overcome the world ? Does it disarm death of its sting ? Does it inspire them with a hope full of im- mortality ? Does it sanctify them throughout in all their tempers and dispositions, and transform them into the image of the blessed Jesus ? We may even ask. Whether, so far from loving to be taught of God themselves, they do not feel an enmity in their hearts against those who are taught of God ; and account them fools, whom God declares to be the only wise ? Here then the point appears in its true light. If men will not become fools in their own estimation, they shall be fools indeed : for they shall wander in- cessantly " in their own deceivings," and shall " perish at last for lack of knowledge''." We cannot conclude this subject without observing —
How much it reflects on a fact which has existed in every age of the Church, which yet it is not easy to account for, namely, that few of those who are emi- nent for learning, are at the same time eminent for spirituality of heart and life.
St. Paul in this very epistle says to the Church at Corinth, " Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called ; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence'." Thus must we say in reference to our times, that not many wise, or ma?iy noble, are found among the despised followers of Jesus. And the reason is, that men will not condescend to be taught of God in the way that God requires : they are " wise in iheir own conceits :" their wisdom is even a greater bar to their salvation than their lusts : for, their lusts they will condemn, even while they inwardly indulge them : but their wisdom they hold fast, nor will they
k Hos. iv. 6. 1 1 Cor. i. 2G— 28.