Secondly, It could not be for the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, or Miracles, because not promised unto baptized Believers as such, nor was it ever given but to some particular Persons; only I grant, the Holy Spirit is promised to all, as he is the Comforter, according to John 14.16. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall send you another Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, which shall abide with you for ever. All the Disciples of Christ who believe, and are baptized, have the Spirit promised to them, as further might be made appear, Act. 2.38. Then said Peter, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit; for the Promise is to you, and to your Children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. The Spirit being so plainly promised to all that were obedient to Jesus Christ, or the Called of God, the Apostles that were at Jerusalem, hearing how God had called by his blessed Word and Spirit, the Samaritans to Obedience, they well knew, and were assured that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was their Right, Promise and Privilege, as well as any other Gospel-Believers; and therefore sent them Peter and John, that they might receive (through ⟨p. 12⟩the use of that holy Ordinance) the Promise of the Father: and upon consideration that the Samaritans were Gentiles, or a mixed People, or such as were not of the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh, and some of the first of the Gentile Race that were called by the preaching of the Gospel, Jehovah was pleased to give some visible sign and demonstration of his receiving them into his Grace and Favour, to satisfy any of the Jewish Disciples that might doubt concerning the extent of the Blessings of Christ and the Gospel: for palpable it is that for some time after the Death and Resurrection of Christ, few of the Apostles themselves understood the glorious intent and purpose of the Almighty, in bringing in the Gentiles, making them fellow-Heirs, and of the same Body,, and Partakers of his Promise in Christ, through the Gospel, Eph. 3.6. This I conceive to be one reason, why God so visibly owned the Ordinance of Laying on of hands when administered, as well as for the Confirmation of the Ordinance it self;
Secondly, It could not be for the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, or Miracles, because not promised unto baptized Believers as such, nor was it ever given but to some particular Persons; only I grant, the Holy Spirit is promised to all, as he is the Comforter, according to John 14.16. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall send you another Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth, which shall abide with you for ever. All the Disciples of Christ who believe, and are baptized, have the Spirit promised to them, as further might be made appear, Act. 2.38. Then said Peter, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit; for the Promise is to you, and to your Children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. The Spirit being so plainly promised to all that were obedient to Jesus Christ, or the Called of God, the Apostles that were at Jerusalem, hearing how God had called by his blessed Word and Spirit, the Samaritans to Obedience, they well knew, and were assured that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was their Right, Promise and Privilege, as well as any other Gospel-Believers; and therefore sent them Peter and John, that they might receive (through ⟨p. 12⟩the use of that holy Ordinance) the Promise of the Father: and upon consideration that the Samaritans were Gentiles, or a mixt People, or such as were not of the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh, and some of the first of the Gentile Race that were called by the preaching of the Gospel, Jehovah was pleased to give some visible sign and demonstration of his receiving them into his Grace and Favour, to satisfy any of the Jewish Disciples that might doubt concerning the extent of the Blessings of Christ and the Gospel: for palpable it is that for some time after the Death and Resurrection of Christ, few of the Apostles themselves understood the glorious intent and purpose of the Almighty, in bringing in the Gentiles, making them fellow-Heirs, and of the same Body,, and Partakers of his Promise in Christ, through the Gospel, Eph. 3.6. This I conceive to be one reason, why God so visibly own'd the Ordinance of Laying on of hands when administred, as well as for the Confirmation of the Ordinance it self;
