understanding because he is become the treasury fountaine and store-house of it he is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence for it hath pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily Colos 1. 18 19. and 2. 9. In him are hid all the treasures of Wisdome and knowledge Colos 2. 3. so he who calleth himselfe Wisdome saith counsell is mine and sound Wisdome I am or have understanding c. Prov. 8. 12 14. Salomon who set in order these Proverbs was a wise man yea in his time Wiser then all men God gave him wisdome and understanding exceeding much and largeness or wideness of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shore 1 King 4. 29 31. but behold a greater then Salomon is here Matth. 12. 42. for he was taught and directed to seek out and set in order these Proverbs by Christ Jesus that one shepherd Eccles 12. 9 11. God hath not given unto him the spirit by measure but hath given all things and so all Wisdome into his hand Joh. 3. 34 35. On him resteth the spirit of the Lord the spirit of Wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsell and might the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord and he is quicke of understanding Isay 11. 1 2 3. and 42. 1. and 61. 1. He knoweth the father and the mind and counsells of the father as is signified in that when John wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the booke of Gods counsells and purposes one of the elders said unto him weep not behold the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David even the lamb who was slaine and who hath seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God hath prevailed to open the booke and to loose the seven seales thereof and the foure beasts and twenty and foure elders in the new song they sang confess that the lamb which was slaine was worthy to take the book and to open the seales thereof jea and an innumerable company of Angells confirme it and say worthy is the lamb that was slaine to receive Wisdome Revel 5. 1. 5. 9 12 and he is quick of understanding and knowes us and what our needs and wants are and how to supply them he knowes how to teach us sinners to make wise us simple ones to speake a word in due season to the weary to open the eyes of the blind to bring forth the prisoners out of the pit to heale the broken hearted to forgive the guilty wash the polluted and perfect what soever concerneth us And he knowes the plots and designes of our enemies and adversaries and how to disappoint and defeat them that their hands may not performe their enterprizes yea he knowes all things all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe Joh. 21. 17. Hebr. 4. 13 14. and this unsearchable Wisdome and understandidg he hath to improve for our good as the saviour of all men especially of them that beleive and to dispense to us according to our needs and capacities and his willingness to improve it for us and communicate it to us is abundantly evidenced in the great abasement where to he so willingly humbled himselfe for mankind that he might obtaine all things pertaining to life and godliness into himselfe for us Oh! let us rejoice in him and not glory in our owne Wisdome for he is made of God for us Wisdome that according as it is written he that glorieth may glory in the Lord 1 Corinth 1. 29 31. 3. He also in the Object of Wisdome and understanding in knowing whom we may be made truly wise and furnished with sound Wisdome and see and know things for our good so Wisdome many times signifieth the Object of Wisdome or that which is to be knowne and in the understanding where of we shall be rendred wise indeed Prov. 1. 2. and 5. 1. In coming unto and knowing Jesus Christ we may know the father so as to beleive and hope in and love him no man knoweth the father but the son and he to whomsoever the son will reveale him come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy loden ye that run to the wise and prudent and read many bookes and tire your selves herewith and yet meet not with what you seeke for I will give you rest saith our saviour Matth. 11. 25 28. He is the image of the invisible God in seing whom we may see the father also and whosoever cometh unto and followeth him shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life he will shew them the father and give them the knowledge of him and this is life eternall that they know him the onely true God Joh. 8. 12. and 12. 44 46. and 14. 6 10. and 17. 3. Colos 1. 15. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ even the glory of his Wisdome power truth holiness and justice 2 Corinth 4. 4 6. yea and he gives such a gracious and amiable discovery of the father to us that there thorow we might be incouraged to come unto and beleive in him and put our trust under the shadow of his Wings For here in we may see that he is the God of love the God of all grace we may in the cross of Christ see Gods secret will even what his will towards man was when secret this Christ hath revealed God is love charity it selfe he is so essentially and was so towards mankind when they had sinned against and departed from him And in this he hath manifested himselfe to be love and manifested his love to us which was hid in himselfe because he sent his onely begotten son into the World to be the saviour of it 1 Joh. 4. 8 9 10 14 16. Joh. 3. 16. in Christ our saviour appeareth that his will which was secret was good will and not evill will toward mankind Luc. 2. 10 14. Christ hath revealed the father who was hidden from us and reavealed his thoughts and heart and in him we may see that God is light and in him is no darkness at all that God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. And in him we may know our selves so as to be humbled and abased in fight of our owne vileness and wretchedness and to loath our selves and have pride hidden from us for saith the Apostle we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and he died for all 2 Corint 5. 14 15. In that Christ died for all by the grace of God herein it appeareth that we were all dead condemned to die and deserved to have died that death which he tasted for every man and
increase their earthly substance and meane time when a price is put into their hands for getting Wisdome they have no heart thereto they can neglect opportunities for getting this spirituall commodity and then cry there is a lion in the way I shall be slain in the streets they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth Jerem. 9. 3. but are fearfull and afraid of sufferings shame and reproach for Christs sake ashamed of him and his words in an evill and adulterous generation What will become of such in the end Christ will be ashamed of such when he cometh in his owne glory and in the glory of his father and in the glory of his holy Angells Luk. 9. 23 16. with Mark 8. 34 38. this is that whiâ—h is greatly provoking to God he was wroth with those who when they were invited to come into Wisdoms house and eat of her provision made light of the invitation and went one to his farme another to his merchandise Yea protests that none of them shall taste of his supper Matth. 22. 4-7 with Luk. 14. 16-24 oh that we may so consider it that we may walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise redeeming the time for-getting Wisdome because the dayes are evill Ephes 5. 15 17. 2. And let us all be exhorted seeing Wisdome is the principall thing to get it and with all our gettings to get understanding And to move hereto consider further The gaine of Wisdome and understanding is better then that of fine gold of the choicest and most refined gold and so better then the gaine of all earthly riches though the gaine of gold if it be honestly gotten and to a good end laboured for that we may honour the Lord with our substance and with the first fruits of our increase and live to him that died for us and rose againe is good Yet the gaine of spirituall Wisdome is better and more to be desired then gold yea then much fine gold and better then all the gainfull things here below and so have wise men accounted it Philip. 3. 7 8 9. It is admirably and inexpressibly better Prov. 16. 16. it is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come as is said of godliness And indeed this Wisdome and Godliness are the same The root and foundation of Godliness is God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit the meanes and medium for making it knowne and manifesting it and giving and dispensing it is the gospell especially as preached by the Apostles The exercising our selves to godliness is beleiving with the heart on Christ as delivered to death for our offences and raised againe for our justification and glorified as this t s declared to us in the gospell 1 Tim. 4. 8. with Chapt. 3. 16. 1. The gaine of it is better now by it there is profit to them that see the sun Eccles 7. 11. For 1. It gives all things that pertaine to life and gives life to them that get it even spirituall and eternal life now by faith and a first fruits of the Spirit and all contained therein which silver and gold cannot doe Wisdome is a defence money is a defence but the excellency of knowledge is that Wisdome giveth life to them that have it Eccles 7. 12. hereby the Holy Ghost doth evidence that the gaine of Wisdome is better then fine gold and therefore proposeth it as a motive to move and prevaile with us to seek and get it She is a tree of life to all that lay hold on her Prov. 3. 17. And this is contained in the blessedness they meet with and partake of that seek and finde her Whoso findeth her findeth life Prov. 8. 32. 35. As 1. It giveth unto those that finde Wisdome the forgiveness of sins by Christ all that beleive are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13. 39. And this forgiveness of sins is included in eternall life and therefore eternall life is opposed to condemnation and in having that a man passeth from death to life Joh. 5. 25. and being justified from their sins by the blood of Christ much more shall they be saved from wrath even from the wrath of God thorow him Rom. 5. 9. Hereinits gaine is greatly preferred before fine gold and all the riches of this World riches profit not in a day of wrath but righteousness delivereth from death Prov. 10. 2. and 11. 4. Neither mens silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath Zephan 1. 