he will not work by it ; because he would have " our faith to stand, not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Hence St. Paul, though eminently qualified to set it forth with all the charms of oratory, purposely laid aside " all excellency of speech or of wisdom in declaring the testimony of God," and " used all plainness of speech," lest by dressing up the truth " in the enticing words of man's wisdom, he should make the cross of Christ of none effect ^"
Further vindication than this is unnecessary : for, if this subject contained all that he was commissioned to declare ; if it contained all that could conduce to the happiness of man ; and if nothing could be added to it without weakening or destroying its efficacy; he must have consented to defeat the ends of his ministry altogether, if he had not adopted and main- tained the resolution in the text.
If then these things be so, we may venture to found upon them the following advice —
First, Let us take care that we hioiv Christ cru- cified—
Many, because they are born and educated in a Christian land, are ready to take for granted that they are instructed in this glorious subject : but there is almost as much ignorance of it prevailing amongst Christians as amongst the heathen themselves. The name of Christ indeed is known, and he is compli- mented by us with the name of Saviour; but the nature of his office, the extent of his work, and the excellency of his salvation, are known to few. Let not this be considered as a rash assertion : for we will appeal to the consciences of all ; Do we find that the Apostle's views of Christ are common ? Do we find many so filled with admiring and adoring thoughts of this mystery, as to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of it ; and to say, like him, " God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ?" On the contrary,
s 1 Cor. i. 17. and ii. 1, 4, 5.