A76157:214
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the sovereign powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and welfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the soveraigne powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and wellfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons book-seller, 1658
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.
1. Imposition of hands, is allowed in Scripture, to be used Generally by Spiritual Superiors, to signify their Will and Desire, that the Blessing may fall on the Inferior, or the Gift, or Power be conferred on him, for which they have a call to mediate: So that it is not ⟨p. 98⟩confined to any particular Blessing, Power, or Ordinance. And therefore if there had been no example of the use of it, in this particular case (of Confirmation, or Absolution) yet hence it is proved to be Lawful and Meet, because it hath this General use and allowance. The Lifting up of Hands in Prayer was used to signify from whom and whence they did expect the blessing; even from our Father which is in Heaven: And the Laying of Hands on the Head of the person, in or after Prayer, was used as an Applicatory sign, to signify the Terminus ad quem of the blessing desired, or the Person, on whom they would have it bestowed. And as you will not cast away the use of Lifting up of Hands, though it be for such mercies, as you read no Scripture instance, that Hands were lift up for; because the General warrant is sufficient; so you have as little reason, to scruple or cast away the Laying on of Hands, though in such cases as you read not that the sign was used for in Scripture; because the unlimited General use, is sufficient warrant, in such particular cases. God showed that the very outward sign of Lifting up of the hands, was not to be despised, when Ameleck had the better when Moses hands fell down, though but through weakness, so that Aaron and ⟨p. 99⟩Hur were fain to underset them, Exod. 17. And I think we have no reason to contemn the Laying on of hands, which in Grounds and Nature is so near kin to the other. And as spreading forth the hands, doth not cease to be good and meet, for all that God hath said he will not hear them that spread forth hands that are full of blood, Isa. 1. 15. So the Laying on of hands doth not cease to be good and meet, though in some cases the Blessing do not follow it. Still we must every where Lift up holy hands in Prayer, without wrath and doubting, 1 Tim. 2. 8. Though the sign be not of absolute Necessity in every Prayer, yet it is very meet, and too much neglected among us. And so I may say of the other. When Solomon prayed in the Temple he spread forth his hands towards Heaven, 1 King 8. 22.