1$ A CHRISTIAN CHURCH. to determine*: This is certain, that the rite of imposition of hands has something natural in it, when we pray for a blessing to descend on ally particular person, and more especially at his entrance into an office ; as it were to point him out in a visible manner to God and the world. Good old Jacob laid his hands on Ephraim and Mairasseh, when he blessed them ; Gen. xlviii. 14, 18. And in Deut. xxxiv. 9. Moses laid his hands on Joshua, as his successor. 'rile Children of Israel also laid their hands on the Levites, at their dedication to the service of the tabernacle ; Numb. viii. 10. But as there are different opinions on this sub- ject, I dismiss it, without any other determination than this, that it seems to be a sort of natural ceremony, an innocent and ancient rite at such seasons ; though I do not see sufficient proof of the certain necessity of it. Even as lifting up the hands to heaven, in prayer for 'a blessing on one's self, is a sort of natural rite or gesture, used by Jews and heathens, and not necessary to be used in every solitary or personal prayer. The laying on the hands on another person, when we are praying for a blessing on him, seems to be of the same kind, viz. a sort of natural rite or ges- ture, much used in the Old Testament and the New ; and though it is not plainly made necessary on every such occasion, yet it must still be acknowledged it. was often, if not always, used in the primitive and inspired times, when either gifts or offi- ces were conferred by some particular persons upon others. And it certainly adds a sort of solemnity to the work ; and it has so much of countenance from scripture, that I think it cannot be called a mere human and arbitrary invention of men. This iscertain, that such persons were to be trained up in a succession for this service in the churches. Timothy was re- quired to commit to faithful men the things that he had heard and learned of, St. Paul, that they might be able to teach others also : 2 'l'im. ii. 2. And these persons were to give up them- selves continually to the wordand prayer, as the apostles did ; Acts vi. 4. and to excite and stir up their talents for instruction and edification, to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and give themselves wholly to them, that their profiting might appear to all. For if this be required of so extraordinary a person as Timothy ; 1 Tim. iv. 13--16. much more reasonably is it re- * Timothy a young evangelist, had the hands of the elders, that is, " the presbytery, laid spoil him," lien. iv. IA. rr And perhaps, at the same time, he was blessed by. the hands of St.Raul with extraordinary gifts;" 2 Tim. i. b. And be himself, anevangelist; was entered to lay hands suddenly on no man; I Tim, V. 22. It is a question. indeed whether Timothy, or the presbytery, could confer Any extraordinary gifts or blessings ; it is more probable for many reasons, that this belonged only to the apostles ; and then this their imposition of hands could not be designed for the conferring of extraordinary gifts ; but still it might be used to pronounce a prophetical blessing on the preacher, which no uninspired person could do ; or finally, it might be the ordinary form of benediction, or of institution torso office.
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