b Acts xviii. 8, 17. "^ Rom. xvi. 23.
^ Matt, xxvii. 57. Mark xv. 43. « Acts xiii. 7. f Acts xxvi. 18.
the poor and unlearned? Let observation and experience decide the point. " You see your calling, brethren :" look at it, and judged : We are not afraid to make our appeal to your- selves ; for God himself appeals to you ; and thereby makes you judges in your own cause ^. We know that these facts give umbrage to many : but however the proud may find in these things an occasion of offence, our blessed Lord saw nothing in them but ground for praise and thanksgiving'.]
Our subject leads us to notice,
II. The immediate effect of that choice —
We are told that Noah, in building the ark, ** con- demned the world''." A similar effect is produced by the peculiar mercy vouchsafed to the poor. The great and learned, though " they shame the counsel of the poor'," yet are ashamed'" and confounded when they see,
I. Their superior discernment —
[Many of the wise, like the Scribes and Pharisees of old, are conversant with the Holy Scriptures, and extremely well instructed as to the letter of them. From hence they suppose that they must necessarily enter into the spirit of them, and be as superior to others in a comprehension of divine truth, as they are in wealth or talents. But when they come to con- verse with one who has been " called out of darkness into God's marvellous light"," they begin to feel their own igno- rance, and to wonder at the depth and clearness of the per- son's knowledge. They cannot conceive how an unlettered person should attain such just and comprehensive views, which they with all their application have not been able to acquire". They do not reflect on what God has told them, that " the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God ;" and that the knowledge of them must be obtained by means of a spiritual discernmentP. They, through the pride of their hearts, presume to bring divine truths to the bar of their own reason; and thus are led to account them foolishness: but the humble disciple of Jesus willingly receives all that God speaks ; and to him " every word is both plain and righf." But all this is a mystery to those who are " wise
B It is just as in the days of old : Matt. xi. 5. John vii. 47, 48. Mark xii. 3.
h Jam. ii. 5. ' Matt. xi. 25, 26. ^ Heb. xi. 7.
' Ps. xiv. 6. m K-arairrxvir]. " ] Pet. ii. 9.
« Prov. xxviii. 11. i' 1 Cor. ii. 11. n Prov. viii. 9.
1931.] THE OBJECTS OF GOd's CALL. 13
after the flesh,"— a mystery which mortifies their pride, and inflames their wraths]
2. Their indifference to the world —
[The men of letters and of wealth, instead of rising above the world, are really its greatest slaves. To enjoy its pleasures, its riches, and its honours, is the summit of their ambition.' They, on the contrary, who are "chosen of God and called %" are enabled to renounce the world, and to regard it no more than they would a crucified object, with whom they have no further connexion*. Now when these persons shew, by their heavenly conversation, that they consider themselves as mere pilgrims and sojourners here, and that " they are look- ing for a better country, that is, an heavenly"," the poor slaves of this world cannot comprehend it. They wonder how any should be so indifferent to the things of time and sense, so bold to encounter the frovms and contempt of all around them, and so immoveable in their adherence to such exploded sentiments and conduct. They know that they themselves could not act in such a manner; and they are unable to account for it in others. But if they understood those words, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith ^" they would cease to wonder; yea, they would rather wonder that the operations of faith were not yet more uniform and extensive.]