THis holy principle of Christs doctrine, known by the Title of laying on of Hands, hath been greatly corrupted and abused, in the Papacy, by many superstitious adjuncts of humane innovation, and in a manner quite lost among those that call themselves the Re∣formed Churches, God hath in these dayes begun to revive this neg∣lected truth in the Baptized Churches of this Nation, some account whereof we shall give in this place, as also in our defence, bound up in this Volume; And that we may with the greater facility give Evidence to this part of the Doctrine of Christianity, we shall lay down, and endeavour to make good this ensuing proposition.
That as God hath promised to give the holy Spirit to all that are called of the Lord, so he hath appointed a Solemn way, wherein his Servants and hand-maids are to wait upon him for the reception thereof, which way is the Prayers of his Church, performed by her Ministers or pastours with the laying on of hands, and this as a principle of Christs Doctrine, belonging to them in the minority of their Christian state.
For the explication of some parts of this proposition, it is meet that we shew first what we mean by the holy Ghost, sith some now (as well as heretofore, Act. 19.) either by reason of ignorance, or some worse cause, seem not to know whether there be any holy Ghost, as if they had forgotten unto what they were Baptized, Matth. 28. 19.
1. By the holy Ghost then we do not mean, the Spirit of Man (as man) in its most reformed and elevated state imaginable, neither any created Spirit whatsoever: But by the holy Ghost we mean that Spi∣rit, by whose opperation the World was brought forth and formed, Gen. 1. 2. Job 26. 13. And which knoweth all things, even the deep