of hands, then of preaching the Word and Prayer: they may be an effect or fruit of each of them, but not the end: for poor Souls, by their obedience unto Chrift, are made partakers of the Spirit of promife, which is the Producer of fuch effects, or fruits in them. [1 3. We may obferve, that the foundation of this difcourfe being miffed, and in the first place, that which is untrue affirmed, (to wit, that laying on of hands was for giving the Extraordinary gifts of the Spirit,) it's no marvail they should run themfelves into fo many miftaken understandings of thofe that practife it, and the hard Cenfures they put upon them, with their Ertonious Judgments about this truth, which I pray God forgive them, for they know not what they do and fo I might put an end to their firt Chapter; only I fhall take a little notice of the weight weight of those Reasons which they bring to prove, that the end of this Ordinance is the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. And their great Reason is, because the Samaritans, As the 8. were fuch as did believe, verf. 12. and did receive the Word of God, verf. 14. and were Baptized, verf. 16. all this, fay they, could not be, unless they had already received the ordinary measures of the Spirit. Aufw. First, I cannot but take notice how this Reafon doth hold forth, that there is no receiving of the Holy Spirit by that Soul, who is already Partaker of the Spirit, but what is in an Extraordinary manner; which how false this is, I fhall leave to the Experience of believers to prove, yea, to the Raifers of this Reafon,if fo be they have the Spirit of God. 2. VVhereas they say, we cannot be believe without the Spirit; I Anfwer, that unto those who do believe, who receive the VVord of God, and are Baptized, is the promife of the Spirit made: fee Galat.3. 14. that the bleßing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. VVhy, we cannot be lieve without the Spirit; yet,through believing, thofe that do believe, are made partakers of the promife thereof: fee likewise John 7. 38, 39. faith our Saviour, he that believeth on me, out of his belly fhall flow Rivers of living water; this he spake of the Spirit, which they that did believe should receive from whence I might Reafon as before. But further, we may obferve, that this promife of the Spirit the Apostle doth annex unto faith and Baptifme, Ads 2. 38. where faith the Apostle, Repent and be Baptized for the Remiffion of fins, and you fhall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. F 13 Query. *{ Query. Now I would Query' of you, was this promife proper onely to fome believers, or all believerspit you fay, To fome, as your principle muft lead you to; for you must either style it to fome in the Apostles times, or elfe to the time of the firft Apostles, who received the Word at the mouth of Chrift, to give unto use then IvAntwerɔds mornin er Anfm The following words may flop your mouths for the promife hath a larger extent then you dream of it was unto them and their Children, and all that are afar of, event to as many as the Lord our God fhall call his belt goda di l From whence I minde,the promife of the Spirit is as much ours (according to the wife difpofing of God, who knows belt in what manner to bestow it on his people, as it was theirs., ol jogh od cig And whereas you boaft of parts and gifts, beyond those that have practifed practifed this Ordinance ; yet let me tell you, that herein is much vanity, and your boafting is not good. For though Goda injoyne us to the use of Ordinances, yet himfelf is not tyed thereunto therefore if your gifts be greater,learn to make a right glory, and his ufe of them, for Gohot to oppose peoples comfort, the truth. Surely, there will be one day a fad account given of the gifts God hath given unto then, who will be found, that in ftead of makingva right and good improvement of them for Gods glory, and his peoples comfort and incouragement they have madera contrary ufes of them, and that to their trouble and difcou ragement, and with their lyes have made the hearts of the righteous fad, Eżekɔnrgɔ221adrotoru.ča. Lemo I do believe, there were in the Apoftles dayes, thofe that boasted as much of gifts as your felves, which caused a difefteem of the Apostles! I 4 among |