Part 9 (2/2)

And we cannot know for ourselves, by any positive manifestation, in these days, but must depend on the wisdom and learning of men.

I thank my G.o.d always on your behalf, for the grace of G.o.d which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything ye are enriched by Him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ (the spirit of prophecy) was confirmed in you, so that ye come behind in no good gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank the Lord always, in behalf of the Church in these days, that she has no supernatural gifts given unto her, and that she is not enriched by Christ, neither in the gift of utterance, nor in the gift of knowledge; neither has she the testimony of Jesus (the spirit of prophecy) confirmed in her, and she comes behind in all the gifts; nor is she waiting for, or expecting, the coming of the Lord; for He has come once, and never will come again till the great and last day, the end of the earth.

The foolishness of G.o.d is wiser than men; and the weakness of G.o.d is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many n.o.ble, are called: but G.o.d hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and G.o.d hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath G.o.d chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.

The wisdom of men, and the learning of men, are better than the inspiration of the Almighty, for that is not needed any longer; for you see your calling, brethren, how that the wise and learned, and n.o.ble, and mighty are called in these days; for we have chosen such to confound the foolish, the unlearned, and the ignorant; yea, to confound the base things of the world which are despised, that flesh might glory in His presence.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of G.o.d; for I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of G.o.d.

And we, brethren, when we came unto you, came with excellency of speech, and with the wisdom and learning of man; and our speech and our preaching were with enticing words of man's wisdom, not in demonstration of the Spirit and power, for that is done away; that your faith should not stand in the power of G.o.d, but in the wisdom of man.

But we speak the wisdom of G.o.d in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which G.o.d ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But we speak the wisdom of man in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which none but the learned knew; for had others known it, they would never have been under the necessity of employing us to tell it to them.

But G.o.d hath revealed them unto us, by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of G.o.d.

But G.o.d hath revealed nothing unto us by His Spirit; for the wisdom and learning of man search all things; yea, all the deep things which are necessary for us to know.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of G.o.d knoweth no man, but the Spirit of G.o.d.

For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man, which is in him? even so the things of G.o.d knoweth no man by the Spirit of G.o.d in these days, for it is done away, or it reveals nothing.

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