47. It was therefore a sign of wisdom to
distinguish between secret heart-thoughts, to draw the truth from
hidden springs, and to pierce as it were with the sword of the Spirit
not only the inward parts of the body, but even of the mind and
soul. It was the part of justice also that she who had killed her
own child should not take away another’s, but that the real
mother should have her own back again. Indeed the Scriptures have
declared this. “All Israel,” it says, “heard of
the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, for
they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do
judgment.” 1 [3] Kings
iii. 28. Solomon also
himself had asked for wisdom, so that a prudent heart might be given
him to hear and to judge with justice. 1 [3] Kings
iii. 9.