in this heavenly commodity may have respect to the recompence of the reward to that gaine which is better then that of fine gold the hope of this is that which causeth them to labour and suffer reproach and forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Philip. 3. 13 14. This is the motive the faithfull and true witness useth to ingage those who were wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked to listen to his counsell and buy his commodities because they were gainfull to wit gold tried in the fire wherewith they might be made rich and white raiment c. Revelat. 3. 17 18. and because of this gaine proposed they who are spirituall and heavenly Merchants are strengthned to beare up against all stormes and to hoise up their sailes in all foule weather and not to faint but set their faces like a flint knowing that their light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for them a farre more exceeding eternall weight of glory While they look not on the things that are seen but on the things which are not seen 2 Corinth 4. 16 18. They doe not so observe the wind as to be discouraged but the gaine being so sweet and delightfull it causeth them to trade that they might get more knowledge of Christ and God in him more acquaintance with him and conformity to him that they might adde to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity and that their pound might gaine five or ten pound and that at last they might be made partakers of the hope of eternal life Luk. 19. 15 18. this makes them lanch out into the deep amidst the waves and billowes of the sea and to feare no weather because they know they shall reap in joy and at last partake of that glory which eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive this hope saves them and strengthens them with patience to wait and with resolution to hold on their way and not to feare what flesh can doe unto them and this gaine makes them willing to count as loss those things that formerly were gainfull to them and to sel and part with all that by any meanes they may attaine the resurrection of the dead no stormes or blasts they must indure and pass thorow no goodly things they must forgoe and part with no flatteries and inticements they meet withall move them while the eye is fixed on this great gaine but he that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as he is pure Act. 20. 19 24. 1 John 3. 1 3. 5. This exercise may be compared to merchandise because we should seek after this heavenly Wisdome that we might impart it to others thus it is with the merchants of the earth they adventure for commodities and buy them that they may sell and get gaine as before and here in merchants are differenced from many other buyers many others buy for themselves and their owne use onely or for their owne families But Merchants buy not commodities for themselves and their families onely but that they may sell to others to any that will buy of them and this is part of their trade and traffique Ezek. 27. 33 34. So those wise and spirituall Merchants should seek and get Wisdome and understanding not for themselves or their families onely though especially they are to seek their good and to teach and instruct their Children diligently and to talk unto them when they sit in the house c. Deut. 6. 4 9. But they are also to impart Wisdome to others I say not sell it however not in such a sense as to part with it and let in goe the Ho Ghost hath instructed us to buy the truth and not sell it Prov. 23. 23. but to disperse it as instruments in the hand of God to others this is the exercise of wise men and hereby they still grow richer according to that in the house of the righteous is much treasure the lips of the wise disperse knowledge hereby they are more filled with treasure to him that hath shall be given but the heart of the foolish doth not so Prov. 15. 6 7. this is the way for merchants to grow rich to disperse their commodities to others and hereby shall the wise merchant increase knowledge the more he scattereth the more he increaseth the liberall soule shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himselfe Prov. 11. 24 26. Christs disciples are the light of the World and are instructed to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation holding forth the word of life in word and conversation Philip. 2. 14 16. this liberty and authority he hath given them who taught them their trade and committed to them his goods and gave them ability to traffique therewith I meane he who is king of saints who is their judge to plead their cause and right their wrongs and justify them when thy are unjustly condemned Who is also their Law-giver and Statute-maker Whose lawes they ought to observe and according to whose statutes they are to act and by which to be judged And who is their king to save them from all evill and enemies and to help them as the needs of their matters require Isay 33. 22. And if any of them should forbeare to exalt and promote Wisdome to others because they are forbidden by men or because danger threatens them or on what account soever they hide their talents it will tend to their great dammage if not to their utter undoing from him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath those who are unprofitable servants shall be cast into utter darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Luk. 19. 26. Matth. 13. 12. and 25. 29 30. their Apostle and the Bishop of their soules hath instructed them to exhort one another daily and as they have received the gift so to minister as good stewards c. Hebr. 3. 1 13. 1 Petr 4. 10. with Chap. 5. 1. 1 Thess 5. 11 12. and those that are indeed Wise merchants are found in this exercise to invite others to this excellent commodity the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come and whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely Isay 55. 1. Revel 22. 16 17. the very end wherefore they are brought into so neare a relation to Christ and have this treasure committed to them is that they might shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light and call others into Wisdom's house that they in eatingh her bread may be wise also 1
