disputer of this world ? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world6?" The truth is, that the wisdom of this world is so deeply impregnated with pride, that it cannot submit to the humiliating doctrines of the Gospelf. " The wisdom of God is foolishness with man : and the wisdom of man is foolishness with Godg :" and the only way for any man to become truly wise, is to become a fool in his own estimation, and to receive with child-like simplicity every word that God hath spoken11. And if any think it hard that such contempt should be poured on human wisdom, let him know that our blessed Saviour saw nothing in it but ground for praise and thanksgiving : " I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes ; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight1."]
4. In their moral habits —
[These, above all, we should suppose to be favourable to the reception of the Gospel. But really experience is far from confirming this sentiment : for the Scribes and Pharisees were externally moral ; yet did publicans and harlots enter into the kingdom of heaven before themk." " The former justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John : whereas the latter rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him1." And, as the fruit of these different dispositions, the Pharisee, who thought himself righteous, and despised others, went from the Divine presence with all his guilt upon him, whilst the self-condemning Publican was justified from all his sins"1. Where can we find a more impious cha- racter than Manasseh ? or one more bitter than Saul ? or one in a more desperate condition than the dying thief? Yet all these found mercy of the Lord, that " in them, as in the chief of sinners, God might be the more glorified"." And thus it frequently is at this day : " where sin has abounded, grace much more abounds ; that as sin has reigned unto death, so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord0."
Thus, in all these respects, are our Lord's words fully veri- fied ; not only the Gentiles occupying a higher station than God's ancient people ; but the poor, the illiterate, and the de- praved being raised to a participation of God's kingdom and glory, to a far greater extent than the rich, the learned, and the moral : so true is it still, as in former ages, that " God raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar
e 1 Cor. i. 19, 20. f 1 Cor. ii. 14. el Cor. i. 21—25.
h 1 Cor. hi. 18—20. ! Matt. xi. 25, 26. k Matt. xxi. 31.
1 Luke vii. 29, 30. m Luke xviii. 10—14.
n 1 Tim. i. 15, 16. ° Rom. v. 20, 21.