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I. BY WHOM ARE THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS CHIEFLY DENOUNCED?

1. By infidels.

2. By rationalizing believers.

3. By eminent Christians.

II. FOR WHAT PURPOSE ARE THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS DENOUNCED?

1. TO invalidate the evidence of the Divine origin of Christianity.

2. To bring discredit on evangelical religion.

3. To elevate the standard of Christian attainment.

III. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT SO INCONSISTENT AS THEY ARE REPRESENTED TO BE.

1. All are not Christians who usurp the name.

2. All Christians are not responsible for the shortcomings even of genuine Christians.

3. All Christians are men, and in trying them by the standard of their religion, the same allowance must be made for them as for other men.

4. Christians should be judged by their general conduct, and not by individual actions.

5. Christians should be compared with men who are their peers in everything except their religion.

IV. THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS FURNISH NO VALID OBJECTION AGAINST THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY.

1. It does not recommend, or palliate, or defend them.

2. It makes ample provision for their removal by the doctrines it teaches, by the precepts it delivers, by the motives it presents, by the spiritual influence it promises.

3. It has produced many of the finest specimens of human character the world, throughout the whole course of its history, has ever witnessed.

4. It has exercised an indirect influence, of a most elevating description, on multitudes who are strangers to its saving power.

5. It has exercised on its most inconsistent disciples an ameliorating efficacy, to which no system of philosophy or religion can adduce parallels.

V. THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS FURNISH NO VALID OBJECTION TO THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE, AS THEY ARE CALLED.

1. These doctrines leave all the usual arguments for a holy life untouched.

2. They remove that invincible obstruction to a holy life which arises from a sense of guilt, and from a self-righteous and superstitious attempt to earn, by personal merit, pardon and acceptance.

3. They furnish, in the love of God in Christ, the most powerful motive to a holy life that has ever been urged.

4. They secure an adequate supply of the influence of the Holy Spirit.

VI. THE GRIEF WHICH THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS SHOULD AWAKEN IN FELLOW-CHRISTIANS.

1. Because inconsistent professors bring dishonour on the names of God and of the Saviour.

2. Because inconsistent professors lower the general standard of Christian attainment.

3. Because inconsistent professors hang as a dead weight on the energies of the Church.

4. Because inconsistent professors are little likely to be brought to a saving acquaintance with Christ.

VII. THE DUTIES WHICH THE INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS IMPOSE ON THE FRIENDS OF CHRIST.

1. A habitual watchfulness over their conduct.

2. A conscientious discharge of relative duty.

3. A foregoing of certain rights and privileges for the good of others.

4. Thorough adoption of the great principles of Christianity.

5. Prayer.

VIII. REAL INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS.

1. It is inconsistent to live in the wilful and habitual practice of known sin.

2. It is inconsistent to pursue a doubtful course of action, without seeking to ascertain whether it is right or wrong.

3. It is inconsistent to conform to worldly habits of thinking and acting.

4. It is inconsistent to be chargeable with vices which respectable men of the world abhor.

5. It is inconsistent to be indifferent to the progress and prosperity of the cause of Christ.

(G. Brooks.)

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KJV: And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

WEB: All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"