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REFLECTIONS.

May divine grace form the taste of ministers, and their hearers, more to this doctrine of Christ crucified! May he every-where be preached; and that be accounted the truest wisdom of words by which his cross may become most efficacious. There cannot be surely a more evident demonstation of folly, or a more dreadful token of approaching ruin, than despising the wisdom of God, and the power of God. If we are ever shaken by that contempt for the gospel which so many are continually ready in our age to express, let us recollect what glorious effects it hath produced; whilst in the midst of such illus trations of the wisdom of God, the world by all its wisdom knew not its Maker; how many believers have been saved, how many by believing are daily brought into the way of salvation! In this view let us triumphantly say, Where is the wise, the scribe, the disputer of this world? What has wisdom, learning, disputation done, in comparison of what the plain and simple doctrine of a crucified Saviour has wrought, and is continually working? Let us earnestly pray, that God would, by the power of his grace, disperse the prejudices of men; that the Jews may not so demand a sign, as that Christ crucified should be a stumbling-block to them, nor the most learned of the Gentiles so seek after science, as that the wisdom of God should seem foolishness to them; but that both may join in feeling, and owning, how divinely wise, and how divinely powerful, the dispensation of the gospel is.-Let us not be offended with our calling though so few of the wise, the mighty, and the noble, partake of its benefits. If God hath chosen the weak things, they shall confound the mighty; and the foolish, shall shame the vise. Never shall we find ourselves truly happy, till we come to feel that we are naturally foolish and guilty, polluted and enslaved; and that our wisdom and righteousness our sanctification and redemption, are in Christ, who is made unto us of God all this, and indeed all in all. Then shall we know, and not till then, what true glory means, even when we can abase ourselves to the dust in his presence, and have learned only to glory in the Lord.

SECTION IV.

The reasons for which Paul had declined all ostentation of eloquence, when he came among the Corinthians: the doctrines he taught were to be traced up to the immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit. Ch. ii. 1, &c.

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ND I, brethren, when I first came among you, came not with the pomp of language, or worldly wisdom, declaring to 2 you the testimony of God: for I determined I would seem to know, and would make known nothing among you, but Jesus Christ, 3 even that crucified person. And I was with you in weakness, and 4 in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive discourses of human wisdom; but it was in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power attended 5 with convincing evidence both from prophecies and miracles; that your faith should not depend on the wisdom of men, but on the

6 power of God.-Nevertheless we speak the truest wisdom among those, who are perfect*: but not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world; who nevertheless shall be brought down. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery; that wisdom which was long hidden which God from eternal ages pre-determined 8 for our glory; a wisdom which none of the rulers of this age knew for if they had known it, they would not by any means 9 have crucified the lord of glory. But this is as it is written (Is. Ixiv. 4.) "Eye hath not seen, neither hath ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared 10 for them that love him." But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of 11 God. For who of mankind knoweth the things of a man, the sex cret recesses of his mind, unless it be the spirit of a man which is in him? So also no one knoweth the things of God, but the 12 Spirit of God himself. Now the spirit which we have received, is not that of the world, but that spirit which is from God; that we might know the things which are freely given us by God : 13 which we also speak to others; not in words dictated by human

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wisdom, but in those dictated by the Holy Spirit; explaining 14 such spiritual things by spiritual words. But the animal man, who continues under the influence of his [corrupt]appetites, receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned. 15 But the spiritual man rightly discerneth all things, while he him

self is discerned by no man: those who censure him are blind to 16 what he clearly sees. Nor need you wonder at this : for who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath instructed him? But we apostles have the mind of Christ.

REFLECTIONS.

Let it be the resolution of every Christian, and especially the determination of every minister, with St. Paul, to know nothing but Jesus Christ, even him that was crucified: to esteem this the most important of all knowledge, to cultivate it in their own minds, and endeavour to propagate it to others. With this divine science shall those ministers of the gospel, who know least of the excellency of speech and the enticing words of man's wisdom, do more important things for the reformation of the world, and the salvation of souls, than without it, the greatest masters of language, or adepts in philosophy, will ever be able to effect. Let the princes of this world boast of the knowledge and refined policy which is so soon to perish, by which so many of their subjects perish, and sometimes themselves before their time. In how many instances does it leave them to imitate the destructive maxims of those, who, under pretence of pub

*To those who are completely initiated into these divine mysteries. [Those so initiated into the Heathen mysteries were called To perfect. M.] †The same word is rendered sensual, Jam. iii. 15. Jude 19.

q.d. And therefore are not to be called to the bar of those who censure as merely on the ground of human reason. I

VOL. II.

lic good, but really under the instigation of the basest private passions, crucified Jesus, the adorable Saviour, the Lord of glory.

May God teach us more of that hidden wisdom which they who are truly initiated into real christianity know, and which opens upon us views and hopes, beyond what eye hath seen, or ear heard, or it hath particularly and fully entered into the heart of man to conceive. There is no need we should distinctly conceive it: it is enough that we know in the general, it is what God hath prepared for them that love him; which consideration may surely teach us to trample under our feet that which he so often bestows on them who hate him, and are abhorred by him; on those with whom he is angry every day.

