But the Jewish proverbs range wide enough to have a word for everyone, for the grave or the gay, for pious8 or profane9, for those in haste just as much as for those at leisure; and many of their comments on life are very far removed from being trifling. In our enquiry we have met not a few winged words worth capturing and holding fast even in war-time; great thoughts such as this assertion, He that followeth after righteousness shall attain10 unto life, but he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death (Pr. 1119), or this reassuring11 hint of the fundamental goodness of human nature, When the righteous triumph there is great glorying, but when the wicked come to power men hide themselves (Pr. 2812; cp. 1110), or this grand medicine for a tempted12 people, Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any folk (Pr. 1434).{281}
Moreover it ought to be recognised that, properly regarded, morality is never unimportant; moralisms being trifling only so long as they remain mere13 words, not when they are translated into deeds. Act upon the good that is found in these proverbs, and immense results would follow. But just there is the crux14: “It is a small matter to get right principles recognised, the whole difficulty lies in getting them practised. We need a power which can successfully, contend against the storm of our passion and self-will.”[154]
Now there is one deeply significant fact which we have seen in our study of the Jewish proverbs, but on which we have not yet laid sufficient stress—the fact that they seemed to their authors to point beyond themselves to a Divine Source. They were not fortuitous atoms gathered no man knew whence or why, but part of a marvellous system inspired and originated by God, sustained by His inexhaustible power, and governed by His holy purposes. Whatever may be thought regarding particular proverbs, no sensible person can imagine that Wisdom itself is idle or unimportant talk. Wisdom remains15 wise even in such a war as this, though the nations rage and the kingdoms are moved.
But is there a Divine Wisdom? Or is the aspiring16 faith of men only an unsubstantial dream? From first to last the Jews believed that Wisdom is a reality, and, far from weakening as the years went on, their confidence even increased, and their thoughts of the wonder and glory of the Heavenly Wisdom became, if possible, more sublime17 and yet no less intimate. And high as they exalted18 Wisdom, her chiefest glory remained this, that she was willing to dwell with men. Let us take as a last quotation19 some beautiful and loving words from that late work, the Wisdom of Solomon, to which reference was made in Chapter IX:{282}
And it, being one, hath power to do all things;
And remaining in itself, reneweth all things:
And from generation to generation passing into holy souls
It maketh men friends of God and prophets....
Wisdom is fairer than the sun, and above all the constellations23 of the stars.
Being compared with light, it is found to be before it;
For to the light of day succeedeth night,
But against Wisdom evil doth not prevail (W.S. 726-30).
Is there this Heavenly Wisdom? Century by century, Life is accumulating its patient answer to the question, building up its vast evidence that the word of God endures, generation by generation confirming the intuition that the visible is for man the least real and that it is the unseen things that are eternal. But out of the midst of history there has also come one finished and marvellous reply—the personality of Jesus Christ.
Wisdom, whence cometh it? And where is the place of understanding? cried one who had despaired to find an answer. But the day came when certain of the Jews declared that Wisdom was found, that the infinite Divine Wisdom in its full glory had dwelt amongst us. All, and more than all, that had been said or thought or hoped of the Heavenly Wisdom, they had discovered in Christ Jesus. For one who had been man among men to be thus by Jews identified as the Perfect Wisdom, which was but an aspect of God Himself, is clearly wonderful; but just how utterly24 amazing it is, perhaps only those can realise who are conscious of the innate25 and magnificent monotheism of the Jews, and who have listened with sympathy and understanding to these reverent26 and rapturous praises of Wisdom. That a{283} human being could possibly be felt to be the incarnation of Wisdom’s Self is a miracle. But the miracle is precisely27 that which has happened, and it is explicable only by a cause as great as the effect; that is, by the miracle of what Jesus was and is.
Recognition of Christ as the Divine Wisdom, and of Wisdom as incarnate28 in Christ, permeates29 the tradition and theology of the New Testament30. It is visible in almost every passage where His disciples31 have sought to express the mystery and majesty32 of Him whose human love they had known on earth, whose divine power they now felt from heaven. The idea of Wisdom is the basis of St. Paul’s great utterances33 regarding Christ in the Epistle to the Colossians; of the affirmations in Hebrews that by Christ were the worlds made and that He is the Radiance of the Divine Glory and the Reflection of the Divine Being; and behind the wonderful opening chapter of St. John’s Gospel there is a hymn34 to the Eternal Wisdom, which was in the beginning, and was with God, and was God.[155]
Who hath ascended35 into heaven and descended36?—asked a sceptical questioner in the Book of Proverbs (Pr. 304). No man ascended into heaven, but He that descended out of heaven, even the Son of Man, rings out the answer of the Gospel (John 313).
If any man lack Wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him, writes St. James. Surely God’s gift is Christ? There are now nineteen centuries to show that nothing that has set itself against His wisdom has endured and been accepted as the truth.
“We need a power which can successfully contend against the storm of our passion and self-will.”—St. Paul{284} affirms that the need has been met and answered in Christ crucified, the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, and the Gospel holds out the same promise: as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the children of God.
But are they many who throughout these centuries have sought to find Wisdom in Christ, and in His redeeming37 compassion38, His perfect knowledge of human weakness and human need, His calm unfailing strength, His infinite holiness, His glorious ideal, His faith, His sacrifice, have declared that they have found that which they sought? They are very many. Already they are a multitude which no man can number—out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples—of whom some have sealed the confession39 with their life-blood, and some have given equal testimony40 in the unfaltering purity and patience of a quiet and unselfish life. Some of them have been learned and some unlearned in this world’s knowledge, but it is abundantly evident that all who have been faithful to His word have possessed41 in its fulness the deeper Wisdom which is from above.
The sum of it all is this. Christ has come. There are those who do not trouble to seek for Wisdom with their whole heart, but that is a foolish attitude which should be shunned42. The miracle has happened, and we ought to face its challenge. What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?
The End
The End
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
imminent
|
|
| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
injustice
|
|
| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
irrelevant
|
|
| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
maxim
|
|
| n.格言，箴言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
maxims
|
|
| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
trifling
|
|
| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
profane
|
|
| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
reassuring
|
|
| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
crux
|
|
| adj.十字形；难事，关键，最重要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
aspiring
|
|
| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
quotation
|
|
| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
effulgence
|
|
| n.光辉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
stainless
|
|
| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
constellations
|
|
| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
innate
|
|
| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
reverent
|
|
| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
incarnate
|
|
| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
permeates
|
|
| 弥漫( permeate的第三人称单数 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
testament
|
|
| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
disciples
|
|
| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
utterances
|
|
| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
hymn
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
redeeming
|
|
| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
testimony
|
|
| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
shunned
|
|
| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |