_Doth not Wisdom cry _ THE PERSONIFICATION OF WISDOM Whatever may have been the satisfaction experienced by devout minds in reading this chapter, as if it contained the words of Christ and evidence of His pre-existent Divinity, I dare not withhold what I believe to be the true principle of interpr... [ Continue Reading ]
_She standeth in the top of high places._ THE PURPOSE AND RANGE OF WISDOM She sets up her tower everywhere, and speaks to all mankind. That is the true wisdom. When we come to understand the purpose and range of true wisdom, our business will be to see how many people we can get in, not how many w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man._ GOD REVEALED IN THE UNIVERSE AND IN HUMANITY The truth, which can guide us to perfection and to happiness, is teaching us always and everywhere. God surrounds us constantly with His instruction. The universal presence of Truth is the su... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart._ ARE YOU A FOOL? The word “fool” is derived from a Latin verb, signifying “to be inflated with air”; substantive, “a wind-bag.” So a fool is a witless, blundering creature, one whose conduct is not directed by ordinarily good sense or judgment. All who d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear; for I will speak of excellent things._ THE EXCELLENCY OF WISDOM Wisdom is represented as making a public appearance in a rude, ignorant, and corrupt world, loudly proclaiming her doctrines and counsels, and calling upon all men to hearken to them. What consideration could be more powerful t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For my mouth shall speak truth._ THE DOCTRINES OF RELIGION HAVE THEIR EVIDENCE IN THEMSELVES I. Confirm and illustrate this proposition. 1. Those things which religion requires of us are such as Reason herself, when she forms her judgment aright, cannot but approve, or, at most, cannot justly ref... [ Continue Reading ]
_Receive my instruction, and not silver._ THE COMMENDATION OF WISDOM I. Knowledge must be received. 1. Do not refuse knowledge offered you in the Book of God. 2. Do not refuse instruction offered you by God’s ministers. II. Knowledge must be received by way of instruction. Instruction is necess... [ Continue Reading ]
_For wisdom is better than rubies._ RUBIES This jewel is called a sardius in two places in the Bible. The name comes from the Latin “Ruber,” which means red, and this name is given to the ruby because of its colour. It is sometimes called a carbuncle. We may regard the ruby as representing love or... [ Continue Reading ]
_I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence._ PRUDENCE This has been brought into unmerited contempt by being associated with what is really its opposite. The abuse of the title has led to practical evils. Individuals have been known to despise prudence as the most beggarly of the virtues, from a mistaken appr... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the Lord to to hate evil._ HATRED OF EVIL A formal definition of the fear of the Lord. To dread the punishment of sin seems to be the main feature in that religion which, under many forms, springs native in the human heart. This is the mainspring which sets and keeps all the machinery... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have understanding; I have strength._ THE SELF-ASSERTION OF CHRIST Here is more than a florid personification of wisdom. It is the Word who is from everlasting--“Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” I. The self-assertion of Christ. Exhibited in three ways. 1. Christ claims a bound... [ Continue Reading ]
_By Me kings reign._ CHRISTIAN LOYALTY I. The special cause that we have for increased thankfulness to God. 1. We ought to be thankful for any event which tends to secure the blessings of peace to our country. 2. A state of peace, as it is most conducive to the temporal interests of a nation, so... [ Continue Reading ]
_Riches and honour are with Me; yea, durable riches and righteousness._ ON GAINING AND USING RICHES Whatever is true and substantial happiness even in this life has a necessary dependence upon morality and religion. Wealth and riches are but heavy encumbrances and unprofitable lumber if they are n... [ Continue Reading ]
_I lead in the way of righteousnses._ SUBSTANCE THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS I. Jesus leads in the way of righteousness-- 1. By leading them into His holy, strict, and condemning law. 2. By implanting sincerity and uprightness. II. Jesus leads in the midst of the paths of judgment. These paths... [ Continue Reading ]
_That I may cause them that love Me to inherit substance._ MAN’S ENRICHMENT BY GOD I. Love--the love of God as the source of every blessing. II. The love of created being is excited by some good, real or imaginary, in the object beloved. III. Man’s individual sins, wants, and necessities. IV. O... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord possessed us in the beginning of His way._ WISDOM THE FIRST CREATION OF GOD Here is the noble idea which overturns at a touch all mythological speculations about the origin of things--an idea which is in deep harmony with all the best knowledge of our time--that there is nothing fortuito... [ Continue Reading ]
_I was set up from everlasting._ CHRIST SET UP FROM EVERLASTING Doctrine: That as Christ is the everlasting God, so, from all eternity, He was foreordained and set up for the great service of man’s redemption. I. To prove That Christ is the everlasting God. 1. That He existed before the incarnat... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I was daily His delight._ THE HAPPINESS OF CHRIST ANTECEDENT TO HIS INCARNATION The delights between the Father and the Son, before His assumption of our nature, were twofold. 1. They delighted in one another without communicating their joys to any other; for no creature did then exist save... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth._ THE REJOICING OF WISDOM I. Where did the Son of God by anticipation rejoice? “Habitable part of His earth.” “Sons of men.” 1. The simple fact in itself. Of all creation this insignificant globe of earth is singled out. And of this globe its habitabl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed are they that keep My ways._ THE CLAIMS OF DIVINE WISDOM I. These are very simple. 1. Diligently study its counsels. 2. Constantly obey its precepts. The teachings of Divine Wisdom arc not speculative, but regulative. They are maxims to rule the life. II. Very important. 1. Obedience... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear instruction, and be wise._ MOTIVES FOR HEARING SERMONS Contempt of God’s Sabbaths and disregard of ministerial instruction are melancholy characteristics of the age in which we live. I. The tendency of preaching and meaning the word to promote our best interest. This tendency is sufficient t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors._ ATTENDING PUBLIC INSTRUCTION RECOMMENDED I. The reasonableness of attending all the instituted means of our instruction. If God had never vouchsafed to men a positive revelation, we should have been... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whoso findeth Me findeth life._ THE CHRISTIAN LIFE DELINEATED: CHRIST TO BE FOUND IN THE ORDINANCES, WITH THE IMPORT AND HAPPY EFFECTS OF FINDING HIM I. The ordinances are the place where Christ is to be found of poor sinners 1. What are the ordinances? The Divine ordinance of meditation. Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that sinneth against Me wrongeth him own soul._ THE SINNER WRONGETH HIS OWN SOUL I. What are we to understand by a man sinning against Christ? 1. To take partial views of His glorious gospel. 2. When He would wreathe His gentle yoke about our necks, to kick at the restraint, and refuse it.... [ Continue Reading ]