1. By the mission of John the Baptist, representing preachers and teachers.

2. By his works (to us, miracles of grace, converts to Christ).

3. By the written Word. We have to add God's witness:

4. By the resurrection of Christ (Acts 17:81).

5. By the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32).

In all these ways God is bearing witness for us. So even in his chastisements (1 Corinthians 11:32). But if we heed not these testimonies for us, we must be prepared at any time to hear the voice of God's providence calling for judgments (vers. 3, 4), and thus witnessing against us. When such judgments fall, God will be able to testify:

(1) That we have had abundant privileges. Illustrate from 1 Samuel 12:6-15.

(2) That we have had fair warning and have neglected it, as did Samaria (2 Kings 17), and Judah (2 Chronicles 36:11-21), and the later Jews (Acts 13:46).

(3) That his judgments are so righteous that God can summon all people to observe and justify them (cf. Deuteronomy 29:24 28). "It is a bitter case when our provoked Lord is provoked to go out of doors to the streets with his beloved's faults." They proceed from the very temple of his holiness (cf. Revelation 15:3-6, where the songs of vindication and the angels of vengeance are coupled together). God never hesitates to give reasons for his judgments (Proverbs 1:24-27; Jeremiah 29:23; Malachi 2:14; Malachi 3:5). Such judgments as fall now are but predictions and earnests of the great judgment awaiting the ungodly. God, who will then be a witness against us, warns us now of some of the ways in which he will then testify. He will bring as witnesses:

(1) The Law (John 5:45).

(2) The gospel (John 12:47).

(3) Our outward privileges. Illustrate from Joshua 24:26, 27. So there may be cited against us - the pulpit from which we heard the Word, and the preacher who in it "testified repentance towards God," etc. (Acts 20:21).

(4) The less privileged of our brethren (cf. Luke 11:31, 32).

(5) Our misused talents (James 5:1-4).

(6) Our words (Matthew 12:37).

(7) Our consciences (John 8:9; Romans 2:15). If true now, how much more then! Lest God should be a witness against us then, we must, by repentance, faith, and obedience, secure his testimony now, like Enoch (Hebrews 11:5; cf. Psalm 147:11). Then we shall have the testimony of our brethren (Romans 16:6-13 3John 3-6) and of our own consciences (2 Corinthians 1:12), and shall be able to anticipate without fear the final verdict of God (Romans 8:33, 34). - E.S.P.

I. BE QUICK IN YOUR MATERIAL ENGAGEMENTS. The distinction between the secular and the spiritual is not real but fictitious. A man should be quick in all his legitimate temporal engagements, whatever they may be. By quickness is not meant the hurry of confusion, but adroit expertness, skilful promptitude. As Shakespeare said, "What the wise do quickly, is not done rashly."

1. The quicker you are the more you will accomplish. An expert man will accomplish more in an hour than a slow man in a day.

2. The quicker you are, the better for your faculties. The quick movement of the limb is healthier than the slow; the quick action of the mental faculties is more invigorating than the slow. As a rule, the quick man is in every way healthier and happier than the slow.

3. The quicker you are, the more valuable you are in the market of the world. The skilful man who cultivates the habit of quickness and despatch increases his commercial value every day.

II. BE QUICK IN YOUR INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS. You have an enormous amount of mental work to do, if you act up to your duty, and discharge your mission in life.

1. The quicker you are, the more you will attain. The more fields of truth you will traverse, the more fruits you will gather from the tree of knowledge. Some men in their studies move like elephants, and only traverse a small space. Others, like eagles, sweep continents in a day. The quick eye will see what escapes the dull eye, the quick ear will catch voices unheard by the slow of hearing.

2. The quicker you are, the better for your faculties. It is the brisk walker that best strengthens his limbs, the brisk fighter that wins the greatest victories. It is by quick action that the steel is polished and that weapons are sharpened. Intellectual quickness whets the faculties, makes them keen, agile, and apt. "Bind the chariot to the swift beast."

III. Be quick in your SPIRITUAL AFFAIRS.

1. Morally you have a work to do for your own soul. The work is great and urgent.

2. Morally you have a work to do for others. There are souls around you demanding your most earnest efforts, etc.

(1)Be quick; the work must be done during your life here, if ever done.

(2)Be quick; your life here is very short and uncertain.

(3)Be quick; the longer you delay the more difficult it is to do.

(Homilist.)