A41335:8
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.
To the READER.
That Unity among Christian Brethren is a thing not only beautiful in it self, but also a Duty greatly incumbent upon them who profess that blessed Name of Christ, none that read the Holy Scripture can be ignorant of it; yea, a Duty so greatly incumbent, that they who do not all they can to promote it [provided the Authority of the Scriptures be preserved] taking care that they neither profess nor practise any thing in the House of God, but what is according to the Holy Scriptures, lest that Unity should be hindered, they neither show that respect to the Command of Christ to us, nor to the Prayer he made to his Father for this End, as become Christians.
THat Unity among Christian Brethren is a thing not only beautifull in it self, but also a Duty greatly incumbent upon them who profess that blessed Name of Christ, none that read the Holy Scripture can be ignorant of it; yea, a Duty so greatly incumbent, that they who do not all they can to promote it [provided the Authority of the Scriptures be preserved] taking care that they neither profess nor practise any thing in the House of God, but what is according to the Holy Scriptures, lest that Ʋnity should be hindered, they neither shew that respect to the Command of Christ to us, nor to the Prayer he made to his Father for this End, as become Christians.
I thought I might have said, 1that both in former times, and in these days, I had been as desirous of this Unity as some other Men. Glad I was when I heard some Brethren of the Independent and Presbyterial Persuasion in London did attempt it; their Names were very dear unto me, when I heard who they were that laboured in it, tho' I knew none of them; more glad I was, when about four Years since a Copy of the Agreement was sent me, to which my Brethren in the Country and my self readily consented: We expected the same should have been Published, but we find another much different from it. In particular, in the former, Ordination was to be performed with Imposition of Hands, but in this the Words are left out, and these words put in, The Person that is Chosen, shall be Duly Ordained; not expressing what that Due Ordination is: However, as it is worded, I Consent to this; and whatever be the different Sentiments I have from others, in several things mentioned [and more than are mentioned] in the Agreement, yet I have willingly Subscribed to it, and Profess my self a United Brother with all that are Duly Ordained.