Father, a new creation. To this opened heaven all are alike invited. The conditions of such a baptism were proclaimed by Jesus himself on the mount, through all his ministry. "Come unto me ; " " Ask, and it shall be given unto you;" "Walk in the light, and be children of light. "-R. Vera. 6-13.-Spiritual facts in a world unprepared to rtuive them. I. DzvoUT MEN may still be living at a very low point of spiritual apprehension and experience (ver. 6). To many conscientious and sober-minded people the manifestations of the Spirit a perplexity, Hence the importance of a progressive faith, a praying and expectant attitude. Religion apt to grow stagnant and perfunctory. II. The MULTITUDF. will be startled by that which comes from heaven. They need to be roused and quickened with great and enthusiastic utterances. The natural tendency of man is to rest in mere second causes. How could these " Gali1auzns" so speak ? Yet God ha., something which each one can feel "his own language." 'l'he gospel message must be brought home to men's "business and bosoms." Speak to them, not in a learned, or philosophical, or theological phraseology, but in a dialect with which they are familiar. III. There will be VABIBTY among perplexed hearers. Some will ask for informa- tion, others will mock and scorn, revile and blaspheme. Yet the first opposition or indifference may be followed by a blessed ingathering of souls. IV. The FEW SPEAKERS compared with the vast sphere represented in the multitude- east, west, north, south-reminds us that God bath chosen the weak to confound the mighty. The field is the world, but the small beginning is yet an announcement of the " wonderful works of God." To him there is no small and great,-R. ·vers. 14-36.-The Spirit speaking through the voice of an apostle. Notice- I. The SIMPLICITY AND DIRECTNESS of the sermon ; beginning with the facts of the present, going back to the facts of the past, and ending in the solemn appeal to enter the kingdom of Christ. II. The SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY on which it rests. The ancient promise of Messiah; the glory of the latter days ; the prophetic psalms ;-thus showing that the unbelief of those who despised that day of grace was inexcusable. III. The INSPIRED BOLDNESS of utterance. The hearers charged with the rejection of the Messiah; the facts openly proclaimed, and their disproof challenged; the present, ascended glory of Jesus published as the glad tidings which should, if welcomed, obliterate the gloom of the last few years in Israel. IV. The AFFECTIONATE EARNESTNESS mingling with all the discourse. A true Israelite is speaking as a brother to those who were the "house of Israel,'' over which Jesus came to be the Head.-R. Ver. 21.-The common salvation. "And it shall be," etc. I. WHAT IT IS, 1. Salvation, both present and eternal, in the great day of the Lord; amid the terrors of jndgment. 2. Spiritual life, given by God, given to all and of every condition, manifested in the life and in the character, opening the eyes of the soul to Divine realities and future glories; flesh receives it, and is made spiritual; a new creation is pledged by it; flesh lifted up into the immortality of heaven. 3. Salvation through the Name of the Lord, wrought by him, illustrated by the wonderful facts of his history, secured by his infinite merit. II. THE SIMPLE CO?HlITION. "Call on the Name of the Lord;" another description of faith in Old Testament language, including: 1. The soul's cry for help in the sense of sin and misery; call as one dying. 2. .Apprehension of the Saviour. 'fhe name is the person, the character, the claim, the authority, the promise. 3. Prayerful consecration in response to the Divine grace. The day of salvation is light around us. We accept the light as the light of life. 4. Universality of the proclamation-" whosoever." The spiritual gifts nre not poured out upon all, but the moving of a new life is the invitation to growth in grace. The words of Joel remind us that there are special crises of opportunity, which it is awful sin to slight. Where many are" calling on the Lord," shall we be dumb? "Who shall abide the day of his coming? "-R. 70 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, . [iOB, U. 1-47, ·.,
Ver. 22.-Tl,e Divine Jmmanity. "Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God." I. 'l'HE oLAIM. 1. Viewed in the light of human work. ..t man, to teach, to atone, to lead, 118 never man did. Compare the human supply of such wants with that pro,~dt;d by God in Christ. 2. Viewed in the light of Scripture promises. The line of prediction from the protevangel to the promise of the " Sun of Righteousness with healing in nis wings." II. THE PROOF OF T~ OLAni:, 1. The superhuman character of Christ's humanity; as spotlessly. pure! ~ommg forth out of an impuro nation and decayed religious lile; as supreme m spmtua.l qualities-love self-sacrifice etc. 2. Tho direct testimonies given by God, at birth, ba.ptism, with a ;,.oice from th~ cloud, etc. 3. 'l'he works of the Lord himself. Their authority thus solemnly and conspicuously put forth by the Apostle 1:'eter; their embodiment in the gospel; their harmony with the character and m1ss1on of the Saviour; their superiority to all others before or since. " God did them." ' III. THE. APPEALING FORCE OF THE CLAIM. 1. A "great salvation I" " How can we escape, 1f we neglect" it? 2. A Man amongst men, touched with fellow-feeling, tenderly claiming obedience. 3. A Name which gathers round it the testimony of the multitude which no man can number, approved by the facts of salvation in the past, waiting to find in us another proof that he is" able to save unto the uttermost," etc.-R.