of the seers, and the predictions of the prophets, are contained. This is the book in relation to which God had poured out upon the Jewish nation a spirit of deep sleep, and had closed their eyes, even the eyes of their prophets, their rulers, and their seers ; inso- much that it was altogether as " a sealed book," which, " whether delivered to a learned or unlearned man," was equally unintelligible to himc. So completely were its contents hidden from them, that " the wisdom of their wise men perished, and the understanding of their prudent men was hidd."
From the New Testament we are able to speak more definitely on this point, and to say that this book is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: for this is the description which St. Paul gives of the Gospel, in reference to the very chapter before us. He says, that he was sent to preach the Gospel ; but that it was to the great mass of his hearers " foolishness:" agreeable to what had been written ; " I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." " To the Jews," he tells us, " it was a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto those who were called, whether Jews or Greeks, it was Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God e." This book contains the " hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world ; which none of the princes of this world knew : for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory f." Indeed " the natural man, whoever he be, cannot receive it ; for it is foolishness unto him : neither can he know it, because it is spiritually dis- cerned," and can be known only through the influence of God's Spirit upon the soulg.
Thus, by comparing the account given of this book by an inspired Apostle, in reference to the very chapter before us, we may with certainty declare what book is here intended.
Now, as the Gospel is the book which the deaf are to hear, and the blind to see, it will be proper,
c ver. 10 — 12. <* ver. 14. e 1 Cor. i. 18, 19, 23, 24.
f 1 Cor. ii. 7, 8. el Cor. ii. 10—14.