A41335:58
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.
In his Second Book of the Church, mentioned before, p. 136. he proves there ought to be many Elders in one particular Church. This he proves, 1st. from Scripture; 2dly. by Reasons: one of which he fetches from Imposition of Hands. Is, saith he, there be but one Elder only in a Church, upon his Death or Removal, this Imposition of Hands, must either be left unto the People, or be supplied by the Elders of other Churches, or be wholly omitted, all which are Irregular. He did acknowledge the Ordination he had without Imposition of Hands, when he turned Independent, was defective.
In his Second Book of the Church, mentioned before, p. 136. he proves there ought to be many Elders in one particular Church. This he proves, 1st. from Scripture; 2dly. by Reasons: one of which he fetches from Imposition of Hands. Is, saith he, there be but one Elder only in a Church, upon his Death or Removal, this Imposition of Hands, must either be left unto the People, or be supplyed by the Elders of other Churches, or be wholly omitted, all which are Irregular. He did acknowledge the Ordination he had without Imposition of Hands, when he turned Independant, was defective.
Whether Dr. Owen had his hand in drawing up the Savoy Confession, I know not. But we see, upon mature thoughts, when he is leaving the World, he gives his Judgment according to the Holy Scriptures [which should be the only Guide and Rule in the House of God] contrary to that Confession.
Why Imposition of Hands by Elders of other Churches should be Irregular? he names no Scripture to prove it. But if it be omitted, that Ordination, saith he, is irregular, (this we are sure of from Scripture) that's enough for me. If it be irregular, then 'tis not Due Ordination; for the Rule hath not it's Due given to it. If such Ordination can be valid, to what purpose is the Rule? We shall have strange things follow if this be admitted, that in Religion, and in the House of God, Acts may be valid which are not conformable to the Word of God. The Word saith thus, but these Acts answer it not.