with feelings of respect those who may think it right to differ from us.

We may learn also from this passage of Scripture to regard our Ministers only as Ambassadors for Christ. They are appointed by God, "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ ;” (Eph. iv. 12.) and as such we are bound to thank God for them, and to esteem them very highly in love, for their work's sake; but still, we must guard against such an undue dependance upon them, as might lead us to forget that they are but servants of that Lord, whom we are all bound to obey. As the Corinthians were ready to put St. Paul in the room of Christ, so in these days there are some people, who seem ready to put their Clergyman in the room of God, and to fancy that all religion consists in attending upon their favorite preacher. Let us beware of setting up any idol however good. God is a jealous God, and will have our hearts entire. Christ must be "all in all."

At the same time while we are guarding against this error, we must not forget the danger there is also of the other extreme. We find that there were some in the apostle's time, who refused to acknowledge any authority in the Ministers appointed by God. They said, "I am of Christ." But that was a great mistake. To speak truth, they should have said, I am for myself. It can never be honoring God to refuse obedience to those who are set over us by Him. However people may contrive to deceive themselves on this point, self-will is certainly the root of all insubordination, and resistance to lawful authority.

EXPLANATION.

Verse 17 to 25. St. Paul did not mean that what he said respecting baptism, should be understood as a disrespect to that holy ordinance. He therefore explains himself by adding, (17) the especial duty which Christ has given me to do is, not to baptize Christian converts, but to preach the Gospel to all men and my preaching is not according to the wisdom of this world; not with the winning persuasion of man's eloquence, lest it should seem as if the cross of Christ alone were not enough to effect the salvation of man. For although the preaching of the cross is counted as mere foolishness by those who perish, yet to us who are saved, it is felt to be the power of God. (19) And this agrees with what is written in the Old Testament, "The wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." (Isaiah xxix. 14.) (20) Where is the the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (see Isa. xxxiii. 18.) (21) For after that the wisdom of God had been displayed in the works of creation, and yet men in their own boasted wisdom knew Him not, then it pleased God, by what they might call foolish preaching, to save them that believe the Gospel. (22) The Jews are looking for the signs of such a Messiah as they expected, and the Greeks desire something which will agree with their notions of wisdom: (23) nevertheless we go on preaching Christ crucified; and though it be a

stumbling-block to the Jews, and though it be thought foolishness by the Greeks, (24) yet by those, who through Divine grace are effectually called, Christ is felt to be both "the power of God, and the wisdom of God." (25) Because what seems foolishness in the appointments of God, is wiser than any thing of man's planning, and that which looks like weakness in God, is stronger than any thing which man can devise.

APPLICATION.

Pride the cause of the Gospel being rejected.

Here we see the natural opposition which there is in the heart of man, to the method of salvation God has appointed. From the days of St. Paul to the present hour, the preaching of Christ crucified has always been unpleasant to man's pride. The Jews were looking for a great temporal Prince. They thought that when the Messiah came, He would conquer the whole world, and exalt their nation in power and glory above every other.

This was an idea so well suited to the sinful inclinations of vain man, that but very few were found willing to give up these notions of worldly splendour, and stoop to receive as their God and Saviour, Him who had hung upon a cross.

In the book of God's law it is written, "He that is hanged is accursed of God." (Deut. xxi. 23.) Now the Jews could not understand that the blessed Jesus had made himself a curse for them; because

they were altogether ignorant of their own real condition. Had they considered that they were themselves accursed of God on account of having broken His holy laws, they would have gladly listened to the news, that there was One willing and able to redeem them from this curse, by being made a curse for them. But they knew not that they were sinners, and in need of a Saviour; and yet one would have thought, that conscience might have told them that they had not kept all God's laws perfectly from their youth up; and therefore they might have known that the curse of God was upon them; for it is written, "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them;" (Deut. xxvii. 26.) which shows. that the very least sin exposed them to God's wrath.

But they were blind to the truth. They were ignorant of themselves, and ignorant of the purity, holiness, and perfection of that law which they pretended to have kept. Thus in their fancied righteousness they rejected Christ. The doctrine of His cross, was too humiliating for men well satisfied with themselves. Their proud hearts scorned the idea of being saved altogether through the efficacy of Christ's atoning blood; and so they stumbled at the cross, and perished. Thousands are doing the same at this very day through the blinding influence of pride, which makes men satisfied with themselves, and ignorant of their danger.

With regard to the Greeks, their guilt and misery lay in this, that they reasoned when they ought to have obeyed. Still the sin was the same as with the Jews. It was pride. The Greeks were a very learned people, and valued themselves extremely on their fancied

wisdom but the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; it cannot save the soul. If learning puffs up the mind with pride, it only drives its possessor farther from his God. No human being can be saved, until his proud heart be humbled and brought low. He must be convinced of sin, before he will seek a Saviour. The contrite penitent who despairs of finding any merit of his own, and desires pardon for the sake of another, he only will welcome the cross of Christ. For the most part, the Greeks were not inclined thus to humble themselves before God; they despised and ridiculed the method of salvation explained to them by St. Paul; they called it folly, and perished. Thus we see that it is through selfrighteousness and pride, that the preaching of the cross is counted foolishness by them that perish; but unto them that are saved, it is the power of God. The power and wisdom of God shines out in this that He makes the cross of Christ the effectual means of humbling and purifying every heart that believes in it.

Man, by nature, is a proud rebel against his Maker; but by the grace which is given in Christ, he becomes an humble penitent. He looks upon Him whom he has pierced, and mourns. (See Zech. xii. 10.) Sin now becomes hateful to him, because it was sin which nailed to the cross the Lord of life and glory. Holiness is now loved, and longed for, and laboured after, because the great love of Christ creates love in return in the believer's heart, and makes him desire to be conformed in all things to the image of his Saviour. Thus he becomes altogether a new creature; not only altered outwardly