by the devil at his will. But in the apostolic age the case was altogether changed ; the Jews being cast off from God ; and the Gentiles being admitted into covenant with him, and made partakers of far higher privileges than were ever accorded to the Jews. There is, in fact, scarcely any comparison between the mercies vouchsafed to us, and those of which God's ancient people partook : so true is it, that " we, who once were last, are now first ; and the Jews, who were once first, are last." In fact, that is now fulfilled which our blessed Lord foretold, that multitudes now " come to him from every quarter of the globe, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven ; whilst the children of the kingdom, the poor infatuated Jews, are cast into outer darkness, where is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth a."]
2. In their civil station —
[The rich and great and noble appear to have immense advantages for heaven, because they can employ a great portion of their time in heavenly pursuits; whilst the poor, who are necessitated to earn their bread by some earthly occupation, have but little time to spare for the acquisition of divine know- ledge. But " the rich, for the most part, are too wise in their own conceit13" to suspect their own ignorance, or to submit to divine teaching : and they have such a fulness and sufficiency of earthly gratifications, that they are not disposed to seek after happiness in things above. The poor, on the contrary, are more willing to receive instruction, and to listen to advice in relation to spiritual and eternal riches. This has been the case in all ages. In our Lord's day, it was said, " Have any of the Rulers and of the Pharisees believed on him ?" But " the common people heard him gladly." In like manner, St. Paul says of those in his day, " Not many mighty, not many noble, are called." And in every age, St. James informs us, " God hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of his kingdom c."]
3. In their intellectual attainments —
[Certainly knowledge, beyond every thing else, elevates man above his fellows. Yet, when his aspect is viewed in re- ference to religion, it is frequently found rather hostile, than friendly, to heavenly pursuits. Hence it is said, in a fore-cited passage, that " not many wise men after the flesh are called ; but, instead of them, the foolish, the weak, and the based." Indeed, God has said, " I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise ? Where is the scribe ? Where is the
a Matt. viii. 11, 12. b Prov. xxviii. 11.
c Jam. ii. 5. d 1 Cor. i. 26—28.