ences of the Holy Spirit, to " open the eyes of our understand- ing," and to " guide us into all truth." Without the aid of the Holy Spirit we cannot hope to fill up our several stations in life with true wisdom. David, as a monarch, felt his need of Divine aid to execute the resolution he had formed. Solomon desired this aid beyond either riches or honour : and God, in answer to his prayer, " gave him a wise and understanding heart," above all the children of men. As Ministers of God's word, we need the same : for St. Paul says, in reference to the Ministry, " who is sufficient for these things?" 'Ihe same must be said by us in evpry station and relation of life. We all have our own peculiar duties to perform ; and wisdom con^ists in executing ikem aright. Let this never be forgotten, that our chief wisdom con- sists in ascertaining with precision, and performing with punctu- ality, the duties of our own particular situation. It is not by going out of our own proper line, but by filling our own parti- cular station well, that we shall approve ourselves truly wise. Let parents and children, masters and servants, magistrates and subjects, bear this in mind : let none learn to their own under- standing y," but all with one heart address to God this necessary petition, " O give me understanding in the way of godliness^ 1"]
y Prov. iii. 5. ^ See the text in the Prayer-book Translation.