One of the important duties required of an apostle is to ADMINISTER THE SPIRIT. In 2 Cor. iii 6, we read that both Paul and Timothy were made "able ministers" "of the Spirit." The ordinance through which the Spirit is ministered is THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. (Acts viii. and xix. Heb. vi.) To the apostles were entrusted three very important administrations for the salvation of man:—
First.—The ministration of the word.
Second.—The ministration of the baptism of water.
And Third.&mdashThe ministration of the baptism of the Spirit.
While Jesus was with his apostles in person, they had power to minister the word and water, but not the Spirit, for they themselves had not yet been baptized with the Spirit; and they could not administer that which they were not in possession of. It was necessary that they should first receive the gift themselves, before they could confer it upon others. Hence we can perceive the propriety of Jesus commanding them to wait "at Jerusalem until they should be endued with power from on high;" for without this additional power they could neither save themselves nor others. Many persons have flattered themselves, that they can be saved without the assistance of a minister sent of God. But this is a vain delusive hope; for Jesus hath expressly said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Now as no man can be saved out of the kingdom, it is necessary that he should be "born" into the kingdom; and this would be impossible without an administrator sent of God; for the birth or baptism of water, and the birth or baptism of the Spirit, require some one legally authorized to officiate in behalf of the candidate.
Reader, have you ever received the Holy Ghost through the laying on of the hands of one sent of God? If not, you are not yet born of the spirit. You are not yet a child of the kingdom. Know assuredly, that unless you find some man who has been sent by the command of God as was Aaron, and get him to remit your sins through your faith, repentance, and baptism, and have him to minister to you the Holy Ghost, as did the ancient apostles—you need not flatter yourself that you can be saved. Do not deceive yourself upon this all-important subject. Do not suffer any man to baptize or administer unto you unless God has spoken unto him by the voice of his servants, and authorized him to minister in his name. Do you enquire how you are to know an authorized man of God from one who has no authority? I will tell you how to discern the difference. A true servant of God will never teach a false doctrine. He will never deny new revelation. He never will tell you that the canon of scripture is full, or that the New Testament is the last revelation ever intended to be given to man. He never will tell you, that miraculous gifts are no longer necessary in the church of God. He never will tell you, that inspired apostles, prophets, and other officers are not requisite in the church now. He never will tell you that the "ministration of the spirit" by "the laying on of hands," is done away by God's appointment. But he will tell you, that if you will receive his message, and be baptized by one having authority, that your "sins shall be remitted," and that you shall be filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands; and that you shall know, by the teachings thereof, that his doctrine is true and of God. In this respect he will differ from all impostors; for an impostor never had power to "minister this spirit." An imposter dare not promise you that you shall be filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of his hands; for he knows that such a promise would not be fulfilled--he knows that you would detect him to be a false teacher by complying with his conditions, and failing to receive his promise. An impostor, knowing that he has no power to give the Holy Ghost as the ancient apostles had, will endeavour to persuade you that such power is not necessary now. He knows very well, that if he cannot get the people to believe that such power is not necessary in these days, that his own unauthorized pretensions will be at once detected.
An impostor, like Simon Magus, may deceive ignorant people by witchcraft and sorcery, but he can never deceive them by pretending to give the Holy Ghost through prayer and laying on of hands. This is a power that none but a true minister of God possesses; it cannot be counterfeited by the devil. The devil can counterfeit the miracles of Christ, but he cannot counterfeit the gift of the Holy Ghost. None but the lawful ministers of Christ can minister the spirit. This then is an infallible sign by which to distinguish true apostles from false ones. But does this infallible sign exist either among the Papists or Protestants? Can any of their ministers give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands? If not, they are not the church of God, and their ministers are unauthorized—all their administrations are illegal and an abomination in the sight of God—salvation is not among them. Not one person among all their societies has been legally baptized. Reader, are you a member of any of these societies? if so, haste to withdraw yourself from them, that you partake not of their plagues, for the hour of their judgment is come. If you would be saved, seek after the apostles and prophets of the kingdom of God, and receive their administrations, and you shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, and obtain eternal life.
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