Our chief attention however must be directed to that ado- rable Saviour, who " spake as never man spake," and in whom his most inveterate enemies could not find a flaw*. In him we have such lessons of wisdom as the whole universe besides does not afford. In tracing all the circumstances of his life, we shovild do well at every step to inquire, What answer should / have given ? what conduct should I have pursued ? and, from such examinations frequently repeated, we shall learn at last, how far we are removed from true righteousness, and how much " folly is bound up in our hearts." In a word, we should sit
o Prov. xviii. 1. P Job xi. 6. « Eph. i. 8.
"■ Ps. XXV. 14. Hos. xiv. 9. ^ ver. 9. * John viii. 46.
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at the feet of Jesus, as Mary did, drinking in, with insatiable avidity, the instructions of Wisdom, and applying our hearts to them as the clay to the seal. " In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"." In Him is revealed to us " the mystery that was hid from ages and generations," and " which the angels themselves desire to look into^;" and the mystery, at the first intimation of which, long " before the worlds were made, the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God, the holy angels, shouted aloud for joyy." No sooner was the commission given to make this known to men, than a host of the heavenly angels left their bright abodes, and came down to earth exulting, " Glory to God in the highest ! and on earth peace; good will towards men^!"
These are contemplations worthy of our exalted powers, worthy of our high destinies : and to delight ourselves in them is the wisdom, and the happiness of man.]
2. Surrender up ourselves to its dictates —
[In every duty of life there is need of the suggestions of wisdom. Even good men often act a very foolish part, for want of a well-regulated mind. Many have no idea of that important truth, "I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence ^." To " walk in wisdom towards them that are without**," and to "give no offence either to the Jews, or to the Gentiles, or to the Church of God%" come not into the contemplation of many, anymore than if no such things were required of us, and no such exam- ple had been ever set us. But our determination, through God's help, should be, under all circumstances, like that of David, " I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way ^."
In fact, there is no true wisdom but that which is practical. The very end of knowledge is practice : and, however deep or exalted our speculations may be, " if we walk not circumspectly, we are fools"," But, in order to carry into effect the lessons of Wisdom, we must " watch daily at her gates, and wait at the posts of her doors ^." We must bring our views, our desires, our motives, to the strictest scrutiny : we must apply to every thing " the line of judgment, and the plummet of righteous- ness :" and, above all, we must beg of God to give us " the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and to make us quick of understanding in the fear of the Lords''." Without this, we shall continually err: without this, we shall inevitably fall.]
" Col. ii. 3. ^ \ Pet. i. 12. y Job xxxviii, 6, 7.
z Luke ii. 13, 14. a ver. 12. b i Col. iv. 5.
<: 1 Cor. x. 32. 1 Ps. ci. 2. e Epli. v. 15.
f ver. 34. b Isai. xi. 2, 3.
770.] wisdom's address to men. 85
" Hear then the voice of Wisdom, O ye children ! " Hear it,
1. Ye children in age —
[Ye can never begin too early to listen to the counsels of Wisdom. It is by them only that you can avoid the snares of