1. Because they alone feel their need of the salva- tion revealed in it —
[Others know not their lost estate : they see no such evil in sin, but that it may be atoned for by some little act of pe- nance, and be counterbalanced by a few self-righteous and formal services. What then can they want of such a provision as the Gospel has made for their reconciliation with God ? What need have they, that Almighty God should become incarnate, and offer himself a sacrifice for their sins ? What need have they to plead the merits of a dying Saviour, when their own will suffice? What need have they that the Holy Ghost should come down and dwell in their hearts, when they have a sufficiency of strength within themselves for every service which they are called to perform ? But the man who knows how low he has fallen, and how utterly impossible it is that he should ever reconcile himself to God, or attain by any obedience of his own a righteousness in which he may stand before God, will be filled with amazement at the revelation which is made in the Gospel, and at the stupendous mystery there contained : in whatever light it be viewed by others, it will in his eyes be " the power of God, and the wisdom of
Gody."]
2. Because they alone seek to be instructed in it —
[Others " lean to their own understanding ;" and, being " wise in their own conceits," " they are taken by God in their own craftiness^." Not so the humble inquirer. To him is imparted " a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the know- ledge of God's dear Son ; so that the eyes of his understand- ing are opened^ ;" and he is enabled to discern with clearness and certainty " the things which are freely given to him of God^" By this divine Agent he is led to view " the deep things of God*^ ;" and to comprehend, in a measure, the depth and height and length and breadth of that love of Christ, which, in its full extent, is utterly incomprehensible^.]
3. Because they alone are willing to embrace its self-denying doctrines —
[Others are offended at the humiliation it requires : nor can they endure to renounce the world, and to live only for God and for eternity. In justification of themselves, therefore, they " deride " what they choose not to embrace ®. But the man whose heart is right with God wishes to be humbled in the very dust as a hell-deserving sinner, and delights in
y 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. ' 1 Cor. i. 19. and iii. 19.
a Eph. i. 18, 19. b ver. 12. = ver. 10. ^ Eph. iii. 18, 19.
^ See, and mark particularly in this view, Luke xvi. 14.