Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-19

particularly to call to your attention
at this time is the promised gift of the
Holy Ghost. st. Peter speaks OF it
with baptism. Repent and be bap-
tized, every one of you, in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
sins, and ye shall secure the gift of
the Holy Ghost " In some degree
the Holy Spirit touches the heart and
conscience of every human being.
His is the only moral and spiritual
light by which, our spiritual eyes can
see anything that is good. His is the
spiritual agency by which we repent
an believe; and by one spirit we
are all grated into one body in holy
baptism; but some special and specific
gift is spoken Sof to which baptism
entitled, but did not give to us, the
recipients of baptism. When the
apostles themselves were the minis
ters, there is no mention how the
province was fulfilled, as fulfilled it
evidently was, for we read: "Thcy
that gladly received the work were
baptized, and they continued stead
fastly in the apostles doctrine and
fellowship, and in the breaking OF the
bread and in the prayers" But in the
eighth chapter of the Acts the question
raised by the text is fully answered.
Philip the deacon went down TO Sam
aria and preached Christ unto them,
and they all with one accord gave
heed with those things which Philip
spake and were baptized, both men
and women" Now all these people
had believed, repented and were bap-
tized. Some would ask, what more
was necessary. Not so thought our
Lords Apostles. Not so thought our
Lords Apostles. When the Apostles
heard this good news at Jerusalem
they sent unto them Peter and John,
who when they came down, prayed for
them that they might receive the
Holy Ghost, for as yet he had fallen
upon none of them, only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus. Then they laid their hands
upon them, and they received the
Holy Ghost. 1t follows that the in
ferior ministers could preach and bap-
tie, but those baptized must wait for
the coming Of an Apostle, and by their
prayer and the laying on of their
hands, the higher gift OF the Holy
Spirit was bestowed, and the converts
OF Samaria were thus endowed with
all the gifts and privileges OF the first
converts of Jerusalem.
And this was not new and un-
heard of thing even then. Such cases
were already contemplated and pro-
vided for. Those baptized were en-
titled to and were heard to expect a
further gift and endowment of the
Holy spirit. And this came by prayer
and the laying on the hands of the
apostles. Those at Samaria baptized
by Philip the deacon were only bap-
tized. They were waiting for further
blessings that came from higher or
der of tho ministry. That they thus
waited and lived in expectation of
what actually occurred must have
been in consequence OF the positive
teaching that they had received; that
every one who repented and was hap
tized for the remission of sins was en-
abled to and expected the fullfilment
of the promise ''To shall secure the
gift of the Holy Ghost" and
the promise vas fulfilled when
the apostles prayed for them and laid
their hands upon them. Thus there
comes to the surface and is exhibited
the teaching and guidance and direc-
ton Jesus Christ hal in person
given to his chosen twelve when the
Holy Spirit brought all things to their
remembrance, whatsoever he had
said unto them. Hence, the founders
of the Church acted throughout upon
one uniform settled plan and system
which becomes the model and exam
pie for all coming time. Confirmation
or the laying on of hands has hence
been served in the Church to the
bishops as the successors of the apos-
ties, not because of any reasoning or
argument that they only have this
right and privilege, but simply because
apostles and apostles only, are recorded
to have discharged this function.
1t is just like the question of ordi-
nation. We do not accept ordination
to the ministry from any but Bishop,
simply because there are numerous
instances in the New Testament in
which Apostles did admit men to the
ministry, and not one instance in
which any but an Apostel did dis
charge this function. We are sure
we are right in doing as the founders
of the Church did. We cannot be
sure in adopting theories of our own
that justify departure from the rec
ord, and this position is strengthened
by the undoubted fact that for the
space of 1900 years ordination and
confirmation were always and every.
where confined to the Bishops, the
higher order of ministry.
And this, of course, did not mean
Bishops only in name, but those
elected, chosen and set apart as
Bishops by the imposition of hands
of other Bishops.
All this you observe is simply re-
fusiDg to try to be wise above what
is written, being certain that the word
of God is sure and steadfast, and it is
safe in all such matters to "trust in
the Lord with all thine heart and hear
not to thine own understanding"
The position taken may be further
confirmed and illustrated by two
| other passages. st. Paul found GER
tain disciples at Ephesus who had
been baptized by John the Baptist,
but who had not secured the Holy
Ghost. He instructs them, has them
baptized, and when Paul had laid his
hands upon them, then they received
the Holy Ghost.
In the sixth chapter of the epistle
to the Hebrews, the principles Of the
doctrine of Christ are spoken of as
the foundation which the writer takes
it for granted all Christians have
'laid." Now see what these first
principles are which all Christians
had received. What are all these
foundations which all Christians had
laid? Really they are our repent
ance from dead works and faith
toward God, the doctrine of baptisms
Il 4 l.