they are counted worthy to suffer shame, if shame it be, for Christ's sake ?" The fact is indisputable, that the Apostle's commission was to preach Christ cruci- fied ; — to preach, I say, that chietly, that' constantly, that exclusively: and therefore he was justified in his determination to " know nothing else :" consequently, to adopt that same resolution is our wisdom also, whether it be in reference to our own salvation, or to the subject of our ministrations in the Church of God. We now proceed to a second reason for the Apostle's determination. He determined to know nothing but Christ and him crucified, — because it contained all that could conduce to the happifiess of man. There are other things which may amuse ; but there is nothing else that can contribute to man's real happiness. Place him in a situation of great distress ; let him be bowed down under a sense of sin ; let him be oppressed with any great calamity ; or let him be brought by sick- ness to the borders of the grave ; — there is nothing that will satisfy his mind, but a view of this glorious subject. Tell him of his good works ; and he feels a doubt, (a doubt which no human being can resolve,) what is that precise measure of good works which will ensure eternal happiness : tell him of repentance, and of Christ supplying his deficiencies ; and he will still be at a loss to ascertain whether he has attained that measure of penitence or of goodness, which is necessary to answer the demands of God. But speak to him of Christ as dying for the sins of men, iis " casting out none that come unto him," as " purging us by his blood from all sin," and as clothing us with his own unspotted righteousness ; yea, as making his own grace to abound, not only where sin has abounded, but infinitely beyond our most abounding iniquities'' ; set forth to him thus the freeness and sufficiency of the Gospel salvation, and he wants nothing else : he feels that Christ is " a Rock, a sure Foundation ;" and on that he builds without fear, assured that " whoso- ever believeth in Christ shall not be confounded."
q Rom. V. 20, 21.