Providence puts five talents into our hands, when we shall be able to do much." Our Saviour assured us that from such men shall be taken that little which they already had. The Lord of Providence gives to one more materials than to another, but neither of them dares sleep and neglect the work assigned to him according to his means, but ought to be up and doing as long as it is working time. 13. In this shape also have I seen wisdom under the sun, And great it appeared to me. 14. There was a small city, and a few men in it, And there came a great king against it, and besieged it, 15. But there was found in it a poor wise man, 17. The words of wise men, though quietly spoken, 18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroyeth much good. In the course of Solomon's observations, he met wisdom displayed on very different grounds, occasions, and under many diverse shapes and colours. Wherever it was manifested, he could easily see and appreciate its value in itself, and its preference to folly. But as regards the temporal services which it renders unto its possessors, he found it in this respect capricious, and (like many other good things and qualities) exposed to the changes, perversions, and violences which invade this fallen world. Precious as wisdom is in itself, differing as it does from folly as light from darkness, and numerous as are its advantages, still this world is so dark, so perverted, and so stupified by sin, selfishness, and egotism, that unless wisdom is clad in power, riches, and splendour, it is despised and disregarded. The striking instance given in verses 14 and 15 perfectly illustrates that lamentable fact. Here a small city on the brink of utter destruction, has but a few men to its garrison, and these few frightened and demoralized mortals are called upon to defend it against a mighty king with his numerous army who besieged it, and who directed against it all the instruments of war, death, and ruin. But while the peril seems more than certain, while every one of the unfortunate besieged citizens prepares for death and the grave, there comes a poor but wise man, rallies around him the despairing mortals, lays his plans of defence before his horror-stricken fellow sufferers, revives their warlike spirits, reanimates their broken hearts, and stimulates them to perseverance, courage, and activity. His efforts are crowned with unheard of and most brilliant success; the mighty and dreadful enemy is obliged to lift the siege and retire with shame and confusion, and the small city and its inhabitants, delivered from the threatened and most certain destruction, are filled with joy and drunk with triumph. But what becomes now of the marvellous hero? What is now done for and to the wise and excellent deliverer of the city and citizens? Strange to say, he falls back into the same obscurity from which he came forth during the public calamity and terror! As soon as the danger is over he is abandoned to his lot, he dies in poverty, he is entirely forgotten by his survivors whose life and property he had so wonderfully saved! And why? Simply because he was a poor man, and this miserable world does not like to put a crown of laurels and of victory on a head, the body of which is not clad in silk and splendour! Ah had this man happened to be a decorated general (of noble extraction of course) who got his high rank, not on the field of battle, but in the courts of favour and flattery, ah then, had he only been in that city during the siege, though not exposed to anydanger, had he even been hid in a vaulted cave during the action and victory, had it even cost the precious lives of thousands of brave citizens slain on the ramparts, still the victory would certainly have belonged (and exclusively so) to the lazy and cowardly general. Feasts would be celebrated to his honour, illuminations ordered in the streets, and like a thunder storm the voices of "long live the general" would resound in every corner of the delivered town. Yea marble statues of monstrous heights and dimensions would be erected in every high place to the memory of the great man who crept into a hole when danger was near, and the ears of posterity would yet be filled with the praises of the great hero, who carried such a victory without getting a single wound. But that man happened to be of poor origin, a mere man, an obscure citizen, and perhaps badly clothed too-well, that man with all his wisdom, bravery, heroism, and brilliant success is neglected, forgotten, and disregarded by those who owe unto him life and all. Instances of that incomprehensible outrage of justice and duty, practised by blind and stupified humanity, were not rare in the days of Solomon. They were numerous among the ancient Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, and other nations of antiquity (considering how few of such facts come down unto us.) And we have only to turn the gloomy pages of history regarding the middle ages of Christian Europe, and be horrorstruck at the monstrosities of that kind, and at their incredible number. With a very few exceptions (and for these no thanks to the despots), wisdom, bravery, devotion, and victory were denied to any other mortal but the privileged beings of riches and splendour, names and castles. Even in our days it is only in those countries where the glorious work of Reformation has either poured all or part of its benign influence, where these degrading abuses are being corrected. (But alas how slowly!) The conclusions which suggested themselves to the wise observer of the above treated facts and illustration are contained in the three last verses of this chapter. 1st, Though wisdom is decidedly preferable to strength, still it is abused and disregarded in this perverted world if it dwells in the bosom of a poor man who cannot cover it with the frivolous splendour of riches; hence though his services may be accepted in time of need and danger, they will never be rewarded or even valued when danger is over and peace enjoyed. 2d, That the influence, power, and dominion of wisdom among wise men, and their calm and quiet deliberations, will always prove stronger in influence and more fruitful in success than will do the cries and clamours of violent rulers in the midst of a great army of fools. (This, we think, is intended to show how it comes that one wise poor man may succeed in delivering a city from the power of a great king with his mighty army— of fools.) 3d, That the best plans of wisdom and skill promulgated by the counsels of wise men, and which, if followed, would doubtless prove stronger than all the weapons of war, might be quite overturned and destroyed by one ungodly man, who either by his riches or family connections or pretensions might have acquired a powerful influence over men in public consultations. Such a single but mighty sinner may succeed in overturning the counsels of many wise men, and thus bring calamity or misfortune over a whole nation or country, while the quiet measures of wisdom and prudence would have completely averted and prevented it. All the above considerations shew that in this world we can depend on nothing, build on nothing; for nothing is unchangeable or certain here below-that we must therefore look forward to the time and place when and where every thing good and just has its real value, where the presence of man is not respected, where justice is measured out according to heaven's righteousness, and equity abides for ever. (CHAPTER X. VER. 1.) 1. As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment To send forth a stinking savour: So doth a little folly him who is In reputation for wisdom and honour. The wiser and the more honourable a man is, the farther his reputation goes as such among his fellowmen, the more are his words and actions watched by all, and the more injurious will prove to his fame a single folly or fault committed by him. Even such a fault as would be entirely overlooked and disregarded in others will cause a moral insurrection against a widely famous wise man as a few dead flies may cause no injury to common burning oil, while it entirely spoils the savour, and hence the value, of precious ointment. Children of God! ye are the precious ointment of this world; you, and your walk and conversation, are strictly watched by |