him to do so : "I love them that love mc ; and they that seek me early, *^a// find me^."]
2. To those who profess to have found it —
[Men will judge of religion, not by what the Bible says of it, but by what they see in those who profess it : and one instance of folly in the Lord's people will do more to prejudice them against religion, than a thousand good actions to recom- mend it. I would therefore strongly urge those who profess godliness, to bear in mind how much the interests of religion depend on them. Real piety consists not in talkativeness or eccentricities of any kind, but in a devout regard to God's honour and authority, and a wise, prudent, circumspect deport- ment before men. It does not countenance us in an officious assumption of the duties of others, but in a punctual perform- ance of those which belong to our own place and station : " I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence^." The not attending to this declaration has caused much offence in the world : and it be- comes us to be very careful of casting stumbling-blocks before men, or " causing the way of truth to be evil spoken of." Let us then " walk in wisdom towards them that are without ;" " giving no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully." And while we adopt the resolution of David, " I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way V' let us remember by whose strength alone we can effect this ; and pray with him, " O give me understanding in the way of godliness ! "]
s ver. 17. ^ ver. 12. » Ps. ci. 2.
DCCLXXn.
wisdom's feast.
Prov. ix 1 — 6. Wisdom hath huilded her house, she hath heiim out her seven pillars : she hath killed her beasts ; she hath mi7i(jled her loine ; she hath also furnished her table : she hath sent forth her maidens : she crieth Jipon the highest places of the citij, WJioso is simple, let him turn in hither : as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the tvine which I have mingled : forsake the foolish, and live ; and go in the loay of understanding.
IN the New Testament, parables abound. In the Old Testament, they are comparatively rare. But this comes commended to us by peculiar authority, in that our blessed Lord repeatedly borrowed it, if
1 may so speak, and adopted it on different occa- sions, for the elucidating of the truths which he
772.] wisdom's feast. 91
wished to convey^ In order to unfold it to you, I shall notice separately,
I. The feast prepared —
In the Holy Scriptures, the term "Wisdom" is generally used to signify true religion : but some- times it is a name given to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is, with good reason, supposed to be charac- terized by it in the chapter that precedes my text^ and who, I think, is intended by it in the parable be- fore us. He is " the Wisdom of God'';" and " in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"^:" and, beyond all doubt, he is the person who, in the parables which he himself has founded on this, both furnishes the feasts and sends forth the invitations ^
By Wisdom,
1. The banqueting-house is built —
[Solomon elsewhere speaks of a "banqueting-house," where he had been wont to meet his Saviour^; and such buiklings have been raised by the great and opulent in all ages, for the entertainment of their guests. This edifice, which was built by Wisdom, was supported by "seven pillars; " which 1 suppose to intimate, that it was constructed with perfect sta- bility, and adorned with the perfection of heauty. And what is this banqueting-house, but the ordinances of divine grace, which are appointed altogether for the setting forth of this feast, and for the accommodation of all who attend upon it ? In them there is room for all : and God will not fail, when they are attended as they ought to be, to manifest liimself in the midst of them.]