Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

(§ 17.) 3ly. It is thus placed distinctly by it self, and not cast under the common Head of Miracles, because ordinarily there were some outward means and tokens of it that were to be made use of, in the Exercise of this Gift. Such were (1) Imposition of Hands. Our Saviour himself in Healing of the Sick did generally lay his Hands on them, Matth. 6. 5. Luke 4. 40. And he gave the same Order unto his Disciples, that they should lay their Hands on those that were sick, and heal them, which was practised by them accordingly. (2) Anointing with Oil: They anointed with Oil many that were sick, and healed them, Mark 6. 13. And the Elders of the Church with whom this Gift was continued, were to come to him that was sick, and praying over him, anoint him with Oil in the Name of the Lord, and he should be saved, Jam. 5. 14, 15. Some do contend for the Continuance of this Ceremony, or the anointing of them that are sick by the Elders of the Church, but without Ground or Warrant: For although it be their Duty to pray in a particular manner for those that are sick, of their Flocks, and it be the Duty of them who are sick to call for them unto that purpose; yet the Application of the outward Ceremony being instituted, not as a means of an uncertain Cure, as all are which work naturally unto that end, but as a Pledge and Token of a certain Healing and Recovery, where there is not an Infallible Faith thereof, when the Healing may not ensue; it is to turn an Ordinance into a Lie. For if a Recovery follow Ten times on this anointing, if it once fall ⟨p. 183⟩out otherwise, the Institution is rendered a Lie, a False Testimony; and the other Recoveries manifested to have had no dependence on the Observation of it. For these Reasons, I judge, that this Gift of Healing, though belonging unto miraculous Operations in general, is every where reckoned as a distinct Gift by it self. And from that place of James, I am apt to think that this Gift was communicated in an especial manner unto the Elders of Churches, even that were ordinary and fixed; it being of so great Use, and such singular Comfort unto them that were poor and persecuted, which was the Condition of many Churches, and their Members in those Days.