The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 59

not reserved to any select class of men. Prophets have a special revelation to convey a specia.l_messag~, 11;nd apostles ~ave.a d_istinctiv_e endowment f~r the accomplishment of a particular m1ss10n; but the msp1rat1on of wisdom generally 1s not thus limited. On the contrary, it comes freely to all who rightly avail themselves of it. What then are the condition~ for receivin~ it ? 1. Prayer. . " If any of you lack wisdom, l;t hi~ ask o~ God, who giveth to all hberally, and upbra1d~th not; and it shall be given him" (,Tas. 1. 5). Who~oever se~ks sb~ll ~nd. 2. P-u:rity .. ." The pure in heart shall see God," and the highest wisdom 1s m the beatific vision of him who dwells in the light of eternal truth. 3. Obedience. As we submit our wills to God's will we open the channel through which bis Spirit enters into us, and by fe·llowship illumi~es. III. TRUE WISDOM, BEmG INSPIRED BY GoD, WILL BEAR THE STAMP OF DIVINE OIIARACT~RISTIC~- I~ will differ from_ mere human speculation; sometimes it will be so_ much !-ll _conflict with that spec~t10n as to_pass for foolishness (see 1 Cor. i. 18). It will be distmctly opposed to the wisdom that is purely carnal, i.e. to tha.t which takes account only of earthly facts and ignores spiritual principles, the wisdom of expediency, the cleverness of men of the world. Such wisdom is not only earthly ; its low maxims and immoral devices proclaim it to be " sensual, devilish" (Ja.a. iii. 15). Divinely inspired wisdom, on the contrary, is spiritual-taking account of the facts and laws of the higher order ; pure-not ministering to selfish greed and degraded plea.sure; whole- some-strengthening and elevating the soul ; " peaceable, gentle, easy to be intrea.ted, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy" (Ja.s. iii. 17). Vers. 10, 11.-.The antidote to temptation. I. WE NEED AN ANTIDOTE TO TEMPTA- TION. It is not enough to trust to our own spiritu3il health to throw off the poison. We are already diseased with sin, and have a. predisposition to yield to temptation in the corruption of our own hearts. Bat if we were immaculate, we should still be liable to fall ; the power of temptation is so fearful that the purest, strongest soul would be in danger of succumbing. The tempter can choose the moment of his attack. When we are most off our guard, when we are faint and weary, when we are suffering from spiritual depression, the mine may be suddenly sprung, and we may be lost before we have fully realized the situation. Like the dragon in Spenser's ' Faery Queene,' which would have stifled the Red Cross Knight with the fiery fames it belched forth unless he had fallen in.to lhe healing fountain, the tempter would destroy our spiritual life with an atmosphere of foul thoughts after more tangible attacks have failed, were it not that we have a supply of grace outside ourselves, equal to our need. Even Christ, when tempted, did not rest on his own purity and power, but appealed for support to the sacred wisdom of Scripture. Il. THE ANTIDOTE TO TEMPTATION MUST BE SOME FORM OF POSITIVE GOOD, Fire is quenched by water, not by opposing flames. Evil must be overcome with good. The way to keep sin out of the heart is to fill the heart with pure thoughts and affections till there is no room for anything else. The citadel entered most easily by the tempter is an empty heart. III. TRUE WISDOM IS TIIE SUREST ANTIDOTE TO TEMPTATION. All knowledge tends in some degree to preserve from evil. Light makes for goodness. Both a.re from God, and therefore they must harmonize. Secular knowledge is morally useful. A very large proportion of the criminals in our jails ea~ neither re~d no~ write. lgnora.n~ of wiser courses, they are led aside to the lowest pursmts. Sound mtelhgence and good informa- tion introduce men at least to the social conscience. But the schoolmaster is not the saviour of the world. Higher wisdom is needed to be the successful antidote to sin- that wisdom which, in the Book of Proverbs, is almost synonymous with religion-the knowled"e of God and his laws, and the practical discernment of the application of this knowledge to conduct. We must know God's will and the way of the Christian _life, the beaut.y of holiness and how to attain it, if we are to h~ve a good safeg~rd aga!nst sin. Christ, the Wisdom of God, dwelling in 9ur hearts, 1s the great security against temptation. IV. To BE EFFECTUAL AS AN ANTIDOTE TO TEMPTATION, WISDOM MUST DE RECEIVED WITH DELIGHT. Knowledge must be "pleasant." We are most influenced by that which we love most. There is a strength in the Divine joy, 80 long as religious truths are accepted in cold intellectual conviction, or submitted to through hard com- OH, n. 1-22.) THE PROVERBS. 45