SERM. daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my VI. door. Moreover Wisdom is ufed in this book, as equivalent to understanding, or instruction. Prov. viii. Doth not Wisdom cry? and understanding put .... 13. forth her voice?... Happy is the man that 1. findeth Wisdom, and the man that getteth un...iv. 13. derftanding. And, Take fast hold of inftruction. Let her not go. Keep her, for she is thy life. If understanding and inftruction are not perfons, what reafon is there to think that Wisdom is fo? And agreeable to this account is that affectionate counsel: Ch. vii. 4. Say unto Wifdom Thou art my fifter: and to understanding: Thou art my kinfwoman. The opinion therefore, that Wisdom is a real perfon, or a diftinct fubfiftence, and intelligent being, appears to be without foundation. It is much more reasonable to fuppose, that Wisdom is only a fictitious character, or perfonage introduced, in order to recommend to men more effectually, and with greater advantage, thofe rules of righteoufneffe, which it is of the highest importance they should regard. II. I would II. I would now fhew, what is compre hended in Wisdom. By wisdom, in general, we are to understand the principles of order and proportion, both in the natural and the moral world: or the laws and rules of exact order and proportion in the things of nature, and the rules of discreet and virtuous conduct among rational and intelligent beings. This is the moft general and comprehentive meaning of the word wifdom. And it is plainly used in this fenfe in the book of Proverbs, particularly in this chapter. 1. It includes, I fay, the rules and principles of beauty, order and proportion in the things of nature: according to which rules God made the world, and difpofed and adjusted the feveral parts of it. So in the 27. and following verfes of this chapter: When be prepared the heavens, I was there: When be fet a compafle upon the face of the depth: When be established the clouds above: When be frengthened the fountains of the deep: When be gave to the fea bis decree, that the waters fhould not pass his commandment; then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was I 3 daily 1 SERM. VI. VI. Ch. iii. 19. 20. SERM. daily his delight, rejoycing always before him. That is, all God's works of creation were performed in wisdom: and it was his will and pleafure, to direct and command all things, according to the most perfect rules. of order and proportion. The fame thing is expreffed elsewhere after this manner: The Lord by Wifdom has founded the earth: by understanding has he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. This exquifite order and proportion in the feveral parts of nature are beautifully and forcibly If. xl. 12. described in the Prophet Ifaiah. Who has measured the waters in the bollow of his hand? and meeted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the duft of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the bills in a balance? 2. But though Wisdom comprehends in it the rules of beauty and perfection, order and proportion, in natural things; yet you cannot but be fenfible, that what Solomon in this book chiefly enlarges upon, and most earnestly recommends, is right conduct. Nor does he here speak of the facrifices of beasts, and offerings of the fruits of the earth, nor of VI. of external washings and purifications: the SERM. methods of which may be various, where no one of them is of abfolute neceffity: But the things he infifts upon are the rules and principles of virtuous conduct: which are right and reasonable in themselves, and always, and univerfally obligatorie. And because thefe moral rules and principles are the fubjects of his discourse, therefore the leffons, which Wisdom teaches and recommends, are reprefented and characterifed, as right things, as proclaimed in the moft public places, and as everlasting, or in being before the world was. These rules and counfels of Wisdom are faid to be right and excellent. Thus at the fixth verfe. Hear, for I will speak of excellent things: and the opening of my lips shall be right things. "The rules, which I deliver the things, I recommend to men, are right, " and fit. Their reasonableneffe and useful"fulneffe cannot be contefted or gainfayed." They are also represented, as proclaimed in places of the greatest refort, and indeed in all places: because they are obvious to mens reafon and understanding: and there are not a few 14 SERM. a few, who speak of them, and recommend VI. them to others, who are lefs knowing and at the coming They are also always obligatorie. And therefore are fpoken of as ancient, eternal, and unalterable rules and maxims. ver. 22. ... 26. The Lord possessed me in the begining of his way, before his works of old. I was fet up from everlasting, from the begining, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth... While as yet be bad not made |