maidens, and in the second the woman herself goes out into the streets, yet they both belong to the sex which is, by common consent, allowed to be most skilled in the art of persuasion. History is full of instances of their power to influence for good and evil. There have been many Lady Macbeths, both in public and private life, and many "handmaidens of the Lord" whose influence has been as mighty on the side of good. Both Wisdom and Folly possess ambassadors whose persuasive powers are mighty. 4. _They utter their invitations in the same places._ Wisdom "crieth upon the high places of the city" (ver. 3). Folly "sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city" (ver. 14). They both give invitations where they are most likely to obtain guests. In the places where many congregate are found the greatest variety of characters and those who have the most varied wants, and as in such places those who have wares of any kind to sell are sure of finding some to purchase, so the ambassadors of Divine wisdom and the emissaries of evil are certain, where the multitudes are gathered together to find some to listen to their respective voices. 5. _Both use the same words of invitation, and offer the same inducements._ A feast is promised in both cases, _i.e.,_ both inviters promise satisfaction--enjoyment--to their guests. If a man coins bad money he must make it look as near as possible like the gold or he would not get anyone to accept it. It is only afterwards that his dupe finds that it lacks the ring of real gold. So the tempter to evil must make the advantages he professes to dispense look as much like real good as he possibly can. The false friend will often-times adopt the phraseology of the true, and will never be wanting in arguments to win his victim. The incarnate wisdom of God reminded His disciples that they might, in this respect and in others, learn something from the "children of this world," who, in some matters, "are in their generation wiser than the children of light" (Luke xvi. 8). 6. _Both make the invitation wide and free._ "Whoso" is the word used by both. The kingdom of darkness, as well as the kingdom of light, is willing to gather of "every kind" (Matt. xiii. 47). The only condition is "Enter in and partake of the banquet prepared."