up as it were sapphire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold. There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen the lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it." In the very depths of the earth, men dare to descend to bring up the precious metals: so deep do they descend into the bowels of the earth that the fowls never go there, and even the vulture, a bird the most far-sighted and clearest of vision of all creatures that fly, cannot penetrate its intricacies; yet man-to whom the light of the sun, moon, and stars is given, and to whose comfort these things are essential-man will for wealth give up the light of the sun, the air, the birds, the trees, and the external face of nature, to live where the light of the sun cannot shine, nor anything but darkness and toil prevail. Yet man dares to go anywhere and to do anything for money. Where the lion dare not tread man is not afraid to venture. "He putteth forth his hand upon the rock he overturneth the mountains by the roots: he cutteth out rivers among the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing: he bindeth the floods from overflowing, and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light; but where shall wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?" Such is the question of Job, who is surveying all the wonderful projects and enterprizes which men undertake to get wealth; and never, in any age, like our own, have they been exceeded. All the language of Scripture bears powerful evidence of the increase of knowledge in the latter days: the speed with which men run to and fro over the earth never was more exceeded than at the present mo

ment; and great and wonderful things may be expected to arise from it in all lands. Happy they who are contented and look for the good which is to come in another world more than in this-who are not carried about with vain projects, however properous, but, having food and raiment, are content therewith. But where is this wisdom, and who is possessed with this understanding? In a word, whose thoughts and hearts are with God, and whose minds are set upon things above, not on things of the earth? Vain is it for the ministers of God to lift up their voices, and cry aloud against the allprevailing leprosy of mammon. Wisdom, the wisdom of this world-which is not the fear of God nor the knowledge of the Lord-is infinitely pleasanter than any prospect of the world to come; and to give up human projects, which seem to pay so admirably well for the time and talents bestowed upon them, are more engaging than to be employed in the service of true wisdom. But hear what Job says further upon this subject: and, Oh, that we could all of us be induced to see therein the beauty of holiness! "Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living. The deep saith it is not in me; and the sea saith it is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold 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 shall be made of coral or of pearls, for the price of it 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 from the fowls of the air. Behold, the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." Come, then, we have arrived at the right conclusion, only let us follow it: for "there is a way which no fowl knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen. The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it." This way is wisdom, the fear of God, and the departure from evil; and, to possess this, is better than all the riches of the earth, because it is the straight and narrow way which leadeth unto eternal life. I need not, I am sure, tell you that Jesus Christ is the wisdom we must all seek, the knowledge we must all attain, and the only true way: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." To pursue His way is life eternal, to know Him is to know truth, and the life He has given us is that which is to last for ever : but the wisdom of God became incarnate, and yet men disregarded Him. He spake as never man spake, and yet men would not understand Him. Oh, let us seek Him as He is to be found when He said-" The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, they are life." It was of Him that Solomon was enamoured when he wrote this advice, so similar to that of Job: "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide thy commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart to understanding; if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God: for the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth come

knowledge and understanding: He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk upright. He keepeth the paths of judgment and preserveth the way of His saints" (Prov. ii.) There is a way which He has pointed out, which He has trode, which He has made plain, and laid it down so accurately that if a man will but work upon that way he shall find his own salvation. It is not that broad way of the world which carries men rapidly on to destruction, upon which men travel at ease, and find in the noise and rattle of the journey diversion and interest, until they are carried away no one knoweth whither. The way of life is not a broad and easy path, but a strait gate and narrow way, where the fear of God is the guide, and to depart from evil the understanding. Walk on this way and be not hurried to and fro thereon; but, steadily keeping God's commandments before you, walk by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by your own sight: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding: in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." This is the way to grow wise and happy-this is the way to spend your present years pleasantly and to end your days in peace. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God-to them that are called according to His purpose. Yes; all you who obey the call of God, to come unto Christ, and who really and truly do seek for Him as for hid treasures-you who have known what it is to find that treasure, and have purchased the field in which it was hid, even at the cost of everything you possess all things shall work together for your good; to you wisdom will be pleasant indeed, the kingdom of heaven is yours, and such unspeakable joy

as passeth all understanding. Let, then, Christ dwell in your hearts by faith; for He is, indeed, the only way either of present or future happiness. He being the only true wisdom, we can never think of Him too often or follow him too closely. He is, indeed, the spiritual mind opposed to the carnal, and, as the apostle says, "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." If Christ then, be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness." Now, to have the spirit of Christ is to love righteousness and peace, and to follow them: never to permit yourselves to be exalted over your brethren, but to exalt the Lord your God above all. Oh, that such wisdom may dwell in you all! Sure I am that, if it does, you must have gone through many trials and much humiliation. "For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter;" for "whosoever will live godlily in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution;" but these things will not hurt you-they will be taken as the chastening and correcting hand of God who has appointed them as sure witnesses of your suffering patience and faith. In the day of adversity we learn wisdom, we love it, we find comfort in it, even as Job did, or, more properly speaking, as Job's Redeemer did. But is He not our Redeemer as well! O, let us cultivate His love! Let us feed upon Him as the living bread which came down from heaven, and hunger and thirst no more-certainly, not for the flesh pots of Egypt certainly, not for a world where all things are perishable. Would you then know the way which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen? Seek your God! For He will guide you safely on that way, and will not suffer your foot