Outline 19.

(10.) Judge, Acts 10:42; John 5:22. Make him your friend, tremble before him, rejoice.

3. Relations.

(1.) Father, Isaiah 9:6; John 1:3.

(2.) Husband, Isaiah, 54:5; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:32. My husband, Hosea 2:16. Take him, forsake others, be faithful, obedient, loving.

(3.) Brother, Matthew 12:48; Hebrews 2:11; Psalm 22:22; John 20:17. Be co - heirs, obey, love the elder brother.

(4.) Friend, Canticles 5:16; Proverbs 18:24; John 15:14, 15. Love him, tell him all, apply to him, betray not.

(5.) Servant, Philippians 2:7; Luke 22:27. Wonder, obey.

(6.) Head, Colossians 1:18; 2:19; 1 Corinthians 11:3. Hold him.

(7.) Life, John 11:25; Colossians 3:4; Galatians 2:20. Live now.

(8.) All, Colossians 3:11. 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 19.

“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 13:40, 41. INTRODUCTION. - Coming of the Chaldeans against Jerusalem, Hab. 1:5. I. God works a wonderful work in a Gospel day.

1. A work of conviction. Woman of Samaria. Pharisees, John 8:3, 9.

2. A work of justification. Mary, the paralytic, the thief, the publican.

3. A work of sanctification. St. Paul, new birth, 1 Corinthians 6:11. 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? “Behold,” 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! 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 wouldst 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,