And lastly, it has a means of entrance, the ordinance of baptism, for "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God."-John 3:5.

What more then, need the kingdom of God have, in order to evidence an actual organized existence?

3. WHEN SET UP.

The kingdom of heaven was established in the days of Christ and the apostles, and is frequently mentioned in the New Testament. Sometimes it is called the Church, the Body of Christ, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, the Household of God, the Temple of God, and was manifestly set up before the day of Pentecost."

4. THE ONLY PLACE OF SALVATION.

The importance of this kingdom has been lost sight of. It has been thought immaterial whether one is a citizen of it or not. No greater mistake was ever made. There is no salvation outside of the church. For this very purpose our Lord gave his life for the church, and the church only, that a way might be made for man's escape; "Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." He is "the head of the church and the Savior of the body," hence no other institution can claim him as its Head and Redeemer. For this reason "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Ephesians 5: 25, 23; Acts 2: 47.)

True it is, there are those, who, entering the church, do not continue to manifest godliness in their conduct. These are the tares among the wheat, the unclothed wedding guests, without oil in their vessels, and unless these prodigals repent they must be cast away, yet it is a noteworthy fact that all who shall be saved must be gathered by the net-the church.

5. HOW TO ENTER THE KINGDOM.

The last feature of the kingdom mentioned and which perhaps will come first in point of interest is the means of admittance.

Our Lord explained this in addressing Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God."-John 3: 5.

Briefly stated, the ordinance of baptism is the way of entering into the church.

It was accounted of such importance that of them who were unbaptized it was said "they rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized," and of those who received it, they "justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John."-Luke 7:29, 30.

It was accepted by the Samaritans, believed by the Ephesians,

4 'Matthew 3: 2; 4: 17; Luke 17: 20, 21; Matthew 16: 18; Colossians 1: 18; Ephesians 1: 22, 23; John 3: 29; Revelation 21: 9; 1 John 1; Ephesians 2: 19; 1 Corinthians 3: 9, 16.

'Matthew 4: 17, 23; 12: 28; 21: 31, 43; 23: 13; Mark 1: 14, 15; 12: 34; Luke 9:2; 10: 9-11; 16: 16; 17: 21; Acts 2: 41, 47; 7: 38.

and obeyed by Lydia, Crispus, Cornelius, and their households. (Acts 8: 12; 19: 1-6; 16: 15; 18: 8; 10: 47.)

"All the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem" were "all baptized," and the jailer, seeing the seriousness of this solemn rite, was baptized at the hour of midnight. (Mark 1:5; Acts 16: 33.)

Peter preached it, Paul proclaimed it, and John urged it, for he heard Him who had said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (1 John 5:8; Mark 16: 16.)

Sustained, then, by such an array of invincible testators, shall we not for the interest we owe our own souls accept the intelligent truth-bound utterance of the apostle: "the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.' -1 Peter 3: 21.

Another promise attaching to the reception of the ordinance of baptism is that of the remission of sins. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." "And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins." (Acts 2: 38; 22: 16.)

It is not to be presumed that baptism of itself and by itself imparts these spiritual benefits. The individual receiving it must be in a proper condition. He must look unto Christ, exercising faith in him, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved," and "without faith it is impossible to please him." And this is not all; true and abiding faith will be followed by repentance, for "except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." (Acts 4: 12; Hebrews 11: 6; Luke 13: 3.)

Thus prepared, the candidate is accepted unto "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins," and will be "buried with him by baptism into death that the body of sin might

be destroyed." (Mark 1: 4; Romans 6: 4-6.)

Thus it was presented on the day of Pentecost. On that important occasion a great multitude were brought together, attracted by an extraordinary' outburst of spiritual power. It was the day of endowment! Under the influence of that occasion Peter arose and preached. He was imbued with the Spirit of God, consequently his sayings were the wisdom of the Master. Important it must have been, since his remarks, and his remarks only, were handed down.

During the presentation of that sin-convincing discourse, his hearers were stirred as never before. They cried out in bitterness of anquish, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" "Tis the voice of penitence, the offering of contrition! Charged with the crucifixion of Christ, they were now ready to seek him as a Savior. It was an honest question; it deserved an honest answer. Plain and to the point it will receive a similar response; God could not, would not, trifle with their souls. Theirs was the voice of sobbing suppliants, it called for the voice of sublime inspiration. With breathless silence pervading every bosom they awaited the answer of the apostle. He speaks! and in tones as exacting as Sinaitic thunder he commands:

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus

Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Acts 2: 38.

