Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT V. Prayer with laying on of hands is the way, allowed of God, for all Christians to seek for the promised Spirit, as well in respect of the sanctifying graces, as the extraordinary gifts thereof.

This shall be plainly demonstrated (God willing) in every parti∣cular, and first from Act. 8. 14. 15. 16. 17. For when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the holy Ghost — then laid they their hands on them and they received the holy Ghost. Now for the better understanding this place, it is meet to consider that such as pray to God for any thing, absolutely, should know assuredly that the thing is attainable, as knowing it to be the Will of God they should pray for

that very thing which they so desire of him, as in the case before us the Prayer is such, as indeed it ought to be without doubting when we ask of God those gifts which he hath promised James 1. 5, 6, 7. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God — but let him ask in Faith nothing wavering — for let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. But if by the holy Ghost in this place, we should understand the extraordinary gifts only, viz. Tongues, miracles, &c. then certainly the Apostles had no ground to pray for all those thou∣sands which were baptized at Samaria both men and women, that each individual should receive the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, nor perhaps any particular person among them all, seeing the pro∣mise of the Spirit in that respect, is not made to this or that man or woman by name, and consequently here was no ground for the Apo∣stles to pray for them absolutely and believingly, for that very thing which they particularly prayed for: seeing it is evident, that not all the Members of a Church, but rather very few are chosen to be Pro∣phets, workers of miracles, &c. 1 Cor. 12. 11. 29. 30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with Tongues? do all interpret? No, but the self same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will. And there∣fore here could be no such laying on of hands practised as some ima∣gine, viz. for extraordinary gifts only. For though it be very true, that God did sometimes give such gifts in the way of Prayer with laying on of hands, yet it doth not at all follow that that was the onely end of that service, any more then that because God sometimes attended publick Prayer in the Church, and Preaching the word with the pouring out of such gifts, therefore the proper end of Prayer and Preaching, was for the receiving the extraordinary Gifts of the Spi∣rit only.

Nor will Act. 19. 6. prove that there ever was such a thing as lay∣ing on of hands for extraordinary gifts only, for still we must distin∣guish between that which is an extraordinary effect only, and that which is the general and undoubted end of any service. The reasons even now mentioned, forbid us to say that Tongues, miracles, &c. was the precise end of laying on of hands Act. 19. 6. because the service was Universal; and not pertaining to this or that Disciple only. And let it be seriously considered, that had the Apostle found at Ephesus twelve hundred, instead of twelve who had not received the holy Ghost since they believed, ought he not to have done the same for them all that he did for these twelve? surely we have no reason to think otherwise, seeing the questions propounded are of equal con∣cernment to all that they were to any one of them. Have ye received the holy Ghost since ye believed? And again, to what then were ye Baptized? But who can imagine that such gifts as tongues, miracles, &c. should belong to each individual Disciple, yet Paul laid his hands upon them all.

And whereas it is supposed by some, that Paul in this place, and Peter and John Act. 8. imposed hands, to work miracles for confir∣mation of the word, this is a very great mistake. 1. Because the

word had already been confirmed by miracles at Samaria by Philip, for it is said that Simon wondered beholding the miracles which were done. And there was also a Church settled at Ephesus long before Paul came this second time to that City. Act. 18. 18. to 28. And 2. we know miracles are not for them that believe but for them that believe not, there was therefore no necessity for miraculous gifts to confirm the word to these persons who were believers, and as such had this service of Prayer and laying on of hands performed to them.

Neither is their opinion to be allowed, who would have hands im∣posed only upon some few persons at Samaria, for there is the same reason to believe they all had hands laid on them, as that the Apo∣stles prayed for them all; and sith the holy Spirit was fallen on none of them, who can think that the Apostles would exclude the great∣est part of them, in their prayer to God for the pouring out his ho∣ly Spirit upon them. Had not Peter preached this Doctrine, Repent and be Baptized every one of you, &c. And ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost? For the promise is to you, &c. Act. 2. 38. and would he that extends the promise in his doctrine to every one that is Baptized, now restrain it in his prayer and laying on of hands from any one of them? surely this is not to be conceived.