May that Spirit which searcheth all things, even the hidden things of God, give us more deeply and affectionately to know the things which are freely given us of God, and to adore that free grace from which we receive them! These things we learn with the highest advantage from the holy scriptures, where they are delivered in words which the Holy Ghost taught in words therefore, the most admirably adapted to express those spiritual and sublime ideas they were intended to communicate in which words consequently, we learn to speak of the things. of God with the exactest propriety and the truest edification. May we be enabled spiritually to discern them, with whatever contempt they may be treated by natural, that is, by animal men; by those, who, though conceited of their rational powers, can relish little or nothing but what relates to this low and sensual life. Conscious of that inward discerning, which discovers all things to us in their true light, even things of infinite importance, may we pity that undiscerning rashness of blind arrogance and pride, with which some, who think themselves the wisest in proportion to the degree in which they are the most wretched of mankind, may treat us, and not only us, but that gospel which is our glory and our joy. We have the mind of Christ delivered to us by his holy apostles, who were intimately and miraculously instructed in it. Let us humbly receive the oracles they deliver; and whilst others are presuming haughtily to censure them, may we think ourselves happy, if, with meek subjection to their unerring authority, we may sit at the feet of such teachers, and reguTate our lives by their instructions!

He reproves

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SECTION V.

th ir carnality in contending about human teachers, and urges considerations to cure them of it. Ch. iii. 1–9.

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to Christianity, as unto spiritual persons, but as babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, and not because ye were not able to bear it ; nor indeed ye are many of you yet carnal: for while there ntention, and faction among you, are you not walk as unregenerate men? For when one & another, I am for Apollos, are ye not

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carnal and like your heathen neighbours, who have their favourite philosophers and orators.

Who then is Paul? and who is Apollos? but ministers by whose means ye have believed, even as the Lord gave to every one both 6 ability and success. I have planted, Apollos hath watered; but 7 God gave the increase. Therefore he that planteth is nothing, 8 nor he that watereth: but God who giveth the increase. But he that planteth, and he that watereth, are one, united in interest and affection; and we shall receive every one his own reward accord9 ing to his own labour. For we are fellow-labourers of God: ye are the husbandry of God, which we cultivate; ye are the building of God, which we endeavour to advance.

REFLECTIONS.

Who that wishes the welfare of the church of Christ, must not lament those sad remainders of carnality which are often to be found among them who have the greatest advantage for becoming spiritual: while the same contentious principles, fermented, no doubt, by the same malignant enemy of the whole body, breathe in so many of its members, and diffuse a kind of poison, which at once swells and torments it? What envyings, and strife, and factions, among those who ought to join as brethren, and to know but one interest! What a desire, in many instances, to increase the burdens of each other, instead of bearing them with friendly sympathy! May christians be cured of the dishonourable and fatal attachment to distinguished parties, and human names? May ministers feel more of that generous and noble spirit which this great apostle expresses! His reasoning hath the same force still. Ministers are still intended to be only the instruments of producing and establishing faith in their hearers, and still depend, as entirely as ever, upon the blessing of God, to give the increase to their labours. To that may they daily look; and be sensible that they are nothing without it; and that with it, their part is so small, that they hardly deserve to be mentioned. May their hands and hearts be more united; and retaining a due sense of the honour which God doth them, in employing them in his vineyard, and in his building, may they faithfully labour, not as for themselves, but for the great proprietor, and till the day come, when he will remember them in full proportion to their fidelity and diligence.

SECTION VI.

The Apostle reminds them of that great trial which every man's work was to undergo; the great guilt of defiling God's temple: the vanity of human wisdom in the sight of God, and his universal grant to every true believer. Ch. iii. 10, &c.

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N my first preaching omong you, according to the grace of God given to me, in the character of a skilful architect, I laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every one see * This is another cogent argument against divisions.

11 to it, how he buildeth thereon. For [any] other foundation no one is able to lay, beside what is laid already, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man build upon this foundation a magnificent edifice adorned with gold, silver, and costly stones; or a mean hovel of only wood, 13 hay, and stubble; every one's work shall be made manifest. For

the approaching day shall lay it open, because it shall then be discovered by fire; yea, the fire shall prove every man's work, 14 of what kind it is. If any man's superstructure abide, he shall 15 receive a reward. But if any man's work, being of mean combustible materials, be then burnt up, he will sustain a proportion-able loss: Yet he, being a good man, and having built on Christ as the foundation, shall himself be saved, though as through the 16 fire, escaping only with his life.-Know ye not that you are the 17 temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If

any one destroy or defile the temple of God, God will destroy him; 18 for the temple of God is holy: now ye are this temple. Let no man deceive himself: if any one of you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool in the estimation of the world, that he may 19 be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with

God; as it is written (Job v. 13.) "He entangleth the wise in their 20 own artifices." And again (Ps. xciv. 11.) “ The Lord knoweth the 21 thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." Therefore let none

glory in men, nor divide into parties from an attachment to this or 22 that teacher: for all things are yours: Whether Paul, or Apollos,

or Cephas; whether the world, or life, or death, or things present, 23 or future, all are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

REFLECTIONS.

With what delight may the Christian survey this grand inventory; and, conscious that he is Christ's, call all things his own! With what pleasure survey the various gifts and graces of ministers, and consider them as given by God for his edification! With what complacency look round on things present, and forward on things to come, in this connection, and call the world his own; and count not only life, but death, amongst his treasures! Both in their different aspects, are subservient to the happy purpose of glorifying God: and surely, when by death we may do it more effectually, death should be more welcome than life. And welcome it must indeed be to every believer, as the appointed means of transmitting him to the sight and enjoyment of God, and the possession of better blessings than Paul or Apollos could ever describe, or any thing present, or any thing to come in this world, could ever afford. Let these sublime views elevate the Christian above those occasions of contention, which, for want of ascending to such noble contemplations, are often the source of innumerable evils. And let us add to them that other consideration, that we are the temples of the Holy Ghost; if Christians indeed, we are inhabited by God, even by his Spirit. Let this engage us to take the strictest care, neither to defile ourselves, nor to injure our brethren; lest, in either view, it should be resented and punished by the holy God, as a sacrilegious profanation.

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