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TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.

Ranters, or Primitive Methodists, Brianites, or Bible Christians, Protestant Methodists, Tent Methodists, Independent Methodists, and Kilhamites).

These three do not receive or teach the Truth respecting the doctrine of "laying on of hands," which St. Paul classes among the fundamental doctrines of Christianity[1], and by which the Christian ministry receives its commission and authority to administer the Word and Sacraments. For they one and all reject the first (i. e. the Apostolic, or as we now call it, Episcopal) order of clergy, who exercised that rite according to the New Testament, and without whom there is no warrant from Scripture for believing that the Clergy can be appointed, or the Sacraments be duly administered[2].

4. Baptists, who have departed from the Truth not only as concerns the doctrine "of laying on of hands," but also as concerns the doctrine of Baptism; another of the fundamental doctrines, according to St. Paul. For they refuse to permit their children to receive that sign of admission into the Christian covenant. Thus they contradict the Old Testament, for there we find that to the Christian Covenant, or Covenant in Christ, which God confirmed[3] with Abraham, children were enjoined to be admitted; and those children whose parents withheld them from receiving the sign of the covenant, were counted by God to have broken His covenant[4]. They contradict also the New Testament, for there our Saviour says, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not[5];" and St. Paul declares that where either parent is a believer, then "are the children holy," i. e. admissible to the covenant of grace[6].

5. Quakers, who reject altogether laying on of hands, and both the Sacraments.

Besides these are, especially in Wales, Jumpers and Shakers,

  1. Heb. vi. 2.
  2. See "Churchman's Manual," pp.5–15. Acts xiv. 2,3. 1 Tim. v. 22. Tit. i. 5.
  3. Gal. iii. 17.
  4. Gen. xvii. 14.
  5. Mark x. 14.
  6. 1 Cor. vii. 14.