applyed to thofe that are Baptized, fee Ads 2.38. where faith the Apoftle, And you fall receive the gift of Holy Spirit for the promise is to you; yea, faith he, to as many as the Lord our God fhall call; that is, the promised Spirit fhould be given according to the will of God: and in the 41 verf. it is faid, They that gladly received the Word were Baptized, and the fame day were added unto them three thoufand Souls where we may take notice of this order; 1. They gladly received the Word; 2. Were Baptized; 3. Were added to the Church.

From whence we may learn thus much, that by Baptifme they were nor added; because their addition to the Church followed after their Baptifme: for as their gladfomereceiving of the Word went before their Baptifme, fo did their Baptifme before their addition; which addition was fomething elfe befides, and more then Baptifm for fo much

L

the Text doth hold forth; and being added, they continued in the Apoftles Doctrine: and fo it is plain, as it is part of the foundation, fo it followed Baptifme, as you may fee by the practise thereof, Ads 8.17,19. Chapter 6: 7.

3. Reafon. Becaufe as Chrift and his Apoftles did teach it, fo they taught it as a principle of the foundation of the fervice of God, a

foundainciple of that service,

wherein they were to live to the Glory of God, and upon which they were to ftand to go on to perfection: read Heb.6.1.2.

When Mofes was to build a Tabernacle unto God, he had a ftri& charge, that he should do every thing according to the pattern the Lord had given him, Exod. 25.40. -and fo afterward, when Solomon was to build the Temple, he likewife was to do it according to the patI tern which David had received by

the

the Spirit and as it is faid,which he was made to understand, by the hand of God upon him: the first of Chron. 28. 11,12, and 19.

Now as Mofes and Solomon were not left at liberty to follow their Own understanding, but were faithfull to make all things according to the pattern of Gods will: So neither were the Apostles, but alfo were faithful stewards of the will and commands of the Lord Jefus : the first of Cor.4.1. which Jefus the Chrift, likewife was a Meffenger, and the great Prophet of the eternal God, whofe word is Gods will unto his people, Aus 7.37. and who as a Son, even as Mofes a Servant, was faithful over his own house, Heb. 13.2. who was faithful to him that appointed him, even as Mofes was faithfull in all his houfe; Even as Mofes as Mofes was faithful to do every thing, exactly according to the pattern; fo was the Lord Jefus Chrift faithD 3

full

full unto him, who did appoint

And furely this confidered, we may easily fee, there is not lefs exactness and circumfpection to be ufed now in times of the Gofpel, in building a Spiritual houfe unto God, then there was under the Law, in that which was typical: for that exactness under the Law ferved but as an example or fhadow of Heavenly things, that is to fay, Spiritual or Gofpel-things, Heb. 8.5.

Now this being a foundationprinciple, it ought to be laid in every Church of Chrift: for it is no way confonant to truth, for a man to think ever to make a lafting building, (either in Spirituals or Civils) without a good foundation; for faith David, Pfal. 11.3. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? read Luke 6.49. This being a principle of Gods chufing, to be laid in the beginning or foundation of his

fervice;

fervice; How doth it concern us, and all those who put to their hands to erect and conftitute a Church unto Chrift, to do whatever they do, as much as in them lies, according to the pattern given by God; & that in building they leave out no part of his foundation for a principle is a main fupport unto the building, efpecially where God himself layes it.

14. Reafon Because laying on of hands is an oracle of God, one of thofe commands that God gave unto his Church, read Heb. 5. 12. with Heb. 6,1,2. faith the Apostle, You have need to be taught again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, that is, of his Commands, for fo the word oracle doth imply, as you may fee, Ads 7.38. This is he that was in the Church in the wilderness, with the Angel which Spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our Fathers who received the lively oracles to give unto us; D 4 that