Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-05
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE RICHES OF WISDOM.
by j. A. l:tii,ank.

Hy ,. A. I;ubank.
when He prepared the heavens. was
'here: when He set compass upon the face
OF the depth: when He established tho clouds
above: when lie strengthened the fountains OF
'he deep: when II" gave tn His decree.
'hat The waters should not pass His command :
ment: when He appointed the foundations OF
'he earth: then was by Him. one brought
up with Him: and | daily His delight.
rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in the
habitablc part of Ills Garth and my delights
were with the sons of mcn.-provcrbs viii.
27-3l.
David gave that attention to tho training
OF solomon. his son and successor. that care
iui and correct training In his youth that
every father owes as duty both TO his OFF
spring and TO the nation. The consequence
was that Solomon. when he succeeded to the
throne while yet a young man. looked to that
source whence cmanutcs all wisdom for
Guidance In the discharge OF his responsible
outieS. He appealed TO that Source with the
humility that prepares one for the ntclli-
gent appropriation OF the hoped-for gracious
response to his petition for an 'undcrstand-
ing heart" that he might In his Judgment be
noie to discern between good and bad"
His petition was heard by tho Creator OF
All Good and answered In these words: BE
hoid' have done according to Thy words
TO- have given thee a wise and under
standing heart; that there was mono like
'hce before thee, neither after thee shall any
arise like unto thee"
The result OF that decree If We may so
term It, is that rs an historical figure Solo
mon has come down through the ages ms
the proverbiol Wise Man.
In the text Solomon in his teaching OF the
people in this writing. Is speaking of the
riches and eternity of Wisdom. which he
perSonifes. and in whose mouth he nu,s rho
language We have quoted.
Thus pcrsonined. he makes Wisdom Tho
inseparablc companion of jehovah inspiring
mo execution Of every detail OF tho creation
"hen He prepared the heavens. Wisdom
was there. When He sat n comnnss uno,
the face OF tho depth and cstahiished ,,e
clouds above. Wisdom was there When lie
gave TO the sca his decree. that the waters
should not pass Ills commandments and an
pointed tho foundations of the earth wis
dom was b. Him. as one brought IN with
Him. ~ ''''
And Wisdom rcjOccd in all that He did
but more than all in the habi,abie mart Of
HIS earth. where His delights were with the
sons OF men,"
Hence. the teaching of this lesson IL ,hat
any attempt TO comprehend what wo torn,
ihcs mysteries and 10 solve tho problem OF
iics duties that turns aside from "A studv Of
NATURES ia"s' can but end in confusion and
error Wise. then. has been the counsel of
poets and philosophers TO listen to natures
teaching for, Bryant SAYS ITO him who
III III" love OF nature holds communion with
her visible forms, She speaks various
!ShSnase and Edward Young, who saws
'''''' VI nature Is the art Cod.
or Wordsworth who counsels:
Come forth into the light of things
Lot Nature be your Teacher
one impulse from vernal wood
May teach you more Of man.
or moral evil and Of good.
Then all the sagcs can.
We may, therefore. confidently affirm ,bo,
the Creators scroll book OF nature has richer
and trucr lessons for than all the preach
IF ,rnla
stock of Information has been dug out of
tones and finds its wcightrst influence
through the awe inspired in the public bv
the paradinC of n parchment and "A title
The progressive development of world
wide achievement. commonly termed "ad-
vancing civilization" has come as the result
of the lahors of men who in their ouest for
knowledge wrcsted/from nature the precious
secrets she stands ready TO reveal to every
inquirer.
Without going back to tho distant ages
we owe to those students OF nature such as
Shakespeare. Darwin. Edison Marconi the
Wrights. Count Zeppelin. and the host OF 9th :
ers OF the insistcnt type OF investigators the
fundamental discoveries and achievements
that have been the Inspiration To present day
progress in every line OF human cnieavor
These men and others like them who hay.
achieved things worth while. have sought
knowledge where 1t was to be found