with the conceit of their own sufficiency, and wise in their own eyes, are ready to prescribe to God what he shall speak ; receiving only what accords with their own preconceived opinions, and rejecting every thing that is not accommodated to their carnal ap- prehensions. They do not read the Scriptm-es to learn of God, but rather to criticise what he has revealed, and to sit in judgment upon all that he has spoken. Is it to be wondered at, that the Gospel, which is full of mysteries, should not approve itself to them ? yea, that it should be a stumbling-block and an offence to them ? It is so, and it must be so, till they shall see that " God is wiser than man," and that " if any man would be wise, he must become a fool that he may be wise."
But though to such proud and self-sufficient scio- hsts the Gospel of God is foolishness, yet to the truly wise it is a revelation every way worthy of its great Author.
By the truly wise, we mean those persons who are sensible that they stand in need of reconciliation with their offended God, and that the Gospel is a revela- tion from God respecting the provision which he has made for our restoration to his favour. These per- sons, conscious of the insufficiency of human wisdom to find out such a plan for the salvation of mankind, receive with humihty what God has revealed ; and, the instant they know his mind and will, they receive his testimony with the liveliest gratitude, and make it the one ground of all their hopes. These are truly wise ; they presume not to dispute with God about the means he has provided, or the terms he has offered, for their salvation ; but they accept thank- fully what he has so graciously planned, and so freely offered.
To persons of this description the Gospel does approve itself as the wisdom of God and the power of God. It approves itself both as a revelation, and as a remedy. — As a revelation, it appears to stand on a basis that is immoveable ; and the evidence of its divine authority is considered as incomparably stronger