18. their riches will not procure them a pardon from God though they may from the Man of sin nor deliver them from his anger and the dreadfull and direfull effects thereof their money will not obtain the remission of their sins when they come to dye nor give them peace with God nor will this deliver in the day of wrath But men shall then cast their idolls of silver and gold to which they have given their loves and worship to the moles and to the bats to goe into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the ragged rocks for feare of the Lord they shall then cast their silver into the streets and their gold shall be removed or shall be as uncleaness their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath Isay 2. 19 21. Ezeck 7. 19. But this is the gain of Wisdome In finding and winning Christ a man also receives remission of sins and deliverance from Gods wrath and the feares thereof So as being justified by faith he hath peace with God thorow our Lord Jesus Rom. 4. 25 and 5. 1. To him give all the Prophets witness that thorow his name whosoever beleiveth in him shall receive the remission of sins Act. 10. 43. 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. And oh what a blessed priviledge is this It is even the summe of all blessedness Even as David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputes righteousness without works saying blessed in the Man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sin is eovered Psal 32. 1 2. with Rom. 4. 5 7. And it is also the inlett unto all Salvation He giveth the knowledge and injoyment of salvation thorow the forgiveness of sins Luk. 1. 77. Psal 103. 1 3. Herethorow they receive salvation and deliverance from his anger the power whereof who knoweth Psal 90. 11 12. The wrath of this King of Kings is as messengers of death but a wise man will pacify it How not by fine gold but to this end how much better is it to get Wisdome then gold Prov. 16. 14-16 2. It gives to men the Spirit of life even that living quickning Spirit which is Wisdoms Spirit this money wil not get or give It was an heinous provoking iniquity in Simon Magus to offer money for the Holy Spirit and
therefore Peter said unto him They money perish with thee because thou hast thought the gift of God may be purchased with mony c. Act. 8. 18 21 22 23. But now this is the promise that Wisdome hath promised the simple ones who love their simplicity and scorners that delight in scorning and fooles that hate knowledge that in turning at her reproofs she will poure out her Spirit unto them and saith Behold consider and mark this for this is a wonderfull inriching gift of God Prov. 1. 20 23. This Spirit is given by Wisdome it is upon and resteth upon Christ Jesus even the spirit of wisdome and understanding and it is given as a spirit of Wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of Christ Isay 11. 2 3. with Ephes 1. 17 18. and by this spirit wisdome doth make knowne her words Prov. 1. 23. and therethorow glorify herselfe for it is the work of his spirit to beare witness of Christ to glorify him and take of his things and shew unto us that we might run unto him and that our hearts might be enamoured on him and united unto him and reioyce in him Joh. 15. 26. and 16. 14. and thorow his glorifying Christ and shewing unto men the excellency and preciousness of the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus this holy spirit doth quicken them to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead who by the grace of God tasted death for every man it is the spirit that quickneth 1 Petr. 1. 3. with Joh. 6. 35 63. and this hope in Christ makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit for while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungoodly Rom. 5. 5 6. But thereby we are saved from being weary and fainting in our mindes by reason of any afflictions or adversity we meet withall and from our sins and idolls Rom. 8. 24 25. 1 Joh. 3. 3. and this hope is an anckor of the soule both sure that which will not break and stedfast standing fast in Christ the rock and therefore will not slip or deceive us and which entreth into that within the vail whither the fore-runner is for us entred Jesus made an highpriest after the order of Melchisedec Hebr. 6. 18 20. this spirit of Wisdome is an excellent gift of God it is the spirit of truth to guide into all truth it is the comforter to comfort us in all our tribulations it is the spirit of life to inliven and quicken us it is the spirit of Wisdome to open our blind eyes and still and continually to give Wisdome to the wise It is the spirit of adoption and freedome whereby we cry Abba Father it is the spirit of the feare of the Lord to teach and help us to reverence and stand in awe of God and to depart from iniquity It is the spirit where by we may abound in hope of the mercy of Christ and God in him unto eternall life and therefore it is set downe as that in which all good things are contained compare Matt. 7. 11. with Luk. 11. 13. And it is so excellent in its gifts influences and operations in bearing witness of the blood of Christ and what he is become therethorow and of the water or free love of God commended everlastingly therein 1 Joh. 5. 6. Well may it be said the gain of Wisdome is better then fine gold 3. It gives unto us the favour of God in which is life Psal 30. 5. Yea whose loving kindness is better then life Psal 63. 3. They are loved with peculiar manner of love that love Wisdome Prov. 8. 17. Christs Father will love them and Christ will love them and will manifest himselfe unto them Joh. 14. 21. 23. Prov. 3. 