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Show 340 TEAVELS AND ADVENTUEES IN THE FAE WEST. those who have departed from them, are justly chargeable with introducing new things, and innovations on Christianity. Now suppose that one, two, or a dozen, or a hundred thousand, or even millions of individuals thus baptized, should all come together, in their several congregations, and should unite in earnest prayer, and a man commissioned in the ministry of Jesus Christ should rise and lay his hands on them, praying the Almighty God to give the Holy Spirit, and it be given as in days of old, and he confirms that promise upon them according to the pattern in the New Testament-would that he something new? Would it be an innovation upon Christianity ? Would it be right to say " this is Mo& monism, come to do away with Christianity ?" Why, no! Every sensible man at all acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, would laugh at the idea. If the ancient saints were here, they would tell you it was their ancient manner ; they would ask you if you had not read over their history, which describes how the Holy Spirit was administered in days of old. Every man who has read the Bible, knows it. Well, then, the different sections of what is called Christianity, never do this, and call it something new. When the " Mormons " do it, they are at once charged with innovation; and yet we have not got anything new in that respect, but simply a restoration of that which was. They are the persons chargeable with new doctrine, and not the latter-day saints. Well, then, suppose that after this ordinance, the Holy Spirit falls upon these congregations, or upon these individuals thus baptized and confirmed, and fills them, and enlightens their minds, and bears testimony to them |
