The vital importance of this ordinance seems to be entirely overlooked
by the majority of the Christian world, yet the most emphatic stress
was placed upon it by the early teachers of Christianity. It is
referred to frequently by every writer in the New Testament.
The nature of its workings and the manner of obtaining it were
carefully dwelt upon by the various writers, and it does seem that only
willful blindness could so far lead the people away from the primitive
custom and practice of laying on of hands to acquire this gift.