seeketh after a sign." (Matt. 12:38, 39.)

What was true of the generation was true of the individual, and what was true then is true now, which places sign-seekers in a most unenviable position, but doubtless where they justly belong. Faith is not produced by sign-seeing, but in the words of Paul, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17.)

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, He left this grand test of faith upon record, to serve as a guide for all future generations: "And these signs shall follow them that believe" (or have faith); "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17, 18.)

"But," says one, "was it not intended that these gifts and blessings should be limited to the days of the apostles, and to the apostles themselves?" Read again, "shall follow them that believe"; and again, the preceding verse reads, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." If you limit the signs following the believer to the day of the apostles, you must also limit salvation to that day. But it is to-day as it was in the day Paul wrote to the Hebrews: "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Heb. 4:2.)

The cultivation of this principle of faith is the first step in our duties in this life. The second step is that of

REPENTANCE.

"Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions: so iniquity shall not be your ruin." (Ezek. 18:30.) "Let the wicked forsake his way." (Isaiah 4:7.) "Repent * * * every one of you." (Acts 2:38.) "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3.)

We understand that repentance does not consist in mourning over sins committed, and then repeating the same sin or one equally heinous, but that Ezekiel meant for the people to cease from doing wrong, to quit their evil practices, and walk in the paths of rectitude, virtue and true holiness. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (II. Cor. 7:10.) We believe that the "sorrow of the world" here alluded to, is the too prevalent practice of crying, groaning and moaning over our wrong-doing, and then continuing the same practice.

The third step for man to take in this life to secure salvation in the eternal world, is to be

BAPTIZED.

"He that believeth" (that is, he that hath faith) "and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16), was the emphatic assertion of our Savior. Again we find that man came under condemnation by refusing obedience to this commandment; "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:30.) So the world of to-day will, in the end, find themselves under condemnation for refusing to obey this principle of the gospel. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.)

Paul, writing to the Hebrews, says: "Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands." (Heb. 6:1, 2.) Here are four principles all classed together, all equally important, all equally necessary, and all required at our hands by those fixed and eternal laws of truth and justice by which the worlds are governed, and by which we may return back into the presence of God, and dwell with the just, the true and the pure of all ages.

The fourth step necessary for man to take while in this state of probation, is to receive

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

for the reception of the Holy Ghost. This is a principle, to a great extent, ignored by the Christian world, yet plainly taught in the scriptures.

Peter and his brethren of the twelve had doubtless all been baptised, and endeavored to lead holy lives during their association with Jesus; yet we find Him, just previous to His ascension on high, telling them, "Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them." (Luke 24:49, 50.)

We find a still further explanation of the manner of obtaining this gift and blessing, in the Acts of the Apostles, where He "commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:4, 5.)

Turning to the account of the ministry of Philip in Samaria, we find that after the Samaritans had exercised FAITH sufficient to cause them to REPENT, they had been BAPTIZED under the hands of Philip. "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John; who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:14-17.)

Paul, writing to Timothy, charged him thus: "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. 4:14); and again, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by putting on of my hands." (II. Tim. 1:6.)

We also call the attention of the reader to the account of Paul's visit to the baptized saints of Ephesus, and his inquiry of them: "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. * * * Then they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them: and they spake with tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:2-5.)

Sufficient has doubtless been said to clearly establish the fact that the gift of the Holy Ghost was formerly obtained by the laying on of the hands of those who held the authority to do so. Nowhere do we find that the order here laid down has been supplanted or annulled. On the contrary, the apostle spoke in the strongest terms against any innovation upon the established forms that Jesus taught them.

Paul, writing to the Galatians, speaks of those who were "perverting" the gospel; doubtless teaching that the laying on of hands was not necessary, or else that it was done away with, and says, "But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8.)

The reader has now examined the fourth step for man's advancement in the probation in which he is now living; and in the words of our Savior, "He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1.)

We have traced man from a pre-existent state, before the world began, when he dwelt in the presence of the Father, and of our elder Brother, Jesus, and mingled with the spirits who have or shall come into this sphere of action.

As it is beautifully expressed in one of the songs of Zion:

"Oh my Father, Thou that dwellest
    In the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain Thy presence,
    And again behold Thy face?
In Thy holy habitation,
    Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood,