inConíain,g trOan'o laeDenipííon; 4I7 ingwords ofMansWifdom. A crucified Chrift was all Chap. a . their Rhetorick. Now thefe impotent defpicable were imployed to fubdue the World to the Crofs of Chrift ; and in that feafon, when the Roman Empire was at its height, when the molt rigorous Seve- rities were ufed againft all Innovations, when Philofo- phy and Eloquence were in their dower and vigour ; fo that Truth unlefs adorned with the drefs and artifice of falthood was defpifed, and a Meffage fromGod himfelf, unlefs eloquently conveyed, had no force to perfwade. Therefore the Apoftles debafed themfeives in the fenfe of theirown weaknefs, We have this treafure in earthen z Cor, 4, 7. veffels, that the Excellency ofthepower may be ofGod,and not ofus. 'Twas from diftruft of themfelves, their true confidence in God proceeded. They were only fo far powerful as he enabled them : like inftruments in which there is not Virtue fufficient for the carving of aStatue, ifthey do not receive it impreft from the Artificer that ufes them. Briefly, as God the Author of Wonders ufes that which is weak in Nature, to conquer the molt rebellious parts of it ; He makes the weak fand a more powerful bridle to the impetuous Element of Waters, than the ftrongeft banks raifed by the induftry ofMen, and compofed of the molt folid materials : fo he was pleafed by a few artlefs impotent perfons to confound the Wifdom, and overcome the Power ofthe World. 3. The great fudden and kitting Change that was made in the World by the Preaching of the Gofpel,is a certain Argument of the Divine Power that animated thofe mean appearances, and that no inftrument is weak in God's hands. r . The greatnefs ofthe Change is fuch that it was only pofïible to Divine Power. 'Tis a great Miracle to render fight to the Blind, but 'tis mere miraculous to in- lighten the Darkmind, to fee the truth and beauty of H h h Super-
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