N01667:201
Practical truths, plainly delivered
Practical truths, plainly delivered: wherein is showed, I. That true believers on Jesus Christ, shall as certainly enjoy everlasting life in heaven, as if they were there already. II. That there is a blessed marriage between Jesus Christ the son of God, & the true believer. III. That men are infinitely concerned, not only to hear the voice of Christ, but that they do it, to day. IV. The work of the ministry, described, in an ordination sermon. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]Practical truths, plainly delivered: wherein is shewed, I. That true believers on Jesus Christ, shall as certainly enjoy everlasting life in heaven, as if they were there already. II. That there is a blessed marriage between Jesus Christ the son of God, & the true believer. III. That men are infinitely concerned, not only to hear the voice of Christ, but that they do it, to day. IV. The work of the ministry, described, in an ordination sermon. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1718
The Work of the Ministry described, in an Ordination Sermon.
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.
4. There ought to be a solemn Separation of those who are Called to the Work of the Ministry. This useth to be called Ordination. Thus in the Scripture afore-mentioned: Act. 13.2. Separate me Barnabas and Paul for the work whereunto I have called them This Separation should be attended with Fasting and Prayer, also with the Imposition of hands. We find in the Old Testament that rite of imposing hands was used in setting apart to a solemn Office. So was Joshua Ordained Moses's Successor. Numb. 27.18, 19. The Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua and lay thine hand upon him set him before Eleazar and before all the Congregation, and give him a charge in their fight. And thus have Ministers of the New Testament been set apart for the work of the Gospel. The first Laying on of hands that ever was practised out of the Land of Israel, was that in the Church at Antioch, but now mentioned, which may therefore be looked upon as Presidential to the Gentile Churches. Some have esteemed that Ceremony so Essential to the Call of a Minister as to judge those that have it not to be no true Ministers of the Gospel. I dare not say so. For I know full well that not only those of the Congregational Persuasion, but the Presbyterian Brethren do many of them say otherwise. When that Question was proposed by K. James I. to the General Assembly of the Church in Scotland, Is he a lawful Pastor who ⟨p. 125⟩wants imposition of hands? Their answer was, Imposition of hands is not Essential, but Ceremonial and indifferent, in the Admission of a Pastor. Several Synods of the Reformed Churches in France say the very same. So the Dutch Churches, and those in Switzerland, and many in Germany. Yet there are who maintain not only that the imposing of hands as Essential to the being of a Minister, but that it must be by Episcopal hands, otherwise that the Ordination is Null and the Minister that has received it, no true Minister. A most uncharitable Opinion which destroys by far the greatest part of the Protestant Churches in the World, and makes their Baptism and all their Administrations ineffectual. According to the Scripture a Presbyter may lay on hands. 1 Tim. 4.14