And forasmuch as the Vniversality of this practice of Prayer and laying on of hands being evinced, is of such convincing importance, that even thence it will follow, that it was no temporary service, or of particular concern to some Disciples more then others, but a service for the comfort of all Christians equally, and of perpetual use in the Church of God. I will therefore proceed to enquire a little into the Universality of this practise, from this one instance of it, Act. 8. es∣pecially.

It will easily appear that many thousands both men and women, were in the practise of this service of Prayer and laying on of hands, at Samaria. For it is said that Samaria received the word of God, and that there was great joy in that City, which words implie that the gene∣rality of the Citizens was converted to the Faith by the Preaching of Philip, as also for that we hear not of so much as one person, who op∣posed himself against the Doctrine which he preached; no, not so much as Simon the Sorcerer, for 'tis said that he also believed. Yea, there is the same reason to believe that the City generally was con∣verted by Philip, as that they had before, been deceived by Simon Magus; For as it is said vers. 9. He Bewitched them, and that to him they had regard, from the least even to the greatest of them, vers. 11. So on the other hand it is said, vers. 5. Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ to them, i. e. to the Citizens generally. And then it is said vers. 6. That the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spake. Hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. And it is further added that when they believed — they were Baptized both Men and Women. Yea Simon himself also believed and was Baptized vers. 13 Thus we have not only a general account of the conversion of this

City, but the same also sufficiently explained. For this general, Sa∣maria received the Word, is interpreted, of the people with one accord, and the very sex distinguished, both men and women. And then,

Upon those very persons it is said, (without the least intimation of any manner of exception) that the Apostles laid their hands on them, after they had prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost, and also that they did receive it, v. 14.

Wherefore now let us suppose that the City of Samaria did afford but one hundred thousand Inhabitants capable of Instruction, if then I allow one moiety as unconverted (which yet cannot well be suppo∣sed) yet I find fifty thousand Disciples in this City, Believing Bapti∣zed, and under Laying on of Hands: and therefore do conclude the service of prayer for the promised Spirit with Imposition of Hands, was not a Temporary service and of particular use to some Disciples only, but of perpetuall use for the comfort of the whole Church.

To this Church we may well joyn the Church at Jerusalem, which consisted of many thousands, from whom Peter and John was sent to Samaria, and it were impious to think that those Apostles would now innovate, or set up a new service in that Church, which was not re∣ceived in the Church which sent them thither. No, the contrary is evident for Laying on of Hands is enumerated among the principles of the Doctrine received by the Church at Jerusalem, Heb. 6. 2. who is worthily to be esteemed a pattern to all Churches of Christ to the end of the World.

Of no small weight is that place, 2 Tim. 1. 6. where we find Timo∣thy that man of God, under the Imposition of Hands for the common gifts of Gods Spirit; namely Love, Power, and a sound Mind, and this Administred by Paul alone; whereas the Imposition of Hands by which he was Ordained was performed by many, or at least by more then one, viz. By the Presbytery, 1 Tim. 4. 14. The former being clearly distinguished from the Later, in three respects, viz. 1. By the Persons performing the service (as is shewed) 2. By the end of the services, the first being for that only which is common to all Saints, as Love, Power, &c. The other a gift of Office which he must not neglect, &c. 3. From the scope of the Apostle in these places respectively, for in, 1 Tim. 4. from vers. 11. to the end of the Chapter, Paul is clearly in hand with the matters of Timothie's Office. These things command and teach. Give attendance to Reading, Exhortation and Doctrine. — Take heed to thy self and thy Doctrine, and therefore very suitable to exhort him in this place to diligence in the exercise of the gift which was gi∣ven him by the Laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery. But in, 2 Tim. 1. 6. He speaks to him of things common to every Christian man or woman from vers. 1. to 13. Exhorting him to bear up against temptation; encourageth him not not to doubt that his faith was un∣feigned; exhorts him not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, and to consider that God hath not given his people the spirit of fear but of power, &c. And therefore very fitly did he put him in mind of that Blessing of the Spirit which he received in Prayer, with

Laying on Hands, for the Grace of Love, Power, and soundness of Mind. See more in our Defence.