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(3) Suppofing, laying on of hands then equally used in both Cafes, yet the Apostle gives no Rules concerning the Qualifications of Penitents, as he doth concerning Bishops and Deacons ; and therefore we have more caufe to apply it according to the chief intention and defign of this Epiftle; but he faith nothing before, what Penitents were to be reconciled; and after what time, and under what Conditions they were to have hands laid on them in token of Reconciliation. And there is no concurrent Evidence of fuch a Practice, fo early in the Chriftian Church.

(4.) The following words are capable of a very good meaning, acccording to this Senfe. For then being partaker of other mens Sins, doth imply, that as it is a Fault in those who rudely, and inconfiderately, without due preparation of Mind, do rush upon so Sacred an Office; fo those cannot acquit themselves of a great fhare in their Guilt, who do not use their beft endeavours, by due Examination and Trial of the Perfons, to keep them from entring upon it, till they are prepared and qualified for it.

(5.) The great ufe of the laying on of hands in the New Teftament, is for the fetting Perfons apart for the difcharge of a Sacred Office. So, when the Office of Deacons was C

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A&t. 6. 6. firft instituted, it is faid, They were fet before the Apoftles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And which is more confiderable, when Barnabas and Paul, by the particular appointment of the Holy Ghoft, Act. 13.2, 3. were to be feparated unto the Work whereto God had called them; it is faid, And when they had fafted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they fent them away. Here it was not for miraculous Cures, as the Apoftles fometimes used A&t. 28.8. it to Sick Perfons; nor for conferring miraAct. 8. 15. culous Gifts of the Holy Ghoft, as at other times they used it; and probably this was the Gift 2 Tim. 1. 6. of God which Timothy had, by laying on of the

Mark 16. 18.

15. 19.6.

Apoftles hands;) neither was it a mere Rite

of Benediction, as Jacob laid his hands on the Gen. 48. 14. fons of Joseph; and our Saviour on the ChilMark 10. 26. dren when he bleffed them; but it was a folemn Rite of Dedication of particular Persons to God, when they are fet apart for the Exercife of a Function which immediately related to his Service. I confefs, that among the Exod. 29. 9, Jems, it was not used in the Confecration of 10. 15.19. Priefts; For, Aaron and his fons were to lay their hands on the Sacrifices that were offered on that occafion, and particularly on the Ram of Confecration; but the Ceremony was Lev. 8. 14. performed by putting fome part of the Ram, and the Cakes, and the Wafer upon Aaron's

18. 22.

bands

Numb. 27.

hands, and his fons hands. For the Priest- 26. 27. 28. hood of the Law being a Work of the hands, the Ceremony was very fitly applied to them; but that of the Gofpel being more intellectual and spiritual, the laying on of hands on the Heads of the Perfons devoted thereto, was more agreeable to the design of it. And this was an ancient Cuftome among the Jews in employments of the highest nature. So Mofes laid his hands on Joshua; and then it is faid, that he was full of the Spirit of Wifedom, 18. 23. for Mofes had laid his hands on him: and from Deut. 34. 9. hence it came to be an ufual Ceremony among the Jews, in the Solemn Defignation of Perfons for Sacred Employments, either to be Rulers or Teachers in their Synagogues. And from thence it was not onely brought into the Chriftian Church, but made ufe of to exprefs that Right and Authority which Perfons do receive together with it, for the Exercise and Difcharge of their Minifterial Function.

So that from thefe Words, there are Three things confiderable to be spoken to,

(L) The Nature of the Office to which
they are ordained, by laying on of

hands.

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(II.) The Authority here fuppofed in Timothy, to admit Perfons to this Office, by laying on of hands.

III.) The great Care and Circumfpection neceff.ry for the right performing it; Lay hands fuddenly on no man.

(I.) The Nature of the Office; which may relate both to Bishops and Deacons before mention'd; But the principal parts of that Office, which is here chiefly meant, are by St. Paul faid to be these two; Ruling well, and Labourv. 17. ing in the Word and Doctrine.

ment.in Epift.

ad Tit.

(1.) Ruling well; Not, in oppofition to Timothy, who was to Rule them well; nor fo as to imply, that the entire Power of GovernHier. Com- ment was lodged in a College of Presbyters then, as St. Jerome imagins; for what had Timothy then to doe in the governing them? I cannot find any Argument of Force in the New Teftament, to prove, that ever the ChriLian Churches were under the fole Government of Presbyters. For what St. Jerome alledgeth, doth by no means prove it: I grant he proves, That the Name of Bishop and Presbyter were at that time common to the fame Perfons; But what then? Suppofe the Bishop and

Elder

Elder here in Timothy's Epiftle were the fame: Doth this prove, that thefe Govern'd the Church without Timothy? The true Question is not, about the Senfe of Words, but about the Authority of thefe Bishops or Presbyters, i. e. Whether the whole Care of their Churches were committed to them, without any Superiour Jurifdiction? What if it be yielded to St. Jerome, That the Bishops and Deacons at Phil. 1. 1. Philippi were no other than the Presbyters and Deacons, as long as the Apoftle, either in Perfon, or by fome other appointed by himself, did rule over them? What, if the Bishops fummon'd to Miletus, were no other than the Paftours and Teachers? Did not St. Paul him- Act. 20. 28. felf, at that very time, call them together, and give a Charge and Direction to them, as one who had Authority over them? So that it doth no where appear in Scripture, that the Presbyters were invefted in the Supreme Power over the Church.

But yet they were not excluded from all kind of fhare in the Government, for then they could never be faid to Rule well, who had nothing at all to doe in Government: And thofe who are under a Supreme may be called Governours, and are to be obey'd according to 1 Pet. 2. 1.4 the Nature of their Authority; which doth relate to Men in another capacity, and for

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