſt. Now were but their eyes ſo opened as to recover and drain Baptiſm from Popiſh Corruptions or Alterations upon this account alſo, how would it add to the beauty and perfection of their Confirmation and Reformation, (provided according to their Light they would alſo get into the practice of both) and what glorious Churches might they ſoon come to be, yea excel many of the baptized Congregations in reſpect of the plain Form, Order, and Conſtitution of the Houſe of God according to the primitive Pattern? But to proceed, there are few, or none as I can gather, do oppoſe this Ordinance ſave ſome of the Baptiſts, of which Mr. Danvers may be reckoned the chief; for beſides theſe modern Writers, already mentioned, who ſpeak ſo fully concerning Laying on of hands with prayer to God for more of his Holy Spirit of Promiſe, and as an orderly admiſſion unto Church-Communion, the perſwaſion or judgment of the Aſſembly of Divines concerning this Ordinance, I might alſo produce how clearly they agree with the forementioned Presbyterian and Independent Miniſters herein, as you may ſee in their Annotations on Heb. 6.
But no more of this at preſent, leſt we too far digreſs from the matter in hand; what we have here ſaid, is in anſwer to Mr. Danvers, in reſpect of the Rite it ſelf, or thing called Confirmation, and how to be rejected (as we have a cloud of Witneſſes agreeing with us herein) and how to be maintained, owned, and practiſed by the Churches of Chriſt.
I ſhall now return to Mr. Danvers, Thoſe of the Antients he cites.pag. 32. he having in pag. 31. ſhewed us how blaſphemous and abominable a thing the Rite of Confirmation is, as aſſerted by the Antients, and Decrees of General Councils, and practiſed by corrupt Churches; in the next place he comes to enquire what Credit or Authority the Fathers or Doctors are of that witneſs to it, whoſe Authority he labours to diſprove, calling them ſuborned Witneſſes and Knights of the Poſt.