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'i cT? ^^^ -A ONFIRMATIOIV i A SERMON, BY THE IV. WILLIAM BETTRIDGE, B. D. RECTOR OF WOODSTOCK, CANADA. ! \\ "LAYING ON OP HANDS." — Heh. VU 2. ,. %■ WOODSTOCK : I TH t I Th kal exli bsof # 1 [o THE HONORABLE, AND RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GO | JOHN, (By Divine Permission) LORD BISHOP OF TORONTO. | The following Sermon, as an humble tribute of gratitude for the devotion' bal exhibited by His Lordship, in the maintenance of ihe Doctrines and Ordii | I , f !■ tsof our Reformed Branch of Christ's Caiholic Church, is respecllully dedic< ' William Bettridge, # CONFIRMATION. LAYING ON or IIAND.S. — IIUB. VI. 2. laving received official notification from th(3 Bishop of the Diocese, that he pij Is, during the course of the summer, holciin;i a Confirmation in ihij Church, of I, 111 of this Town and neighbourhood, I conceive I shall best contribute to c^ [aration for receiving, or witnessing this holy ordinance, by a brief exposition' luthority upon which the observance of thij rile rests ; by a plain statement of I', jn contemplated by the Church in its use and continuance ; and by a simple in. )nofthe means whereby the candidates may attain a meetness for this sacr 1 have principally in view the i)ropriety of giving to the candidates a full a »ral understanding of the nature of the ordinance before they present themselV )rivate examination ; but in addressing you from the pulpit on the subject, I c', Jdesirous, that those persons, who, from ignorance or prejudice, think lightlyi. : joffice, and who, under the infiucnce of such schismatical feelings, have hithei \ jiied obedience to the distinct injunctions of the Church, may have an opportuni; Ixamining their objections by the light of truth, and be induced to cullivaie ai. |\v the suggestions of an obediential spirit. 1 am, moreover, anxious to iutere lail in this work of faith and labour of love. We ask, because we need, yo, [ers, — that your Minister may have grace faithfully and zealously to discharf lluty in preparing the candidates, and that i/iey may receive with meekness t? [uciions given, so that in the *» laying on of hands " by the chief pastor oft!, jrch, the lloly Ghost may descend in the rich plenitude of His grace to confirt igthen, and settle them and us, in our most holy faith. • I Vq proceed, j It To enquire upon what authority this ordinance of Confirmation rests. ]id. To unfold the design of the Church in its use. rd. To suggest the preparation necessary for a due participation in this sacred rit k We trust to bo enabled to show from Sacred Scriptures, — the practice of I ; ^itive Church, --and the positive injunctions of our own, that the authority for th iiance is abundantly suflicient to bind the con.sci<^nce, and influence the conduct! |y right-minded Clirislian. The firsi scriptural authority we adduce, is the lex; lying on of hands." Tlie Apostle distinctly asserts that this was one of th ^•iples of the docjrine of Christ. It c.ould not, as we shall show, refer to the ordi )n of ministers. The very order in which a stands, must also indicate that th' Isunceeded the Sacrament of Baptism. There is, moreover, no intimation, tin [service of 'Haying on of hands " was a transitory one, or less permanent, if] |. than faith, repentance, or baptism. Its continuance in the Church is thi riy required. We ma> now turn to other uassnires of S II G ! I- I I i i !' } i paslo ased n s, ihe lies w oda unlin e sens y the chief I receii fore, pern nger as ihi sh the detiie M' I cers ol the Church,— the Apostles themselves. I rrfcr you to Acts vin, 15 3 learn, beyoiul doubt, that this sevxlce succeeded^ and was distinct from, ba[ Jv.) which had been minisiered unto the people by Philip. The Apostles perform that service, which Philip had no authority, mdeed no power to do. ve the order of events : — Philip preaches successfully ihe Gospel to the Samai baptizes them, men and women; intelligence arrives in Jerusalem; the A I send two of their body, Peter and John, down to Samaria— for what obJRcl! preach the gospel— that Philip had done; not to baptize — that Philip le ; not to ordain, for there were women as well as men, --but to n the disciples in their faith, by prayer for the Holy Ghost and bv imposi hands. It is not said that the Apostles gave the Holy Ghost-i lid only do that which the chief pastors can now do, they prayed for them zing prayed, they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghoal. y be said, hut the assertion is utterly incapable of proof, that the Apostles aoi y for the miraculous influences of the Holy Ghost for these people. 