184 EEV. J. N. FEADENBURGHj PH.D., D.D., LL.D., 



]iis dependents well, especially "as we do not know the eventn 

 Avhich may happen to-morrow." 



" If thou hast become great after having been little, if thou 

 hast become ricli after having been poor, when thou art at 

 the head of the city, know not how to take advantage of the 

 fact that thou hast reached the first rank. . . . Thou art 

 become only the steward of the good things of God. Put 

 not behind thee the neighbour who is like unto thee; be 

 unto him as a companion." 



" If thou art one of those who bring messages of one great 

 man to another, conform thyself exactly to that whercAvith 

 he has charged thee ; perform for him the commission as he 

 liath enjoined thee. Beware of altering in speaking the offen- 

 sive words which one great person addresses to another; he 

 who perverts the truthfulness of his way, in order to repeat 

 only what produces pleasure in the words of every man, great 

 or small, is a detestable person." 



A wise man is a good listener. The duty of listening 

 attentively, retaining in the memory accurately, and trans- 

 mitting to others fully, clearly and exactly, is insisted upon 

 with all emphasis. Nothing is to be added to the message 

 and nothing subtracted from it ; nor yet are the words of the 

 message to be changed. Exact truthfulness is earnestly 

 enjoined. The Avise man will learn from the conversation 

 of others and profit from their experience, and thereby make 

 constant additions to his OAvn fund of practical knoAvledge. 

 Honesty in Avord and in deed, loyalty to authorities, obedience 

 to superiors whose place it is to command, and affection where 

 affection is due — these are praiseworthy. 



We return to the Avorcls of the sage as best suited to 

 introduce us to the spirit of his teaching. 



"As for the man Avithout experience Avho listens not, 

 he effects nothing whatsoever. He sees knowledge in 

 ignorance, profit in loss; he commits all kinds of error, 

 ahvays accordingly choosing the contrary of Avhat is praise- 

 Avorthy. He lives on that Avhich is mortal in this fashion. 

 His food are CA'il Avords, Avhereat he is filled with astonish- 

 ment. That Avhich the great knoAv to be mortal he lives 

 upon every day, flying from that Avhich Avould be profitable 

 to him, because of the multitude of errors Avliich present 

 themselves before him every day." 



" If thou abasest thyself in obeying a superior, thy conduct 

 is entirely good before God. KnoAving Avho ought to obey 

 and Avho ought to command, do not lift up thy heart against 



