Chap. _i 9. and the Covenant of Grace. the context (fpeaking of fins, force open going before to judge- ment, others following after ) teems to eisince 9 fuch cautiouf neffe cannot (land without all pofiible wayes and meanes of proofe and trial, All this is to be folemnized by fafting and prayer ; fo we finde To be !blew, Scripture - prefidents e tis 13. 2. when they had fafled and pray- ed, and laid their hands on them, they lent them away, Ads 14. 23. When they had ordained them Flders in every Church, and hadprayed frith fatting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they beleeved. This I take not to be of the effence of Ordination not neceffary to the very being ; but the better being of it, in imploring Gods affiflance and bleffìng. .It is a great work a work of glorious concernment ; it is a work above our flrength to manage more weighty then our fhoulders can bear ; there is more then parts , gifts and endowments, (whether natural or acquired) required in it. All fupplies being (as before we heard) to be expected from heaven; heaven muft be implored , God muft be earneftly fought in it. Fatting fhould adde wings to our prayers that our voice may be heard on high. A fhadow of this f1í11 remained in the Church as appeares by thofe ?ejunia quatuor temporum at the times of Ordination, which indeed was almoft brought to a meere fhadow. The fait thing mentioned in the DDefinition, is impofition of hands; a rite or ufage in praaice before the Law, Gen. 48, 14. held in the time of the Law, Levit. i 4. and continued in the dayes of the Gofpel , as confifting with the fimplicitie of it. It was ufed in blefjìng, Gen. 48. 14. Ifrael friretched out his right hand and laidit upon E phraims head in his biding of them. Matth. i 9. 13. They brought children to Chrift, that he fhould put hie hands on them and pray ; which accordingly he did, Mark ro. 1G. He put his hands upon them, and bleffed them. It was ufed in Offerings, Levit. i . 4. if any man bring an offering unto the Lord, he [hall puthis hand upon the head of the l urnt- offering, and it (hall be accept- ed for him, to make atonement for him. It was ufed in bearing wit - nefJ'e, as Levit. 4.14. where the Lord gives charge concerning the blafphemer; Bring forth km that loath curled without the and let all that have heard him, lay their hands upon his head. It was ufed in conferring extraordinary gifts, As 8. 17. Peter and John laid their hands on thofe that beleeved in Samaria, and T 3 they nixed with failing and prayers. Tmpofition of hands-to be ufed in C:r-.. d:nation..
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=