By " wisdom and knowledge" we are not to un- derstand what we generally comprehend under the term " science ; " for we do not apprehend that the Jewish nation, at that time, or indeed at any time, made any great proficiency in that species of learning. By " wisdom and knowledge" is meant a conformity of heart and life to the revealed will of God ; a wis- dom inseparably connected with " the fear of the Lord." This appears from the preceding verse, where it is said, " The Lord is exalted ; for he dwelleth on high : He hath filled Zion with judgment and right- eousness : and wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation : the fear of the Lord is his treasure." Indeed, it may be doubted whether what we call learning and science do at all necessarily advance the stability of an em- pire. They are doubtless of very extensive use to an empire, in a variety of views : but they are capable of great abuse ; and, if separated from religion, may lead to the overthrow, as well as to the establishment, of an empire ; as the recent history of a neighbouring kingdom has evinced. But the knowledge of which my text speaks, is a security to a kingdom. That " knowledge" is thus described by the Prophet Jere- miah : " Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might ; let not the rich man glory in his riches : but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LordV This explanation of the terms necessarily leads our minds to God as reconciled to us in the Son of his love : for it is in Christ Jesus alone that " the loving- kindness" of God has free scope for exercise towards fallen man ; or indeed can be exercised at all, con- sistently with the demands of " righteousness and judgment:" and it is this knowledge alone which generates a filial " fear" in the heart of man.
f Jer. ix. 23, 24.