And thus the plan of salvation unfolded itself: first, there was a presentation of the word that understanding and faith might obtain. This was followed by evident tokens of godly sorrow, they cried out, "What shall we do?" Yes; the Spirit that prompted their faith and repentance constrained them to do something further. Thirdly, baptism for the remission of sins was commanded, and after all these things came the promise "and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

And did they turn away from this holy sacrament after such a display of divine power attesting it? Oh, no; how could they!. The apostle had intimated that these things were of a saving character, for associated with them went forth the admonition, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Verse 40.) "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousands souls.". Verse 41.

Notice that there is no word about any being "added" unto them until after baptism was attended to.

Baptism, then, with accompanying faith and repentance, is the ordinance of entrance into the kingdom of God.

MODE OF BAPTISM.

It is only reasonable that an ordinance of such importance should definitely display its form.

A ceremony enlisting the obedience of saints, commanding the services of apostles, approved by the Holy Spirit, decreed by Jesus Christ, and destined to be preached "in all the world," assumes an imposing magnitude the form of which should and will be discoverable unto all.

Taking our position on the vantage ground of biblical truth the whole ceremony comes to view. No theological telescopes are required. The natural vision, unimpaired by prejudice and unblemished by bigotry, will afford us the clearest conception. Commentaries stand aside:

And were all baptized of him in the river Jordan.-Mark 1: 5.

And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there.-John 3: 23.

And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.-Acts 8: 38.

And when they were come up out of the water.-8: 39.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water.Matthew 3: 16.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism.-Romans 6: 4.

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him.-Colossians 2: 12.

Gleaned from the foregoing field, the following facts are submitted:

1. That the Bible baptism requires water.

2. That it takes much water.

3. That it necessitates a going down into the water.

4. That the candidate must be buried in water.

5. That succeeding the burial he is "risen again."

6. That there is a "coming up out of the water."

Now take this scriptural measuring rod and apply it to the several ceremonies assuming to be baptism, and we may readily detect the counterfeit. Apply it, for instance, to sprinkling.

How does it measure up?

Does it take water?

Yes.

Does it take much water?

Does the candidate go down into the water?

Is he buried?

Is he "risen again"?

Does he come up out of the water?

Right, in one point, and deficient in five. Who will accept such a clumsy counterfeit?

Measure up immersion. Apply the same test and it will be found to be of regulation height, exactly six feet.

However much men may resort to sophistry to prop up their sickly ceremonies, immersion and immersion only stands, inscribed on the tablets of scripture, inerasable and irrefutable.

But the opposition has developed a new tactic. Perceiving the overwhelming array of evidence bearing down on their humanly constructed lines, they have thrown up the white flag of surrender, offering to compromise by baptizing any way the applicant desires. What a sad reversal of that ancient injunction, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them," etc. Pity it hadn't read, "Go ye, therefore, and let all nations teach you."

Political trickery! Anything so long as they may get your vote and influence.

Assuming to be sent as ambassadors of the King of kings under the commission of "Teaching them to observe all things, whatso

ever I have commanded you," they have degenerated into backboneless puppets of the people. Angle worms, these, and made to hang on any hook so long as they may bait an unsuspecting soul. Full well they fulfill the prophetic warning, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."-2 Timothy 4: 3, 4.

The language of the law affirms that there is but "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism."-Ephesians 4: 5.

The Scriptures, unlike modern ministers, never change, and one means one. Away then with that unsavory sprinkle-dip-or-pourtriple-theory compound.

It will not do to argue that while the Bible proves immersion it also tolerates sprinkling. Inspirational suicide! God never sent one man to preach it one way and another to preach it the opposite. He does not do business that way.

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.

Succeeding the administration of baptism we meet with the ordinance of the Laying on of Hands, a part of the great plan inducting foreigners into the kingdom of God.

We are unauthorized to say why the Lord established such a rite, neither are we obliged to harmonize the system of its working with "science falsely so called."

The encircling of the walls of Jericho, the dipping of Naaman the leper, or the washing of the blind man in the pool of Siloam may not harmonize with any known scientific appliances; but they worked just the same. It was the science of the Almighty and his ways are not ours.

It seems rather strange that the mightiest achievements for the welfare of mankind have invariably come through just such inexplicable means, unfathomable to man but all effectual in their results.

Whether we consider the creation of man, the story of the flood, the crossing of Jordan, the birth of our Savior, the healing of the blind, the raising of the dead, or the revelations of Saint John; it is all the same, shrouded in mystery. Yet who will refuse to believe?

But they tell us that the days of miracles are past. Ah! far from it. They have scarcely begun. What about the days when the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, when the heavens shall depart like a scroll and every mountain and island shall be moved out of its place? Miracles these, and of no mean order.

We read of the resurrection of the dead, when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth; a miracle surely and justly comparable with the mightiest deeds of the past.

The Scriptures must be fulfilled and we read, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and