Outline 4.

OUTLINE 4.

“Ye desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life,” Acts 3:14, 15. INTRODUCTION. - “Killing” not literal. Four soldiers. Uriah killed by David and the Ammonite’s sword: so Christ by the Roman spear. Sin is the true cause.

I. We have desired a murderer to be granted to us.

1. Barabbas within, who hath made insurrection against God, superiors, conscience, law, Gospel.

2. Who hath committed murder on our souls and bodies, and on those of others. Yea, Christ himself has been stabbed.

Sin is the butcher of mankind, subtle poison, sharp dagger, envenomed dart. It brings lethargy and spiritual death, grieves and drives the Author of life, gilds the pill, sweetens the cup, comes in disguise, lets in a troop.

II. How our sins have particularly murdered Christ and us. Priests, magistrates, people, pursue him to the garden; bound by the chain of our sins. We wander; he is led captive. We execute; he is silent. We shut our eyes; he is blindfolded. We pamper the flesh; he sheds blood, and agonises. We seek ease; he faints under the cross. We are proud; he is crowned with thorns, and naked. We abuse our hands and feet; he is pierced. We are intemperate; he thirsts, and hath vinegar and gall. We are unclean; he is bathed in blood. We are impatient; he was railed at. We are accursed by the law; he was upon the tree. We are hard hearted; his heart was pierced. We are careless; he had strong cries and agonies. Particularly, envy of priests, covetousness of Judas, fear of Pilate, condescension of the multitude in submitting to priests and elders, Matthew 27:20, backbiting and slander, lies and wrong construction of witnesses.

III. Christ is the Prince of life.

“The resurrection and the life,” John 11. “The way, the truth, and the life,” John 14:6. “In him is the water of life,” Revelation 22. “He that hath the Son hath life,” 1 John 5. “I am come that they might have life,” &c, John 10. “Ye will not come to me,” &c, John 5:40. “I live not, but Christ lives in me,” Galatians 2.

Christ our life. - He is the giver and preserver of spiritual and animal life. “He breathed the breath of lives,” upholds it, will restore it. INFERENCES. -

1. Aggravation of. Killed a Prince. That of life.

2. Condescension of Christ, and the worth of his death. He is the Prince of life and life itself.

3. Certainty of his resurrection, and power to raise the dead. APPLICATION. - Desire no more the murderer. Pursue him in public and secret. Plot against him day and night. Find, bind, drag. Not only bind, spit, strike, crucify, but kill and pierce Delilah through the heart. Repent, as David, Psalm 51:6. Wash in the blood.

1. Sinners. - Dread.

2. Mourners. - Rejoice. Jesus lives and pardons. Thirst. Begin at Jerusalem, Luke 24:47.

OUTLINE 5.

“John truly baptized with water: but ye shall be baptized with the HOLY GHOST, not many days hence,” Acts 1:5.

INTRODUCTION. - Last words of our Lord. Dispensation of John: baptized with water, not in.

I. Use of John’s water. Baptism.

1. A sign of universal pollution, from the womb. Repentance.

2. Acknowledgment of guilt, and need of pardon.

3. Acknowledgment of corruption, and need of holiness.

4. Profession of thirst after refreshing comfort.

5. Profession of helplessness. None baptized themselves.

6. Profession of cleansing the outside.

II. Insufficiency of John’s baptism.