The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 49

ruml friendship with him. And the heart at times has a passionate cry, "Where is my •God?" Put aside the money-bags, the clever schemes, the amusements, the news- papers, the scientific instruments, and the social engagements, and tell me this, O wisdom of the world I "Where is God my Maker? ls there not a Highest and Wisest, and Best? And where is he? 'Oh that I knew where I might find him I that l might come even to his seat 1'" What can the wisdom of this world reply ? It does not deny Divine existence, though a good many persons are col<lly doubtful and agnostic on the subject. But as in the first century any effective conception of the Divine was wearing out of thoughtful minds, and thera was hardly any religious check on licentiousness and rapacity; so now there are mere vague and high-sounding phrases about the Almighty current among the worldly wise, without as much real faith in God as may restrain one fit of passion or dry m,e bitter tear. He is a force- 11ersonal or impersonal, no one knows; where seated, why operative, how directed, none can tell. Or, he is a dream of ineffa.ble beauty and a fountain of ineffable pity; but how to reconcile this with the more severe aspects of nature and life baffles all the wisdom of the world. The sages are puzzled; the multitude know not what to think; and so the world by wisdom knows not God. But there is a better wi~dom, aod St. Paul has shown it to us. It may be well for some to watch the weary gropings and struggles of the world's wisdom, and speak or write on the evidences of Biblical theology and the Christian faith when they find a fit occasion. Yet those to whom the gospel is committed ought not, as a general rule, to turn aside to such discussions. They ought to preach often and earnestly, trusting to God's vindication of the wisdom of that which men call foolishness. "What will this babbler say?" they cried against St. Paul in Greece. "What will this heretic say?" they cried against Wickliffe in England, and afterwards against Luther in Germany. "What will this tub-thumper say?" they cried against Whitefield and Wesley-men who, under God, saved the moral and religious life of England. But however preachers may be mocked, the foolishness of preaching has abundantly shown itself to be wisdom by its results. Its seeming weak- ness covers real power. 0 wise babbler who says," Christ crucified! "-F. Vers. 22-24.-,Apostolic preaGhing. St. Paul magnified the function of preaching. He could leave the baptism of converts and the details of Church business to others, but devoted himself to the proclamation and defence of the truth. No encounter of resist- ance or neglect could turn him away from preaching Christ, or make him ashamed of the gospel. His occupation gave him a deep and solemn joy. I. 'l'IIE suDJEcT OF PREACHING. "We preach Christ crucified;" not Christianity, but Christ ; not even the Crucifixion, but the Christ crucified. There are many topics on which we may discourse, many questions we may discuss; but we ought to preach Christ. Indeed, our discourses and discussions have spiritual freshness and force only as they start from or kad up to this central object and inexha.ustible theme. And" Christ crucified "-not his life and character and example only, but his <lying "for our sins according to the Scriptures; "-it is this that brings peace to troubled consciences of men, and the strongest and most persuasive appeal to their hearts. Little does he know the calling of a New Testament preacher, or the secret of success in proclaiming the Word of truth, who contents himself with occasion:il and distant allusions to the great Sacrifice. The preacher's place is over against the cross. IJ. 'J.'HE PREJUDICE WIIICH THIS PREACHING PROVOKED AND ENCOUNTERED. 1. The Jews required signs. Addicted as they were to much boasting over the signs and wonders wrought for their forefathers by the hand of Moses and other prophets, they demanded sigus or prodigies in attestation of the gospel. It was a demaud which our Lonl always refused when it was urged on him, and one which the apostles did well to discourage. '!'hey were not thaumaturgists, but preachers of righteousness. There- fore the Jews believed not. 'l'o them Christ crucified was a stumbling-block. A Ma.n whom their council had condemned for blasphemy, and whom the Homan authorities had put to cleath,-how could he be a Saviour? how could he be the Messiah? Why <lid not God save him from a miserable death if he delighted in him? Why did he himself not come down from the cross? So the Jews stumbled and fell through •unbelief. And to this day they blaspheme the Nazarene as the Man who was hanged l!pon a tree. A similar prejudice shows itself among Gentile hearers of the gospel al:so. I, CORINTHIANS. R  50 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE COIUNTHIA~S. [en. 1. 1-3'1!