Outline 6.

1. Material water cannot cleanse the soul.

2. It is not saving. Witness Simon Magus. “You shall be baptized,” &c.

3. The water flows off, dries up: the effect superficial.

4. The testimony of John himself: “I indeed.”

5. The declaration of Christ in the text.

III. General necessity of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

1. All tainted with original sin. Must be born again.

2. All guilty. Must be pardoned, (Acts 2, and 10.)

3. All unholy. Must be sanctified. Catechism, (Romans 8.)

4. The corruption is spiritual and deep. Fire refines.

5. All are miserable, and need the Comforter and kingdom.

6. All helpless and Christless till then. “If any man,” &c.

7. All are unfit for heaven and bliss, without love, melting, uniting.

8. Particular necessity for ministers: to preach the word with power. To bear up under troubles and persecutions. To be directed into all truth, and to testify of Jesus, though not to work miracles and speak with tongues.

IV. When?

“Not many days hence.” When prepared with prayer and faith, united in one accord and tried. The day is not fixed, that we may expect daily and yet not faint.

APPLICATION. -

1. Unconverted. - Rest in no baptism, but that of the Holy Ghost and fire. Water baptism will condemn you alone.

2. John’s disciples. - Promised, the thing promised, the time. O continue praying with one accord!

3. Believers. - You want fresh baptism, till the Holy Ghost, which is grace, fill your soul.

OUTLINE 6.

“Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments. O Jerusalem,” Isaiah 52:1.

I. A description of Zion and Jerusalem.

1. Asleep, in the dust.

2. Without strength.

3. Naked.

4. Captives. Bands on neck, (v. 2.)

5. A thoroughfare for the uncircumcised and unclean.

6. Sold by themselves for naught.

II. The first command.

“Awake, awake!” Deep sleep is a great danger. Open the eyes of thy understanding. Dream no more. Be no more idle. Hear, rise, shake thyself from the dust, from the sleep of sin, ignorance, death. Awake by the trumpet of Sinai, the groans of Calvary, those of dying neighbours, the last trumpet; or now by the Gospel trumpet. Awake, to - night, and sin not. “Shake off thy sin,” &c.

III. The second command.

“Put on thy strength.” Put on Christ, who is the mighty God, Isaiah 45:24; John 15; Romans 5:6. “The Lord will be the strength of Israel,” Joel 3:16. “Strength made perfect when weak,” Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 12:9. “Wait, renew their strength,” Isaiah 40:31. Samson: - “Tell me wherein thy strength lieth.” Believe in the Lord, thy strength. Lay hold on it. Thy Jesus gave himself, - was weak for us. Use thy strength in shaking, rising, fighting, believing, praying, pulling down strong holds; break thy bonds.

IV. The third command.

“Put on thy beautiful garments.” Innocency, righteousness, true holiness. Joshua and [his] filthy garments, Zechariah 3:4. Robe of the elder brother, Esau. Best robe for the prodigal. Beautiful in the eyes of the law, of God, of men, of angels. Put on Christ, the Lord thy righteousness. Tear not that garment. Walk in white. Stand with the redeemed with robes washed in the blood. Go to court. Go work for thy God. Be clothed with humility. Patch not the old garment. Obtain the wedding garment. Spread thy garment in the way. Dyed garment from Bozrah, Isaiah 61:10.