"Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?"
By Talbot W. Chambers
PROPERLY understood, the fear of the Lord covers the whole sphere of human life, and takes in every relation that man can hold. But in every age error has been cherished on this point. Among all the ancient heathen, and even among some of the corrupt forms of Christianity, a divorce has been made between religion and morality as if they belonged to different spheres, and one could be cultivated without the other. As if, in foresight of this grievous misconception, and to guard against any possible mistake, there is added to the first statement another of similar character and of equal comprehensiveness. "And to depart from evil is understanding." Religion is not simply theoretic or emotional. It does not consist in lofty opinions and fine phrases, but is intensely practical. On its human side it moulds the whole man after the original pattern, and thus includes ethics in the broadest sense of the term. The negative form of the statement is owing, doubtless, to the character of man as sinful and fallen. Prone as he is by nature and practice to follow that which is evil, naturally the precept to him takes the prohibitory form found in the decalogue. To depart from evil, is to revolutionize a man's whole course and character. It takes in thought, word, and deed. It comprehends all relations—domestic, social, civil, and ecclesiastical. It extends from the dawn of conscious moral agency to the last expiring breath. Nor is it possible to depart from evil without in the very act following that which is good, and so fulfilling one's whole duty. Now this is what God says to man. It is not for us to comprehend him whose judgments are unsearchable, and his ways past finding out. There are many things in the divine administration which completely baffle every attempt we make to explain them. Much that occurs seems to us quite at variance with the wisdom which we know to be infinite. Again and again we meet with matters in regard to which we are unable to say why they are, or why God permits them, or how the fact of their existence is to be reconciled with his divine perfections. All we can do is to join with Elihu in his utterance:— "Behold, God is great, and we know him not." The secret that resolves all mysteries, and harmonizes all seeming contradictions, is hidden in the infinite mind alone. God alone comprehends the ways of God. But this fact, while it humbles man's pride, by no means reduces him to despair. Because, while it is the glory of God to conceal the order underlying the universe, he has been pleased to reveal in his condescending mercy all that is needed for the conduct of life. We do not, cannot, know how he governs the world; our keenest insight, our profoundest study fails here; but the great truths of religion and ethics we do know. They were written on the heart of man when he was created (Rom. 2 : 15), and they have since been repeated in the volume of his word. Here is man's wisdom; here is his understanding. Ingenious speculations about the mysteries of Providence or the methods of the divine Government are of no practical use. They only darken counsel by words without knowledge. But the devout recognition of God and a studious conformity to his will, are sure guarantees of a happy and useful life. They enable a man to discharge the end of his being, and to secure his own highest welfare.—Talbot W. Chambers, D. D., LL.D., in S. S. Times.