trine as would setting forth Wisdom of words.-The Rev. J. Thorowgood, a dissenting minisEvangelical doc-ter in England, though a learned critic himself, did not approve have brought it of introducing any parade of criticism into the pulpit. In a letter into conformity, to an intimate friend, written in the first year of his ministry, he both as to matter mentions an instance of his indiscretion one time in preaching:and manner, "I bite my lips," says he, "with vexation at my folly last Lord's able systems of Day. I was preaching upon a very alarming subject. My people the Grecian phi- were all silence and attention, when, in the midst of an important losophy."-J. A. theme, I meanly stopped to divert them with a trifling criticism. O, how did I blush at my folly !--This I mention, my dear friend, for your caution." with the fashion James. f Rev. S. Martin. wisdom of the world a Is. xxix. 14. b 1 Co. iii. 19 21; Job v. 12, 13. c Macknight. b 19-21. destroy," explode, bring to nought, confound. wisdom, false philosophy. wise, those esteemed learned men. understanding, opinion. prudent, worldly discreet men. where, etc., their defeat triumphantly anticipated. 'Let them declare what reformation they have wrought on mankind." disputer? & learned debaters, academics, sceptics. foolish, inefficient in producing the true welfare of man. wisdom sophers.-Jerome... God, in His wise government. world.. God, shown by e Is. xliv. 25; Ro. testimony of universal experience. foolishness, as men call it. preaching, the theme being "Christ and Him crucified." believe, with the heart unto righteousness. d Natural philo i. 22. f Lu. x. 21. "The God, men, seems to his oracle to the wisdom of this world is foolishness, and of none effect." -Plato. g J. B. Brown, B.A. Preaching.-I. It seems to have been ordered by Divine wisdom that the Gospel should, as much as possible, avail itself of the me to be really ordinary channels of communication and influence in spreading wise; and by through the world. II. The secret of the power of preaching: mean this, that 1. It conveys far better than any other vehicle the affirmation of the whole man-his whole nature, his whole experience to the matter which he desires to communicate. 2. It brings into play all the affinities, sympathies and affections of the being, and is therefore a most powerful instrument in arriving at the truth. 3. So much is true of all preaching. But in the preaching of the Gospel there is a source of special power-the principle of repre"The discovery sentation-the power and right to speak to men in the name of of what is true, God. III. The special preaching of the Apostolic age. and the practice A learned man's confession.-Laplace occupied himself with the good, are the two sublimest truths of astronomy for no better purpose than to deny most important the existence of God. Not long before his death, however, he inobjects of philo-timated to professor Sedgwick a great change of opinion. Having sophy."- Voltaire. spoken to him on the religious character of our endowments and course of academical study, M. Laplace added, "I think this right; and on this point I deprecate any great organic changes in your system; for I have lived long enough to know-what at one time I did not believe that no society can be upheld in happiness and honour without the sentiments of religion." of that which is 22, 23. Jews.. sign, as the Apos. wrought mirs., this prob. refs. to sign fr. heaven. "Outward visible wonders, to gratify the craving of superstition." Greeks.. wisdom, 66 an inward completeness of system, to gratify the cravings of the intellect." , they held that their Messiah would never stumbling-block," die.e foolishness, that He should save others who could not save Himself. The preaching of" Christ crucified."-Let us consider-I. That aspect of repulsiveness and folly which the Gospel has in every age presented to the greater portion of mankind: 1. To such as are susceptible of being wrought on by external evidence; 2. Toe Jo. xii. 34. such as are affected chiefly by the force of abstract reason. II. f Ac. xvii. 18. Those transcendent manifestations of the Divine power and wis- "Teaching is not dom with which the Gospel has ever been seen to be accompanied by all who have rightly understood its principles, or imbibed its spirit. The words of the text may be understood as denoting that the Gospel, and the great events which it makes known, are -1. An eminent manifestation of God's power and wisdom; or -2. An instrument by which they are eminently found to work. III. Reflections which this review is fitted to supply. g a flow of words, nor the draining of an hour-glass, but an effectual procuring that a man comes to know something which he knew not before, or to know it better." -South. A crucified Saviour the best stay in death.