A41335:132
Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the…
Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the work of the ministry be necessary?, II. Whether it be essential to the right constitution of a particular church, that the teaching elders and the members meet always in one place? : whereunto is added a prediction of Mr. Daniel Rogers, minister in Essex, long before the beheading King Charles I and Arch-Bishop Laud, foretelling that they should not dye a natural death / by Giles Firmin ...Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the work of the ministry be necessry?, II. Whether it be essential to the right constitution of a particular church, that the teaching elders and the members meet alwayes in one place? : whereunto is added a prediction of Mr. Daniel Rogers, minister in Essex, long before the beheading King Charles I and Arch-Bishop Laud, foretelling that they should not dye a natural death / by Giles Firmin ...
London : Printed for the author, 1692
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, Acts 13.3. That here in Ordination, I meet with seventeen Divines besides Dr. Owen, that acknowledge it, and the Definition of Ordination is here seen. When God commanded them to separate, Paul and Barnabas, &c. He did not tell them how they should separate, they knew that before, and accordingly did it with Imposition of Hands; they had learnt that from Numb. 8.10.14. the positive Command, where the word separate is used.
If ever Ordination might have been spared, then here; for what did this signify to the poor ignorant Gentiles to whom they were sent, that knew nothing of it? And if they had told them they were thus Ordained, what cared they for it? They carried their Credentials with them, the power of Miracles, to confirm their Doctrine. If the Church did Pray and Fast for success upon their Ministry, but what need Imposition of Hands? Not to confer Gifts, they were qualified before, Paul, Acts 9.17. Barnabas, Acts 11.24. and for Teachers to Confer Gifts extraordinary, we read none. They were called to separate, by an immediate Command or Call of God. So Paul was no Apostle of Men, Gal. 1.1. Tho' Men did Ordain, yet what they did, being by the immediate Call and Command of God, he may be said to be an Apostle not of Men, or by Men.
If ever Ordination might have been spared, then here; for what did this signifie to the poor ignorant Gentiles to whom they were sent, that knew nothing of it? And if they had told them they were thus Ordained, what cared they for it? They carried their Credentials with them, the power of Miracles, to confirm their Doctrine. If the Church did Pray and Fast for success upon their Ministry, but what need Imposition of Hands? Not to confer Gifts, they were qualifyed before, Paul,