Zechariah 4:5 - Homilies By W. Forsyth

The learner and the learned.

I. THE SPIRIT OF THE LEARNER . Humility. The first thing to know, as the ancient sage said, is that we know nothing. Love of truth. For its own sake. To be sought for as hidden treasure—with ardour and delight. Obedience . Not merely readiness to receive, but courage to act. Faithful carrying out of principles. Progress. Step by step, in the spirit of self-sacrifice "When first thine eyes unveil, give thy soul leave to do the like" (Vaughan).

Study is like the heaven's glorious sun,

That will not be deep search'd with saucy looks;

Small have continuous plodders ever won,

Save base authority from others' books."

(Shakespeare.)

II. THE SPIRIT OF THE LEARNED .

1 . Wisdom. Not mere knowledge, but insight into character, and capacity to turn knowledge to the best account.

2 . Kindness. Hence patience with ignorance and prejudice. Loving endeavour to give to others what has been good and a joy to themselves.

3 . Faithfulness. Not hiding what should be told; not making compromises of principle; not striving for the mastery, but for the victory of truth.

4 . Humility is as much the character of the learned as of the learner (cf. Newton likening himself to a child gathering shells).

"Were man to live coeval with the sun,

The patriarch-pupil would be learning still,

And dying leave his lesson half unlearnt."

F.