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Gent. I own Cyprian and Tertullian speak of this rite as practifed in their times; but I must beg leave to obferve,

1. That confirmation in those days immediately followed baptifm, and was not deferred till many years after, as it is amongst us.

2. They thought that no person was regenerated by the Holy Ghost till hands were laid on him. We do not, fays Tertullian*, receive the Holy Ghost by baptifm, but being cleansed by water we are prepared for the Ho Ghoft. And bands are laid on the body, that the foul may be illuminated by the Holy Spirit +. But our church is better taught: The bifhop declares to Almighty God, that thefe his fervants ARE regenerated both by water and the Holy Ghoft, even before he lays his hands upon them. He therefore does it not after the example of those antient fathers, neither, as well as not after that of the apostles, as was Defore obferved.

3. In thofe early days, priests confirmed as well as bifhops; but now the bishop's hands are not supposed to give the Holy Ghoft; yet, as if there were fome fuperior facredness in this, than in

Non quod in aquis Spiritum Sanctum confequamur fed in aqua emundati.-Spiritui Sancto præparamur. De Baptis, cap. vi.

† Caro manus impofitione adumbratur, ut & anima fpiritu illuminetur. De Refurrectione, cap. viii.

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the priest's hands, this act is by the authority of our church confined to the bishop. But,

4. Men of learning and modesty surely will blush to ground this rite upon the authority of the antient church, because they know that the fame antient church esteemed unction with oil, as important a part or appendix of baptism as this laying on of hands. He that is baptized, (Says Cyprian* ) muft of neceffity be anointed, that having received the chrifm, or unction, he may become the anointed of God, and have the grace of Christ in himself. And as this unction followed baptifm, fo exorcifm went before it; the minifter put his hand upon the person to be baptized, and breathed on his. face, implying hereby the expelling of the devil; and thus he was prepared for baptifm and confirmation, which were immediately to follow. Now as the fame antiquity which recommends one of thefe rites, alike recommends them all, why are they not all alike received? Why do not our priests exorcife and anoint, as well as our bishops. confirm? The one is antique, and therefore as venerable and facred as the other.

Vic. No-But the wisdom of our church appears in dropping all that is extravagant in the: practice of the antients; in not pretending to exorcife the devil, nor to confer the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands; but only thus folemnly to

* Ungi quoque neceffe eft eum qui baptizatus fit, &c. Ep. ad Januar. de Bon. hæret.

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call upon persons baptized in their infancy to renew their baptifmal covenant, and to make a perfonal furrender of themselves to the holy trinity.

Gent. 'Tis furely very wife quite to drop antiquity, feeing 'tis granted on all hands, that fo many extravagant and filly things were practifed in the very antient church. Did the bishop indeed, as you fay, only folemnly call upon the people of his diocefe to renew their baptifmal covenant and to confirm it at the Lord's table, the rite might be very useful; but as 'tis now managed, it appears to me an extreamly odd and unjuftifiable thing: It tends to propagate superstition, expofes chriftianity to contempt, and dangerously co-operates with the great deceiver of men's fouls, by ftifling their juft fears and lulling them afleep in vice.. Well, the firft of my affertions is, I hope, now pretty well cleared, viz. That there is nothing plausible, much less rational, to be urged for this rite. Will you favour me with your wonted goodness, whilft I go through the fecond, viz. that there is much to be faid against it.

Vic. Argue, Sir, with your wonted calmness, and I will patiently attend.

Gent. By the order in our common-prayer, all perfons baptized when they come to competent age, and are able to say the Lord's prayer, the creed, the ten commandments and the fhort catechifm, are to be brought to confirma

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tion *. The bifhop having afked-Whether they renew the folemn promife and vow, that was made in their name at baptifin, upon their answering,. we do, declares in the moft public and folemn manner, even in an addrefs to God himself, That he has vouchfafed to regenerate thefe his fervants by water and the Holy Ghost, and to give them the forgivenefs of all their fins; and laying his hand upon the head of each particular perfon, be certifies him, by that fign of God's favour, and gracious goodness towards him.

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Now this bifhop they are taught to look upon as an ambaffador of Jefus Chrift, and a fucceffor of the apoftles, who had power to forgive fins and when they hear this venerable perfon thus folemnly declaring, that God hath regenerated and forgiven them, can you blame them if they believe it, and in this confidence prefume their fouls to be in a safe ftate?

And as a full remiffion of fins is to be had on fuch eafy terms, no wonder that thoufands flock from all parts to be bishoped, many of them with like merriment as if going to a revel; and that perfons of very vicious and profligate characters thrust themselves in, to be partakers of this grace. And I add, no wonder the deluded creatures, think

* A great part of what follows concerning confirmation, abfolution, and the burial of the dead, was published in the Old Whigy No. 126, 127.

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ing their old fcore thus fully quitted, with fresh vigor begin a-new, and conclude the day (which is often the cafe) with drunkenness, riot, and fhameful excess.

That ignorant and unthinking people should be thus eafily deluded by pretences of priestly power, and be willing to receive impofition of hands, to certify them of God's favour in their regeneration and pardon, without parting with their vices and the trouble of repentance, is not so strange; but that fuch learned and pious men as our reverend bifhops and clergy, who know the aptness of mankind to deceive themselves with falfe hopes, and the horrid danger of their fo doing, that these should thus contribute to lull them afleep in vice, and without knowing their hearts, or having a due acquaintance with their lives, declare them in God's prefence regenerated and pardoned, is a conduct truly furprising.

What warrant, in God's name, have they to pronounce a man's fins all forgiven, and himself regenerated by the Holy Ghost, upon no other grounds than his being able to answer the questions of the fort catechism, and his profeffing that he does and will ftand by his baptismal engagements? Is this the notion our right reverend prelates teach concerning regeneration; or do they really believe this to be the condition of christian pardon? Will a mere profeffion procure from God a certain and full forgiveness? Are good vows and refolutions

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