cient Father of the Church, says: "We are thrice plunged, once in the name of the Father, once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Ghost." The definition to sprinkle, or pour, or any other definition, has been invented and adopted as a definition because the practice has been authorized by many churches for so long a period.

2. In all three places where the mode of baptism is described the first three quotations above-it is IN Jordan, "Coming up Out of the Water," and "they both went down into the water," and "when they were come up out of the water." The description is so plain, and the common translation and understanding of the word baptism is so definitely immersion, that it leaves little room for anything but "Going down into the water, and coming up out of the water." We find also that John was baptizing where there was "Much Water." Now that doesn't sound like anything but a place large enough for the ceremony of immersion. In fact, if he were going to dip his fingers in a glass and touch the forehead, there would surely have been no necessity to go down into the Jordan River to do that.

Baptism by other methods have been adopted on the "just as good" theory. It is not so much the act as the "being willing to" that counts, according to advocates of other methods.

After all water baptism is baptism. It is not necessary to say that it is baptism by immersion. It is just BAPTISM.

3. When to be Baptized. Mark 16:16, quoted

above, says "believe" then says be "baptized." Naturally, the sinner must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ first, else his baptism is in vain. Peter said in Acts 2:38, to "Repent, and be baptized ✶✶✶ for the remission of sins," pointing out that they should then "receive the Holy Ghost."

At the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:44), the company was baptized with the Holy Ghost, and was afterward baptized. However, at Ephesus (Acts 19:5, 6) they were baptized first in water, and then received the Holy Ghost.

From the foregoing it would appear that the one who believes on Christ may be baptized any time after he believes, even being baptized with the Holy Ghost before water baptism.

However, we find that in each case there was no delay about water baptism, after conversion. The eunuch (Acts 8:36-39) asked to be baptized immediately. Peter suggested baptism immediately after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It certainly doesn't pay to delay the matter. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16.

4. Is it Necessary to be Baptized in Water in Order to go to Heaven? Let the words of Jesus speak for themselves. "If ye love me, keep my commandments," He said. Moreover, He told His apostles to go forth and teach the world what He had taught them, and about the first words out of Peter's mouth after the Lord ascended was:

"Repent and be baptized for the remission of
sins."

There are other quotations that point out the necessity of being baptized. However, it is conceivable that a person may go to heaven without being baptized. Let us consider the thief on the cross, who repented. Opportunity was not given him to be baptized. Nevertheless, every one who was being saved in those days was getting baptized immediately, and it is hardly likely that if he had been taken down from the cross, and given opportunity, he would have refused to be baptized. The light didn't dawn upon him until it was too late for him to do this ordinance of the Lord.

The Answering of a Good Conscience toward God. "The like figure whereunto even BAPTISM doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 3:21.

Probably no person on earth knows positively why the Blessed Savior chose Water Baptism as an essential ordinance of Righteousness. But He did, in these words: "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for THUS IT BECOMETH US TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Matt. 3:15.)

But there are many of God's laws that we do not understand, and yet we accept them as true. For example, God's law of nature has placed the polar bear in the Arctic Regions, while the elephant He has placed in the tropical regions. We don't know why, but this serves to illustrate to us how God's ways are high above our ways, as the heavens are above the earth. There are ten thousand things we do not understand-yet we accept them.

Just so it is with Water Baptism. It may look like

a

mere form to some. For example, at Howard Beach on Long Island recently, an assembly of bathers watched score or more being baptized in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amazement was written across their faces, so little did they know of how God could bless people that obeyed His word, faithfully, and without question.

In reference to Water Baptism, let us consider that throughout the Scriptures, wherever there is reference to a conversion there is almost invariably an additional verse to tell that the people were baptized. And is Baptism after all, not a beautiful ceremony, giving a definite expression to our faith? And is it not a beautiful symbol of the washing away of our sin by the blood of Christ? And of our death to the Old Life and resurrection into the new?

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were bap-
tized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his
death? Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the like-
ness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness
of his resurrection." Romans 6:3, 4, 5.

Clouds of Witnesses. We We have blessed comfort to read of how faithfully the Christians of old "went down into the water and came up out of the water." But we do not have to go back two thousand years to prove the blessing of being baptized in water. There is hardly a stream deep enough in the United States of America, but what could tell the story of blessing that fell upon souls who were plunged into its waters. Yea, and in every community you

can find living witnesses to the blessing of being baptized in water.

In the year 1908 when I myself was baptized 128 went down into the water the same day. Without a single exception they came up beaming with the light of God upon their faces-and a shout in their hearts, and many broke out in praises, even speaking in other tongues as on the day of Pentecost, about which we have studied previously. There is nothing like obedience to make your soul feel the Pentecostal blessing. In fact, there have been many instances of which I myself have heard when those who followed the Lord obediently in water baptism, were baptized with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as they came up out of the water--just as Jesus received the Holy Ghost immediately after He was baptized in Jordan.

Those of our brethren and friends who have been only "sprinkled," or touched with water on the forehead, while no doubt sincere in their devotion, have missed one of the greatest blessings of the Christian Life, as millions who have "gone down into the water and come up out of the water" will not hesitate to testify. And there is no halfway about this water baptism ceremony. "Buried in baptism” means completely covered. Many a person, who realizes that the minister who does the baptizing failed to "bury" him completely, insists that he be COMPLETELY BURIED -so down they go again into the water. It takes a complete consecration like that to realize God's very, very best.

No one doubts that the ceremony of "sprinkling," exacts a certain definite feeling of consecration-how much more then a complete baptism, going down into the water and coming up out of the water! O brother, try it. If you have already been sprinkled, and are fairly well satisfied,