WISDOM'S DELIGHTS WITH THE

SONS OF MEN.

PROVERBS viii. 31.

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

THE key to this mysterious chapter is not difficult to be found. Divine Wisdom is the speaker; and we know that Christ is personally "The Wisdom of God," 1 Cor. i. 24. He is that Wisdom which is "justified of her children;" and which said, "I will send unto you prophets and apostles," Luke xi. 49.

In the words before us, there are revealed, concerning this personal, substantial, and self-existent Wisdom, things which may be easily apprehended by the light of the New Testament. We shall begin with the latter part of the verse.

I. MY DELIGHTS WERE WITH THE SONS OF

MEN.

Wisdom then has her delights; and where does she find them? Are they only about the tree of life, by the river of the water of life, where, crowned with glory, she beholds ten thousand times ten thousand celebrating her praises, doing

her homage, and ministering unto her? Not so. Her delights overflow beyond the bounds of paradise; they descend even to "the sons of men." This is spoken, not only in reference to the beginning of time, when it must have been the Lord's delight to dwell with man, to walk among the trees of the garden, and to behold the first innocent pair; but here is reference also to the time after sin entered our world, and "the imagination of man's heart had become evil from his youth," and the whole human race had become "dead in trespasses and sins," entangled in the snare of the devil, laden with iniquity, subjected to the curse of the violated law, and sunk fast in the deep mire where no ground is. Well then may we be astonished, that of our race, under such circumstances, the Lord of glory should say, “ My delights are with the sons of men."

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These delights are manifold. The prime of them doubtless is that which he finds in his own self. For his name only is excellent, beautiful, and amiable; and his praise, above heaven and earth. All else is lovely and glorious, only in so far as it has emanated from Him, and is perfected by Him. He has complacential delight in himself, for he only is perfection, independent and eternal. The communications of his glorious attributes are also his delight. But where do these communications rest, if not on the sons of men? The elect angels have a glory put upon them distinct from these. The glory of Christ is a

special boon to sinners. Wonderful as this appears, it is truth; and that is more wonderful. For the sake of sinners he made himself of no reputation; despoiling himself, as it were, of his glory. He does keep his white raiment not for himself alone, but bestows it for the adorning of his "bride," the church. Were it otherwise, how could we lift up our eyes to heaven? How could we be of such good courage, did not his righteousness cover all our sins? How could we think of God as our Father, in whose sight "the heavens are not clean," unless we are assured that we are clothed with the righteousness of Him who is all righteous, and invested with the holiness of Him who alone is holy? How could we, who are as the bruised reed, withstand all the power of the enemy, were we not assured that we are strengthened with might by his Spirit? How could we ever expect to have boldness in the day of judgment, were we ignorant or unmindful of that saving truth, that "by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous ?" But the gospel encourages us to draw nigh unto God, in full assurance of faith, relying entirely on Him "who is made to us, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption," and to regard him, in these respects, as our own. It may be said, that it is an easy thing to shine in the merits of another. This, however, is God's way of saving sinners; and easy as it is, few are found to adopt, or even to believe it. Thus then are his delights

with the sons of men. "Father," said he, briefly, but clearly, "the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them," John xvii. 22.

This glory is his delight and as his supreme delight is in his own perfections, not less so is it in those works of his, to which the glory of his perfections is communicated. Accordingly it is written, "The Lord shall rejoice in his works," Psa. civ. 31. But where is the Lord Christ's special work? Not among the powers of darkness; for they have been, as it were, their own artificers; they have wrought themselves upon their own wheel into what they are. Not among the angels of light, for they have kept their first estate they have suffered none to take their crown, but have holden it by unsinning obedience. Not among the virtuous or righteous after the flesh : they presume upon being good without Christ, and their cause will have to be tried at the bar of God. If then you look for the Lord's special work, look for it among such as smite upon their breast and cry, "God be merciful unto me a sinner!" "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" "The dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Look for it among those who are ready to wash the feet of Jesus with their tears, and to wipe them with the hairs of their head or among those who will tell you, that once they were blasphemers, and persecutors, and injurious, but they obtained mercy. The language of all such is, "Whom have I in heaven

but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee," Ps. lxxiii. 25. "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee," John xxi. 16, or, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him," Job xiii. 15. It is where we behold such stirrings as these; where the stony heart is replaced by a heart of flesh; where the forehead receives his mark, and bears an impress from the seal of his Spirit; where eyes that never wept for sin, become fountains of tears, that glisten with the light of heaven; where righteous ones begin to mourn like doves over the ruins of their own righteousness, and the once wise of this world now reflect upon the sherds and rubbish of their own wisdom, and lament that "like a crane or a swallow so did they chatter," Isa. xxxviii. 14; where poor and miserable sinners have found heart to love him; where the once condemned criminal can cheerfully venture to appeal, in the presence of accusers, to a merciful Saviour as his gracious Advocate and Protector. Here, beloved brethren, is the Lord Christ's work, his special work; and wherever this is found, there is his delight; and it is found, with the sons of men, with poor redeemed sinners. In them is his complacency; they are "the travail of his soul;" he "beholds" them, and is "satisfied."

The language of inspiration contains frequently much in few words; and this is particularly true of the gracious words uttered by our blessed