011uees-by the Vlllue set on things on account of their utility and 11Ur11eUvene88 11 nd by the difficulty of acquiring them, Both thege elements enter into the high price of wisdom. I. WIBDOH 18 VALUABI,E ON AOOOUNT OP' ITS UTILITY AND ATTRAOTIVENEBS. People will not give u. high price for what is not valued highly. Appreciation implies the perception of some equivalence In value, If wisdom is sought at a great price, wisdom 1s highly prizod. Otherwise it would be left alone as not worth pmchasing. Let us, theu, observe the elements of value in wisdom. 1. Guidance. We need knowledge to save us from blundering. Right principles a.re charts by which to steer. Mora.I folly plungos men headlong down to ruin; moral wisdom is the safe guide to life. We must know the heavenly way, we must see how to climb the steep hill, we must have skill to navigate the vessel of life. 2. Sustenance. Divine wisdom feeds the soul like heavenly manna, and refreshes it like water from the rock. It is reviving and nourish- ing as wine and milk (Isa.. Iv. 1). 'l'he soul is starved without the truth of God. That truth is its meat and drink. 3. Satiifaction. Much that men feed on spiritually is like chaff and sawdust; it does not really satisfy, though it seems to fill. But the knowledge of God is restful; it meets the deep needs and answers to the true desires of the inner life. 4. Culture. The effect of this heavenly possession is to elevate a.nd transform the soul itself. It is more than a guide, a food, a. satisfaction; it is a moulding influence. By a. subtle alchemy it brings the soul round to its own cha- racter. He who has wisdom is wise. The possession of Divine grace makes us sons of God. II. WISDOM IB OOSTLY BEOAUSE OP' THE DIFFICULTY OB' ACQUIRING IT, People will not give a. high price unnecessarily even for what they value highly. What is both plentiful and easily accessible is necessarily cheap, however useful and attractive it may be. When the supply is fully equal to the demand, the price is low. But wisdom is not only inherently valuable; it is also only got at a. great cost. Note the reasons fur its dearness. 1. .A difficult search. There may be a.n abundance of precious metals far under the s•Jil, but if mines have to be constructed some expenditure must be incurred before the treasures can be acquired. Hence their costliness. Now, men have been seeking wisdom with great toil and weariness through a.11 the ages. 2. Rarity. Prices mount high in times of scarcity. Famine may make corn more precious than rubies. When.the world had fallen far from God down into the night of ~in and ignorance, true wisdom became scarce. 3. The sacrifice of Christ. Christ has become wisdom to us, but at what a. cost? First there was the condescension of his incarnation, when he emptied himself and became of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant. Then his arduous life was spent in bringing the knowledgo and grace of God to men. His midnight watches, and his days full of work and conflict, were spent for this object. Lastly, his cross marks the supreme gift of himself in death to purchase for us the Divine wisdom. That wisdom is more costly than rubies; it is acquired by us a.t the cost of the blood of our Lord.-W. F. A. Ver. 23.-God's access to wisdom. Wisdom is rare, precious, and costly. Men a.re skilful and enterprising in mining for the precious meta.ls; but the search for wisdom, though carl'ied on with the utmost assiduity, seems to be more difficult. Nevertheless, what is inaccessible to man is quite within the reach of God. We may fail in attempting to find wisdom, but God pussesses it. He knows where it lies hidden from us; he cau tread the labyrinth of the mine that leads to it. I. THIS IS A GROUND oF FAITH. If God has true wisdom, we can be content to leave with him those issues of life which we cannot understand ourselves. 1. In nature. To us many of the processes of nature are unintelligible. Not only cannot we under- stand the "how," bnt we are also perplexed about the "why." Apparently aimless and seemingly hurtrul processes fill nature with dark mysteries. But these mysteries are all open to God. Of his works we can say, "In wisdom hast thou made them all." The world was not created by a blundering Demiurge, but by an all-wise God. 2. In providence. Our own lives are enigmas to us. We cannot understand why our plans are broken, our hopes scattered, our joys turned to bitterness. It all looks wild, chaotic, aimless, sometimes even cruel We can but rest in the thought that God is higher and wiser than we are, 'l1UE 'BOOR OF Joa
• Deep in Mfatboma.ble minee Of never..fa.iling likill, . He treasures np bis bright designs, And works bis sovereign will" Therefore- •Judge not the Lord by feeble sense," 8. In iredemrtion. It may not be possible for us to underst.and the atonement. Theorie8 are all inadequate. There is a mystery at the root of Christianity. But when God de,·ised his great idea of salvation he had access to all wisdom. It must b~ wise. Onr part is to follow it as far as we can see it, and to trust God for the rest .. II. THIS IB A KEY TO WISDOM. God knows where the treasure is hidden• he is familiar with the path that leads to it. Then he must be the Guide to wisd~ni.. If we would attain to it we must seek it from God. 1. By prayer. St. James has said; •• If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally· and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (Jas. i. 5). It is not only that w:isd~m iii a boon bestowed in answer to prayer; prayer itself is the road to wisdom; St. Paul could see things in a new light when it could be said of him, " Behold, he prayeth." The spirit of prayer opens the windows of heaven and reveals the wisdom of God. 2~ By godlin=. We must be like God if we would share in God's wisdom. Sympathy with God will give us eyes to see as God sees. Nearness to him will introduce us to the path that he treads. When we walk with God we shall be led to those deep mines of wisdom to which he penetrates. Thus true wisdom is closely allied to true religion. "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom" (ver. 28).-W. F. A.