February 12

Who of God is made unto us wisdom.—1 Corinthians 1:30.

THE Gentile Corinthians boasted of their wisdom; but it was the wisdom of this world, and by it the world knew not God. They had to boast of their eloquent declaimers and subtle reasoners; but while they taught, argued, and declaimed, the population around them sunk lower and yet lower into every vice. But of what had Christian Corinthians to boast? Of a wisdom of God, which taught them God; and of a preaching of the cross, which saved from guilt, sin, and misery, all that believed. Ye are not, says he, in this or the other school of vain philosophy; ye have left the wise men after the flesh; "but of God," that is, of his mercy and power "ye are in Christ Jesus," in the fellowship of his disciples and family, "who of God is made unto us wisdom," and truly so; as well as "righteousness, sanctification, and redemption."

Christ has become to us wisdom, by the views which he has given us of the moral condition of man.

There are points in the moral condition of man which have been darkly seen in all ages, and obscurely, but substantially confessed, on which Christ has eminently become our wisdom. These are our sinfulness, helplessness, and danger; with some idea of hope, which everywhere, and in all ages, has prevailed.

The sinfulness, helplessness, and danger of mankind have all of them been acknowledged and felt; but in what new and awful views are they placed by Christ! I lead you to his last passion, and ask the reason of his sufferings; and the only reason which can be given is, that they were severe, because sin was exceeding sinful, and the soul of man exposed to a tremendous danger. The reason could not be in God. His Son was loved too much to be thus bruised, except for some most important ulterior object. The reason could not be in the malice of the Jews, or the power of the Romans; for he could have prayed his Father, and "a legion of angels" would have been sent to his rescue. The reason lay in the moral condition of men; and here we learn what that moral condition was. And let me remark this is a first and leading truth. Sin is no trifle. See the proof of this in the sorrows of thy Saviour. It is not in man to make an atonement for sin. Behold, the victim which God appointed was both God and man. The danger is not one that is evitable by human means; or means so strange, so peculiarly divine, would not have been employed. The punishment of sin is not light. If the substitute so suffered, what must the principal suffer, should he reject his Saviour? He must suffer pain of body, indicated by the tortures of the cross;—pain of spirit, indicated by a "soul sorrowful even unto death;"—desertion by God,—"Why hast thou forsaken me?"—and this, in the case of the finally lost, exasperated by the sense of guilt, which silences complaint, and by an eternity, which excludes hope.

But O the adorable mercy of our God in Christ! In proportion to this affecting and terrible display of the guilt and danger of man is the glory of that bright hope, the rays of which play around the cross, and shine to the ends of the earth. By the sufferings of Christ justice was satisfied, and God reconciled to man; and this light is thrown upon our condition that, sinful, helpless, and endangered as it is, we are all invited to obtain mercy. The blood which was shed on earth speaks in heaven. In him whom our sins crucified we have an everlasting advocate. The way into the holiest is consecrated; and whosoever draws near, with penitence and faith, deeply as his agonized heart may sigh, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord," and, "God be merciful to me a sinner," shall go down to his house freely justified. To Christ we owe this wisdom;

and, indeed, where else could I obtain it? The wisdom of this world sends me to the book of nature. I go; but there I see contrary perfections and operations. I see light and darkness, sunshine and storm; a God who gives life and takes it away; a flow of goodness, and an infliction of severity. If I hope in one view, I am plunged into terror on the other. Pharissism sends me to the law, and bids me obey. Ah! but "when I would do good, evil is present with me;" and should I please myself with a fancied perfection of obedience for the moment, "my past iniquities take hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up." I bless, then, the wisdom of Christ. The difficulty is removed; the debt is cancelled; justice is satisfied; I believe, accept, and rejoice in "the righteousness which is of God by faith."