traced to this source ; pardon, peace, holiness, glory, are its proper fruits. Without the atonement we could have received nothing ; but by and through it we may receive every thing. This also must be distinctly inculcated, if we would approve ourselves faithful stewards of the mysteries of Christ.]
3. Persuade men to seek an interest in it —
[We find men filled with self-righteous conceits, and with great difficulty brought to renounce them : we must therefore argue with them, and urge upon them all the most powerful considerations : we must address ourselves to their passions as well as their understanding ; and gain their ajBections on the side of truth. It was thus that Paul preached Christ; and it is thus only that Christ crucified can be preached aright.]
II. The manner in which it was, and is still, received —
As there were differences of opinion respecting our Lord himself, some accounting him a good man, and others a deceiver, so are there respecting his Gospel —
1. Some reject it with contemptuous abhorrence —
[Jews and Greeks were equally averse to it, though on different grounds. The Jews did not understand the true nature and scope of their law : hence they supposed that the Gospel was opposed to it, and that Christ was an enemy to Moses : and notwithstanding all the evidence they had of Christ's Messiahship, they rejected him from a pretended want of proof of his divine mission. The Greeks had been habituated to philosophical researches, and rejected the Gospel because there was nothing in it to flatter the pride of human reason : both these kinds of characters yet exist, and oppose the Gospel with equal acrimony ; to some it is " a stumbling-block," as appearing to set aside good works ; to others it is " foolishness," as militating against their preconceived notions of rational re- ligion. And if it be not so dispensed by us as to call forth such treatment from such characters, we have reason to believe that we do not preach the Gospel as Paul preached it.]
2. Others receive it with the deepest reverence — [There are some " called," not by the outward word only,
but by the internal and effectual operations of the Spirit. These, whatever have been their disposition iri times past, have their eyes open to behold the Gospel in a far different light. To them the doctrine of " Christ crucified" is " the power of God" they see that it is that, by which God has converted myriads to himself: they feel also that it is that, to which alone they can ascribe their own conversion ; and they know that nothing can ultimately withstand its power. To them it