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after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ 30 Jesus is the fountain of wisdom Jesus, who of God is made and of all good to us.

unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

CHAPTER II.

JAN. 20, MAY 19, SEPT. 17.

1 AND I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you

1 St. Paul trusted not to his eloquence, but to his doctrine. He preached not himself, but Christ Jesus.

3 He felt awestruck at the weight of his charge, and his own weakness to bear it. Faith sustained him.Thus the ministers of the Gospel now labour in the strength of Him whose work they do.

the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of 7 but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 which none of the princes of this world knew for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not

6 He calls them perfect, who had a full, or perfect, understanding of the nature of the Gospel.

this world, that come to nought:

7 The Gospel was faintly shadowed by the Law and the Prophets; and, by a wonderful mystery, Jesus was the "Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world."

8 None of the rulers-neither Jew nor Gentile; neither Herod nor Pilate. "Father, forgive them! for they know not what they do."

9 Glorious terms-indicating the peace of the righteous here, which passeth understanding, and fore

hereafter.

seen, nor ear heard, neither shadowing their inconceivable joys have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for yea, the deep things of God.

him.

11 If we pray not for, and gain the Spirit of God, we cannot know spiritual things.

knoweth no man, but the Spirit

the Spirit searcheth all things, 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

13 Comparing the promises of the Gospel, revealed in the Old Testament, with their accomplishment in the New.

16 When we receive a teacher's instruction, we are said to " receive his mind." Happy they, and truly wise, who gladly and obediently receive the instruction of Christ!

CHAPTER III.

JAN. 21, MAY 20, SEPT. 18.

AND I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you

3 You feel that it is the work of

your spiritual life, to resist these and such like carnal affections.

* Without the Spirit of God to help us, in gaining a spiritual and saving knowledge of heavenly things, we are as surely spiritually dead, as we shall be dead in the body, when our own spirit of life leaves it. As the spirit of a man is necessary to enable the body to exercise its proper powers, these being natural; so the Spirit of God is necessary to enable the soul to fulfil the duties assigned to it, these being spiritual. Without this Spirit, the human mind sinks into weakness and degradation. This alone preserves it lofty and strong. Its intellectual powers, its courage, its liberty of thought and action, are of themselves no sufficient security. Its only safety-strength from above.

envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk

as men? For while one

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4 Divisions too often spring from saith, I am of Paul ; and an- pride. (See i. 11, & Rom. xvi. 17.) other, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. that watereth are one: and reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

7 St. Paul yields not in zeal and labour to other apostles; yet how prompt the humility with which he attributes success to God only!

Now he that planteth and he every man shall receive his own 9 This thought is not less comforting to your minister than encouraging to you.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of

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12 Jesus Christ is a foundation, pure and glorious. As for "gold, silver, precious stones," let no man think it safe to build upon that foundation. Worldly hopes!-they will be but as 66 stroyed in the day of the Lord. wood, hay, stubble :" de

15 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; as one saved in haste from the fire which rageth around; lest delay cut off safety.

16 Take heed then that thy heart is pure, and fitted to receive that holy

inmate,

God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple 18 Let him accept the Gospel, ye are. Let no man de- though the world term it folly. ceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this 19 Because no worldly wisdom mak

eth wise unto salvation. That is the gift of God.

20 If the wise in this world think to gain heaven by their wisdom, their thoughts are vain. Human reason

world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are

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saveth not souls.

23 Ye are bound to obey the will d Christ, even as Christ, for your sake, obeyed the will of God.

CHAPTER IV.

JAN. 22, MAY 21, SEPT. 19.

'LET a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries

1 Then bear with your minister patiently. He may well be faithful, who must give account to God.

of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time,

3 Whoever lives prepared for the judgment of God, need not fear the judgment of man."

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yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 Our own infirmity justifies not want of faithfulness.

5 All shall have just recompencethe good, reward for Christ's sake; the impenitent, punishment.

until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God. 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou

6" Though I have illustrated my precept by the example of Apollos and myself, yet the instruction as to the authority of ministers, and the

duty of their people towards them, is of a general application."

7 This is applied by the apostle chiefly to check the vanity of those preachers of the Gospel, who set themselves up, the one above the other.

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8 Corinth was a great commercial city-the abode of the wealthy and the great. Worldliness was its characteristic. St. Paul wishes that

happiness really reigned in it.

glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this

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present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; and labour, working with our own hands being reviled, we

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11 What an affecting picture of the Apostles' sufferings! It may well serve to reconcile the preachers of the Gospel now to the various trials of faith and patience, which, though of different stamp, so often perplex and harass them.

15 "Through my preaching ye were converted-born again-in Christ Jesus. Therefore I am to you, as to Timothy, a spiritual father."

bless; being persecuted, we suffer it being defamed, we intreat we are made as the filth of the earth, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus *, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come 19❝I will examine into the authoto you. 19 But I will come rity of these selfsufficient persons."

to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

CHAPTER V.

JAN. 23, MAY 22, SEPT. 20.

1 Ir is reported commonly that there is fornication among

1 A worldly spirit naturally leads to a vicious and profligate life.

*To Timothy St. Paul addressed two Epistles.

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