man, but in the power of God\ Now, in this he has set us an example which we ought carefully to follow. We greatly err, if we hope by any meretricious ornaments to embellish the Gospel of Christ. That appears most beautiful, when it is exhibited most simply in its own native form. The whole world would in vain attempt to add any thing to light: and equally vain will be any endeavour to exalt the Gospel by the gaudy trappings of rhetorical expressions. It is by the plain exhibition of a crucified Saviour that God will work. On the wisdom of the wise he will pour contempt : but " by the fool- ishness of preaching," that is, by such preaching as the wise of this world account foohshness, " he will save them that believe." Let ministers then learn from hence how to preach the Gospel, remembering that " the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men^." We may by our additions weaken the Gospel of Christ ; but we can never strengthen its efficacy by any thing that we can add. It is in itself " the rod of God's strength :" and, if we wield it faithfully, all the powers of darkness shall fall before it.]
2. To those who hear the Gospel —
[You must seek to attain simplicity of mind, even the simplicity of little children. " If you would be wise, you must become fools that you may be wise'." It is the truth of God that you are to regard, and not the human eloquence with which it may be proclaimed. You must " hear the word," not as the word of man, but of God." You must hear it as God's word to your own selves in particular; and must " receive it with meekness, as an engrafted word, able to save your souls™." Let this thought be duly impressed upon your minds, and it will operate powerfully to counteract that sad propensity which is in us to set up one preacher above another, because of his peculiar gifts and talents. For what is any man, but a mere instrument of God, whereby God himself was pleased to work upon you"? Whether it was " Paul who planted, or Apollos who watered, it was God alone who gave the increase : " and therefore " neither Paul nor Apollos should be any thing in your estimation, (except as you may love them for their works' sake,) but God who gave the increase." The praise and glory should be His alone".
On the other hand, neither should you despise the word, because it is delivered in weakness. God is often pleased to " magnify his own strength in the weakness " of his instru-
i ver. 5, 13. ^ 1 Cor. i. 25. i 1 Cor. iii. 18.
•« Jam. i. 21. " 1 Cor. iii. 5. » 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.
f>4 1 CORINTHIANS, 11. 7. [1937.
mentsP. He has "put his treasure into earthen vessels for this very end^:" and, if you will look to him for his blessing on the word, he will " ordain strength in the mouths of babes and sucklings'," and " enrich you by those who are the poorest in themselves ^"
Only seek to behold and to admire the wisdom of God in his Gospel ; and you shall find it to be " the power of God to the salvation of your souls'."]
P 2 Cor. xii. 9. i 2 Cor. iv. 7. '^ Ps. viii. 2.
« 2 Cor. vi. 10. ' Rom. i. 16.