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244 THE CONVENTION TEACHER

take any advice. They are fools, acting for themselves and to their own interest; they are prating fools, fools of lips, full of vain talk, boasting of themselves, acting spitefully against those that admonish them, and pretending to give counsel and law to others. Of all fools, none more troublesome than the prating fool. They shall fall into sin, because they receive not commandments. Full of self-pride, they stumble and fall.

(9) He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. We are here informed and the information is safe, that men's integrity will be their security. He that walketh uprightly toward God and man is faithful to both; he that designs as he ought and means as he says walks surely. He is safe under divine protection. He can go on his way with humble boldness, being well-armed against the temptations of Satan. He knows what ground he stands on, what guide he follows, what guard he is surrounded with and what glory he is going to, and therefore proceeds with assurance and great peace. He will not dare to do that which he is not fully satisfied in his own conscience concerning the lawfulness of, but will see his way clear in everything. We are also told that men's dishonesty will be their shame. He that perverts his way, that turns aside into crooked paths, that dissembles with God and man, looks one way and vows another, though he may for a time disguise himself, he shall finally be known to be what he is. Some time or other he betrays himself. However, God will discover him in that great day. He that perverts his ways shall be made an example of for warning to others.

III WISDOM SHOWS THE VANITY OF WORLDLY PLEASURE. (VV.1-3.) (1) I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. Solomon now turns from the pursuit of wisdom to the pursuit of pleasure, hoping that what he did not find in the one he will find in the other. He is holding a dialogue in his heart, or he has a monologue, the result of talking with his own heart. The world pleasure is not synonymous with mirth, as we generally use the term "pleasure," but in a more enlarged sense of happiness, that which was the great object of pursuit. Here we behold the king of Israel descending from the pleasures of learning to the pleasures of sense. The pursuit of this search led him to the same conclusion as the previous search after wisdom, namely, that it was all in vain. The world vanity means primarily "breath" or "vapor," the type of all that is fleeting and perishable.

(2) I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? "What the writer here blames and condemns as foolish is clearly only that empty merriment which accompanies the wild exhilaration of sensual enjoyment, or sensual pleasure, as the only end and aim of human effort, not a grateful and cheerful enjoyment of the benefits bestowed by God." Many persons seek joy in licentious doings and their lives are embittered ever after. Therefore, if God does not give joy and pleasure, but we strive after it, the endeavor to create it ourselves, no good will come of it. It is Solomon says, all vanity. "The best gladness and delight are those which one does not seek, but that which God gives to our hand."

(3) I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, Which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. The idea is not that Solomon would give himself to drunken debaucheries, or to fall into the stupor of intoxication, but that he would simply attempt to find delight and joy in partaking of intoxicating liquors, probably with many others seated at a banquet, the pleasures of which are supposed to be in an experience of exhilaration, freedom of speech, and utter forgetfulness of all care. While he expects to give himself to the pleasure of wine, yet he is going to do so under the restraining influence of wisdom. That is to say. Solomon was going to be both wise and foolish. Many a man has thought to do the same, only to discover that his wisdom was not powerful enough to restrain the demands of the flesh.

QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON

1. What results from a thorough search in Bible study?
2. How is a home affected by knowledge of the Bible?
3. How will the wise sayings of the Bible help the young?
4. Are the ancient proverbs of the Bible trustworthy?
5. How is religious literature essential to a nation's growth?

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THE CONVENTION TEACHER   245

Lights on the Lesson
BY. REV. BERNARD O. BYRD

Light No. 1. In the "Light" of a former lesson the Bible has been referred to as a library. It is well known today that no library is complete without writings of wisdom and instruction. Even though there is much wisdom in all the books of this divine library, the writings of Solomon seem to contain more concentrated wisdom that any other book or set of books, unless it be the books which give the words of Christ.

Light No. 2. In reading the words of wisdom of Solomon, we notice that the sayings are generally addressed to a young man. Infrequently we read the phrase, "My son." Even though Solomon wanted his own son to benefit much by his sayings, it was intended that other young men should also derive great guidance from these gems of wisdom. The instruction is given more to the masculine sex because each man was responsible for the conduct of his whole household.

Light No. 3. The proverbs contained in writings of Solomon show that he had been very keen in his observation; careful and keen insomuch that he knew the destinies of certain practices. In view of this knowledge, in his sayings, he provides forewarnings to the young men who became students of his sayings. For example, let us refer to the fourth verse of Proverbs, tenth chapter: "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, etc" This has become such a well established fact, that modern men look upon it as common knowledge. Though it may become common in the storehouse of knowledge, the value of its wisdome is not lessened. 

Light No. 4. Choice Literature is a collection of the valuable or helpful thoughts of men transcribed on paper that these thinkings may be used again and again, for the building of great minds, that is building the storehouses of their information, and for inspiring of other productions by great thinkers. Along with the other books of the Bible the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes have served well in this capacity.

Editorial Reflections
BY REV. S.A. PLEASANTS, D.D.

The wisdom of Solomon came from the storehouse of Wisdom found only in God. The Holy Spirit through James says, But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given. Jas. 1:5. A wise son, who can put to proper use the knowledge he has, certainly does make a father glad.

All the treasurers of wickedness is not anything in any age, and never has been, nor can it ever be. Righteousness from God always delivers from death. No righteous soul will ever famish, but the Lord kills the desire of the wicked. Slack hands are the doorway to poverty but diligence is the open door to prosperity.

A wise son makes preparation in summer for the oncoming days, when one cannot sow nor gather. And the one who sleeps his time down, when harvest is ready, will always have an empty stomach. Blessings fill the righteous with good things but cursings are the lot of the wicked.

The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall perish. All who know God truly, will receive commandments, but a foolish one will fall. To walk in a way that will pay a plenty, one must walk uprightly. The one, who perverts his ways shall be known on time, because of his failure to succeed to set one's heart on mirth will truly bring one to the time when he or she shall tell to the world that it is vanity.

Everything here was here when we came, and everything must be left here when we go. The things that man needs to set his mind on, are those that are created for both worlds. Jesus says to man through Paul. Set your mind on things that are above, and not on things on the earth. Col. 3:2.

Man's soul cannot enjoy material substance being immaterial, it cannot take in its spiritual system anything that fills space. The cry of wisdom is God, and all that is His in the spiritual world. Eternal things are called for and wisdom tells us to search diligently for such. Live's time should be spent in treasuring up eternal things, and not time things, because time must die and give birth to an endless Eternity, where there will be no flight of years, nor counting days, because of the oncoming night.