I. Its own proper character —
*' Wisdom" is another word for piety —
[Piety in the Scriptures is frequently called by this name. Job says, " The fear of the Lord that is wisdom*^." And Moses prays, " So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom*^."
But, not to rest in a mere general definition of the term, I shall consider it as embracing these two points. The receiving of the Gospel, as sinners ; and the adorning of it, as saints.
The very first part of wisdom is to receive the Gospel of salvation into our hearts. We all need it ; nor can any human being be saved without it ; and God offers to us all the bless- ings of it, freely, without money and without price. Were we under a sentence of death from a human tribunal, and were offered mercy by the Prince, it would be accounted wisdom to accept the offer, and folly to reject it. How much more is it our wisdom to accept a deliverance from eternal death, together with all the glory and felicity of heaven! This must commend itself to every man who reflects but for a moment : and to despise these proffered benefits must, of necessity, be regarded as folly, bordering upon madness
The next part of wisdom must be, to adorn that Gospel by a holy life and conversation ; since it cannot otherwise be ulti- mately of any avail for our acceptance with God. The very intent of the Gospel is to transform man into the Di\ine image, and thereby to prepare him for the enjoyment of his God ; and if this be not attained, heaven itself would be no place of happiness to him. Indeed, if a man profess to embrace the Gospel, and yet continue to walk unworthy of it, he dis- honours God far more than he could do whilst he made no such profession : for he " tramples under foot the Son of God, and counts the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and does despite unto the Spirit of Grace'';" yea, he crucifies the Son of God afresh, and puts him to an open shame ^." I think, therefore, that the pursuit of holiness in all its branches, with an uniform endeavour to glorify our God, must commend itself to every considerate mind, as true " wisdom."]
And this far excelleth " folly" —
[I will not go into particulars to characterize " folly :" it shall suffice to take the most lenient view of it that can be imagined : I will comprehend under it no positive vice, nothing that can render it odious in the eyes of men : I will take it only in a negative view, as importing a neglect of the two foregoing dictates of sound wisdom. And now I will ask. Who does not see the superiority of wisdom; and that " it excelleth folly as
<^ Job xxviii. 28. -J Ps. xc. 12. « Heb. x. 29. ^ Heb. vi. 6.