Laying on of hands upon baptized believers, as such, proved an ordinance of Christ…

But now as to Imposition of hands on baptized Believers as such, we have not only clear Examples, but also the Scripture shows it was taught as a positive Command and Institution of Jesus Christ, or what was commanded by him; which I shall fully show from Heb. 6.1, 2. where the Apostle writing of the six Principles, or Foundation-Doctrines of Christ, uses the word [Greek or Hebrew] in the 1st Verse, and [Greek or Hebrew] in the 2d Verse, that is Word and Doctrine; so this of Laying on of Hands, amongst other Principles, the Apostle there, by the Spirit of God, calls the Word and Doctrine of Christ: now the Words of Christ, and Commands of Christ, are Terms synonymous, or of the like import; as Deut. 10.4. shows, where the ten Commandments are called in the margin ten Words, as most suiting with the Hebrew Text. Again, John 14.21. with 23. and 24. v. compared with vers. 21. further evinces it; He that hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: In Vers. 23. If any Man love me, he will keep my Words; and in Verse 24. called Sayings: and the Word is said in John 7.16. to be the Father's, ⟨p. 47⟩and Christ's Word said to be what he had from the Father. So now, Laying on of hands, as well as Repentance, Faith and Baptism, is the Word and Doctrine of Christ, and therefore equally to be observed and obeyed by all the Saints, being one of the Principles, or Fundamental Truths, which the Hebrew Church, at the Command and Word of Christ, came under the practice of, Heb. 5.12. and 6.1, 2. Moreover this Principle is, by the said Author to the Hebrews, called one of the Oracles of God, which he tells them they had need again to be instructed in; plainly implying they had once been taught it, and were in the practice thereof. Now the Oracles of God are the Commands of God; see Acts 7.38. where the ten Commandments are called lively Oracles; compared with