Now it must be confessed, that this is humiliating to our proud reason ; and that it is difficult for those who " seem wise in this world," to condescend to receive instruction in such a way. But we shall find, that the Apostle's direction, if duly considered, may be vindicated (as we are in the next place to shew) on the ground of, II. Its 7'easonableness —
To become fools in order to be wise, however pa- radoxical it may appear, is, in the view of it before stated, most highly reasonable : for, in so doing, we acknozvledge nothing but what is undeniably true — and submit to nothing, but what we cheerfully subrnii to in the acquiring of human wisdom.
We acknowledge nothing but what is imdeiiiably true. Let us look into the Scriptures, and see how our characters are painted there. In them we are told, that '^the god of this world hath blinded our eyes^ :" that " we have walked hitherto in the vanity of our mind, having our understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in us, because of the blindness of our hearts™:" that, on this very account, we need " a spirit of wis- dom and revelation to enlighten us" :" that, in our conversion, our " eyes are opened," and we are ** turned from darkness unto light"," yea, are "brought out of darkness into marvellous light p." We are fur- ther told that, so far from having in ourselves a know- ledge of the things of God, we do not even receive them when offered to our view ; yea, we account them foolishness, neither can we know them, be- cause we are destitute of that spiritual understanding whereby alone they can be discerned "5.
These are plain truths which require no comment.
Let us now see these truths exemplified. If we would state our argument in its most advantageous point of view, we should adduce the Gentile world as proofs of the fallibility of man's reason ; and shew,
' 2 Cor. iv. 4. "' Eph. iv. 17, 18. " Eph. i. 17.
« Acts xxvi. 18. p 1 Pet. ii. 9. ^ 1 Cor. ii. 14.