II. GOD IS DETERMINED TO OVERTHROW EVIL BY CONVENTIONALLY CONTEMPTIBLE . ll1EAKS. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise," etc. The "wise" and the "mighty" cannot protect evil. The agency to sweep evil away is here represented as" foolish," "weak," "hase," "despised," and "things which are not." \Yhat does this language mean? 1. It does not mean that the gospel is an inferior thing. The gospel is no mean thing. It has proved itself the wisdom of God and the power of God. 2. It does not mean that the men appointed as its ministers are to be inferior. There are several things to show that the gospel ministry requires the highest order of mind. (1) The character of the work. What is the work? Not the mere narration of facts or the enunciation of the current opinions of men. No; it is teaching men in all wisdom. Teaching implies the impartation to others of what they are ignorant of, and that in such a way as will commend it to the common sense. (2) The character of the system. If a man is to teach the gospel, he must first learn it. What a system it i~ to learn! Simpletots call the gospel simple; but intelligence has ever found it of all subjects the most 1>rofound and difficult. The greatest thinkers of all ages have found the work no easy task. (3) The character of society. Who exerts the most inHuenc8 upon the real life of the men and women around him? The man of thought and intelligence. If the gospel ministry is to influeuce men it must be employed hy men Gf the highest type of culture and ability. (4) The spirit of the work. What is the moral spirit in which the gospel should be presented to men? Humble, charitable, forbearing, reverent. Such a spirit comes only from deep thought and extensive know- ledge. ( 5) The character of the apostles. Where can you find greater force of soul than Paul had? more searching sagacity than James had? 'Jhey were men of talent and thought. .Away, then, with the thought that the words here afford any encouragement for an ignorant or feeble ministry. 3. What, then, do they mean? (1) 'l'hat the gospel was conventionally mean. The Founder was a carpenter's Son. It was a "foolish" thing to the Greek, etc. (2) That the first ministers were conventionally mean. They v:crc fishermen, clerks, tent-makers, etc. The system and its ministers, however, are merely conventionally contemptible, nothing more. 'l'hese, like many other things that erring man regards as iusignificant and mean, shall do a great work. From this subject we may infer: (1) That, so long as evils exist in the world, great commotions are to be expected. God has chosen this system to" confound and bring to nought" things that are. (2) That the removal of evil from the world is, under God, to be tjfected through 111an as man. The gospel is to make its way in the world, not by men invested with adventitious endowments, such as scientific attainments, etc., but by men as men endowed with the common powers of human nature, but these powers inspired and ,lirccted by the living gospel.
Vers. 30, :n.-The union of the genuine disciple with his Jlfaster. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sancti- fication, and redem1,tion : that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory iu the Lord." Concerning this union- !. It is MOST VITAL. "In Christ," not merely in his dispensation, in his school, in Lio character, but in himself, as the branches are ia the vine. He is their life. en. 1. 1-31.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 15
II. It is DIVINEI,Y FOnMED. "Of him arn ye in Christ." Whom'/ Of God. It is the eternal Spirit that brings the soul into vital connection with Christ. "My Father is the I-Iusbandman." III. It is DLESSEDLY PRODUCTIVE. "Wisdom," "righteousness," "sanctification," and" redemption" come out of this union. What transcendent blessings are these! IV. It is EXULTINGLY ADORING. "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." It inspires the highest worship, it cause11 the soul to triumph in God himself.