I ĈOR. the crofs of Chrift fhould be made of none effect. 18. For the preaching of the crofs is to them that perish foolishness: but unto us which are faved, it is the power of God. 19. For it is written, I will deftroy the wif dom of the wife, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20. Where is the wife? where is the fcribe?where is the difputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wifdom of this world? 21. For after that, in the wifdom of God, the world by wifdom knew not God, it pleafed God by the (1) foolishnefs of preaching to fave them that believe. the Jews require a fign, and the Greeks feek after wif dom: m 18. Acts 17. 18-Some [Philofophers] faid, What will this Babler fay other fome, He feemeth to be a fetter forth of ftrange Gods: because he preached unto them Jefus, and the Refurrection. † 2 Cor. 2. 15. We are unto God a fweet favour of Chrift, in them that are faved, and in them that 15 perish. h1 Cor. 15. 2. See on Rom. 1. 16. 19. t Job 5. 12, 13. He dif. appointeth the Devices of the Crafty, 20 fo that their Hands cannot perform their Enterprife. He taketh the wife in their own craftiness. Ifa. 29. 14. The Wisdom of their wife Men hall perish, and the Under-25 ftanding of their prudent Men fhall be hid. Jer. 8. 9. The wife Men are ashamed, they are difmayed and taken; lo, they have rejected the Word of the Lord,, and what 30 Wisdom is in them? 22. For 20. ** Ifa. 33. 18. -Where is the Scribe? where is the Receiver? Ifa. 44. 24. [Thus faith the Lord] that turneth wife Men backward, and maketh their Know. ledge foolish. Rom. 1. 22. Profef fing themfelves to be wife, they became Fools. 21. * Job 12. 17, 20, 24. He leadeth Counsellors away fpoiled, and maketh the Judges Fools. He removeth away the Speech of the Trufty, and taketh away the Understanding of the Aged. He taketh away the Heart of the chief People of the Earth.— Rom. 1. 19, 21, 28. That which may be known of God is manifeft in them; for God hath fhewed it unto them. Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their Imaginations, and their foolish Heart was darkned. Even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate Mind. † Luk. 10. 21. See on Mat. (1) So those who thought themfelves wife enough already, and refufed to be benefitted by the preaching of the Gospel, were pleased to ftyle it. But this wife Contrivance of God's, which they accounted Foolishness, contributed more to the Salvation of Men, than ́any Methods, though invented by the wifeft Men, could have done. 0 men; dom: 23. But we preach Chrift crucified, unto the Jews a ftumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishnefs; 24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Chrift, the power of God, and the wildom of God. 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than and the weaknefs of God is ftronger than men. 26. For ye fee your calling, brethren, how that not many wife men after the flesh, (1) not many mighty, not many noble are called. 27. But God hath chofen the "foolish things of the world, to confound the wife; and God hath chofen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty; 28. And bafe things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chofen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29. That no flefh fhould glory in his Prefence, 30. But of him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us wifdom, and righteoufnefs, and fanctifi F 3 rt Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all the Treafures of Wisdom and Knowledge: 26. Joh. 7 48. Have any of St the Rulers, or of the Pharifees, be-, lieved on him? 27. "Jam. 2. 5. † Pfal. 8. 2. See on Mat. 11. 25. at Eph. 29. Rom. 3. 27. b 2. 9. See on 1 30. t Jer. 23. 5, 6. Behold, the Days come, faith the Lord,' that I will raife unto David a righteous Branch, and a King fhall, reign and profper, and fhall exe cu. (1) It is plain from the Hiftory of the New-Teftament, That feveral, had in Reputation for their Learning, Wifdom, and noble Defcent, did believe and embrace the Gofpel, [See the References on Job. 7. 48.] tho' the much greater Part of this Rank, influenced by Pride, and worldly Confiderations, and unreafonable Preju dices, ftood out, and would not come when they were called. Since therefore few of them, comparatively fpeaking, embraced the Gospel, we are not as a Lofs for a Reafon why fo few of that Condition were made choice of to be Preachers of it to the World; which I take to be the Senfe in which we are here to understand the Word called. For People of all Conditions and Circumftances, high and low, rich and poor were called to receive and believe the Gofpel, and to reform and amend their Lives that they might be saved, fanctification, and redemption: 31. That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. A CHA P. IL . ND I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of fpeech, or of wifdom, decla ring unto you the teftimony of God. 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, c. fave Jefus Chrift, and him crucified. 3, And I was with you in weaknels, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 cute Judgment and Juftice in the Earth And this is his Name whereby he fhall be called, The Lord our Righteousness. +Joh. 17. 19. For their fakes I fanctifie my felf, that they alfo might be fan &tified through the Truth. -- ત And Yea, doubtlefs, and I count all things but lofs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have fuffered the Lofs of all things, and do count them but Dung, that I may win Christ. 3. A&s 18. 1, 6, 12. Paul departed from Athens, and came 10 to Corinth. When they oppofed themselves, and blafphemed,he hook his Raiment, and laid unto them, Your Blood be upon your ow Heads. The Jews made infur 15 rection with one accord again Paul, and brought him to the Judgment-Seat, e 2 31. Ifa. 65. 16. He who beth himself in the Earth, fhall blefs him felf in the God of Truth. * Jer. 9. 23, 24. Thus faith the Lord, Let not the wife Man glory in his Wifdom, neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might, let not the rich Man glory in his Riches. But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he underlandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lam Cor. I 10. 