where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputant of this age? has not God prov'd the wisdom of this world to be downright folly.

for this divine doctrine, as foolish and weak as men may think it, far surpasses all their wisdom, and baffles all their power.

However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing.

which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

this is what God has revealed to us by his spirit: for the spirit penetrates into all things, even the profound counsels of God.

now the spirit which we have received, is not the spirit of this world, but that which comes from God; that we might know what he has graciously bestowed upon us.

this is what we declare, not in the words which human wisdom, but which the holy spirit dictates; explaining spiritual things in a spiritual language.

now if upon this foundation somebody builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: he that builds such work,

for the wisdom of this world is folly, in the eye of God: as it is written, "he surprizes the wise in all their artifices."

to this very day we suffer both hunger, thirst, and penury: we are buffeted from place to place, as vagabonds:

and when we are defamed, we intreat: in a word, we are look'd upon as the dregs and scum of mankind, even to this day.

This I don't write to give you any confusion, but by way of remonstrance, to you who are my dear children.

'tis for this end I have sent you Timothy, who is my dear disciple, and a faithful christian, who will inform you how I behave my self in every church where I teach the gospel of Christ.

this you have made a matter of levity, instead of being concern'd in discarding him that has done such an action.

as for me, though I am absent in person, yet being present by my authority, with regard to him that has committed this fact, I am come to the same resolution, as if I was present,

nay, in this case, you act injuriously, and do damage even to your brethren.

as to the married, I enjoin this rule, not as from my self, but from the Lord, that a woman should not leave her husband:

Whatever condition God has allotted to any man, let him go on in the same state he was in when he became a christian: this I give as a standing rule to all churches.

This I say, brethren, because the time is coming, when they who have wives will be as those that have none;

and they that possess this world, as those that can't make an ill use of it. for the scene of this world is continually shifting. I would have you free from anxiety.

And this I say for your particular advantage, not to lay any constraint upon you, but as that which is most suitable to a state of uninterrupted attendance upon religion.

But every one has not this knowledge: for some still imagine the idol represents a deity: and eat the meat under the notion of an offering to such a being: by which erroneous opinion they are infected with idolatry.

but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak.

my answer to those who call me to account, is this:

is this only the voice of reason? does not the law express the same too?

or is it said, no doubt, for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he who plows should plow in hope; and that he who thresheth should expect the advantage.

if others partake of your substance, have not I a better title? nevertheless, I have not made use of this privilege; but bear with any thing rather than obstruct the gospel of Christ.

but I have not made use of these advantages. neither have I writ this to obtain such maintenance: for I had rather die for want, than be deprived of such matter of glorying.

now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged.

but if any man say to you, this is offered in sacrifice to an idol, don't eat, for his sake that mentioned it, and for conscience sake.

when you thus assemble therefore, this is not eating the Lord's supper.

and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, "take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

in the same manner he took the cup, after supper, and said, "this cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."

As often then as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye make a declaration of the Lord's death till he come.

so that whosoever eats this bread, and drinks this cup without respect to the Lord, does make a criminal use of the body and blood of the Lord.

otherwise if you should give thanks by the spirit in an unknown tongue, the hearer cannot but appear unlearned upon this occasion; how then can he say Amen to thy thanksgiving? since he does not conceive what you say.

in the law it is written, " with men of other tongues and other lips, will I speak unto this people: and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord."

after that, he was seen by above five hundred brethren at once: of whom the greater part remain alive to this day, but some are now dead.

but whether I or they labour'd most, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

if our expectations as christians all terminate in this life, we of all men are most to be pitied.

this I say, my brethren, because the body, as it is at present, cannot possess the kingdom of God; and what is corruptible, can't enjoy incorruptibility.

for this corruptible body must be invested with incorruptibility, this mortal be invested with immortality.

but when this corruptible shall be invested with incorruptibility, and this mortal with immortality, then shall be fulfilled that passage of scripture, " death is swallowed up for ever."