Verse 11. First, because everything else without it is a curse, and with it just what is needed; second, because it is necessary to all beings, and even to God himself, as the spring of action; third, because it is glory and wealth in its very nature.--_Miller._ Surely he that thinketh himself adorned with precious stones, showeth himself to be of less price than the stones are. To whom Clemens well applieth that saying of Apelles, who, when one of his scholars had painted Helena set out with much gold, said unto him, "Alas, poor young man, when thou could'st not draw her fair thou hast made her rich." for so, when many have neglected the jewel of the soul they seek to prank out the body with jewels.--_Jermin._ The wisdom of goodness, or virtue. 1. _Is absolutely and without any limitation good, absolutely and without any limitation useful and desirable._ It alone can never be misapplied, can never be criminal. This we cannot pronounce of any other good. Riches may be a snare, honours a burden, even the endowments of the mind may be a snare to us. 2. _It is far more unchangeable than the value of all other goods and endowments._ The value of riches is regulated by our wants and the wants of the society in which we live. The value of honour changes according to the opinions, the usages, the political institutions of mankind. The value of sensual pleasure depends much on our constitution, age, and health. Even the value of mental endowments is subjection to vicissitudes. The value of true wisdom alone is invariably the same. 3. _It is much more independent of station than any other good._ Riches would cease to be riches if all men lived in abundance. Honour would lose much of its value if it gave us no precedence over others. A great proportion of the value of sensual and mental pleasures would be reduced to nothing if every man possessed them, and each in the same degree. But no man loses anything if another be virtuous likewise, but if all were virtuous all would infinitely profit thereby. 4. _It has a pre-eminent value, by the effects it produces in us._ It renders us: (1) much better, (2) more useful, (3) more happy. 5. _It alone fits us for a better life._ It passes for as much in heaven as it does upon earth, and much more. It alone assimilates us with God. What we call riches, power, and knowledge, are poverty, weakness, and darkness, with Him.--_Zollikofer._ _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 12, 13. WISDOM AND PRUDENCE.