The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 521

blessings often reproves our wasteful heedlessness of that which is the greater, but never a millionth time so much as when it is "all the world" on the one hand' but Ohrist and his wisdom on the other hand, which are offered so freely, which plead for our regard so graciously, and which nevertheless are sought so feebly. II. REMINDS OF TIIE SUPREME OBJEOT WIIICH 18 INCONTESTABLY THE ONE WORTHY TO BE BOUGHT. It is, indeed, in itself a most interesting thing, as the barest fact of history, the history of the time of t,he Queen of Sheba, that she longed to hear ths wisdom of Solomon. To be anxious to see all his wealth and magnificence and state would have been a usual enough anxiety. Nor can there be any doubt, from what we afterwards read, that she did think of these, and was satisfied and rejoiced with the satisfaction and rejoicing that these could give. None the less is it to be noticed that the record is that she craved to bear his wisdom. Now, this wisdom was great in certain relations and comparisons, and it was very unusual ; but what at the furthest was its compass and its range? Great memory, great knowledge, great gift of observation, great force of discernment-all such Solomon confessedly had. How many proverbs did he write, and then repeat from memory I how much poetry did he compose and ~ing ! what a natural historian he was, though science " in those days was very precious," and microscope there was none 1 " He spake three thousand proverbs : and his songs were a thousand and :five. He spake of trees also, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springeth out of the wall of Jerusalem. He spake of beasts also, and of fowls, of creeping things, and of fishes." But all this-was it not knowledge of a very restrained sort? It was curious and entertaining and instructive, and capable certainly of leading from nature to nature's God; but what was it in comparison of the anti type I Now for the reverse of the grand medal. 1. The "Greater than Solomon" brings his wisdom, and brings it from heaven's highest heights. Thence brought, it descends to ol,l of our various, deepest need. Thence brought, it spreads over all the wide compass of the various want of our life. Christ knows all that is. 2. The wisdom of Christ antedates all the present. All the past he knows, who" was in the beginning with God, and was God." So his wisdom was "from everlasting." 3. He knows all the future. Where our vision cannot reach, and where (could we glance) we should tremble to glance, which way soever our glance turned, there does his reaching, searching, steady gaze anticipate the direction, and swift as a morning ray travel to the end. How should men cleave for his wisdom's sake to him who sees, who only sees, all that awaits them I ".No eye bnt his might ever bear To look all down that vast nbyl!8, Because none ever saw so clear The shore beyond of endless bliss. The giddy waves so restless hurled, The vexed pulse of the feverish world, He views and counts with steadfast sight, Used to behold the Infinite." Oh, with what strange, awful wisdom does all this invest ChristJ 4:. The wisdom of Christ is so kind. It is not confessedly grand and awful things which co.u be depen,led upon to draw human hearts the most. But Christ's wisdom is what we of all created things should most rejoice to call wisdom. It is so kind, so deep, so gentle, so quiet, that condescends to search all our needs, to stoop to view all our trio.ls and sorrows, to come in contact with all that is most in.finitely repulsive to him, our sin, and tbeu to find the one perfect remedy for it. What justice even to our apprehension in that sentence of St. Paul, " Obrist the Wisdom of God" I To "hear" the wisdom of Solomon did the Queen of Sheba tro.vel from the uttermost parts of the eo.rtb, though there might not be one single word in it all for her self, for her life, heart, soul. But all the wisdom of Christ, so far as it is as yet revealed to us, gazes full on us; it has us for the objects of its expenditure. He has come to us. From the uttermost beaveus has be descended to us. "How swirt and joyful was his flight, On wings of everlasting lovo ! " Be has worn our nature, borne our sins, carried our sorrows ; has made himself known  618 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oa. xn. 1-50.