1 now ether from this single occurrence, the Church of Ehgland is not abundantly rized to continue an ordinance, the foundation of which is so manifestly restin] word of God] Arc we not also justified in our conclusion, that the wl iurch of Christ even in the Aposiles' dnys observed this ordinance? It is undi e that the Apostles Peter and John did ; and if they did, the other Apostles, re at Jerusalem, and who sent Peter and John, must have approved and ado| 3 service. It is true wo have no record of their all having done so, but sureli jufficient, that they deliberately did it once by chosen members of their body.— ' ostle Paul also, as you will immediately hear, adopted the same service, and ibtless at the suggestion of the Eternal Spirit, thus indicating to us, that it Wi ilmue an ordinance in the Church of Christ tor ever. VVe now refer yoi i Ts XIX, 5— 6, --Paul having preached to the Epiiesians, caused them to be b< 1 ; we say caused them to be baptized, for his cusii)m was not to baptize ; the niofls to this custom he has left on record ; the disciples at Ephesus are not '•!■ A^Qe mber of exceptions. After the baptism,— how long after is not stated, we ^4,^^,]^ ly from the context, that Paul preached boldly in the synagogue fjr three moni ; ;d then for two yeaas daily in the school of one Tyrannus ;— after the bap'J iul laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came on them. Paul had i j^er to give the Holy Spirit; like Peter therefore he prayed -his prayer "swered. The question now most naturally occurs: are the chief pastors of lUrch, successors of the Apostles, enjoined by any command or even intim^l abandon this principle of the doctrine of Christ, this praying for the Holy G' d ''laying on of hands" on the disciples of Christ? Or have we any, the slighi irrant to suppose that prayer and imposition of hands will be less eliicacious ni in in the days of the Apostles? The Apostle declares that repentance, fa ptism, and laying on of hands are amon<{ the principles of the doctrine of Ch jongto the foundation : where is the intimation that any of those principles are They are all, one and all, faith as repentance, baptism as faith, layin gam, our wore ona^ ractei was ceo id , he 5 invii iut28 comn iitde? hands as baptism, means to an end, that is, that the christian, through the bjliev e of ALL may go on, as the Apostle says, to perfection! It is undeniable 3se disciples did, through the prayer and ♦• laying on of hands'' of the Aposiles] itized ositio hrisi hrisl in 4 ,say if W Id U| heC lod n IS un nCi tex lituli Wo It. 1 pastor? of the Cliurch, become partakers of an inestimable blessing, even i [ased measure of the gift of the Holy Ghost, to which, without the use ofihc^ thej' would have remained strangers, unless indeed we suppose that i lllfis were guilty of an useless form or ceremony ; for which supposition we ha* )od a foundation as the enemies of Confirmation in the present day. But !' luntingly asked where is the word Confirmalion found in the Sacred Scripturi le sense we use the word? We answer 'lis not the word, but the thing sigi Iby the word which we insist on ; that is, prayer and " laying on of hands "• Ichief pastor or Bishop of the Church, in order that the true disciples of Jeff receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This we do find in Scripture, and this* jfore, our authority for Cdnfirmation. We might also say, that if Chrislh^ permitted to use only such words as are found in Sacred Scripture, they m,' )nger speak of the Sacrament of Baptism, or the Sacrament of the Lord's Si^^ as the word Sacrament does not once occur in all the Bible. Wo must h\ ish the word ♦* Trinity " ; it is not found in Scripture ; but where is the Christ* denies the doctrine conveyed by the word 1 f Pi gam. the primitive Church and ancient authors afford abundant author our practice. T o doubt of the fact ji hat^ Confirm ation, in our s ense , w as ^piversally observed i n Church, would "TO be I — f word, was m^ iv qfsaily observed in the primiuve onaBIe as to doubt of the unive rsal practice ot Inlant baptism. bnt uuifSeives, iherelore, with a tew quoiaiions frmii writers ol undoub- jracter and authority. Tertullian, a presbyter of the Church of C&rthal was born only about 60 years after the death of the Apostle John, very mini* lecords the practice of the primitive Church. In his celebrated treotise on b V he says, " After baptism succeeds laying on of hands, by prayer, calling { I inviiing the Holy Spirit." Again St. Cyprian, who was Bishop of Carlh; jut 28 years after the death of Tertullian, has left this remarkable declaration Icommeni on the conversion of the Samaritans, as given already from the Acts J Apostles. ** The same thing (says he) is practised among us, that they, who |tized in the Church, are presented to the Governors of it, that, by our prayers ; Josiiion of hands, they may obtain the Holy Ghost, and be perfected with the jj /hfist;" in other words that they may, by confirmation, attain to the highest or Christians. Again St. Jerome who was born in Pannonia in the year 330, ; in 420 (90 years old) in his discourse against Lucifer, and speaking of Confirj I, says, ♦♦ If you ask where it is written ? It is written in the Acts of the Apostl if there were no authority of Sacred Scripture for it, yet the consent of all \U upon this particular is instead of a command." Any reference to later wri Ihe Christian Church will be unnecessary, as it is conceded that, long before jiod already adverted to, confirmation (as understood by the Church of Englar js universally practised. 1 would simply observe, in passing, that the celebrr 111 Calvin, the author and founder of Presbyterianism, declares in his Instiutes \ text alone — " the laying on of hands " — evidently shows that Confirmation \ \Ut.nled by the JUpostks. |VVo shall now briefly adduce the injunctions of our Church on the s! |t. In the 60th Canon we read **It hath been a solemn, micieat 8 f I 11 ho limi of " IJ led th iai gra csls of loadin vnics lileges only, ied in li ponso ning a oht to audable custom, continued from tho Apostles' time, that all Bishops i1 ay their hands upon children, bo[irmation. 0( perl enai pu ba lice r I 9 [he limits of a sermon must nccossarily prrolude tlic full fI«v(^!opmcnt ol tho, of ** laying on ol hands,'' or Conlirmation. VVe shall, lhor(?rorc, endeav, ilecl those parts of th(3 great design, which appear best suited to oonciliato ' lial gratitude of every momber of the Church for her watcliful care over rests of the whole. loading feature in the design of the Church in Confirmation is manifestly to m<, V votes personal which were offered by suhatitutes or sureties in hapfJsni. 'L [ileges of baptism are of the highest character. — par don of o|i t imal sin, anc to llio benefit of what Christ did and sufTdrod, bv.'beinj' received into coven' iGod ihroaigh Hifh'.'" These great privileges, the Church, in the name, by irrity, and on behalf of her Divine [Jead, communicates to fiVf jiry in fant P j led in her sanctuaries^^ In return, she vequires a solemn pledge, oh the part sponsors, that the children, so received into covenant by baptism, shall, on ll:' ining a competent age, and after the instruction of the parochial minister,' igtit to the Bisihop for confirmation, in other words to take upon themselves, [ Imn vow, promise and profession, which their godfathers and godmothers \ )e for them in baptism. If the Church could, with certainty, anticipate a refu n any of her children to ** repent and believe" on their coming of age, th be no question the blessing of baptism would not be given.^Il id of imperial^ [emember that in baptism a solemn covenant is entered into betvveen God f God, on His part, promises remission of sins, and all otlicr benefits of Chri/* sion. Our part in the covenant is " repentance whereby we fursake ain, c whereby we stedfaslly believe tiio promises of God made to us in that sac' It." The priest, in the name of the Internal Trinity, pledges the fulfilment of line promise, and requires, on the part of the child, until ho come*? of age the vow upon himself, the solem.'i assurance of liis sponsors, that he sh sent himself before God and the congregation, and make a public confession ist and Him cruci(iedj_^ It is obvious from this* view, (and it is as important, Ibelieve it to be a correct one.) that the Church regards the blessings of bapti |ome measure as condilional^ — conditional, on our fulfilling the vow and prom tie for us in baptism. The shield i)f Chri.si's body, which is Mis Church, agaij [Divine wrath, is cast over us during the years of infancy and early youth: lession of faith by our sureties in our name, can be available only up to the per 5n we can make that profession ourselves. The Church, therefore, requires ll |should, on attaining a fit age, assun)e the responsibility