-As the friends of General Andrew Burn noticed that the symptoms of death were upon him, they asked, "Do you wish to see any one in par- 9 Dr. R. S. McAll. ticular?" He answered with emphasis, "Nobody, nobody, but Jesus Christ. Christ crucified is the stay of my poor soul." And so he fell asleep. Christian biography and blessed Christian experiences are crowded with such fulfilled longings to see Jesus in the closing hour. a Ro. viii. 28- 24, 25. called,a see v. 2. power,' by wh. we are delivered Christ the fr. sin and its consequences. wisdom, for enlightening the wisdom and mind. Also, Christ manifests the wisdom and the power of God power of God in adjusting moral claims and overcoming moral difficulties. foolishness, the method that men reckon so. wiser, for attaining practical results. weakness, the weak instruments He selects. stronger, than those men think strong. The power of God in self-sacrifice.-I. God is, and must necessarily be, physically impassible. II. In asserting this, we do not say that He cannot suffer by consent or self-subjection, but only that He cannot be so subjected involuntarily. III. He must feel appropriately to all kinds of action, and must have, in order to His real greatness of character, all the passive virtues. Being physically impassible as relating to violating force, He is yet morally passible.d The power and wisdom of God.-Two of Dr. Priestley's followers, eminent men, once called on an old gentleman of the Society of Friends, to ask what was his opinion of the person of Christ. After a little consideration, he replied: "The Apostle says, We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, because they expected a temporal Messiah; to the Greeks foolishness, because He was crucified as a malefactor; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Now, if you can separate the power of God from God, and the wisdom of God from God, I will come over to your opinions."-They were both struck dumb, and did not attempt to utter a single word in reply. c Ro. xi. 33; Col. men rise and seize heaven, while we, with all our learning, are rolling in the filth of sin."- Augus tine. d Dr. Bushnell. so much in pre and actions all Seneca. called 26, 27. see.. calling, mighty, distinguished, honourable: not many esp. all of grace. wise.. flesh, men remarkable for human mighty learning. mighty, official rank. noble, high descent. foolish, illiterate. confound, put to shame by character and a Ma. iv. 18, 19; ix. 9, 10; Ac. iv. works. wise, learned, who know so much yet do so little. 13; Jo. vii. 48; weak, no human power, influence, authority. a The characters of the Apostles.-I. The manner in which the Apostolic body was constituted, and the number of which it consisted, seem singularly ill-suited to the advancement of the truth, and irreconcilable to the original conception of the plan. II. Ja. ii. 5; Ps. viii. 2. "The history of the Church in all ages and places teaches that the talents, graces, most gifted of Their conduct previous to the resurrection of Christ, as we receive her agents, in it on their own authority, does not justify us in anticipating their and usefulness, strict subordination, their unusual harmony, and the patient subboth at home and mission of individual opinion to the suffrage of the majority. III. abroad, among Their dependence, and even helplessness, during Christ's life, the laity and ministry, have appears little likely to qualify them for taking a lead; or for come forth from executing such a scheme as the conversion of the world. Consider the walks of-1. Their prejudices as Jews; 2. Their passions as men; 3. Their ignorance as low-born peasants. IV. Yet immediately not Christ is gone, and their minds are oppressed by the unfavourable state of affairs, we find them acting for themselves, with boldness, prudence, and promptitude. What stronger proof is there of the truth of their religion than this sudden and miraculous change of their character and conduct ?b humble life. many 'Not mighty, many noble." John Bate. bH. H. Milman, M.A. the base and weak are chosen "When a man unites with the Hope for all.-Lady Huntingdon used to say that she owed her salvation almost to the letter M. If it had been "not any wise, not any noble," she could not have been saved. 28, 29. base.. world, men of lowly birth. despised, position-as publicans. things.. not, as if dead; i.e., as unfit for the purpose as the dead. things.. are, men who might be deemed fit, with mental and social power. no.. glory, the weak Church, he feeling that the power is of God; the strong confounded by the should not come weak. in.. presence, who alone contrived the Gospel plan, saying, I am so and applies the Gospel call. holy, that I think I must go in God destroying the conventionally great by the conventionally among the contemptille.