unclean covetous ambitious revengefull lusts but to doe good they have no understanding Jerem. 4 22. every man is bruitish by his knowledge Ierem 10. 14. God did indeed make man righteous at first in his owne image after his likeness and put Wisdome into his inward parts he was created in knowledge as the Apostle signifieth when he saith ye have put on the new man Which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him renewing is a restoring a Person or thing that is deformed to its first and primitive estate there in then is intimated that at first man was created in knowledge Aswell as also it so appeares in that it is said that the renewing in knowledge is after the image of him that created him and so at first man being created in or after his image he was created in knowledge and understanding Colos 3. 10. But man not abiding in that honour in which he was made but aspiring to an equality with God and desiring some higher wisdome and knowledge thorow his listening to the Lye of the tempter Genes 3. 5 6. Mist what he aspired unto and lost what he had and so man in honour not abiding therein understandeth not but is like the beasts that perish Psal 49. 12. 20. they are destiture of all true and sound Wisdome that which they have leades them to labour to be rich Prov. 23. 4. Ezek 28. 4 5. and to trust in their riches and worship their gold and silver Hose 13. 2. and to seek after greatness and glory in this world Isay 10. 13 14. and fills them with enoyings and strifes against all that stands cross to their designe Jam. 3. 14 16. but as with respect to his Wisdome that is from above they are like wilde asses colts Job 11. 12. In this consideration they are all untill and further then in lightned of God simple and foolish ones And this is true of them all even of those also that have the highest esteeme of themselves As young persons they are usually highly conceited of themselves but they are simple as is signified in that the end of the Proverbs in making knowne Wisdome is said to be to give subtilly to the simple to the young man who is simple also knowledge and discretion Prov. 1. 4. and 7. 7 8. and this is true also of those that have much of the Wisdome of this World who are great schollars and rich in that knowledge which is science falsly so called their wisdome is foolishness with God and the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vaine 1 Corinth 3. 18 20. and it is also true of those that are of the professed church they are simple and without understanding naturally Prov. 1. 21 22. Rom. 3. 1 2 9 10 11. Yea of all men Job 32. 7 9. hence Wisdome saith to men and the sons of Man o ye simple understand Wisdome and ye fooles be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8. 4 5. and 30. 2 3 4. The naturall man receveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Out of the heart of men proceed evill thoughts of God as if he had a secret pleasure in the destruction of the greatest part of man kind Ezech. 33. 10 11. and though he speaketh faire and commands the gospell to be preached to all yet he hath a secret will contrary to his revealed We need not be taught and strengthned in such blasphemous thoughts for they naturally proceed out of our hearts And thence also proceed evill thoughts of our selves high esteemes and conceits of our selves from whence we are filled with pride And evill thoughts of the world as if the injoyment of that would render us truly happy and hence proceedeth covetousness Yea and evill thoughts of all things thinking evilly and calling light darkness and darkness light every imagination of mans heart is onely evill continually Genes 6. 5. And hence we are chusing loving and affecting vaine things that cannot profit nor helpe us because they are vaine even any thing besides this excellent Wisdome to wit Christ and God in him Mark 7. 21 22. Use 1. This consideration might be of usefullness to us to hide pride from us for we are all naturally fooles And to cause us not to glory in Gods presence but be willing to become fooles that we may be wise in receiving this heavenly Wisdome here commended to us 1 Cor. 1. 29 31. and 3. 18 19. 2. To admonisch us cease from man for wherein is he to be accounted of Isay 2. 22. and not to have our faith standing in their Wisdome we are such simple and foolish ones as that if men use good words and faire speeches to us and have much of the Wisdome of this world especially if also therewith they have a forme of godliness upon them to depend upon and admire them and receive what they say though they come in their owne name and to imbrace their interpretations of the scripture though therein they consent not to wholesome words but cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles Rom. 16. 17 18. and to glory in the Wisdome of man whereas their wisdome is foolishness with God And were this considered by us as discovered to us in the light and instructions of the gospell it would take us off from that idolatrous esteeme we have of them and their Wisdome Matth. 11. 25 26. 1 Corinth 2. 1 5. and 3. 18 21. 3. To shew unto us the great grace and love of God to us in taking notice of such simple foolish ones as we are with him and in his account who judgeth righteously and in making a way for us that we might become wise He hath not despised us in this sad condition into which we brought our selves but hath of his goodness prepared for us and is giving good counsell to us in hearing which we may be made wise to such he calls be ye of an understanding heart heare for I will speak of excellent things Prov. 8. 4 6 7. Behold God is mighty and despised not any he is mighty in strengh and Wisdome and yet despiseth not us who are weak and simple Job 36. 5. learn we of him 4. To come to Christ in the testimony that we may be made wise Matth. 11. 27 28. and to move here to consider the next instruction viz. 2. That though men are naturally simple and fooles yet thorow the grace of our Lord Jesus they may finde this excellent Wisdome and get or draw out this understanding here commended to us while it is called to day and this is intimated to us in that the holy Ghost here affirmeth and presently evidenceth the blessedness and happiness of the man that finds it of the man indefinitely he had spoken before to the sons of Wisdome more directly vs 11 12. but here happy is
