"He did, but instead of administering the ordinance of baptism to them, He took them in His arms and blessed them, declaring at the same time that they were pure and free from sin like unto those who are in the kingdom of heaven. A little {276} child is free from sin, is pure in heart, in fact, is the great example of goodness which Christ points out for us to follow. (Mark x: 13-16.) Baptism, then, is for people who are old enough to embrace it intelligently, not for children who cannot understand its significance, and who already belong to the kingdom of heaven." "We have now examined three of the fundamental principles of the gospel of salvation. There is one more that I wish to touch upon, after which we will discuss a subject that is of more interest to you, perhaps, than any of these. The principle which I now wish to speak of is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which in olden times always followed obedience to the principles we have discussed, and when once received brought with it some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When the first sermon was delivered after the crucifixion of Christ, at the time when the apostles were endowed with power from on high, a multitude of people were pricked in their hearts, and asked Peter and the rest of the apostles what they should do. Peter answered this all-important question; and so far as authority to do so was concerned, we must admit that he, of all men at that peculiar time, was fully capable, for he was in possession of the keys of the kingdom of God, bestowed upon him by Christ himself. He was the senior apostle, and, with his brethren, had been endowed with power from above. Therefore, he, more than any minister of our day, occupied a place that enabled him to answer correctly, and with authority." "You are stating the case properly, but what did he tell them?" queried the man of law. "His answer is found in the second chapter of Acts, beginning with the 38th verse. You will observe that as soon as he discovered that they had faith, he taught them repentance, then baptism for the remission of sins, and followed these doctrines with a promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost." "Yes, commencing at the verse mentioned it says: 'Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children and to all that are afar off, _even_ as many as the Lord our God shall call.'" "But how were they to receive the Holy Ghost?"