wise Man is a man of "

"The

peace." wisdom, which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable." This wise man, in the little city, would have nothing to do with the riots and disturbances of his town. Was it because he was rich and afraid of losing his earthly treasures that he remained quiet? No. Was it because he was increased with worldly goods, and fared sumptuously every day, that this "wise" man was contented, peaceful, and faithful? No. He was a "poor" man, as Solomon tells us. Was it because he loved his ease, and cared not for his city and his neighbours, that he kept himself away from their rebellious doings? No. He loved them, and felt in his soul a hearty desire to befriend them. Did he by his wisdom, his fear of the Lord, his meekness and gentleness, his peaceful and lawful doings, did he, by these, become an enemy to his neighbours, or a curse to his "little city?" No. He was their best friend, their greatest blessing. He saved the

town from the punishment which it deserved. As it is written in the Text: "Now there was found in it a poor wise Man: and he by his wisdom delivered the city."

3. How he performed it, or what he said, or did, we are not told. Perhaps the poor wise Man went to the great King, and confessed before him that the people had indeed sinned against him, despised his laws, and trampled under-foot his authority. Perhaps he poured out a fervent petition for the transgressors, and spoke for them, earnestly begging that mercy might be shewed towards them perhaps he said, "O king, O father of thy people, forgive them, for they know not what they do. They are beguiled and led away by an enemy." Perhaps "the great king" answered and said, “My laws must be honoured: for they are good and just and necessary: without them the people could not prosper, could not live one with another. But these my laws the men of that city

have despised. If I only forgive them, and take no other notice of their rebellion, they will soon forget my kindness, soon rebel again. Nevertheless I am willing to forgive. But I make this covenant with them: Let there be found one Man among them, who has not, broken my laws, one good Man, such as I love, and let him suffer in their stead, and I will pardon them for his sake. By this they shall learn how I hate their wickedness, seeing I have permitted a good man to suffer for their sins, a man who is my friend, for their rebellion. By this they shall also learn, that if they will still go on in their wickedness, there is no chance of escape left for them." Perhaps the poor wise Man said, "My Lord, O King, the whole city has sinned and I'am the only one who would not join in the riot. And behold, I am ready to suffer for them, that they may be spared. By this they shall know that I loved them, although they mocked me for my advice, despised my counsel,

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and called me by hard unjust names." However it was, one thing we know, that the poor wise Man, "by his wisdom delivered the city."

4. How did the inhabitants feel towards him in return? It is likely that at first they felt joy at their escape, and gave him thanks and praises with their tongue. But, my friends, whenever you do good to others, take heed that you do it for "the Lord's sake." Do not expect that you will certainly gain the love and gratitude of all those to whom you have done the greatest benefits, or for whom you have most laboured. "GOD is not unrighteous to forget your works and labour of love:" but Men are unrighteous: Men are forgetful. They even forgot the poor wise Man who had delivered the whole city. For what says Solomon? "He by his wisdom delivered the city yet no man remembered that same poor Man." "As soon as the storm was over, they became unthankful wretches to their preserver."

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When

Solomon thought upon it, he received instruction. When he saw that all the men of that rebellious city put together could not by their own strength deliver themselves, but that one poor Man by his wisdom saved them, then Solomon felt which was best, Wisdom, or Strength. "Then said I, wisdom is better than strength." He perceived

how much better it was for a man to be wise of heart, than strong of hand. But he also saw, that true wisdom is a thing which must be loved on its own account. If we seek after heavenly wisdom from a secret desire to be highly esteemed of men, to gain the praise and admiration of the multitude, to win the gratitude of the world, we shall be miserably disappointed. For it is not those who are most like unto CHRIST in their spirit, and do most real good in the world, that are most honoured, remembered, or attended to by the world. It is not likely, it is not natural, that it should be so. Solomon saw this in the case of the poor