sacred writings—men who presume to affirm they can find much more wisdom, and much more morality in other books not accounted divine. But as the purity and value of the diamond is greatest when the stone itself is invisible in the brilliancy of its rays, and is thence termed a gem of the first water, so is the Word of God in its spiritual sense. Its shines by its own pure lustre. In the midst of the darkness of evil and error—and although the darkness comprehendeth it not, its brilliance makes plain all the dark spots of sin; while, in its own purity, it is invisible to those who detest the light, because their deeds are evil. The truths of the spiritual sense are simple, clear, and pure; but the heedless observer, or the man more careful for external show than internal purity, passes unperceived the priceless gem, or views it as a common pebble. He who would discover the diamond, must lose the estimation of his own wisdom and prudence; for the real gem is hidden from the wise and prudent, but to the simple is plainly visible. Diamonds are found in Golconda. They are sometimes discovered in the crevices of the rocks, and sometimes found amongst the sand; they are also washed down from the mountains by the streams thence descending. So, true wisdom dwelleth on high, and has its habitation in the high and holy place. And the man who suffers wisdom to direct his course, spiritually has his dwelling on high; he walketh righteously, he speaketh uprightly; his defence is the munition of rocks. (Isa. xxxiii. 15, 16.) The power of resistance possessed by the diamond is among the most valuable of its properties; and in this it illustrates the firmness of wisdom: he that trusteth in the Lord shall never be
