We learn, from 6th Hebrews, that the laying on of hands was enumerated among the principles of the Gospel. It is known by all, that this ordinance, as well as baptism for the remission of sins, by immersion, is quite neglected at the present day in the Christian churches; a few remarks, therefore, upon this subject I hope will prove profitable. We have several instances where Christ laid his hands upon the sick and healed them; and, in his commission to the apostles, last chapter of Mark, he says--"These signs shall follow them that believe;" "they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." &c. Ananias laid his hands on Saul, who immediately received his sight, after this ordinance was administered. Paul, when shipwrecked upon the island of Melita, laid his hands upon the father of Publius, the governor of the island, and healed him of a fever. These few remarks show clearly that laying on of hands has been appointed of God to be a medium through which heavenly blessings may be obtained. Although the healing of the sick was connected with the administration of this ordinance, yet, when we pursue the subject further, we shall discover that a still greater blessing was connected with this ordinance. We are told that, in the city of Samaria, men and women had been baptized by Philip, which caused great rejoicing in those baptized. They probably were rejoicing in consequence of having received remission of sins, through faith, repentance, and baptism, and of receiving some portion of the Holy Spirit of God, which naturally followed them, after having obtained the answer of a good conscience, by the remission of their sins. Through this portion of the Holy Spirit, which they came in possession of, they began to see the kingdom of God. For, it will be recollected that our Savior has declared that no man can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again; and, in the verse following, he says he cannot enter into it except he is born twice; first of water, then of the Spirit. Now, those people in Samaria had been born of water--they had received the first birth, therefore, they were in a state of seeing the kingdom of God, of contemplating, with the eye of faith, its various blessings, {84} privileges, and glories; but, as they had not been born the second time--that is, of the Spirit--they had not entered into the kingdom of God--they had not entered into possession of Gospel privileges in their fulness. When the apostles at Jerusalem heard of the success of Philip, they sent Peter and John to Samaria, for the purpose of administering the laying on of hands. Accordingly, when they arrived in Samaria, they laid their hands upon those that had been baptized, and they received the Holy Ghost. Simon the sorcerer, perceiving the Holy Ghost was given through the laying on of hands, offered the apostles money of they would confer upon him the authority of administering that sacred ordinance; so