In the words we have — (1.) The benefit we enjoy by wisdom ; (2.) The persons qualified.
1. The benefit is expressed metaphorically and literally ; the latter explaineth the former. It is 'a tree of life,' and 'happy is every one.' She is so a tree of life as to make them happy that get her ; as it is usual with Solomon to express any great felicity by a tree of life : Prov. xiii. 12, ' Hope deferred maketh the heart sick ; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life ; ' that is, the man is pleased and satisfied, as if he were fed with apples in paradise. So Prov. xi. 30, ' The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life ; and he that winneth souls is wise.' Therefore by this metaphor Solomon understandeth some great felicity, and ordinarily eternal felicity, as the latter clause mani-
14 SERMON UPON PROVERBS 111, 18.
festeth, ' And happy is every one,' He meaneth it of our chief happi- ness ; that is, all and every one that so do, how despicable soever in the world, they shall not be forgotten and passed over by God.
2. The persons qualified to enjoy this happiness. They that ' lay bold on her,' or they ' that retain her,' The one expression noteth the getting of wisdom, the other the keeping of it ; and they both imply the manner also, diligence in getting, and constancy in keeping.
[1.] In getting. Wisdom is not profitable to them that only see her at a distance, or lightly salute her, but to those th;it with singular industry seek after her. and labour to get her : Prov. iv. 7, ' Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom ; and with all thy getting get understanding.'
(1.) Get it above all things ; that is, whatever you go without, be sure you be not without wisdom or saving grace : Luke x. 42, ' One thing is needful ; and Mary hath chosen the better part, which shall not be taken away from her.' You may do well enougli though you want worldly honour and greatness, but you cannot do well enough if you want spiritual wisdom : Mat. xvi. 26, ' But what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose liis own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? '
(2.) Get it upon any terms, though with the loss of all other things: Mat. xiii. 45, 46, ' The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant- man seeking goodly pearls ; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all and bought it.' You must get wis- dom, though at the expense of all that you have gotten.
(3.) Get it by any means, with all the care and diligence that you can use : Prov. viii. 34, ' Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.' Begrudge no labour and pains to get into the gospel-state,
[2.] In keeping, constancy is required. We must not be put off till we have it ; and when we have it, we must not let it go, but persevere in the way that wisdom prescribeth, and obey God at the dearest rates. We must retain her, though despised, though opposed by the world : Heb. X. 39, * For we are not of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.'
To the purchasing of the soul : we do not purchase it fi-om God, for we have it by mere gift, but we purchase it from the world ; liberty to save the soul at hard terms. But if we have gotten wisdom, we must never part from her, whatever it cost us. Well, then, get this wisdom we must, with all earnestness of endeavour, with all watchfulness and care, and firmness and certainty keep it. He that doth not do both is not blessed ; that is, that doth not make it his main work and business to get wisdom, and doth not hold out and overcome temptations.
Doct That wisdom doth restore men to that life and happiness which they lost in Adam,
We shall explain the point,
1. By wisdom may be understood Christ, who is the wisdom of the Father, 1 Cor. i. 24, and is both the object and fountain of happiness of the saints. He is the fountain of happiness as being the procurer and author of it ; Col. iii, 4, 'When Christ, Avho is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also a[)pear with him in glory.' And the object of it :
SERMON UPON PROVERBS III. 18, 15
John xvii. 24, ' Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me may be where I am, and behold my glory ; ' and is truly and properly the tree of life, whose fruit is for food and leaves for medicine : Kev. xxii. 2, ' And in the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month : and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.' There is no inconvenience to understand it of Christ, or else of the saving knowledge of God in Christ ; as one is the author, the other is the means to bring it about : John xvii. 3, 'And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent/