foundation,) is the first office in the houfe of God: fee the 1 Corint. 12. 28, verf. God hath fet fome in the Church; first Apoftles, &c. fo Chrift did afcend, and gave gifts unto men, and that fome to be Apoftles, as well as other offices in the Church, Ephef. 4.8. compared with the 11. verf

Object. But now fome may fay, Chrift did chufe Apostles, he chofe Twelve, which he called Apostles; therefore they ceafing, the office ceased. bini

2

Aufwer. To which I Answer,that this was before Chrift afcended;burafter he afcended, he gave fome Apoftles; that is, to that work to lay the foundation, Ephef.4. 11, verf. and fo Paul and Barnabas were Apo ftles, Ads 14. 4. and 14. verf. and others also spoken of in the 2 Cor. 8. 23.verf. 1 Cor.14.1. compared with 6. and 9. verf. He that doth autho ritatively as the first Apostles, or by

vertue

vertue of the authority of theChurch of Chrift, lay the foundation of the fervice of God, he is properly an Apostle, he doth the work of an Apostle:for other foundation no man can lay, that is to be approved of by the Lord; yet other men may lay the fame, even preach the fame Do&trine of Chrift, which he did, &c.

Thirdly, of laying on of hands upon Baptized believers as fuch, to the end they might receive the Spirit.

THat laying on of hands upon Baptized believers, as fuch,is one part of their obedience to the Lord, which he requires of them; an Ordinance of the Lord Jefus Chrift; I fhall thus prove unto you:

First, because it is a faying of our Lord Jefus Ghrift, that which he taught, and that for believers obeC 3 dience,

dience, as well as repentance, faith. and Baptifme fee Heb. 6. 1, 2. Many perfons do fay, If we could but fee, where ever Chrift taught it Surely, we should not gainfay it. O that now they would confider for their conviction this Scripture, Heb. 6. 1. verf. where the Apostle calls it the Doctrine or Teaching of Chrift; and a more fufficient witness that Chriftutaught it, we cannot have, then the Apoftle is. The Doctrine of Chrift, that which he taught,as he did repentance,faith, refurrection and eternal judgment: Now confider, Doctrine doth imply teaching, and teaching doth infer practife, that fo believers might learn, for teaching and learning are relations as a Father and Child, the one infers the other. Now to inforce this reafon for our obedience, we may confider these three things. First, what the Apostle faith, in Acts 3. 22. verf. where we are in

joyned

joyned to a hearing of Chrift in all things, and that allo from the danger that will follow our neglect, as in the 23 verfe.

2. In that it is placed amongst those foundation-principles, Hebr. 6.1,2.and that in the midft of them, as if the Spirit of the Lord did forefee the oppofition that would be made against this truth.

3. Because it is one of Christs firft teachings, and therefore thofe words in Heb.6.1. may be rendered the beginning-word of Christ,the A.B.C. of a Chriftian, one of thofe firft leffons that believers then did learn, and now should learn; which is this, to wait upon God in this way of his, for the Spirit of promife,which is their right, whereby they might be inabled, as they do defire, to do him fervice.

Object. But now unto this, fome oject, and fay, that all things that Chrift did and faid, we are not to

C 4.

be

be followers of him in,as to raise the dead, to command the winde to cease,and the like.

Anfwer. To which I answer though this may be true, yet what is this to the purpofe? Because we are not to say in all things as he did; therefore we must say in nothing as he did, neither as he taught us: this is error with a witness. We grant that in all things we are not to do and fay as Chrift did : But yet in all things that does relate to the worfhip and fervice of God, as repentance, faith, and Baptism; or our duty in our conversation, we are to do as he hath faid, for unto this God himself commands us,fee Luke 9.35. Als 3.22. Him fhall ye hear in all things, &c.

Object. Further, to make voyd this reafon, fome object, and fay that Chrift taught the refurrection of the dead, and eternal Judgment, as well as laying on of hands; but tha is

only