Proe. i, 6, 7. For the LORD Prov. ii, 1-5, 21, 22. My son, if reth wisdom: out of his mouth thou wilt receive my words, and set knowledge and under- hide my commandments with thing. He layeth up sound thee; So that thou incline thine dom for the righteous: he is ear unto wisdom, and apply thine eckler to them that walk up-heart to understanding: Yea, if tally. thou criest after knowledge, and James 1,5. If any of you lack liftest up thy voice for underdom, let him ask of God, that standing; If thou seekest her as si to all men liberally, and silver, and searchest for her as raideth not; and it shall be for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the upright shall dwell in the main in it. But the wicked shall land, and the perfect shall re to him. PERFECTION OF KNOWLEDGE. gles. ii, 11. He hath made unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. James 1, 16. Do not err my beloved brethren. PERSONIFICATION OF WISDOM IN SCRIPTURE ITS VALUE AND BLESSING. Job xxvii, 12-28. But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten weighed for the price thereof. for gold, neither shall silver be ything beautiful in his time: be cut off from the earth, and the It cannot be valued with the gold be hath set the world in their so that no man can find the work that God maketh the beginning to the end. eles vii, 23-25. All this have ted by wisdom: I said, I will ise, but it cas far from me. which is far off, and exceed leep, who can find it out? I d mine heart to know, and arch, and to seek out wisdom, reason of things, and to the wickedness of folly, of foolishness and mad viil, 16, 17. When I mine heart to know, wisto see the business that pon the earth: (for also Azt neither day nor night Sleep with his eyes:) Then I all the work of God, that a cannot find out the work done under the sun: bethough a man labour to out, yet he shall not find further, though a wise ink to know it, yet shall be able to find it. vili, 2. And if any man that he knoweth any thing, weth nothing yet as he I to know. rill, 12. For now we see glass, darkly; but then kolace: now I know in part; then shall I know even as I am known ABNEST EFFORTS TO OBTAIN IT. 27. Lo this, we have ded it, so it is; hear it, and iton it for thy good. xxxiv, 4 Let us choose to us ent; let us know among ves what is good. Ici, & Understand, ye among the people: and wa, when will ye be wise? transgressors shall be rooted out of it. That thou Prov. v, 1, 2. My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding; mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. Prov. xviii, 1. Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. Prov. xix, 20, 27. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Prov. xxvii, 22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Eccles. vi, 9, 12. Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? Jer. vi, 8. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited. Rom. xvl, 19. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 1 Cor. xii, 1. Now concerning not have you ignorant, spiritual gifts, brethren, I would Gal. iil, 24, 25. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shali be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven: To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Prov. 1, 20-23. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Prov. iii, 13--20. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding: For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine 1.5. 6. A wise man will faith is come, we are no longer gold. She is more precious than and will increase learning; than of understanding shall unto wise counsels; To under a schoolmaster. rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be comEph. v, 17. Wherefore be ye not pared unto her. Length of days Prov. iv, 5-13. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy get ting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Prov. vill, 1-5, 8-14, 17-86. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths: She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors: Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom; and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of right- heavens, I was there: when he set Prov. xxiv, 7. Wisdom is t high for a fool; he openeth not b mouth in the gate. Prov. xxvi, 1, 4-6. As mor summer, and as rain in barve so honour is not seemly for a f Answer not a fool according to folly, lest thou also be like him. Answer a fool according his folly, lest he be wise in his o conceit. He that sendeth am sage by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinketh dim contendeth with a foolish m Prov. xxix, 9. If a wise n whether he rage or laugh, the no rest. WISDOM IN CONTRAST WITH FOLLY. Prov. xii, 8. A man sha commended according to his dom: but he that is of a pern heart shall be despised. dom of the prudent is to un that is destitute of wisdom: Prov. xvi, 22. Understanda a well-spring of life unto t hath it: but the instruction về is folly. Prov. xvil, 24. Wisdom tr him that hath understanding the eyes of a fool are in thet of the earth. Prov. ix, 1-6. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars; She hath killed her beasts; she hath minProv. xxii, 3. 1 prudent gled her wine; she hath also fur-foreseeth the evil, and t nished her table: She hath sent himself; but the simple pas forth her maidens; she crieth and are punished. upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the fool ish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. FOLLY. fool to do mischief: but a man of Prov. xiii, 19. The desire accom- Prov. xvil, 16. Wherefore is there a price in the band of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? foreseeth the evil, and t Prov. xxvii, 12. A prudent ↑ himself, but the simple pam and are punished. stand not judgment: bes! Prov. xxviii, 5. Evil men të that seek the LORD understate things. Eccles. il, 12, 13. And I myself to behold wisdom, king? even that which hath the man do that cometh madness, and folly: for already done. Then I sas wisdom excelleth folly, an h light excelleth darkness. Dan. xii, 10. Many sba purified, and made white, tried; but the wicked s wickedly; and none of the w shall understand: but the shall understand. Lyd, saying. 