ce the Savior's commission to his
disciples was forty days after his resurrection, such teachers are driven
from this position, and to substantiate their doctrine they flee to a more
fatally exposed one when saying that the baptism of this commission was
the baptism of the Spirit. It is a pity that precious time must be taken
for the correction of such erroneous teaching. How can men baptize with
the Holy Spirit? God alone can do that.

It is evident that the apostles understood this baptism to be with water,
since they taught it and practised it throughout their ministry. We shall
take time and space to refer to but two or three instances of the
administration of this ordinance recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The
first is that of a Christ commissioned preacher by the name of Philip, who
was sent by an angel to preach the gospel to a Scripturally ignorant man
of Ethiopia. Unlearned as he was, he readily understood from the preaching
of Philip the importance of water baptism; therefore when they came to a
certain water he said, "See here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized?" Acts 8:36. By reading the following verses you will learn that
this man was baptized in water and God witnessed to his approval by
sending him rejoicing on his way. Obedience to the commands of God brings
a joy to the Christian heart.

The second instance of baptism to which we wish to invite your attention
is that of the devout Cornelius. He sent for Peter to learn more
concerning the ways of the Lord. Peter came and told them of Jesus, of his
resurrection and his power to save. As he spoke the Holy Ghost fell upon
all them which heard his words. Then said Peter, Can any man forbid water
that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as
well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
How can an instance of water baptism be more plainly recorded? This
occurred some eight years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. To
teach the abolition of this ordinance at the cross, in the face of these
plainly stated instances of baptism, only proves to us the blinding and
deceptive power of the spirit of error.

Mode Of Baptism.

Many of the professed teachers of the gospel have become very liberal. "We
all have a right to our opinion," so many say; and "a thing becomes right
unto us if we believe it to be right." Because of this teaching and the
varied opinions, there have originated in the