-I. Evil exists under conventionally respectable saints; but, O; forms-infidelity-licentiousness-social injustice-selfishness brethren, I find I am so weak bigotry, superstition, and fanaticism-war. II. God is determined and wicked that to overthrow evil by conventionally contemptible means. a Dr. Thomas. never finds itself beauty, harmony, What I cannot stand, does the language here used mean? Negatively it does not mean though all Apos-that-1. The Gospel is an inferior thing; 2. The men appointed tles and angels, not to say others, as its ministers are to be inferior. Positively it means thatshould combine 1. The Gospel, 2. The first ministers, were conventionally mean. to assume the Inferences-(1) That so long as evil exists in the world, great head.""-Beecher. commotions are to be expected; (2) That the removal of evil from the world is, under God, to be effected through man as man.a "True religion An African preacher.—“There lived in his immediate vicinity out of the infinite a respectable man, who had become interested on the subject of sphere of the religion, and who had begun with some earnestness to search the Divinity, and Scriptures. He had read but a few chapters when he became wherever it finds greatly perplexed with some of those passages which an inspired goodness, love, Apostle has declared to be hard to be understood.' In this state ingenuousness, of mind he repaired to our preacher for instruction and help, and wisdom, holi- found him at noon, on a sultry day in summer, laboriously engaged ness, justice, and hoeing his corn. As the man approached, the preacher, with ready to say, patriarchal simplicity, leant upon the handle of his hoe, and lishere, and there tened to his story. Uncle Jack,' said he, 'I have discovered is God: where- lately that I am a great sinner, and I have commenced reading perfections shine the Bible, that I may learn what I must do to be saved. But I out, a holy mind have met with a passage here,' holding up his Bible, which I climbs up by know not what to do with. It is this: "God will have mercy and raises itself upon whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth." What does this mean?' A short pause intervened, and the old African replied as follows: Master, if I have been rightly informed, it has not been more than a day or two since you began to read the Bible; and, if I remember rightly, that passage you the like, it is soever any such these sunbeams, up to God."— John Smith. ་ the South. have mentioned is away yonder in Romans. Long before you get Watchman of to that, at the very beginning of the Gospel, it is said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Now, have you done that? The truth is, you read entirely too fast. You must begin again, and take things as God has been pleased to place them. When you have done all that you are told to do in Matthew, come, and we'll talk about Romans.'"b b 30, 31. but.. him," the God of grace who has called you. Christ is to ye.. Jesus, believers in. wisdom, better than our poor phi- us wisdom, losophy. righteousness,d in place of our demerits. sancti- etc. fication, holiness, consecration. redemption, freedom, de-a Ep. 3—7. liverance. written, the Scripture fulfilled in the character of 6 Col. ii. 9, 10. Christians. glorieth, in what he is, or does. glory.. Lord, c Col. ii. 3. who has made him what he is, and Himself is the true worker d Is. xlv. 24, 25; with weak instruments. 2 Co. v. 21; Ro. h iii. 25; iv. 25. e 1 Co. vi. 11; Ep. ii. 10; v. 25, 26. Ti. ii. 14; Ro. viii. 23. 9Je. ix. 23, 24. Righteousness, not of us, but in us.-I. Whatever we have is not of us, but of God. II. While truth and righteousness are not of us, it is quite as certain that they are also in us, if we be Christ's; not merely nominally given to us and imputed to us, but really implanted in us by the operation of the Blessed Spirit.i-Christ, the believers' blessing.-I. The exposition of the text-1. He is our wisdom: (1) In knowing Him, we know everything that is essential, (2) He is the Author of our wisdom; 2. Our righteous-h Ga. vi. 14. ness; by Him we are justified, absolved, delivered from condem-i J. H. Newman, nation, and made righteous before God; 3. Our sanctification; by Him we are delivered from the world, and dedicated unto God; "As a needle in 4. Our redemption: it is so called because (1) it is the effect of a compass tremHis purchase, (2) of the grandeur that awaits us. II. The appli- in the north cation of the text-1. The state we are all in by nature; 2. The point, SO the value and importance of Christ; 3. We need not wonder that He heart of a sinner is the subject of the whole of revelation; 4. He ought to be the but in Christ." theme of every minister; 5. He is worthy of our pursuit. k B.A. bles till it settles can have no rest Dingley. Bonaventure's temptation." The devil," says Brooks, "tempt-k W. Jay. ing Bonaventure, suggested to him that he was a reprobate, and "There is no joy persuaded him to drink in the pleasures of this life, because he but inGod, and no was excluded from the future joys with God in heaven. Bona- sorrow but in an venture's graces being active, he answered, 'No, not so, Satan; if evil conscience." I must not enjoy God after this life, let me enjoy Him as much as I can in this life."" -Taylor. CHAPTER THE SECOND. a 1, 2. not.. speech, rhetorical arrangement of words. wis-Christ dom, philosophy. declaring.. God, i.e., things wh. God crucified ordered Apos. to testify concerning Christ. know, make his only known.d anything.. you, whatever you might expect, I would be as a man who knew only one thing. knowledge a 1 Co. i. 17; 2 Co. x. 10. Ac. xx. 20, 21, Christ, and Him crucified.