"By the laying on of hands. When Peter went down into Samaria for the purpose of bestowing this gift on those whom Philip had baptized, he did it by the laying on of hands. (Acts viii: 17.) Ananias conferred it upon Paul in the same manner (Acts ix: 17), and Paul did the same in the case of those who {277} were baptized at Ephesus (Acts xix: 2-6); and when people received this birth of the Spirit (John iii: 5), they also received the promised blessings; they were entitled to the signs which He promised would follow; for, said He, 'These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover' (Mark xvi: 17, 18). We have now discovered the conditions: faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, with the promise of Christ that the signs shall follow." "You must remember, my friend, that the signs were only given in order to establish the church in the days of the apostles; but now they are dispensed with and no longer needed." "To the law and to the testimony," replied Durant, "and give me chapter and verse to substantiate the assertion you have just made." "If you will read the 13th chapter of the 1st Corinthians, you will learn that 'whether there be prophecies they shall fail, and whether there be tongues they shall cease.'" "If you will take pains to read the two verses following, you will see that 'we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.' My friend, instead of this quotation proving that these things are done away, it establishes the assertion that they shall remain until perfection shall come. Surely no reasonable man will say that we have come to perfection." "I have understood that these gifts were no longer needed. This certainly is the conclusion that the ministers of the day have come to." "But this is not surprising to me, for this good old Bible declares that the time will come when the people will turn from sound doctrine to fables." (II. Tim. iv: 4.) "I must admit that you have convinced me that baptism is a necessity, and when I am baptized, the ordinance will be performed in the proper manner," said the doctor. "I am pleased to learn that, but I may have another surprise for you yet. May I ask, who do you intend shall baptize you?" "My minister, I suppose; why?" "If the words of the Bible be true, there may be a doubt as to whether your minister is authorized to baptize you." "Do you mean that these men, ministers of the gospel, have {278} no authority to officiate in that ordinance? I wonder what you will undertake next, but proceed, for I am now prepared for surprises."