which our sureties 1 in upon themselves in our name. And it should furnish rnalter for^er]ousj:tiL ], \vhether, b y deliberat ely refusing to be~conffrmed, we^Tlo not v i rtua jounce theTTessTngs oI_bapIism, a n d throw ourselves ty ac It u {kd rT t lio^uncovejiian rciflsofGqdt — whether^ we dp not itTlact, annul the covenanJL IT is most cert? fod^Ts *'the same yesterday, to-d'ay anclibrever." Hatii lie said it, and will perform tlis promise and covenant? — but if we refuse to put our seal to ' [enant — if we refuse obedience to Christ's requisition to "repent and believ publicly to confess Him ; can we regard the covenant as complete ? Nay, baptism complete without Confirmation? Certainly not, as lar as we t [icerned, When brought as infants to baptism, we UiTer no opposition to c! % "■i ^A 10 * ■ '^ . . I eptlon into the covenant of God's grace; the failli of the sponsors .in particul| Ic/iif^Jly the faiih of the whole Church is exercised, that during such unoppol Jirs olinfanoy the blessings of the Covenant shall be ours. But if, when we J ii^re, we rn''' "'p tf '•-'^^■ly the vows made in o i/r """^'^t wh^t i.rT liis but a dan J •a railing back from the str>te of salvation into whic h we were t)roiiglitj w it is. that Ui \ K laminin iged, IS jlic con |"al ir 1^ the [that a lion of pray( lay be and n ihal t praye le blesi it is fi " as ( I" in c 12 I I diligent and faiiiiful instruction of the Parish priest, the youth of his chard J)Ught to examine themselves whether they are in the faith; — now it is, ij '(itinued personal intercourse with the Minister, he is enabled to impress oil ylhful mind those practical lessons of piety, to impart those views of the loif ^d in Christ Jesus,— to inspire those hopes of a blessed immortality which the! ^h promised to his tru*^ disciples, — to instil that confidence and trust in the p] il goodness of the Saviour, the value of which, from ignorance or inattention,] «erto have been despised. Is there a parent here, who would not desire that] lid should he thus brought into confidential intercourse with his Minister, in •t the lessons already received at home, may be justified and confirmed by mj jal authority? Can we, dear brethren, be too anxious that our children st jisess sound Christian principles, and exhibit, in their lives, consistent Chris 'ictice ? The Church designs that her children should be thus trained; and lit I continues the Apostolic ordinance of Confirmation. f jind yet scriptural, wise, and parental as this design of the Church obviousl jenernies of the Church fail not to revile the ordinance, as a mere useless cfles, or iy, au absurd lifeless form, nay, a ridiculous superstition. What is the gi I ihey, — what pcssible spiritual advantage can a youth derive from the layin^ jl' Bishop's hands? If such objections could be considered of the slightest wei i ^1 redacting persons, then must the whole fabric of Christ's Church speedily "» utter ruin. Wonder not that the ordinances of Christ are now reviled; gelling of the Gospel by "men who spake as they were moved by the [loly Ghoi } considered, by the innjority of their hearers, uf^ foolishness. Let ii be suffid '«3 to know, that the orclinancp of *' laying on of hands" is scriptural, apostolii jithat, in all ages of God's Chuich, the ministers of religion were appointed | I -• to bless the people. tjifl I jlut we observe further, that in the ordinance of Confirmation the Bishop is j)nly actor, — the Congregation are also deeply interested, and should lake a livi iizealous part. They are called on to assist in humble, fervent prayer, that y -Spirit may descend into the heart'? of the Candidates, while the Bishop is layii ^is hands. Are we not all interested in the future character of our youll ^^t we not to desire, and pray, that they may become pious and consistent int yuct? Our youth, if pious, must become the leaven of society, — the very • e earth. Who can estimate the influence which even a very iew pious youBo ba jjchmen must have upon the morals, aye, upon the happiness, the well being,Bthi8 pommunity in which they reside? They must prove a blessing to a neighboul of t t; their light will shine, — a light to guide the wavering, — a light to warn tliAn in } fellow pilgrims Irom the error of their way. For instance, must not the oldpihe hbersofa Uongreg.ition leei the sting of conscience, when they see the youi :|iing to the table of their common Lord, while they them>elves are turni y I It is to bring the youth of her communion to this