The Lantern

Wisdom of Solomon13

LMC

Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things that are seen know him that is: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster;

But deemed either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the violent water, or the lights of heaven, to be the gods which govern the world.

With whose beauty if they being delighted took them to be gods; let them know how much better the Lord of them is: for the first author of beauty has created them.

But if they were astonished at their power and virtue, let them understand by them, how much mightier he is that made them.

For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen.

But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: for they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.

For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, and believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.

However neither are they to be pardoned.

For if they were able to know so much, that they could aim at the world; how did they not sooner find out its Lord?

But miserable are they, and in dead things is their hope, who call them gods, which are the works of men’s hands, gold and silver, to show art in, and resemblances of beasts, or a stone good for nothing, the work of an ancient hand.

Now a carpenter that fells timber, after he has sawn down a tree fit for the purpose, and taken off all the bark skillfully all around, and has made it handsomely, and made a vessel of it fit for the service of man’s life;

And after spending the refuse of his work to prepare his food, has filled himself;

And taking the very refuse among those which served to no use, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, has carved it diligently, when he had nothing else to do, and formed it by the skill of his understanding, and fashioned it to the image of a man;

Or made it like some vile beast, laying it over with vermilion, and with paint coloring it red, and covering every spot in it;

And when he had made a convenient room for it, set it in a wall, and made it fast with iron:

For he provided for it that it might not fall, knowing that it was unable to help itself; for it is an image, and has need of help:

Then makes he prayer for his goods, for his wife and children, and is not ashamed to speak to that which has no life.

For health he calls upon that which is weak: for life prays to that which is dead; for aid humbly begs that which has least means to help: and for a good journey he asks of that which cannot set a foot forward:

And for gaining and getting, and for good success of his hands, asks ability to do of him, that is most unable to do anything.