Outline 29.

IV. The reason. - “It was not mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Faith is the ingredient, without which the preaching of apostles, angels, and of Christ is lost.

Faith is that by which the preaching of babes avails. The word is milk, food, physic, cordial. Faith sucks, eats, &c. Faith is the gift of God, and act of man.

It is like treasure in a field; dig for it.

Pardon is offered, accept it.

Gallios, beware. The king is courting a beggar’s love. There are spices and gold in the East Indies, which we believe, though we have not seen. It is only fools, who believe only when they see. Faith is both a Gospel blessing and a term of access. It takes the word and promises. Mix them now.

APPLICATION. -

1. Mischievous unbelief defeats the word, crucifies Christ.

2. Beware of it. Pray before, at, and after the word.

3. Do you profit? You have faith - vice versa.

4. Ye careless, - Believe a God, death, hell, heaven.

5. Ye mourners, - Believe Christ, his blood, promises, will, power.

6. Believers, - Believe and profit - show it - tell of the, &c. OUTLINE 29.

“Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil,” Joel 2:13. INTRODUCTION. - This becomes us at all times, especially in Lent. I. The first precept. - “Rend your hearts, not your garments.”

1. Negative part. - A mean, coarse habit was a token of grief. Rending of garments was, and still is, sign of great sorrow and amazement. Job rent his mantle, Job 1:20: so did his friends, Job 2:12. So did Tamar ravished, 2 Samuel 13:19. So did Hushai, when David fled before Absalom: “He met him with his clothes rent, and ashes or earth on his head,” 2 Samuel 15:32. (High priest.) This became at length a hypocritical form.

2. Positive part. - “Rend your hearts.” From, by, what.

(1.) From - hypocrisy and formality. From - earth and earthly things. From - self, creatures, and sin. Delilah.

(2.) By godly consideration, sorrow, shame, confession, abhorrence.

(3.) What - your hearts - not bodies, tongues.

(4.) What necessity for this?

The old heart must be rent. It is the sacrifice of God. A bone wrong set must be broken again. Clay must be tempered and bruised, or no good vessel can be made.

II. The second precept. - “Turn unto the Lord your God.” Turn unto the Lord Jesus Christ as your God, to have the heart rent and renewed. This implies beholding, praying, believing, following, cleaving to “your God,” - not your judge, executioner, enemy.

“Turn,” as the prodigal to his father. Turn for the blood of Christ, and the Spirit of God. Turn for a pardon, holiness, glory.

Sin makes us turn from God, as Adam; and hide ourselves, as Tiberius.

III. Motives.

1. Evil is gone forth. “Lest I tear you in pieces,” Psalm 50:22. “Rend the caul of their heart,” Hosea 13:8. Unprofitable servant cut asunder, Matthew 24:51. We blow the trumpet in Sion, and sound an alarm throughout God’s holy mountain. Avoid this evil by condemning yourselves, rending your hearts. For God breaks not the bruised reed.

2. God is good. And willing not only to repent of the evil, [do it not,] but to do good.

(1.) He is gracious. - Full of grace, ready to give grace.

(2.) Merciful to returning penitents.