2 Sam. xv, 31. And one told is Ahithophel g the conspirators with .salom. And David said, O bellions honse, said unto thee, I unto them, He put clay upon What doest thou? Dan. vi, 20. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Dan. vii, 19, 20. Then I would mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? I pray thee, turn the coun- know the truth of the fourth beast. said, We know that this is our of Abithophel into foolishness. 2 Sam, xx, 18. Then she spake, They were wont to speak and time, saying, They shall ly ask counsel at Abel: and they ended the matter. 1 Kings xli, 8, 9. But he forsook Poetusel of the old men, which Lad given him, and cond with the young men that grown up with him, and stood before him: And he unto them, What counsel Tye that we may answer this le, who have spoken to me, Make the yoke which 7 father did put upon us puter? Froxf, 14. Where no counsel the people fall: but in the tude of counsellors there is ire. xv. 22. Without counsel Roses are disappointed: but in maritude of counsellors they stablished. T. II, 18. Every purpose is shed by counsel; and with " advice make war. xxiv, 6. For by wise wel thou shalt make thy war; in multitude of counsellors re is safety. xlix, 7. Concerning Edom, saith the LORD of hosts, Is * no more in Teman? is el perished from the pruis their wisdom vanished? 21, 11. There is one come of thee that imagineth evil at the LORD, a wicked coun 210SITY AND INTERROGATION. ges xviil, 8. And they came Lueir brethren to Zorah and eck and their brethren said - them, What say ye? .x, 15, 16. And Saul's uncle Tell me, I pray thee, what el said unto you. And Saul ! unto his uncle, He told us y that the asses were found. of the matter of the kingdom, feof Samuel spake, he told Sam. 1, 5. And David said unto young man that told him, Lowest thou that Saul and than his son be dead? ek, zil, 9. Son of man, bath : the house of Israel, the re which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue And of the ten with his feet; horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a that spake very great mouth things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. Matth. xviil, 1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matth. xix, 27. Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have there fore? Matth. xxii, 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Mark xii, 28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? Mark xili, 3, 4. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? Luke lil, 10. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Luke xili, 23. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them. John ix, 10-15, 18-21. Therefore Jesus made clay, and anointed And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, 885 His parents answered them, and son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not; he is of age, ask him; he shall speak for himself. OTHER INSTANCES. 1 Sam. x, 14. And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, saw that they were no where, we To seek the asses: and when we came to Samuel. 1 Sam. xvii, 55-58. And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is. Philistine, Abner took him, and turned from the slaughter of the brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, Whose sou art thou, thou young man? And thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemDavid answered, I am the son of ite. And as David re 1 Sam. xxvi, 17, 18. And Saul this thy voice, my son David? knew David's voice, and said, Is And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 2 Sam. 1, 8, 13. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I apswered him, I am an Amalekite, man that told him, Whence art And David said unto the young thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 2 Sam. 11, 20. Then Abner looked And he answered, I behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? am. 2 Sam. ix, 4. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. 2 Sam. xv, 2. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a 2 B controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 2 Sam. xix, 25. And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephiboshetb? 1 Kings ii, 13, 14. And Adonijah the Athenians, and strangers Acts xxii, 10. And I said, What IV. Eccles. viii, 5, 6, 7, 15. W keepeth the commandment feel no evil thing, and s man's heart discerneth both and judgment. Because to e purpose there is time and j man is great upon him. F ment, therefore the miser knoweth not that which shal for who can tell him when i be? Then I commended because a man hath no b thing under the sun, than t the son of Haggith came to Bath- MAN'S MORAL NATURE, and to drink, and to be merr sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on. 2 Kings ill, 11. But Jehoshaphat Bald, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. Jonah 1, 8. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us: PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. that shall abide with him. labour the days of his life, y God giveth him under the st Eccles. 1, 2, 3, 12, 13. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, Eccles. xii, 8, 13. Vari vanity of vanities; all is vanity. vanities, saith the Preacher What profit hath a man of all his vanity. Let us bear the labour which he taketh under the clusion of the whole matter, sun? I the Preacher was king God, and keep his con over Israel in Jerusalem; And Iments: for this is the whole seek and of man. gave my heart to search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man, to be exercised therewith. Eccles. ii, 20-26. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is Esther v, 9-13. Then Haman forth that day joyft with a glad heart: but Haman saw Mordecal in the gate, that he stood not moved for him, he was i indignation against Ne Nevertheless Haman e what is thine occupation? and a man whose labour is in wisdom, himself and when he came and walk? John ix, 8. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen bim that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged! John xi, 37. And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? John xii, 20-22. And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew; and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. Acts i, 6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the king dom to Israel? and in knowledge, and in yet to a man laboured therein shall he leave and Zeresh his wife. And! told them of the glory riches, and the multitude children, and all the things in the king had promoted and how he had advance above the princes and serv the king. Haman said m Yea, Esther the queen did it for his portion. This also is that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This Eccles. iii, 10-13. I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart; so that no man can find out the work Acts xvii, 19-21. And they took that God maketh from the behim, and brought him unto Areo-ginning to the end. I know that pagus, saying, May we know there is no good in them, but for what this new doctrine, whereof a man to rejoice, and to do good in thou speakest, is? For thou bring- his life. And also that every est certain strange things to our man should eat and drink, and ears we would know therefore enjoy the good of all his labour,it is what these things mean. (For all the gift of God. man come in with the hi 1.-SECULAR DUTI INDUSTRY. 1 Kings xi, 28. And t Jeroboam tras a mighty valour: and Solomon sec young man that he was trious, he made him ri all the charge of the Joseph. Prov. xxi, 5, 17, 20. The of the diligent tend only teousness; but of every one hasty, only to want. loveth pleasure shot man; he that loveth wine shall not be rich. There ure to be desired, and cl dwelling of the wise, but ish man spendeth it up. Prov. xxii, 29. Seest that diligent in his business stand before kings be a stand before mean men. Proe. xxvil, 23, 24. Be thou diliget to know the state of thy cs, and look well to thy herds: far riches are not for ever; and the crown endure to every eration? Wote vi, 12. 13. When they were ed, he said unto his disciples, ather up the fragmen's that rethat nothing be lost. Therethey gathered them together, fled twelve baskets with the gments of the five barleyes, which remained over and e unto them that had eaten. d. v. 17, 18. But he said, Ye de, ge are idle; therefore ye Let us go and do sacrifice to LORD. Go therefore now and for there shall no straw be you, yet shall ye deliver the of bricks. xxvi, 8, 9. But when his pies saw it, they had indignasaying. To what purpose is Waste? For this ointment at have been sold for much, given to the poor. xiv, 4. And there were that had indignation within ires, and said, Why was ete of the ointment made? TRAST WITH IDLENESS. allit, 10. For except we gered, surely now we had ed this second time. .x. 4. He becometh poor aleth with a slack hand: beband of the diligent mak xii, 24, 27. The hand of the at shall bear rule: but the shall be under tribute. Bathful man roasteth not that he took in hunting: but the ance of a diligent man is zil, 4, 23. The soul of the and desireth, and hath nothbut the soul of the diligent be made fat. Much food is tillage of the poor; but Is that is destroyed for want gment. Iv. 19. The way of the fui man is as an hedge of but the way of the rightmade plain. . xxviii, 19. He that tilleth and shall have plenty of but he that followeth after rons shall have poverty IDLENESS. vr vi, 6–11. Go to the ant thou ard, consider her ways and Which having no guide, ker, or ruler, Provideth her in the summer, and gatherer food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? | get wealth, that he may establish when wilt thon arise out of thy his covenant which he sware unsleep? Yet a little sleep, a little to thy fathers, as it is this day. slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. Prov. x, 26. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. Prov. xviii, 9. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xix, 15, 24. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle son shall suffer hunger. A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. Prov. xx, 4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. Prov. xxi, 25. 26. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth, and spareth not. Prov. xxii, 13. The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. Prov. xxiii, 21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Prov. xxiv, 30-34. I went by the Deut. xxviii, 5, 8. Blessed shail be thy basket and thy store. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy store-houses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 2 Chron. xxv, 9. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the And the man of army of Israel? God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. Job xxil, 8, 23-25. But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. Job xlii, 12. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning, for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. Ps. cxliv, 13, 15. That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store; Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the LORD. Prov. x, 22. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and Prov. xiv, 24. The crown of the considered it well; I looked upon wise is their riches: but the foolit, and received instruction. Yetishness of fools is folly. a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Prov. xxvi, 13-16. The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. Eccles. x, 18. By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. WEALTH THE GIFT OF GOD. Deut. viii, 18. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to Isa. xlviii, 17. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Dan. xi, 43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. Gen. xiil, 2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in guid. Gen. xxiv, 1, 35. And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly,, and he is become great..... 2 Chron. ix, 27. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as |