12. So Wisdome and understanding saith heare for I will speake of excellent things and hearken unto me ô ye children heare instruction and be wise Prov. 8. 6 32 34. this is the one and first thing needfull unto our finding and getting wisdome to heare the word of Christ Luc. 10. 39 42. Not to heare any thing or any word we are exhorted to cease to here the instructions that cause to erre from the words of knowledge Prov. 19. 27. and to take heed what we heare Mark 4. 24. but we are to heare Jesus and God in him as speaking to us by the holy Prophets and Apostles in the scriptures of truth and to this oftentimes are we called upon even to heare the words of the wise fastened by the masters of assemblies which are given from one shepherd Eccles 12. 10 11. Prov. 19. 20. and 22 17. Isay 55. 1 3. Act. 3. 22 23. Aswell as also 2. It is requisite as we heare to seek for this excellent commodity and search after it with our hearts yea with our whole hearts as we have the excellency and amiableness of it discovered to us such an applying or causing our heart to come unto this Wisdome as commended and the commendation heard is requisite as that we cry after Wisdome and lift up our voice for understanding that we seek her as silver and search for her as for hid treasures even with greatest desire and diligence and as those that judge happiness doth onely consist in having this treasure and without which we are undone and miserable for ever Prov. 2. 1 4. and so searching for it in all the scriptures of truth which are the veines as it were where this inriching and happy treasure may be had Joh. 5. 39. and in all ordinances and in the assemblies of Gods people Prov. 8. 34. and in so doing we shall finde it 3. And to our getting is requisite a selling all that we have when we have found it and buying or getting it into our hearts and possession according to that buy the truth and sell it not Wisdome instruction and understanding Prov. 23. 23. Matth. 13. 44 46. here lieth the stick with many persons and too much with us all we would have wisdome if we might part with nothing for it but keep our owne things still but this connot be if any man come unto me saith our saviour and hate not father and mother wife and children brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also he cannot be my disciple and whosoever he be of you speaking to his disciples and the multitudes that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my disciple Luk. 14. 26 27 33. We are all too much like the young man who would faine have in herited eternall life when our saviour told him and said unto him One thing thou lackest goe thy way sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poore and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and take up thy cross and follow me he was sad at that saing and went away grieved for he had great possessions Mark 10. 17 22. So it is too much with us if we might keep our owne things and have wisdome too if we could carry on these two designes to serve God and Mammon and could have Christ and love the world also then we could be content and this would please us but this cannot be we must deny our selves our bruitish lusts and desires aswell as also our wisdome righteousness love of the world and the things thereof the honour praise esteeme friendship and fellowship thereof and take up our cross and follow him yea the that loveth father or mother more then him is not worthy of him and he that loveth son or daughter more then him is not worthy of him and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after him is not worthy of him Matth. 10. 37 39. and 16. 24. we must sell all that we have all must be parted with that we may win Christ and be found in him not as if our things were so worthy as that we might deserve there by this heavenly wisdome nor are we to part with them as a valuable consideration for all the things we can desire are not to be compared to this pearle but our things will hinder us from having and obtaining Wisdome if we let them not goe therefore though we have no Worth nor wortiness yet we must buy wisdome though without money and price for no man can serve two masters we must part with our sins and idolls or otherwise we cannot get this Wisdome and understanding And if we take in the reading in the Margin happy is the man that draweth our understanding hereby may be meant 1. A drawing it out for our owne use and benefit and so diligence and labour of the inward man especially is to be used and exercised and hereby the Ho Ghost may have reference to the drawing out water out of a well or deep place and it is like that Isay 12. 3. therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation namely out of the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles false teachers are said to be wells without water there is nothing in them or in their doctrine to refresh and satisfy 2 Petr. 2. 17. but these teachers sent of God and who are even Gods mouth to us have water in their word doctrine and we are therefore to search thereinto for Wisdome and understanding and draw it out when we finde it Act. 17. 11. Or to draw it out as out of a vessell Joh. 2 8. 2 Corinth 4. 7. and so secondarily out of their words wo have beleived on Christ thorow the Prophets and Apostles words and have the word of reconciliation put into their hearts and mouthes Prov. 20. 5. And. 2. We are to draw out understanding for the good of others also and to the end we may be instruments for communicating it to others as the like Phrase is used Isay 58. 10. John 2. 8. Thus have we spoken to the finding and getting Wisdome and understanding what it is what supposed herein and needfull hereto according to my weakness 2. We come in the next place to note some instructions contained in this affirmation of the happiness of the man that findeth Wisdome and getteth or draweth out understanding As. 1. That men are naturally without this Wisdome and understanding 2. That yet men may finde this Wisdome and get or draw out this understanding 3. That the present time is the apportunity of finding and getting 4. He is and shall be an happy man that findeth and getting this Wisdome and understanding 1. That men are naturally without this Wisdome and understanding even destitute of Wisdome in the knowledge of Christ they are without Christ and all spirituall understanding Ephes 2. 12. A Wisdome indeed they have but such as is foolishness with God they are wise to doe evill and to pursue their drunken