A47585:188
Laying on of hands upon baptized believers, as such, proved an ordinance of Christ…
Laying on of hands upon baptized believers, as such, proved an ordinance of Christ in answer to Mr. Danvers's former book entitled, A treatise of laying on of hands : with a brief answer to a late book called, A treatise concerning laying on of hands, written by a nameless author / by B.K. ...Laying on of hands upon baptized believers, as such, proved an ordinance of Christ in answer to Mr. Danvers's former book intituled, A treatise of laying on of hands : with a brief answer to a late book called, A treatise concerning laying on of hands, written by a nameless author / by B.K. ...
London : Printed, are to be sold by Benj. Harris ..., 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Laying on of Hands UPON BAPTIZED BELIEVERS, As such, Proved both fr… › Chapter 6
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.
Answ. The first thing he hints at, as an Objection against our Practice from this place, is because Philip laid not his hands upon them, after he had baptized them: Which we have answered already; but this I must say now, that if Peter and John laid their hands on those Believers in Samaria, as Men miraculously gifted, or by virtue of their extraordinary Attainments, it might ⟨p. 66⟩seem strange that Philip laid not his hands upon them, being (tho but a Deacon) endowed with those extraordinary Gifts, and had wrought wonderful Signs and Miracles in the same City before: The reason therefore why Philip did not impose hands upon them was,
1. Because not ministerially capacitated so to do, it not belonging to him on the account of his Office, nor his extraordinary Gifts and Endowments. This also I might further show, because the Church at Jerusalem did not send to Samaria Men simply endowed with miraculous Gifts, but such as had Ministerial Power and Authority as the Servants of Christ, in his Name to complete and perfect what was wanting among them.
1. Because not ministerially capacitated so to do, it not belonging to him on the account of his Office, nor his extraordinary Gifts and Endowments. This also I might further shew, because the Church at Jerusalem did not send to Samaria Men simply indowed with miraculous Gifts, but such as had Ministerial Power and Authority as the Servants of Christ, in his Name to compleat and perfect what was wanting among them.
'Tis an Act (saith Dr. Hammond on Acts 8.17.) reserved to the Rulers of the Church, and not communicated or allowed to inferior Officers, such as Philip the Deacon here.