Ps. xlix. 13. This their way is their folly : yet their posterity approve their sayings.
IT is generally supposed that wisdom pertains chiefly, if not exclusively, to those who are profi- cients in arts and science : but learning and wisdom are by no means necessarily connected with each other: they may exist separately, each in a high degree : and, in fact, there is nothing more common than to behold persons of the most extensive erudi- tion acting the part of fools in God's sight, whilst persons destitute of all human acquirements are " walking wisely before him in a perfect way." Wisdom, properly viewed, is a conformity of the mind and will to the mind and will of God ; and it exists precisely in proportion as this conformity ex- ists : the resemblance is wisdom, the deviation folly. Hence we see why David, at the commencement of this psalm, calls, in so solemn a manner, persons of every age and quality to attend to his instructions ; and professes to teach them lessons of the pro- foundest wisdom, when there is not any thing re- condite, or any thing uncommon, in the whole psalm. The truths contained in this Divine ode are level with every capacity, and therefore might seem to be improperly ushered in with so pompous an intro- duction : but they are at the root of all practical religion ; and they draw a broad line of distinction between those who are wise, and those who are un- wise, in the estimation of their God.
The whole subject of the psalm will come pro- perly before us, whilst we consider,
I. The way of worldly men —
It may naturally be expected, that " they who are of the world, should speak of the world," and seek it as their most desired portion : and they are described as doing so in the psalm before us.
They are altogether engrossed with earthly things — •
[Worldly