Page:Cross of Christ, the Christian's glory (2).pdf/4

4 It may therefore be an employ worthy of our preſent attention, to enquire into the nature, the reaſonableneſs, and the wiſdom of this reſolution. All which, I hope, will appear, if we conſider,

I. In what the apoſtle would not glory. II. In what he did glory. III. What reaſon he had to glory in the Croſs of Chriſt.

Theſe points being briefly diſpatched, I ſhall beg leave to add a word of application, ſuggested by the tenor of the diſcourſe, and adapted to the circumſtances of my ſeveral hearers. And may that adorable Jeſus, who has exchanged his Croſs for an heavenly Crown, accompany all with his divine bleſſing!

Let us then enquire, I. In what the apoſtle did not glory.———Not in the greatneſs of his learning, as a ſcholar. He was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel; educated by the moſt famous tutor of the age. Nor was his genius, or his induſtry; inferior to the other advantages of his education. Yet all theſe advantages, with their correſpondent acquiſitions, he accounted no better than pompous ignorance, or refined folly.

Not in the ſtrictneſs of his life, as a Jew.———In this reſpect he profited above his equals; was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers; after the ſtricteſt ſect of their religion, he lived a Phariſee: was zealous, exceedingly zealous, of the whole ceremonial law, and of all the traditional conſtitutions. Which accompliſhments muſt finiſh his character among his countrymen; muſt open his way to ſome of the first honours of the