not however forget, that the Scriptures are the foun- tain of true wisdom. We should ever bear in mind, that the heathen sages, though wiser than their con- temporaries, were deplorably ignorant in comparison of those who live under the Christian dispensation : and even the light which some of the most learned amongst them possessed, was most probably obtained, either immediately or remotely, from the inspired volume. There, and there alone, is true wisdom to be found ; and therein are contained " all the trea- sures of wisdom and knowledge."
To open and unfold these to you, is an employ- ment worthy of the occasion on which we are assembled11.
St. Paul in my text is expressing his ardent desire in behalf of the Christians at Colosse, whom he had never seen, that they might be fully instructed in the great mystery of the Gospel of Christ, " in whom, he observes, are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ;" but, in the margin, the word mystery is considered as the antecedent ; and the translation is, "wherein ;" i. e. "in which mystery are contained all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ;" and this we consider as the better rendering, though the sense will amount to nearly the same either way.
In illustration of these words we shall,
I. Open to you these treasures of wisdom and knowledge —
II. Commend them to your diligent pursuit —
I. We are to open to you these treasures of wisdom and knowledge —
But "who is sufficient for such" an undertaking? Who can enter on such a task, without a fear, not only that he shall betray his own ignorance, and dis- appoint your expectations, but that he may even expose the Gospel itself to- contempt ? Indeed, if I were capable of doing justice to my subject, such is
a Preached as a Commemoration Sermon in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.