1. THE DESCRIPTION. 1. He tells us all things that ever we did, through the instrumentality of the word. 2. He tells us all things that ever we did, through the operation of conscience. 3. He tells us all things that ever we did, through the agency of the Holy Spirit. II THE QUESTION. 1. The description suggests the question. 2. The description produces the state of mind most favourable to the investigation of the question. 3. The description enables us to settle the question. (4.) Col. i. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. MEDIATORIAL FULNESS OF CHRIST. 1. Fulness of merit. 2. Fulness of wisdom. 3. Fulness of strength. 4. Fulness of happiness. (5.) Rev. i. 7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. 1. Its grandeur. 2. Its publicity. 3. Its doleful consequences to the wicked. 4. Its desirableness notwithstanding these conse quences. (6.) 1 Cor. xvi. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. 1. All men ought to love the Lord Jesus Christ. RELIGION IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO MELANCHOLY. I. It leaves to the Christian all the sources of pleasure which can be enjoyed without sin. 2. It frees the Christian from the evils that hinder others from enjoying the common sources of pleasure. 3. It enjoins on the Christian no duty which is not a source of pleasure. 4. It confers on the Christian new pleasures, of the purest and loftiest kind. (8.) Acts xi. 26. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. I. THE ORIGIN of the NAME. 1. If it was imposed by God, it shows that He is solicitous to fix the proper aspect in which His people are viewed. 2. If it was assumed by the disciples, it shows that they regarded Christ as the centre of their religion. 3. If it was affixed by the Jews or Heathen, it shows that the natural mind has no just appreciation of spiritual excellence. II. THE IMPORT OF THE NAME. I. A believer in Christ. 4. A servant of Christ. 2. A lover of Christ. 3. An imitator of Christ. 5. An expectant of Christ. (9.) Luke xviii. 8. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 1. Shall He find faith in the being and providence of God? 2. Shall He find faith in the divine origin of the Gospel? 3. Shall He find faith in His own deity and atonement? 6. Shall He find faith in the intensity and duration (10.) Micah ii. 7. Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? I. Is He straitened with regard to time? 5. Is He straitened with regard to instrumentality? (II.) Acts xix. 23. And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. I. THE PECULIARITIES OF THE GOSPEL AS A WAY OR SYSTEM OF RELIGION. I. It is a peculiar way of thinking. 3. It is a peculiar way of acting. II. THE NATURE OF THE STIR THE GOSPEL SHOULD (12.) 2 Thess. iii. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God. By what method can the love of God be reproduced I. THERE ARE MAN'S METHODS. 1. By communicating general knowledge. 2. By speculating on natural religion. 3. By unfolding the moral law. II. THERE IS GOD'S OWN METHOD. This is com pendiously stated in two passages. I. We love Him because he first loved us (1 John iv. 19). 2. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us (Rom. v. 5). (13.) 1 Cor. i. 12. I of Christ. I. I own His divine mission. 2. I acknowledge His essential dignity. 3. I believe in His doctrines. 4. I rely on His sacrifice. 5. I love His person. (14.) 1 Cor. i. 13. Is Christ divided? 2. Are His offices divided? 4. Is His Church divided? (15.) Ps. cxxxviii. 2. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. I. As the medium of His self-manifestation. |