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?
These are questions of great importance, and should be well considered. Let the word of God speak for itself in the following quotations:
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied" (Acts xix., 6). "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money" (Acts viii., 17-19). "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery" (I. Tim. iv., 14). "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands" (II. Tim. i. 6). "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands" (Heb. vi., 2). "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. * * * For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues" (see context, I. Cor. xii). "Our Gospel came, in power * * and in the Holy Ghost" (I. Thess. i., 5). "And ye SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts ii., 38).
We here introduce the testimony of some of the Christian writers who wrote immediately after the death or banishment of the Apostles:
Tertullian, in the second century, says: "After baptism, succeeds the laying on of hands, with prayer, calling for the Holy Ghost."
Cyprian, writing in the third century, says: "Our practice is, that those who have been baptized in to the church should be presented that by prayer and imposition of hands they may receive the Holy Ghost."
Augustine, in the fourth century, says: "We still do what the Apostles did when they laid their hands on the Samaritans and called down the Holy Ghost upon them" (Gahan's Church History, page 73; Mosheim's Church History, volume I, page 91).
AUTHORITY.
We believe that a man must be endowed with authority before God will recognize his acts as a minister of the Gospel.