THE

CONTENTS.

The Firft PART.

What Confirmation was in the days of the Apostles.

HAP. I. The Occafion of this Difcourfe. The Divifion of it. A brief Account of the Apoftolick Confirmation, and of its being Ordain'd of God.

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II. The Apoftolick Confirmation more Diftinctly confider'd. The Form or Manner of it.

III. The Grace given by the Apoftolick Confirmation.

IV. The End for which the Grace of Confirmation was given. The Neceffity of it.

V. Who were to be Confirm'd. The want of Confirmation not fupplied by the Lord's Supper. The Confirmation of Hypocrites and Ignorant perfons Null.

VI. The Sum of the First Part.

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V VIVANANAVINARAZVAN
The Second PART.

That the fame Confirmation that was in the days of the Apoftles, is Ordain'd of God to Continue to the End of the world.

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HAP. I. The Defign and Need of Confirmation never Ceafes.

II. Confirmation one of the First Fundamen tal Principles that continue for ever.

III. The Grace of Confirmation Promis'd to all Chriftians to the End of the World; and declar'd in the Scripture to be Given (in the Ordinary way) only in Confirmation by Laying on of

bands.

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IV. Confirmation Commanded.

V. The Doctrine of the Primitive Church concerning Confirmation.

VI. The Sum of the Primitive Doctrine. VII. The Doctrine of the Church of England concerning Confirmation.

VIII. Calvin's Confeffion concerning Confir

mation.

IX. Confirmation no Sacrament.

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The Third PART.

The Honour due to Confirmation.

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HAP. I. Confiderations to move us to give a due Honour to Confirmation.

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II. The Honour to be paid to Confirmation by thofe that Receive it; and Firft, in their Prepa ration of Knowledge and Practice.

III. The Immediate Preparation.

IV. The Behaviour of Perfons Confirm'd in their Confirmation.

V. The Diligent Care after.

VI. The Honour due to Confirmation from thofe that are to Prepare for it the Souls committed to their Charge. And Firft, the Duty of Parents and Mafters in Inftruction. The Neceffity of the Strict Obfervation of the Lord's Day, and other Holy Days for the fame InftruEtion. The Duty of School-mafters.

VII. The Duty of Minifters in Inftruction. The Neceffity of their Catechizing every Sunday and other Holy Day, and alfo Every day.

VIII. The Duty of Godfathers and Godmothers in Inftruction. Of the Means of bringing all to do their Duty therein.

IX. The Honour due to Confirmation, in PreJenting to the Bishop thofe that are Prepar'd for it. None to be admitted to the Holy Communion, that refufe to be Confirm'd.

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X. The

X. The Honour due to Confirmation from thofe

that Adminifter it. The great Neceffity and Be-

nefit of Yearly Perfonal Vifitations, as in the

Primitive Church What is to be done to Dif

fenters.

XI. What is to be done to Ideots, and to those

who are dull through Neglect.

XII. The great Inconveniences of the Neglect

of Confirmation. The great Benefits of the due

Obfervation of it. An Exhortation to Prayer.

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The First PART.

What Confirmation was in the days of the Apostles.

CHAP. I.

The Occafion of this Difcourfe. The Divifion of it: A brief Account of the Apoftolick Confirmation, and of its being Ordain'd of God.

Ltho' nothing is more Evident in the Holy Scriptures, than that Confirmation is the Ordinary Means, whereby God gives to all Chriftians to the End of the world, their Share of the Gift of the Holy Ghoft, which was given to the Apostles on the Day of Pentecoft: Yet this the Means of fo Ineftimable a Grace, a Grace referv'd for the Honour of Chrift's Kingdom *, ever fince the Fall of mankind, is lightly esteem'd; and either wholly neglected and defpis'd, as an indifferent thing ordain'd only by man; or us'd in fuch manner, as rather Grieves the Holy Spirit, than obtains any Benefit from him.

It fhall therefore be the business of this Difcourfe, with God's affiftance, to endeavour to vindicate the High and Holy Dignity of this Ordinance, from the mean opinion and contempt that are caft upon it; by fhewing

First, What it was in the days of the Apostles:

Secondly, That the Same is Ordain'd of God to continue to the End of the world: and

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Thirdly, What is the Honour due to it.

What it was in the time of the Apoftles, is fhew'd A&ts 8. 14, &c. When the Apoftles which were at Jerufalem, heard that Samaria bad received the word of God, they fent unto them Peter and John. Who when they were come down, prayed for them. that they might receive the Holy Ghoft (For as yet he was fallen