Its form _should be by immersion_. "Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through faith" (_Col. ii._, 12.) "Were all baptized of Him in the River of Jordan" (_Matt. iii._, 6; _Mark i._, 5-9). "Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (_Matt. iii._, 16; _Mark i._, 10). "John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there" (_John iii._, 23). "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water" (_Acts viii._, 36-39). ITS OBJECT.-"John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the _remission of sins_" (_Mark i._, 4). "And he came into the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the _remission of sins_" (_Luke iii._, 3 ). "Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the _remission of sins_" (_Acts ii._, 38). "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (_Acts xxii._, 16). RECEPTION OF THE HOLY GHOST BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. The vital importance of this ordinance seems to be entirely overlooked by the majority of the Christian world, yet the most emphatic stress was placed upon it by the early teachers of Christianity. It is referred to frequently by every writer in the New Testament. The nature of its workings and the manner of obtaining it were carefully dwelt upon by the various writers, and it does seem that only willful blindness could so far lead the people away from the primitive custom and practice of laying on of hands to acquire this gift. But some may answer, "We are already in possession of the Holy Ghost." We ask then, "Will it do the same things it did anciently?" If not, why not? What has caused it to lose its power, and become the uncertain teacher it is to-day? For if the Christian world of the present age is in possession of this blessing, why does it teach the people of one church that a certain principle is true, and the people of another church that the same principle is untrue? What of the multiplied thousands of beliefs, creeds, faiths, dogmas and doctrines that flood the land? Are they all inspired by the Spirit of God, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and sustained by the doctrines of the Bible? If not, which are right and which wrong? {289} These are questions of great importance, and should be well considered. Let the word of God speak for itself in the following quotations: