But, of course, you must forsake those habits which you have hitherto indulged, and separate yourselves from those associates who would divert you from Wisdom's ways. For, " vi'hat fellowship can righteousness have with unrighteousness, or what communion can light have with darkness ? There is a necessity for you to come out from the ungodly and be sepa- rate, if you would have God for your father, and enjoy the privilege of his sons and daughters "." The whole course of your life must be changed : you must not only " forsake the foolish," but " go also in the way of understanding," approving yourselves worthy disciples of our blessed Lord. In fact, your whole taste must be changed : you cannot " savour the things of the flesh and of the Spirit" too" : "you cannot serve God and Mammon" too^; or "be the friends of the world and of Jehovah " too i. If you come to the Gospel-feast, you must " affect only the things which are above "^j" on which you shall " feast in the presence of your God for ever and ever ^"]
Application —
[Let me now address myself to you, my beloved Brethren. I am sent as Wisdom's servant, as the minister of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with a message of mercy to every one of you. And let it not be offensive to you to be addressed under the character of those who are here invited. You surely will not deny, that you have sought your happiness in the world, rather than in God. Even though you were the greatest philosophers in the universe, this charge would be as
1 Job XX. 22. m John vi. 54. " 2 Cor. vi. 14 — 18.
° Rom. viii. 5. p Matt. vi. 24. q Jam. iv. 4.
r Col. iii. 1, 2. s Matt. xxvi. 29.
9i PROVERBS, IX. 1—6. [772.
applicable to you as to the meanest of mankind. And, if at this present moment yon feel averse to range yourselves under the humiliating term here accorded to you, be assured the time is not far distant when you wdll designate yourselves by this name with bitter emphasis, and, contrasting yourselves with the Lord's guests, will exclaim, " We fools, counted their life madness, and their end to be without honour : but how are they numbered with the children of God, and their lot is among the saints ! Therefore have we erred from the way of truth'." Let me entreat you now to humble yourselves before God, and to welcome, as especially suited to your state, the invitation which I now bring you. But that I may be sure to address you in Wisdom's own words, I will adopt the language of an inspired prophet : " Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy, and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that ivhich is not bread, and your labour for that zvhich satisfieth not? (Here are proofs enough of your folly.) Hearken diligently unto me ; and eat ye that which is good ; and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and your soul shall live*^." You will find, at the close of the chapter from whence my text is taken, that folly also has her messengers : A foolish and abandoned woman will cry, " Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: for stolen waters are sweet, and bi-ead eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell'^." Yes, these invitations are soon and widely followed ; whilst the invitations of Wisdom are scorn- fully rejected. Truly this is greatly to be lamented; and bitter will be the consequences to those who persist in their folly. Accept the invitations that are gratifying to flesh and blood, and nothing but everlasting destruction awaits you : but accept that which now in Wisdom's name I deliver, and you shall " Jive ;" " forsake the foolish, and live." Fain would I prevail with you, my Brethren, ere it be too late, and the door of her banqueting-house be shut against you. I have it in commission to " compel you to come in^." O, resist me not, but let me by holy importunity prevail ; that so the blessings of salvation may be yours, when the contemners of our message are wailing in everlasting darkness and despair.]