| 126 teaching to Nicodemus, namely, "except a man be born of water (that is baptized in water) and of the Spirit, (that is baptized with the Spirit,) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Now to Peter were given the keys of the kingdom; therefore it was his duty to open the kingdom to Jew, and also to Gentile. We will therefore carefully examine the manner in which he did adopt the Jews into the kingdom, at the day of Pentecost.
Now when the multitude came running together on the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted his voice and reasoned with them from the Scrptures [Scriptures], testifying of Jesus Christ, and his resurrection and ascension up on high-insomuch [inasmuch] that many became convinced of the truth, and inquired what they should do. Now understand, these were not Christians; but they were people who were that moment convinced that Jesus was the Christ, and because they were convinced of this fact, they inquired, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, "repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall recieve [receive] the gift of the Holy Ghost; for the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." But kind reader, do you understand this proclamation? if you do, you will see that this gospel is not preached by any of the priests of this day. Let us therefore analyze and examine it sentence by sentence. You recollect they already believed, and the next thing was for them to repent: first, faith, second, repentence [repentance], third, baptism, fourth, remission of sins, fifth, the Holy Ghost, was the order of the gospel Faith gave the power to be come sons or citizens: repentance and baptism in his name, was the obedience through which they were adopted: and the Holy Spirit of promise was the seal of their adoption, and this they were sure to receive if they would obey. Now, reader, where do you hear such preaching in our day?-Who teaches that those who believe and repent, should be baptized, and none others. Perhaps the reader may say the baptists do; but do they call upon men to be baptized as soon as they believe and repent? Be assured, kind reader, they do not: and moreover, do they promise them the remission of sins, with the gift of the Holy Ghost? Recollect now, what effect the Holy Ghost has upon people who receive it. It will guide them into all truth, strengthen the memory, and show them things to come. And Joel said, it would cause them to dream dreams, to see visions, and prophesy. O! my reader, where do you find a gospel like this preached among men? Would men go mourning for weeks, upon weeks, without the forgivness [forgiveness] of sins, or the comfort of the Holy Spirit, if Peter stood among us, to tell precisely how to get such blessings? Now what would you think of a camp-meeting. Where three thousand men should come forward to be prayed for? and one of the ministers should (Peter-like) command them every one to repent and be baptized for remission of sins, promising that all who obeyed, should receive the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, which should cause them to dream dreams and prophesy; and then should arise with his brethren of the same calling, and the same hour commence bastizing [baptizing], and continue until they had baptized them all; and the Holy Ghost should fall upon them, and they begin to see visions, speak in other tongues, and prophesy. Would not the news go abroad far and wide, that a new doctrine had made its appearance, quite different from any thing now practised [practiced] men? O yes, says the reader this to be sure would be something new and very strange to all of us. Well, strange as it may seem, it is the gospel, as preached by Peter on the day of Penticost [Pentecost] and Paul declares that he preached the same gospel that Peter did; and he also said, "though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel, let him be accursed." Now the reader need no longer be astonished to see that these signs do not follow them that believe some other gospel or doctrine, different from that preached by the apostles.
But now let us return to the kingdom af [of] God organized in the days of the apostles; you discover that three thousand persons were adopted into
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