Page:Sermons preached in the African Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Thomas', Philadelphia.djvu/148

144 The text says—

" By this we are to understand, that the means to obtain wisdom, through the benevolence of God, are placed in our hands. We have reason, conscience, the holy scriptures, the ordinances of God's house, the preaching of the gospel, the aids of the Holy Spirit, liberty of access to God through Christ, by prayer and supplication; we have pious parents, relations, friends, or good books to assist us. Here then is a price, a talent, or rather, talents of inestimable value placed into our hands to obtain wisdom; and by persevering in the right use of these means, we cannot fail to attain it. St. James says,—"''If any of you lack wisdom, let him ash of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ash in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is''