The ceremony of the bestowal of the Holy Ghost is called confirmation. As baptism is the birth of water, so confirmation is the birth or baptism of the Spirit. Both are necessary to entrance into the kingdom of God, whether that is viewed in the light of the Church on earth or the glorious dominion of the Father in heaven. Only they who are led by this Spirit are truly the "sons of God." As it is bestowed through obedience, so it may be withdrawn through disobedience. The condition of those who lose this gift after having enjoyed it is truly lamentable. The light that was within them becomes darkness, and their last state is worse than their first. Their spiritual tastes become dead or vitiated, light seems to them darkness, and that which was once their greatest delight becomes the object of their deepest aversion. They then become a prey to influences of evil; hatred and malice spring up in their hearts towards the children of light; and the culmination of their career, if persisted in and reclamation does not come, is the shedding of innocent blood, for which there is no forgiveness. The possessor of the Holy Ghost is infinitely rich; those who receive it and lose it are of all men the poorest. But there are various degrees of its possession. Many who obtain it walk but measurably in its light. But there are a few who live by its whisperings, and approach by its mediumship into close communion with heavenly beings of the highest order. To them its light grows brighter every day. For them are joys, anticipations and glorious hopes that thrill no other bosoms, sweet experiences that earthly pleasures cannot bring, and a spiritual growth towards the stature of Christ Jesus that eternity only will fully unfold to general view. FOURTH LEAF. Divine Authority--Without it all Gospel Administrations Vain--It Cannot be Acquired--The Priesthood, its Antiquity, Power and Blessings--The Priesthood of Melchisedek--The Aaronic Priesthood--Priestcraft--The Authority of God Must Come From God--Ordination--Value of the Priesthood. The ordinances of the gospel, being of divine origin, require divine authority in their administration. Baptism at the hands of one not appointed to attend to it is void. It is therefore without value and without effect. If any unauthorized person were to lay hands upon a baptized believer, even if the correct form of the ordinance were observed, the Holy Ghost would not flow to the subject. No matter how good the intentions of either party might be, the lack of authority would vitiate the whole transaction. No company, firm, society, court or government would acknowledge or become responsible for the acts of any but its duly appointed and properly accredited agents. Why then should the Great King endorse the doings of men who take upon themselves duties not required of them, or bestow, through their unauthorized performance, blessings that belong only to the administrations of His chosen ambassadors?