-I. The discrimination of the Apostle -1. Between excellency of speech or wisdom, and Christ; 2. His 27; 1 Jo. v. 10, 11. discrimination further, after he has fixed on the great object of c Ph. iii. 8. his preaching-not Christ simply-not His miracles and words-d "I resolved to but "Christ, and Him crucified." II. The fact that the death of own or show, no other knowChrist deserves all the consideration Paul gave to it. We see. ledge among this from-1. The ordinance of the Supper; 2. Many passages of you."-Locke. "I determined not Scripture; 3. The forbearance of God; 4. The creation, and the to discover any-providence of God; 5. Your own confidence in God; 6. Comthing."- -Whitby. "The only thing munion with God enjoyed only through the medium of a crucified that I made it Christ.e definitely my Some pleased, and one converted.—The Rev. John Cotton was an eminent minister of the seventeenth century, who laboured for many years at Boston, in Lincolnshire. When at the University of Cambridge, he was remarkable for learning and eloquence; and being called upon to preach at St. Mary's church in that town, high expectations were raised as to the character of the sermon. After many struggles in his own mind, arising from the temptation so, when we come to the knowledge to display his talent and learning, and from a powerful impresof Christ, we sion of the importance of preaching the Gospel with all simplicity, should stand still he at length wisely determined on the latter course. The vicether; for Paul chancellor and students were not pleased, though a few of the prowas content to fessors commended his style; but his sermon was blessed to the knownothing but conversion of Dr. Preston, who became one of the most eminent ministers of his day. and go no far Christ crucified." faith to stand in the 3-5. weakness, infirmities. fear, etc., caused by sense of weakness. speech, private discourse. preaching, public dispower of God course. enticing, winning, persuasive. words.. wisdom, a 2 Co. x. 10; xi. such as human policy would dictate. demonstration.. power, 30; xii. 5, 9, 10;" in the proofs given by the Spirit and the power wh. was in me.' stand.. men, such standing unstable. power.. God,a hence b 2 Co. iii. 3; 1 a firm and fruitful faith. Ga. iv. 13. Th. i. 5. demonstration, C Effective preaching.-It-I. Needs no display; this does not c Stanley. By exclude the use of human knowledge or individual talent, but Whitby and Locke the ostentatious exhibition of it, which helps nothing, but damages understand the much. II. Depends on Divine power, the convincing energy of the evidence arising Holy Spirit, and the saving power of the truth. III. Requires the fr. Scriptures, communication of the Spirit, both to the preacher and the hearer. wh.were dictated by Spirit of God. So also Origen. d 1 Co. iii. 6, 7; 2 Co. iv. 7; Ac. xvi. 14. e Dr. Lyth. the wisdom of God in a mystery a He.v. 14; vi. 1; Ep. iv. 13. b Macknight. Those fully ini tiated into the heathen mys Flowers of rhetoric.-King James II. sat for his portrait to Verelst, the great flower painter. So completely was the canvass filled with elegant garlands of flowers, that the king himself was scarcely noticed. May we not in preaching and teaching attract so much attention to human wisdom, words and flowers, that Christ shall take quite an unimportant part in our instruction ? d 6-8. wisdom, the highest wisdom. perfect, the thoroughly instructed; full-grown. wisdom.. world, vain philosophies, or heathen systems of religion. princes.. world, leaders of thought, priests of Paganism. that.. nought, as Dagon fell bef. the ark, so these bef. the Gospel. hidden, in types and figures of the law. glory, the great glory of the age in wh. we live is that these long hidden things are now manifested. princes . knew, Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas, etc., knew not Christ as the teries were Messiah, or the Gospel to be fr. God. Lord.. glory,ƒ“the named TEλELOL, author of all the glorious things displayed in the Gospel." perfect, bec. these The Gospel.-I. A description of its nature. Paul calls it mysteries in their whole extent wisdom. The wisdom of a system may be determined by-1. The were discovered character of the end it contemplates; 2. The fitness of the means to them. Cf. Ph. it employs. The means employed to create love for God in our souls are (1) A personal, (2) A human, (3) A loving, manifestation of God. II. A rule for its preaching. III. An obligation d Ro. xvi. 25, 26; upon its hearers. Hearers owe to-1. Themselves; 2. Their Ep. iii. 4-6, 9-minister; 3. The system of Christ.5 iii. 15. c Stanley. |