ERRATA.

Pager. line 8. for the Spirit, read the Holy Spi rit. p. 42. 1. 13. for excuse, read enough. p. 46. 1. 11. for their read then. p. 59. 1. 3. for his read this. p. 1oo. 1. 5. for praise, read prife. p. 112. 1.7. for would, read do. p.147.1.8. for do affirm, read we do affirm. p. 15. 1. 14. for was enjoyned read was there enjoyned, p.159.1.17. for I read you.

A DISCOVERY

Of Layings on of hands, according to the wifdom of God given under the feveral confiderations thereof, minded in the New Teftament.

HE Scripture of the New Teftament fpeaks of laying on of hands upon three feveral accounts or ends.

Firft, upon Baptized believers, as fuch; To the end they might receive the Spirit; which is the promife of God unto them, as Ads the 8. and Acts 19.

2. On Minifters; to the end they might be feparated to the work of the

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Mi

Ministry, Ads 6.6, 13, 3. 1 Tim.4. 1435, 22 verf.

On the fick, for healing; to the end they might recover, as Mark 16. 18. Als 28. 8 verf. i

I fhall, as the Lord thall help me, fpeak fomthing to the two laft briefly, and then to the first I fhall be more large, it being the duty of all believers to fubmit unto,and that which is chiefly in my eye in this discourse.

> First, of the laying on of hands for healing, it was a particular gift of faith, which the Lord Jefus did promife to give unto his people, as is plain from Mark 16. 17, 18 verf. Thefe fignes fhall follow them that believe; in my Name they shall caft our Devils, they shall speak with new tongues; they fhalf take up Serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it fhall not hurt them; they fhall lay hands on the fick; and they fhall recover in which enumeration

ration of figns,we find laying on of hands for healing which figns, as the Spirit of the Lord teacheth us, were given for thofe who believed not, u Cor. 14. 22 vers.

But this promife of healing, by laying on of hands, as we may obferve, the Lord made good upon many of his people, as believers in the Church of Corinth, who were partakers of this gift, which they were to go forth in the practife thereof; according as the Apoft le Paul: did, Acts 28. 8 verf. yea as Christ himself, Mark. 6. soverf. Luk. 4. 40 verfive to

Object. But now fome may fay, Was this practife to continue amongft believers ? to which take this two-fold anfwer; i odu

Firft, If the gift be continued,that is, of healing, then this practife; for we cannot Act, unless we have received.

2. If any have or fhall receive

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fuch

fuchval gift of faith, they are to go forth in the practife thereof; for gifts are given to profit withal, that is, for the good of others, 1 Cor. 12. 7 verf. therefore if any one have received fuch a gift, he is to be up and doing, to adminifter the fame.

Query. But fome may fay, Is there no Ordinance, that the Lord Jefus Christ hath left unto his people, to wait upon him in for healing, in the time of fickness and

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Answer. Yes, and that is prayer and anoynting with Oile in the Name of the Lord; this is left, as an Ordinance, or way unto believers, to wait upon the Lord in, in the time of fickness; wherein the Elders of the Church of Chrift ought to adminifter, as is manifeft from Jam. 5. 14, 15 verf. Is any fick amongst you let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him; anoynting him with Oile in the Name of the Lord; and the prayer