wiadom to the spiritual, but makes them practically wise. As led by him, all their nctio11s are wise; their foolish deeds are the fruits of refusing to be so led. (1) They compare spiritual things with spiritual (ver. 13). This expression is obscure. Somo have thought the meaning to be, comparing passages of Scripture together, all being recognized as inspired by the Spirit, and one being expected to shed li 6 bt upon the other. And surely such "comparing" is wise. Single-text men have a profound impression of their own wisdom, but no one else has. It has been well said that the best commentary on Scripture is Scripture. The Spirit has certainly made us wise when we have a special fondness for his own teaching. Men are apt to search every- thing before they search the Scriptures. We want more Bible students. :Many know a good deal about the Bible, and very little of the Bible. The passage has been thought to mean, joining spiritual truths to spiritual (not worldly-wise) words, thus causing it to continue the thought of the preceding clause-upon which, hy the way, adherents of the verbal inspiration theory lay much stress as supporting their views. As for our- selves, if we are wise, we shall certainly desire to be led by the Spirit, not only in thought, but in utterance. Preachers and teachers need to attend the Divine school of language. Words are a great power; they hinder or help according to their suitability. How many sermons of noble and useful thought have been thrown away because of unsuitable diction! How much truth has been suffocated under masses of verbiacre ! How much reproof, exhortation, incitement, has been made pointless by being expressed in carefully rounded periods! The edge has been taken off; the sword has been blunted. How often "eloquence" has hidden Christ! And further, how often false doctrine has been fostered by carelessness of expression! We need a. "wisdom of words;" though not that false wisdom of words which Paul so vigorously condemned. '!.'he modern Church requires a "gift of tongues," and must look for it whence the ancient gift came. Tbe ministers of Christ should speak "as the Spirit gives them utteraoce." (2) They form true judgments. In tbe degree in which they possess the true wisdom, according to the measure in which they are taught and led by the Divine Spirit. The reference is, no doubt, to matters mora.l and spiritual; but it must be remembered that all things in this life have a moral or spiritual bearing, and it is in this respec;t that the spiritual have true discernment. The truly spiritual man cannot be judged by the carnal. The carnal cannot form a true estimate of spiritual matters, because these are spiritually discerned (ver. 14). So that the world's judgment of the Christian, per se, need. not distress him; it is the judgment of ignorance (see eh. iv. 3). 'l'his true wisdom, so priceless, is within the reach of all. By believing in Christ we may become" wise unto salvation," and, under the Spirit's teaching, wise for all time and for all eternity.-H.
Vers. 1-5.-Paul the model preacher. The apostle has shown that God does not save men by human wisdom, but by the preaching of Christ. He now declares th:tt his own practice at Corinth was in accordance witli this great principle. His example is a pattern for nil preachers of the gospel. I. THE MATTER AND METHOD OF PREACHrNG. Paul's business was to "proclaim the mystery of God," "even the mystery which hath been hid from all ages and generations; but now bath it been manifested to his saints" (Col. i. 26). The substance of that mystery is set forth in" Jesus Christ, and him crucified." The person and the work of Christ, what he was and what he ditl, constitute the great theme of tl.!c preacher. These two great heads cover nil that is distinctively called the gospel. How is this to be preached? "Not with excellency of speech or of wisdom;"" not in persuasive words of wisdom." Not as a new philosophy to supplant the old; not as a well-reasoned argument, compelling the assent of the mind; not as a rhetorical display, taking captive the imagination. The tl-mptntion to seek to win men in this way is frequently great, as Paul felt it to be at Corinth, but it must not be yielded to. 'l'ho preacher is tho bearer of a Divine message to men which ncetls no adventitious helps (compare what is said above on eh. i. 17-25). H. 'l'HE souncE OF POWER IN PREACHING. 1. Self-distrust. "And I w:1.s with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." Paul magnified his office and humbled himself. In presence of the forces arrayed against him am! the great tru_st committed to him, ho felt his own weakness. Aml if the groat apostlo trembled tu 76 THE FIHST El'ISTLt,; TO 'l'HE COUINTHIANS. [en. 11, 1-lG.