THOUGHTS ON THE STUDY OF THE HOLY GOSPELS BY THE REV. ISAAC WILLIAMS, B.D. LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD "O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with Thy word, .... "Give me wisdom, that sitteth by Thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children: "For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if Thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded: "O send her out of Thy holy heavens, and from the throne of Thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto Thee. "For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power. "For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain. "For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthly tabernacle weigheth down the mind, that museth upon many things. "And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us; but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out? "And Thy counsel who hath known, except Thou give wisdom, and send Thy Holy Spirit from above?" THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. PREFACE THE greatest of all evils, which hath ever over taken the sons of men, was that which befell that faithless Apostle, who was admitted to walk with Jesus Christ, and to see His miracles, and to hear His word, and to witness His holiness; and yet knew Him not! and that because he had one cherished sin in his heart. So that, seeing, he saw not, and hearing, he could not understand. Danger not unlike this is incurred by every one to whom is given the high privilege to study the holy Gospels. We are indeed now brought into the Christian Kingdom, which is no less than a restoration to the Paradise of God, and the Gospels therein are no other than that stream which flows from beneath the Throne of God;-being parted into four heads, and on whose banks is that Tree whose leaves are for the healing of the nations,-which is no other than the Cross of Christ, budding forth, like Aaron's rod, into new life. But in this kingdom, and with |