In the new testament.-Christ. Luke iv. 18; xxiv. 27. -Commission. Mark xvi. 16.-Apostles. Acts v. 42.— Peter. Acts ii. 22; x. 43.-Jews mad. Acts iv. 18.-Philip. Acts viii. 35.-St. Paul. In the text; and in Acts xiii. 38; xvi. 31; xvii. 18; 1 Cor. ii. 2; 2 Cor. iv. 5; Eph. iii. 8; Philip. i. 18; Col. i. 23, 28.-Conclusion.Gal. i. 8.

II. What to preach Christ? ·

It is to preach,-(1.) His natures.-(2.) Offices.-(3.) Relations.

1. His natures.

His divine nature.-Called "God,” in John i. 1; xx. 2; Isaiah ix. 6; Zech. xiii. 7; Philip. ii. 6.-He does the works of God, has his knowledge, and is every where.-Tremble, adore, trust.

His human nature.-1 Tim. iii. 16; John i. 14. Lived and died, was born, grew, thirsted as a man. Adore, wonder, praise, draw near, fear not.

2. His offices.

Heb. viii. 6; xii. 24. Luke i. 47; ii. 11; Acts apply, be saved.

(1.) Mediator.-1 Tim. ii. 5; (2.) Saviour.-1 Tim. iv. 10; v. 31. Feel your ruin, believe, (3.) Prophet.-John vi. 14; xi. 29. Learn, consult, be taught, follow, fear.-He knows all.

Luke xxiv. 19; Matt.

(4.) Priest.-Heb. vii. 3; v. 10. Priest and victim ; he atones and blesses: wash, be blessed and pardoned. (5.) King. Rev. xix. 16. King of saints.-Rev. xv. 3; John xii. 15; Matt. xxvii. 37. Wonder at his condescension, trust his power, fear him, believe, he can give a kingdom.—Rev. i. 5.

(6.) Captain.-Josh. v. 15; Heb. ii. 10. Our David, enlist, be courageous, desert not, fight, conquer.

(7.) Shepherd.-Zech. xiii. 7; John x. 14; 1 Pet. ii. 25. Follow him, wander not, eat his flesh, love him.

(8.) Physician.-Matt. ix. 12; iv. 23; John v. 4. Apply, tell him your state, trust him, follow his prescrip

tions.

(9.) Advocate.-1 John ii. 1. Put your desperate cause into his hand, &c.

(10.) Judge.-Acts x. 42; John v. 22. Make him your friend, tremble before him, rejoice.

3. Relations.

(1.) Father.-Isaiah ix. 6; John i. 3.

(2.) Husband.-Isaiah liv. 5; 2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. v. 32. My husband.-Hosea ii. 16. Take him, forsake others, be faithful, obedient, loving.

(3.) Brother.-Matt. xii. 48; Heb. ii. 11; Psalm xxii. 22; John xx. 17. Be co-heirs, obey, love the elder brother.

(4.) Friend.-Cant. v. 16; Prov. xviii. 24; John xv. 14, 15. Love him, tell him all, apply to him, betray

not.

(5.) Servant.-Phil. ii. 7; Luke xxii. 27. Wonder, obey.

(6.) Head.—Col. i. 18; ii. 19; 1 Cor. xi. 3. Hold him.

(7.) Life.-John xi. 25; Col. iii. 4; Gal. ii. 20. Live

now.

(8.) All.-Col. iii. 11. Seek, find all in him.

APPLICATION.-1. Why we preach Christ? No preaching is of service but this; it humbles, convinces, melts,

renews.

2. Our duty, when he is preached, to believe, receive. Unconverted! receive him.

Ye believers! preach him by your lives.

OUTLINE XIX.

Beware therefore, lest that

come upon you which is

spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and

wonder and perish: for

I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."-Acts xiii. 40, 41.

INTRODUCTION.-Coming of the Chaldeans against Jerusalem.-Habak. i. 5.

I. God works a wonderful work in a gospel day. 1. A work of conviction.

Woman of Samaria.—Pharisees. John viii. 3, 9. 2. A work of justification.

Mary, the paralytic, the thief, the publican.

3. A work of sanctification.

St. Paul, new birth.-1 Cor. vi. 11.

II. Many will not believe it to be the work of God. Conviction they call "despair;" justification they call "presumption," "enthusiasm ;" sanctification they call being "righteous overmuch," "hypocrisy :" "Though a man declare it unto them," as God's promise, and his own experience; though that man be Christ, or Paul, a dying man, a disinterested person.

III. They despise, and yet cannot help wondering.

1. "They despise" the place, the instruments, the great instrument, the Holy Ghost, Christ crucified, and faith.

2. "They wonder," why so much ado, why the loss of reputation, preferment, ease, pleasure, property,

APPLICATION.-Unbelievers !-Does God work? "Be-hold," consider your need of this work. "Ye despisers" and unbelievers; wonder at the patience and goodness, power and mercy, of God! Wonder and glory in his cross s! Wonder aright, and you shall not perish! The world is for you, prophets against you. Despise not as the world did Noah, as Sodom did Lot. Christ and Moses

were despised in their day. Wonder, or perish as they did, as Dives, the rich man.

You that believe.-God does work; and does he work

on you? How far? Be not offended by counterfeits.

God is here the workman. The blood is shed. The Word and Spirit present. A work on your part, believe and pray. Careless ones, awake! Mourners, rejoice! Believers, abound in praise and good works! Christ's reward is with him, and his work before him. What wouldest thou have me to do ?-A word from Christ does the work: "Saul, Saul," &c.—Acts. "Go in peace.” “Martha, Martha.” "A new heart." Anointing-King, Priest. Behold! Wonder! Believe, and be saved! You that are in earnest, but fearful.

"He that has begun,”—he that is the Alpha and Omega, "will finish." Pray for a deeper work in your hearts, in your days. Christ, an angel, an apostle, ministers, witnesses, God from heaven, all "declare." The work of death, and judgment, will come; then despise, and wonder, and perish! Wonder at your infatuation, obstinacy, contradiction!

OUTLINE XX.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.-John vii. 37, 38.

I. Persons invited.

1. Subject. "If any man," whether rich or poor, righteous or unrighteous, little or great sinners.

2. Qualification. "Thirsts" after grace, pardon, righteousness, happiness, God.

II. Invitation.

1. "Let him come to me," believe in me.

I am a

fountain, a brook, a river, a sea, and all that can quench this thirst.—Blood, water, sweat.

2. "And let him drink." Application, appropriation. Let him be satisfied, refreshed, nourished, strengthened, healed, delighted, ravished.

III. Promise

"Out of his belly,"-inmost soul, shall flow, not drops or dews, but "rivers," abundance of living water, of all the fruits, graces, comforts of the Spirit.

The scripture says so.-Joel ii. 28; Isaiah xii. 3; and xxxv. 6; and xliv. 28; and lviii. 11; Zech. xiii. 1; John iv. 14; Rev. xxii. 17.

Shall flow to his own comfort, and the benefit of others. His words and actions refreshing.

APPLICATION.-Jesus cries still.-Do you hear?

1. Worldlings, your thirst is of a wrong kind; you hew out to yourselves cisterns that can hold no water, but poison. Ye who begin to thirst, beware of the broken cisterns of duties, self-righteousness, &c. Come ye to

Jesus Christ, to me.

Comers. Drink; always coming, never drinking. 2. Believers: how is it with you? Is Jesus glorified? Do living waters spring up in you? Is Jesus Christ in you the source? Do they flow out to the benefit of all around you?

Jesus the true Siloam. He thirsted, and had gall, that you may have living water. Double stream.-Thirst as for pleasure; as Dives, or you will thirst with him.