holy, unostentatious ha My that the Ch'irch contmues the aposiolic ordinance o( Confirmation. And ,if really anything so very vain, and empty, and absurd in a minister meeti "ouih of his (lock frequently, in pri 13 lamining them, and instructing them, and exhorting, and animating, an< jjffinfjthem to cleave to their God and Saviour? Aiid, wiien so prepared, anf [ged, is it really absurd or vain that the youth of the flock should appear 1/ lie congregation, and solemnly, and devoutly oresent their bodies, souIj nn* "a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable I?" \^ righily understood and undertaken, is not such an ordinance calculate^ the deepest, most lasting, impression upon the youthful mind "^ And is ; Ithat a whole congregation should assemble together to witness this voluntary lion of their own youth to the Saviour of the world 1 — that they should join il prayer, that the vowsol baptism, now so solemnly renewed in their own pei* lay be faithfully and religiously kept? Is there a heart, touched with the lov^ and man, which could assist unmoved in such a ceremony? And is itreall-' ihat the chief pastor or bishop should appear in the midst of the flock, and b«- prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit lay his hands on all, in hope and failj |e blessing of the Eternal Trinity shall indeed rest upon them ? ;• it is further objected by some, that the rite of Confirmation or " laying on tf " as observed in the Church of E.iglanci, is not identical with that of th jes, or of the Primitive Church, and herein especially, that the *' laying one I" in Sacred Scriptures, and in the Primitive Church, may be supposed to hav*' fled soon, if not immediately, after the sacrament of baptism. Admitting thiP ostolical *' laying on of hands" occurred soon afler baptism, and that, in t!' iveCliurch, it happened, in many instances, ifnmcdiafehj aCieVf we say, — thci iifirmation, or ** laying on of hands" in the Church of England is identica? as circumstances can possibly admit. And first, with respect to adulls, w |ive, that the id^Mility of the ordinance is perlect. In the order of bsiptism ft ersons it is di>tinctiy slated ** it is expedient that every person thus baptize b« conlirmed by the Bishop so soon after his baptism as conveniently may b( le may be admitted to the Huly Communion." Can the shadow of a doubt b ained that the Church of England requires, in perfect accordance with th ure model, the Confirmation of adults, as soon afler baptism as the oppoitunit ts itself, that is, as soon as the chief pa>lor or bishop visits the parish for tlu se ? This cannot be gainsaid. The disciples in Samaria waited for the Apos isit from Jerusalfm. At first sight, the difficulty, with respect to person ed in their infancy, may appear greater than in the case of adults. A littl illation will, however, shew that the difiicully is only apparent, and not rea 1 be allowed, that a public profession of repentance and laiih is essentially ncce.' baptism, and also lo ** laying on of hands." In baptism, an infant cannc this public profession in his own person ; he is the unopposing recipient of th of baptism, and mu»t be considered as a meu-ber of Christ, a child of Goc n inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven, until he attain the years of discretio the baptismal vows must become personal. If wo do nut believe that an inl'ar e partaker of the blessings of the iNew Covenant, and conseq uently a tompl Holy Liliost in bapt ism, ttie rTd o wo throw hirn out of the oaje of mercy, ar rii lj a?l usc^ltiss ce retnony, — it is a mock er y of the fajtji of the parents anji n urch, — a eupposiuon too fearful to be entertained. Now at what period shoyi ! -< ^ i 14 i'e consider a youth so baptizsd in his infancy, capable of discerning belwea ?vil and the good, — of coming to a dehberate choice of God as his ISaviour, ■ I flaking a public profession of faiih and repentance? As a general rule may J .; Ay precisely at that age when the Church requires that he should come toihel ^\ be confirmed 1 And if so, we assert, without fear of contradiction, that the om ^ *» laying on of hands " in the Church of England is perfectly and entirely! rjal wiih that of the Apostolic, and of the Primitive Church. Ji loilows imfim > {iter the ratification of the bapiisrual vows, as a reference to the service iisJ ijjovv. The solemn question is thus put by the 13ishop to every baptized persi t L **Do you in the presence of God and of this congregation, renew the solemiH Aise and vow that was made in your name at your baptism, ratifying and codSH ,1'ie same in your own person, and acknowledgmg yourselves bound to believeH ,), all those things which your godfathers and godmothers then undertook fotH f Each candidate answers, I do. 