fai' as liglit excelleth darkness?" " Darkness" hath nothing whatever to commend it : it is utterly destitute of every good quality: whereas " light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun*^." And precisely thus does piety approve itself to every beholder ; whilst a neglect of God presents nothing but gloom, the end of which no human ima- gination can reach.]
Let us view wisdom next,
II. In its influence on this present life —
There is not a moment of our lives over which it does not cast a benign influence —
[In bringing us to the foot of the Cross, it is the means of effecting our reconciliation with God, and of filling the soul
with peace and joy In stirring us up to mortify our
corruptions, it keeps us from innumerable snares to which others are exposed, and from troubles in which others are in- volved. This seems to have been particularly in Solomon's mind, when he penned the words of my text : for he adds im- mediately, " The wise man's eyes are in his head ; but the fool walketh in darkness^" It conduces also most essentially to the benefit of all around us. It tends to check vice and wicked- ness in the world, and to promote virtue in every possible way. It calls forth all the acts and ofiices of love, both in the pro- fessor himself, and in all who come within the sphere of its influence. It greatly honours God too, and tends to the ad- vancement of his kingdom upon earth. There is no end to the benefits of true wisdom : for, so far as it prevails and operates, it repairs the ruins of the Fall ; and changes this wretched, miserable world into a very Paradise.]
In this respect, how widely different is '"folly!" —
[See the world as it is, and then you will see what " folly" has done. Enter into the bosoms of men, and see how full they are of all hateful tempers and dispositions, and how utterly destitute of every thing like solid peace. See what jarrings it has introduced into society, insomuch that there is scarcely to be found a single family which is not more or less torn with disputes and disagreements. See what evils it difiuses on every side ; and then say in what light it appears as compared with wisdom. I boldly ask, Does not wisdom excel it " as far as light excelleth darkness ? " Darkness is suited to nothing but the deeds of darkness, and the sanguinary excursions of beasts of prey: whereas light administers to the welfare of all, and enables every member of society to execute his functions for the good of the whole : so that in this respect, also, the com- parison is fitly made.]
e Eccl. xi. 7. ^ ver. 14.
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