The Rule of Wisdom BY EDWARD BLASHFIELD, THE AMERICAN ARTIST. A MURAL PAINTING IN THE NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE. "By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth."-Prov., 8, 16. T HE eighth chapter of Proverbs consists of a celebrated and beautiful poem descriptive of Wisdom, the glorious tutelar spirit of the Book. Passages from this chapter have been quoted far and wide, through all the schools and colleges of the world; for the aim of all education is the following of this ancient precept, the imparting of Wisdom to youth. "Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? "She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. "She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. "Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man." In another passage, Wisdom offers her rewards: "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. "Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. "My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; ISAIAH XXXII-THE REIGN OF PEACE 1167 10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. 11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins. 12 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 Upon the land of my people, shall come up thorns and briers: yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: 14 Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; 15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. 16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places; 19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. 20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass. Chapter 33 1 God's judgments against the enemies of the church. 13 The privileges of the godly. JOE to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled: and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shal! deal treacherously with thee. 2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. 3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered. 4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. 5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. 6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. |