A Treatise of Laying on of Hands

p. 3A TREATISE OF Laying on of Hands.

HAving given you an Account both from Scripture and Antiquity of the business of Baptism in its Institution, Subject, Manner, End, [The Introduction.] &c. It may neither be unnecessary nor unprofitable to give you here some Account of that of Laying on of Hands, not only because it immediately followes that of Baptisms, Heb. 6.1, 2. but more especially, because for Confirmation, as it hath been called, it hath been next after Baptism, so solemnly asserted, practised, and enjoined both in former and latter times, as an Ordinance of Christ and Essentially necessary to Church-Communion. But what this laying on of Hands is, and how that of Confirmation is founded upon the Word of God, we shall here consider and examine, and recommend to the judgment of all discerning and impartial Christians.

p. 4[The Method observed.] The Method I shall observe herein, shall be, first to give you an Account what we find of this Rite in the New Testament. Secondly, How asserted and Practised by the Ancients, with the Opinions of the Fathers and Decrees of Councils upon it. Thirdly, How Practised and enjoyned by the Church of Rome. Fourthly, How by the Church of England. Fifthly, How asserted by some of the Presbyterian and Independent perswasion. Sixthly, And how practised and enjoyned by several of the Baptised Churches in this Nation, with some remarks upon each of them for the better discovery of Truth. [1. How used in the New Testament.]

1. How laying on of Hands is used in the New Testament.

[1. Benediction.] First, in Benediction, Mark 10.16. He took the young Children up in his Arms, put his Hands upon them, and blessed them.

[Miraculous healings.] Secondly, In the Cure of Diseases and healing the sick Mark 6.5. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his Hands upon a few sick folks and healed them: And c. 16.17, 18. In my Name they shall cast out Devils they shall speak with New Tongues, they shall take up Serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; They shall lay Hands on the sick and they shall recover, Acts 28.8. And it came to pass, that the Father of Publius lay sick of a Feaver and of a Bloody Flux, to whom Paul entred in and prayed, and laid his Hands on him and healed him.

p. 4[3. For extraordinary Gifts 1. Before Baptism.] Thirdly, For the conferring the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit. viz.

1. Before Baptism, Act. 9.17. And Ananias p. 5went his way and entred into the House, and putting his Hands on him said, brother Saul, the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou might'st receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, and immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been Scales, and he received sight forthwith and arose and was Baptised.

2. After Baptism, [2. After Baptism.] Acts 8.14, 15., &c. Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost, for as yet he was faln upon none of them, only they were Baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their Hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles Hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them mony, saying, give me also this Power that on whomsoever I lay Hands they may receive the Holy Ghost, but Peter said, thy Mony perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with mony, &c.

Fourthly, [4. Ordination. 1. Deacons] In Ordination or setting apart to Office, viz. Acts 6.6. whom they set before the Apostles (viz. the seven Deacons the Church had chosen) and when they had prayed and laid their hands on them, and the Word of God encreased, &c.

1. Tim. 4.14. Neglect not the Gift which is in thee that was given thee by Prophecy with the laying on of Hands of the Presbytery. 2. [2. Elders.] Tim. 1.6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance p. 6that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands. 1 Tim. 5.22. Lay hands suddenly on no Man, neither be partaker of other mens sins, keep thy self pure.

[3 Messengers.] Acts 13.3. And when they (viz. the Elders or Teachers of Antioch; had Fasted and Prayed, and laid their hands on them [viz. Paul and Barnabas] they sent them away.

p. 6In which Scriptures speaking of this Rite, we may take notice of these things.

1. First, the several kinds of it, viz. For Benediction, Healing, Ordination, and giving of the Spirit.

2. Secondly, what called, viz. Laying on of Hands.

3. Thirdly, the Subjects, viz. Little Children, Sick Persons, and such upon whom the Spirit had not faln, and Church-Officers.

4. Fourthly, the Administrators, viz. Christ Jesus himself, any gifted Believer, the Elders, or Presbyters, The gifted Apostles.

5. Fifthly, the end, to Bless little Children, to give Miraculous healing. And for Extraordinary gifts of the Spirit to confirm the Gospel. And for Ordination of Church-Officers.

[2 How by the Ancients.] Secondly, How asserted by the Ancients, and by the Canons and Decrees of several Councils.

Dionysius [Dionysius.] the Areopagite Pauls Convert at Athens supposed to be the first Writer about the year 70. in his Ecclesiastical Hierarchy cap. de Bapt. saith, After Baptism let the Sacrament of Confirmation be adjoined with Vnction, p. 7then let the Eucharist be given, Contemp. 3. Serm. 8.

Pope Clement [P. Clement] in his fourth Epistle, saith, Let them be Baptized, and then Consigned by the Bishop for the Holy Spirit, for without Confirmation no perfection. Joseph, Vice comes De Bapt. Ritibus p. 369. c. 18.