from the holy character of those who inhabit it, and this can be obtained only by listening to Wisdom's voice, and so gaining that "fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy, which is understanding" (ver. 10). "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself" (ver. 12); in other words--thou thyself shall reap the first and principal benefit. +XII. The consequence of the rejection of Wisdom's invitation must be borne+ +by him who rejects it.+ "If thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." If a man refuses to use the power which he possesses to walk, he will, in the course of time, lose the power of using his limbs. The man who will not listen to the promptings of self-love will stifle its voice. But though he may destroy self-love, he cannot destroy himself. That belongs to God alone. Man can make his existence into a terrible burden, can change that which God intended to be a blessing into a curse, and in this sense he can destroy himself--can "lose his soul;" but he must live still, and bear the consequence of his choice. We can burn up the most costly articles and reduce them to black ashes, but no power of man can annihilate a single particle of the ashes. They exist still in some form or another. So men, by scorning God's invitations, can blacken and spoil the existence which God has given them, but they cannot annihilate themselves. They must live and bear the self-imposed burden. _ILLUSTRATION OF VERSE_ 3. This may derive some illustration from a custom which Hasselquist noticed in Egypt, and which may seem to be ancient in that country. That it has been scarcely noticed by other travellers may arise from the fact that, although they may have seen the maidens on their way, they had not the means of knowing on what errand they were bound. He says that he saw a great number of women, who went about inviting people to a banquet in a singular, and without doubt, in a very ancient manner. They were about ten or twelve, covered with black veils, as is customary in that country. They were preceded by four eunuchs; after them, and on the side, were Moors, with their usual walking staves. As they were walking, they all joined in making a noise, which, he was told, signified their joy, but which he could not find resembled a joyful or pleasing sound.--_Kitto._ _OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._