fo.there and eons had a similar opinion of the best of treasures. One labours to leave heavy legacies in his will; another aims at securing good posts for his sons; a third is proud of the unsullied family honour; but many forget that which alone secures true welfare here and eternal life hereafter. It is beautiful to see this heirloom of piety carefully guarded in the cottage of the poor; but it is more interesting to see those who might be drawn aside to lower pursuits-as, alas! Solomon was in his later days- setting the same treasure before their family as the most valuable of all possessions. JI. DIVINE WISDOM WILL NOT REMAIN AS A FAlliILYJHEIRLOOM WITHOUT SPECIAL CARE IN RETAINING AND TRANSMITTING IT. The estate descends from father to son by laws of inheritance or by testamentary directions. The bodily likeness, the mental characteristic, the genius, the defect, the disease, often come down through successive generations. But religion is not found in the blood; no law of inheritance will secure the succession to Divine wisdom; you cannot ensure that your son will be pious by any clause in your will. This family heirloom will pass out of the household unless it is most carefully g,,iarded. Bad sons may follow good fathers. The religion of our parents is no guarantee of our own spiritual state, nor does our religion contain within it the promise and potency of our children's faith. Ill, DIVINE WISDOM MAY DE TRANSMITTED AS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM THROUGH INSTRUCTION AND EXAMPLE. We cannot absolutely secure the inheritance because we have to deal with that most ungovernable of all elements, the free-will of souls. But failure is often to be attributed to defective instruction. Home culture has been neglected, while public ministry bas been most assiduous; or there bas been a harsh, unwise restraint which has provoked a rebound of licence. On the whole, we may hope that good, sound home training will not be in vain. This involves two elements. 1. Instruction. There must be positive, definite teaching. We must not rely on the general influence of a wholesome Christian atmosphere, on casual words and passing advice, etc. Wisdom involves knowledge; religion depends on faith; and faith follows "hearing." It is most important that the main elements of the Ghristian truth should be unders.tood and remembered by children. It is not enough to tell them to love Christ. They must know him if they are to trust and follow him. 2. Example. Without this instruction is futile. Our deeds then give the lie to our words. Instruc- tion is the light to show the way; example, the impulse to urge us to walk in it. Succession in genius is rare. The two Plinys, the two Pitts, the two Mills, are exceptional instances. But by right instruction and example we have much more reason to expect a succe~sion in piety, because genius must be born in a man, but the wisdom of godliness is offered to all who will seek it. Ver. 9.-A coronation. Wisdom is here represented as standing forth with go.rlands and crowns, rewarding her votary. The whole picture suggested to us by this brief verse may be to.ken as illustrative of the blessed experience of the people of God. • I. THE CROWNING AUTHORITY. It is ridiculous to offer o. crown except with the right and power to make t.he coronation effective. It was held that no one could be an emperor in the "holy Roman empire" of the Middle Ages unless he had been crowned by the pope, as Charles the Great had been crowned. In our picture we have a greater than the highest ecclesiastic. 'l'he Wisdom of God, ideally personified, offers crowns and garlands with her own hands. It is really an act of God. God's wisdom is subse- quently revealed in Christ who bestows the best blessings on his people. Coronation from such an authority must be effective. II. THE SUBJECT CROWNED. He is the votary of Wisdom, and it is on account of his allegiance to his heavenly mistress that he receives his honour. Solomon seems to be referring directly to himself (ver. 3). If so, it is the more remarkable that the most maJl_~ificent king oflsrael should set less value on his regal dignity than on his fidelity to wisdom. Even Solomon is here crowned, not because he is David's son and sits on the throne of a great nation, but because he is a loyal servant of Wisdom. The same honour is open to all who follow the same course. Wisdom, Divine truth, the know ledge of God, the following of Christ,-these things a.re the true grounds for honour, not birth, rank, power, or wealth. III.. THE A.OT OF CORONATION. Wisdom stands forth and crowns her votary. She does it spontaneously. The pursuit of Divine Wisdom brings honour. Here we see 94 THE PROVERBS, [OH, IV. 1-27.
that there is more than bare deliverance from ruin for the people of God. They are invited to receive honours from above. This happens in a measure upon earth in the elevation of character, the loftiness of the whole course of life, and perhaps even the worthy reputation of a true Christian. Yet we must remember that the coronation is not the world's admiration, but, God's approval. This will be perfected in heaven when the saints who have borne the cross on earth will receive their crowns--only to cast them at the feet of the Lord through whose grace alone they have won them (Rev. iv. 10). IV. THE NATURE oF THE CROWNS. There is a garland as well as a crown. 1. A recognition of victory. A simple wreath has little inherent worth. But it 'is a token of '<"ictory. It is nobler to wear a true conqueror's wreath than an idle monarch's diadem. The pursuit of Divine Wisdom leads to victory over sin and the world. 2. A possession of wealth and honour. After the victor's wreath comes the regal crown. Observe how it is constructed. (1) Gold of truth. (2) Precious stones of heavenly experience. Precious stones are symbolical of celestial structures (Rev. xxi. 18-21). The follower of V{isdom has the heavenly mind; he minds spiritual things. (3) Pearls of purity. True wisdom leads to holiness. •