'I 4 I 1 I immediately upon thi^, a prayer is made by the Bishop and the whole confl I ■ nn fur the Holy Spirll, and then succeeds " the laying on of hands." ■ t • • I f From this simple statement it will appear clear, that the Confirmation servH K' Church of England is precisely the same, with ** the laying on of h;inds"B nostolic, anj primitive Church, as lar as circumstances will permii, as well il j.se of those who were baptized in their infancy, as in that of adults. I :. Upon the whole then we say, let the scoffer and the infidel revile ; the simple-S n Churchman will bless his God that such an ordinance exists, and will le.! r.ay that all, who are partakers of it, may adorn the doctrine of their tSavioutI I'jOliness and godliness of living. I I I j f. Having thus shown the design of the Church in this ordinance orConfirmntioii| (Juke thos3 views yersnnal, which were oliered by substitutes or sureties in liapl ijrto pray fur a gieuier measure of the Huly Spirit upon the baptized ; to introdul yuth of the flock iiiio full churchmembershi3 ; and to present ihern the best l J nder God) fur encountering prudently, and 'overcoming etiectuully, the diffil , f , .^•^e'«' pilgrimajie ;— we shall briefly conclude wiih a few suggestions on the J (ration necessary to a due participation in the Holy ordin-ince of Confirmation. I ,'r in the ♦♦ laying on of hands " prayer is made by the Bishop and congregatil ij*e gift of the Holy Ghost, so let each^candidate know ihut so high a privllegl issiing must besought in private, solemn, ferveni pra)er. No approacli 1 jfjujesty oflJeaven can be acceptable, exce(;t as secured by the intercession J f .ernal Spirit ; no prayer can bo made, except under his divine teaching ; aiil ihs we ask for that leaching and for these influences, we have no warranfto bel (_iy will be given ; I earnestly entreat, therefore, each and every candidate tol «;ntinually for divine leiching and guidance, that vou may have the hearinl •.d the unJerslauJing heart,— that you may bdievo that it is a real blessinii yJ u irning beiwa is ISaviour, al rule may I d come to ihej n, that the oriji and entirely! loilows imn service its baptized perJ evv the solemj ing and conil nd to believef ndertook for e whole conj ids.'' firmation serJ bn of hinds"! 'cnii, as well 'ults. e ; the simple-' 1 and will ie,j ^ their Saviour! Jto obtain, and not a nnere form that you are about to piss through : enter c luty before you, in simplicity and sincerity of heart, persuaded that Christ w Iquirelhe discharge of a duty, for the faithful perlormance of which he dops u m abundant blessing. You may not understand noWf but follow in the path ■ )bedience, and even your present comparative darkness shall become light )rd. Filially, to prayer you must add the sincere resolution, by God's help, I henceforward in all his holy ways ; you must seek at once for a meetness ceofthe Supper of the Lord, so that, having publicly taken upon yourselves l\ Jmade for you in baptism, you may forthwith draw near with faith to the fea Irist's body and blood, whereby your souls may be strengthened and refreshe lieve and to do all the good pleasure of your Saviour. 1 publicly declare Ihi Minister, your Church, and your Saviour expect that the ralificaiion of vol Imal vows in Confirmation will be followed, as soon as the opportunity presen bv your partaking of the Holy Communion of the Lord's Supper. All I ask < bandidates at present is a full acquaintance with the Catechism. During tt It week I shall notify the several candidates of the time and place of our fir I . ' ' ♦ lu have now been apprized of the authority upon which the ordinance of Coi Ition rests — the Sacred Scriptures, — the primitive Church, —and your own ; yc the design of the Church in its use; and the preparation necessary for a dt kipation in the holy ordinance. It remains for me to commend the seed thi I to Him, who can alone give the increase, and may that increase be to the prai: Is great name. Aaien. i''Confirmatioii| u relies in Bapl ed ; to introduj lern the best dly, the difli(| jtioiis on the onlirinution. id congregaliij igh a privijegj 'O Qp() roach intercession teaching ; anj warrant lo bq y candidate ^0 {ho hearing al blessing yc t ii