1. Because of the _excellency_ of it. Things of high birth are excellent. This wisdom is from above (James iii. 17). Things rare are precious. True wisdom is not found in many. 2. Because of the _pleasure_ of it (chap. iii. 17). No content in the world like that wisdom gives. 3. Because of the _profit_ of it. Every trade will tell you that wisdom thrives, and folly beggars men. So in spiritual things. 4. Because of the _necessity_ of it, which is the strongest argument. Without it die, nay be damned.--_Francis Taylor._ Verse 6. Jerome wrote to a friend, "Beg now for me, who am grey-headed, of the Lord, that I may have Wisdom for my companion, of which it is written, 'Love her and she shall keep thee.'" Forsake her not, and thou will love her, for love is bred by continuing together; love her and thou will not forsake her, for love liketh not of parting. The manner of speech seemeth to intimate a union of marriage, and indeed Wisdom is a fit spouse for man's noble soul.--_Jermin._ We turn an eye to Wisdom, and she turns an eye to us. We watch and she watches. In our ungodly state we cannot think of Wisdom that she does not turn and step back to us by common grace. And, if we think so long, and strive so earnestly as that she comes to us and is full in sight, then each new fondness fascinates her and brings her close. Each wise thing that we do makes us wiser.--_Miller._ It is worse with him that leaves good, than with him that never did it (2 Pet. ii. 21). One goes blindfold to hell and hath less pains there; another, seeing, hath more.--_Francis Taylor._ Verse 7. Make religion thy business, other things do by the bye. As Cæsar, swimming through the waters to escape his enemies, carried his books in his hand above them, but lost his robe.--_Trapp._ It can have no place if it has not the first place. If it be anything it will be everything.--_Bridges._ The mistake of the principal thing is that which maketh the principle disorder in man's heart. . . . But as that is light which showeth the light unto us, so that is the principal thing which showeth the principal thing unto us, even wisdom alone.--_Jermin._ I. _What_ we are to acquire. Both divine and human learning, which differ as means do from the end. Were there no Divine learning, human learning would lose great part of its value: limited to the present life, it must terminate on the confines of the grave. And had we no human learning, now that the days of inspiration have passed, we should not be able to attain that which is divine. II. _How_ we are to acquire it. We must be taught by those who were in the world before us. Weeds and thistles only will be the spontaneous produce if the ground is _not_ broken up and good seed sown. III. _Why_ we are to acquire it. The pleasures of wisdom exceed all others--in kind, degree, and duration.--_Bishop Horne._