Chap. 9. tln Expofition upon t"be Book, of ;,I O B. Verf. 33. 389 found fo greatfaith, no not in Ifrael) defired thrift but tofleck the word only, and hisfervantlhould be healed (Mat. 8.8.) As a word i s the properobje t of faith, f9 faith of s moti properly, when it reels and lives upon a word only. Signs are mercies to the weak, and they are witnefcsof"öúr weaknefs. Signs are but crouches and fpeïtacles to help the lame;zeßand dinefightedneßof faith. But to our text. 2. Laying on of hands was ufed in the ordination or folemn letting of,a man apart unto an office, The children of' /PM, that is,fome of the chief of them (under the Ceremonial Law) laid their hands upon the Levites, Num. 8. ao, which was either a te- flification that they gave up all carnal and worldly interefis ïn them, and bequeathed them wholly unto God, or an approbation .. of their office, and of the Levites rniniflration in it on their,gc- halfThe fame Ceremony (for the matter) was continued the fending forth of Gofpel- officers. Negleíï not the gift that is itr th: which was given thee 12y prophecie, with the laying on of tile hands ofthe Presbytery, was Paule counfel to Timothy, in reference to himfeif (aTim.4.4.) And in reference to others (r Tim,5.22.) Lay hands fioddenly on no man, And Paul and Farnabas being im- Impofrcioma= mediately defigned by God for a fpeciai work of the Miniltery, nuu®iporeflarn to which they were called before, were fent awaY with fafiingfgfum qui 9d andprayer, and the layingon of hands, Ad. 15. 3 flrum valet 3 The hand fpccially liignifies civil power,Pfa.89.25.I will fee manu;mpofra bicbandalfo in the fea,and his right-handin thefiends; that is,I will (aerrere, give him power over them who dwell by the feas.And then,Lay- Merc. ingon of hands, implies theauthority which one man path over a- Yoneremanum, nother to determine or refolve a cafe or to fettle a bufìnefs be- efllrzem com- ponereC?' com tween them,and that is the intendment ofit here ,Therek no Payer- troverfte au- man that might lay his hand upon us both ; that is,whómay autho- thore,aI! fedo+ ritatively decide and make an end of this controverte. To impofe edndurede mqua the hand was to compof the difference. I find a threefold pollute Pacificatorir of the Payes -man obferved in tote anion of' his hand. effig:e, delri Firfi:, He put forth his hand towards the parties, defiring them bitur ad alter, to joyn hands, or (as we fpeak) to (hake hands and be friends. utrum Iergan- fo nin handslì nifiesconfent(Exod.27. r.) Thou (halt not put tiummanum Y g g alternarimez thy hand with the wicked; that is, thou Ihalt make no agreement enden,, út nnt. with him. Some of the Ancients defcribe the Pacifisatour ox VH dextrn pa- Payes-man, having his hands clofed into thehands of thofe be fedu+ innre.. tween wliom he was to make peace : Hence they who-are un<'st`" Quirci. faithful
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