The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 194

admitting that he did not want the pears, and arguing that it must therefore have been his depravity that led him to find pleasure in taking them I In the same way one might prove the depravity of the jackdaw that steals a ring. Let us repu- diate the affectation of depravity, a great" folly" in its way; and rather clrnw the wholesome lesson that the love of liberty, of fon-in short, of any healthy exercise of energy, neetls direction. Tho instinct for privacy and liberty gives no less zest to le?'itimate than to illicit pleasures. If. '.l'BE END OF FOLLY. (Ver. 18.) 1. It is represented under images of darkneRs 11ml dread. Shadows, "children of death," dead men, departed ghosts, hover about the dwelling of Folly nnd the persons of her guests. And these, while even they sit at her table amidst feasting and mirth, are already, in the eyes of \Visdom the spectator, in the depths of hell. Thus the shadows of coming ill "darken the ruby of the cup, (l.nd dim the. splendour of the_ scene." 2. The indefinable is more impressive in its effect than the definable. As e.g. Burke has felicitously shown in his treatise on 'The Sublime and Beautiful.' The obscure realitie8 of the other world, the mysterious twilight; the chiaro-oscuro of the imagination : in this region is found all that fa.sci- nates the mind with hope or terror. If it be asked-W'hat precisely will be the doom of the wicked, the bliss of the righteous? the answer is-Definite knowledge has not been imparted, is impossible, and would hnve less effect than the va~ue but positive forms in which the truth is hinted. 3. The indefinable is not the less certain. It is the definite which is contingent, uncertain. Our life is a constant becoming from moment to moment. This of its nature is as indefinable as the melting of darkness into day, or the reverse.-J. Vera. 1-6.-The nivine invit<ition. Wisdom invites the sons of men to a feast. Christ, "the Wisdom .of God," is inviting us all to partake of eternal life. A feast may well be regarded as the picture and type of life at its fullest. It combines so many of the best features of human life-bounty generously offered and gr:1eiously accepted, nourishment, enjoyment, social intercourse, intellectual and spiritual as well as bodily iz;ratification. ln the gospel of Christ. there is offered to us life at its very fullest- Divine, eternal. We are invited by Eternal Wisdom to partake thereof, to "lay hold" thereupon. These verses suggest to us--, ; l. TUE COMPLETENESS OF• ';l'HE DIVINE PREPARATION. (Vers. 1, 2.) The house is built, the full number .of pillars. hewn, the beasts killed, the wine mingled, the table set out. E,vt-rything is arranged and executed ; nothing is forgotten or omitted. Ever,y guest will find. that which he needs. How complete is the preparation which God has made for: us in the gospel of grace and life! The whole or tbe Old Testament lD,n.y _be said to be a part of the history of his preparation. All his dealings with his ancient people, and his control of the heathen nations, were lea.ding up to the one great issu-.the redemption of mankind by a life-giving Saviour. The New Testament continues the same account;. the birth, the ministry, the life, the sorrows, the death, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the evangelizing work and the inter• pretive letters of the apostles, form the last part of the Divine preparation. And now f3Verything is complete. The house is built, th!l table is spread, the, wiue outpourctl. There -is nothing which a guilty, sorrowing, striving-, seeking soul can hunger or thirst for which it will not find at this. heavenly feast. Mercy, full reconciliation, unfailing friendship, comfort, strength, hope, joy in God, everlasting life,-everything is thore. . II. THE GRACIOUSNESS OF THE INVITATION. (Vers. 3, 4.) Wisdom sends "her maidens" and "cries upon the highest places of the city." She charges those to 1,ipeak who are likeliest to be listened to, and to utter her invitation where it is surest to be heard. Moreover, she does not restrict her call to those who may bo sai,\ to be her own children (Matt. xi. 19); on the other hand, she addresses herself specially to those·who are i.trange to her-to" the simple," to" him that. wanteth unclcrstam\ing." lo the gospel of the grace of God: 1. It is the gracious Lord himself who speaks to us, and in the roost .winning way, It is ha himself who says, "Come unto me;" "If aay 'man thirst," etc.; "I am the Bread of life," !ltc, 2. He has, in his providence and gruce, co.used the message of mercy to be sounded where all c_an hear it-" upon the bigllest places of the city." 3. He calls all men to his bountiful board, specially tlMe who are ill the grratest need (Luke 4iv, 21-23; Matt, ix. 12, 1:.1). 192 THE PROVERBS. [oH, IX, 1-18,