4. We are, weak, Lord which exercife loving-kind- but ye are frang: ye are honourref, judgment, and righteoufnefs-20 able, but we are defpifed, † 2 Cor in the Earth for in thefe things 11. 30. If I muft needs glory, I I delight, Taith the Lord. Pfal. will glory of the things which 34. 2. My Soul thall make her boat concern mine Infirmities, ita Cor. in the Lord 2 Cor. 10.17. He 12. 5,9, 10. Of my felf I will that glorier, let him glory in the 25 not glory, but in mine Infirmities. Lord. He faid unto me, My Grace is fuf ficient for thee for my Strength is made perfect in Weakness. Moft gladly therefore will rather glo. Cor. 1. 23. We preach 30ty in my Infirmities, that the Pow Christ crucified Cor. 15. 3er of Christ, may, reft upon me. I delivered unto you first of all, that which I alfo received, how that Christ died for, cur Sins, according to the Scriptures. Gal. 6, 14. God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the Crofs of our Lord Jefus Christ. Phil. 3. 7, 8. What things were, gain to me, thofe I counted Lofs for Chrift. 49, I CHA P. II. a See on 1 Cor. 1. 17. с 2. h * And my fpeech, and my preaching was not with enticing [Or, perfwafible] words of mans wisdom, but in demonftration of the Spirit, and of power. 5. That your faith fhould not *ftand [Gr. be] in the wifdom of men,› but in the power of God. 6. Howbeit we fpeak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to: nought. 7. But we speak the wifdom 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: 1 this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.. 9. But as it is written, eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath 10. But God hath n re-prepared for them that love him. vealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit learcheth 11. For what' all things, yea, the deep things of God. man knoweth the things of a man, fave the spirit of man m Cor. 1. 17. See on I I F 4.. which Mat. 1. 25. † A&s 13. 27. † Joh. 16. 3. See on A&ts 3. 17: 5 9. in Ifa. 64. 4. Since the Beginning of the World Men have not heard, nor perceived by the Ear, neither hath the Eye feen, O God, befides thee, what he hath: prepared for him that waiteth for him. Rom. 15. 19. Through mighty Signs and Wonders, by the Power of the Spirit of God; fo that from Jerufalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Chrift. Cor. 4. 20. The Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in Power. †2Cor 4.7. We have this Treasure in earthen Veffels, that the Excel-r5 lency of the Power may be of God, and not of us. † 2 Cor.6. 4, 6, 7. In all things approving our felves as the Minifters of God. By purenefs, by the holy Ghost By the Word of Truth, by the Power of God. Thef. 1. 5. Our Gof. pel came not unto you in Word only, but alfo in Power, and in the holy Ghost. See on Ver. 4. 6. Phil. 3. 15. † Heb. 5. 14. See on Heb. 13. 21. a Joh. 14 26. The Com forter, which is the holy Ghost. whom the Father will fend in my Name, he fhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatfoever I have faid unto you. Joh. 16. 13. When the Spirit of Truth is come, he will + Mat 20guide you into all Truth. 16. 171 Joh.28 27. See on Mat. 13. 14. II. + Prov. 10. 27. The Spil rit of Man is the Candle of the 25 Lord, fearching all the inward Parts of the Belly. Prov. 27. 19. As in Water Face answeretheto Face: fo the Heart of Man to Man. Jer. 1909.The Heart 7. Eph. 3.9. Col. 126. is things of God knoweth which is in him? even fo the no man, but the Spirit of God. 12. 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 alfo we fpeak, not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghoft teacheth; (1) comparing spiritual things with fpiritual. 14. But the natural (2) man receiveth. is deceitful above all Things, and defperately wicked, who can know it? P See on Rom. 11. 33, 34. r not God, but thofe that be of Men. t Rom, 8. 7. The carnal Mind is en mity against God: for it is not fubject to the Law of God, nei ther indeed can be. Jam. 3. 15, This Wifdom defcendeth not from above, but is earthly, fenfual, devilish. Jude ver. 19. Thefe 1 Cor. 1. 17. be they who feparate themfelves, 14. S Mat. 16. 23. Thou 1afenfual, having not the Spirit, favouret not the things that be of 12. Я † Rom. 8. 15. -Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 2 Pet. 1. 16. See on 13. r * (1) The Meaning is, comparing one divine Revelation with another; the Revelations of the old Teftament with the Revelations of the new, and fhewing how the Prophecies, Types, &c. in the old Teftament are, by the fame Spirit now under the Gospel, explain'd and fulfilled by Christ and his Religion. (1) The Perfons to whom the Apoftle writ this Epiftle, were fuch as had the Advantage of divine Revelation. We may therefore hence learn, that a Man of the finest Wir, and of the brightest natural Parts, improved by Study, and all the Embellishments of humane Learning, is notwithstanding unable to make a found Judgment of fpiritual things, without the Aids and Operations of the holy Spirit; which Aids he is ready to beflow on all who do not refist and grieve him, and are willing to receive them, and defirous to improve them. The natural Man here, is cppofed not to one who is regenerate and fanctified, but to one who believes, or is enlightned by the holy Spirit, which Numination a Man may have without and before his Regeneration, as one who is unregenerate may have fome Gifts of the Spirit which a regenerate Perfon has not; witness, the Miracles wrought by fome in the Name of Chrift, which implies their believing in him. It does not appear to me that we are required to lay afide the use of our Reafon in Matters of Religion; for Reafon is an ex cellent Gift, as Light beftowed upon Man by God, as well as Revelation, and is of fingular Ufe to preferve us from being impofed upon by false Pretenders to immediate Revelation. Accordingly we may oblerve, that God has made it our Duty to exercife our Rea fon in matters of Religion. Hence thofe many Cautions not to fuf fer our felves to be deceived. See the References on Mat. 24. 4. Hence the holy Scriptures appeal to the Reason and Understanding or Men. See the References on 1 Cor. 10. 15. As there are fome who let too high a Value: upon humane Reafon, fo there are o thers |