A41335:173
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.
When you with the two other Ministers [they go for such] did separate that illiterate Person to the Work of the Ministry, did you Act as Officers or as private Brethren? If you acted as private Brethren, then I am sure he is no Minister; the Brethren of the same Society had more right than you. If you acted as Officers, then it seems you could not put forth Official Power in another Church. To separate to an Office, is an Act of Authority. Whom we may appoint, [not the People] Act. 6.3.
When you with the two other Ministers [they go for such] did separate that illiterate Person to the Work of the Ministry, did you Act as Officers or as private Brethren? If you acted as private Brethren, then I am sure he is no Minister; the Brethren of the same Society had more right than you. If you acted as Officers, then it seems you could not put forth Official Power in another Church. To separate to an Office, is an Act of Authority. Whom we may appaint, [not the People] Act. 6.3.
You tell me, the 13 Acts 3. is no Platform for us, unless we have an immediate Command from God to Ordain Men.
Answ. The immediate Command was in the separating Paul and Barnabas to the Work of their Apostleship. The Command was not to Teach them how they should separate; the Lord saith only, Separate, &c. they knew how they should separate before. The Synod of New-England and Dr. Owen were much mistaken, who quote this Text for Ordination by Imposition of Hands: But to this Text I have spoken before.