A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

3. If it be said that the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery was only to show their consent, and joining in prayer, and hearty wishes with the Apostle for Timothy: The answer is ready; let these who allege this show us from Scripture, where laying on of hands was ever used, for a bare testimony of consent, or of joint prayers and wishes. I know imposition of hands hath been used in prayers, of blessing, or benediction by such as had a special power, authority and privilege, as Gen: 48. Jacob when he blessed the sons of Joseph, laid his hands upon them, but we read not that Joseph, or any other, whose heart joined in prayer and hearty wishes for them, did therefore lay on hands together with Jacob, Mat. 19. 15. Mark: 10. 16. When Christ blessed the little children, he laid his hands upon them: But will any man imagine, that they who brought the children to be blessed by him, did together with him lay their hands upon them? And generally if we consider the use of laying on hands in Scripture, we must conclude that the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, was an authoritative act, not a testimony of consenting and joining only.

3. If it be said that the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery was onely to shew their consent, and joyning in prayer, and hearty wishes with the Apostle for Timothy: The answer is ready; let these who alledge this shew us from Scripture, where laying on of hands was ever used, for a bare testimony of consent, or of joynt prayers and wishes. I know imposition of hands hath been used in prayers, of blessing, or benediction by such as had a speciall power, authority and priviledge, as Gen: 48. Iacob when hee blessed the sonnes of Ioseph, laid his hands upon them, but we read not that Ioseph, or any other, whose heart joyned in prayer and hearty wishes for them, did therefore lay on hands together with Iacob, Mat. 19. 15. Mark: 10. 16. When Christ blessed the little children, he laid his hands upon them: But will any man imagine, that they who brought the children to be blessed by him, did together with him lay their hands upon them? And generally if we consider the use of laying on hands in Scripture, wee must conclude that the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, was an authoritative act, not a testimony of consenting and joyning onely.