The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H

there saith he, howbeit we speak wisdom among them that be perfect, yet not the wisdom of this wo•••, nor of the Princes of ⟨p. 83⟩this world that come to nought, but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory, as if he had said, though you think (O ye Corinthians) that there is no learning but humane learning, yet you must know that we speak wisdom too, and that to those that are the perfectest men in their own understanding. I tell you, we speak wisdom which the world and the princes thereof, those that have the greatest parts never knew, never obtained; you Corinthian Doctors brag much of your learning and knowledge, but you have received it of other humane authors, but we teach unto you the wisdom of God and of the Gospel, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, for God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit, where we may observe by the way, that he which teacheth the Gospel in the plainness of it, teacheth the deepest things that can be conceived; for here S. Paul speaketh of things which the wise of the world never heard of, never conceived. But then they might reply further, how can you know these things, and why may not others know them as well as you? These are the two objections that might be made against that which the Apostle had before spoken of. How came you to know them, and why may not others know them as well as you? The Apostle answereth these two questions. And he answers the first, how he came to know them, ⟨p. 84⟩from the 10. Verse to the 14. God saith he, hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God; now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, as if he had said, The spirit of God knoweth these things, and teacheth a poor soul these things as far as is convenient for him; the Spirit of God understandeth these things, and makes known these things to his servants; they know not these things of themselves but by the power of God; Spirit, the Spirit of God assisting and working effectually in them, teacheth them these secrets. But then why do not wicked men come to understand these great matters also?