1 4. This is a motive set downe by Wisdome to ingage us to seeke her and an evidence of the blessedness of him that findes her Whoso findeth her Shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8. 32 35. The Kings favour is toward a wise servant but his wrath is upon him that causeth shame that despiseth Wisdome and is a foole Prov. 14. 35. The favour of God is a wonderfully gainfull profitable and desirable thing and therefore the servants of God have prayed that they might be favoured with the favour he beares unto his people because of the blessed advantage thereof Psalm 106. 4 5. And have intreated that with their whole heart Psal 119. 58. this is infinitely better and more to be desired then the favour of great men and princes for that is deceitfull and it is better and rather to be chosen then silver and gold Prov. 22. 1. In the light of the Kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the latter raine to refresh and revive and fructify the soule and to make it like a watered garden But how may we be made partakers of it Money will not procure or give it If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned Cant. 8. 7. But this good understanding giveth favour Prov. 13. 15 and it may be had in getting Wisdome and hereby the Holy Ghost evidenceth intimately that the gaine of Wisdome is better then fine gold when he saith How much better is it to get Wisdome then gold and to get understanding rather to be chosen then silver Prov. 16 15 16. O! blessed are the people that know the joyfull sound They shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance In thy name shall they rejoyce all the day and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted For thou art the glory of their strength and in thy favour our horne shall be exalted Psal 89. 15 17. Many there are that intreat the favour of the prince and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts But he that getteth Wisdome loveth his owne soule he that keepeth understanding shall finde good he shall finde the favour of and fellow ship with God which is as farre above the favour and friendship of the kings and princes of the earth as himselfe is above them unto whom none of the princes or kings of the earth may be likened or compared and before whom all nations are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity Prov. 19. 6 8. and 3. 3 4. Isay 40 15 18. 2. The gaine of Wisdome is better then fine gold because as it gives all things that pertain to life so also it gives all things that pertain to godliness 2 Petr. 1. 3. it is profitable to direct us thereto that we may worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Eccles 10. 10. and that we may be imitators and followers of God as deare children The feare of the Lord is the instruction of Wisdome that which Wisdome instructs us to Prov. 15. 33. it teacheth us to reverence him to
to have Perished in it for ever We were accursed creatures and helpless in our misery as is evident in that he hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us Psal 49. 6 7. Galat. 3. 13. yea in that he died for our sake that he might obtaine eternall redemption and in him dwelleth all fullness He is made of God Wisdome and righteousness herein appeareth that we were destitute of all good empty creatures Job 11. 12. that we have no Wisdome in us naturally no light in our understandings no freedome of will to any thing that is spiritually good no affection desire or inclination to the things that belong to our peace no spark of Gods image left in us but we are destitute thereof and inclined to all that is evill all have sinned and come short of the glory of God While we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly While we were yet sinners neither righteous nor good Christ died for us Rom. 5. 6 8. In him we may behold the vileness of sin so as to abhorre it and that it may be an abomination to our soules in that God hath so punished and condemned it in the person of Christ Jesus who knew no sin Rom. 8. 3. He was wounded or tormented for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities such was the odiousness of sin to God as that when it was but imputed to his son he spared him not but it pleased the lord to bruise him he hath put him to griefe Were this considered by us it would be powerfull to cause us to say how shall we live any longer in sin for which our saviour suffered so great and in expressible sorrowes Esa 53. 4 10. Rom. 8. 32. and 6. 1 2 3. and 4. 25. 1 Petr. 3. 18. Aswell as also in Christ we may perceive the greatness of the sin of not beleiving on Christ who by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised againe and is become such a good foundation and object of faith that mens faith and hope might be in God Joh. 16. 8 9. 1 Petr. 2. 6 7 8. he that beleiveth not God hath made him a liar because he beleiveth not the record that God gave of his son and this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life he that beleiveth not that God hath given to him eternall life in Christ Jesus hath made God a liar and is therefore condemned and the wrath of God abideth on him while he abideth in un beleife 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. Joh. 3. 16 18 36. if Christ died for the fewest of mankind onely it would be no sin in the greatest part for whom he died not not to beleive on Christ Yea they would beleive a lye in so doing but this is an ungodly conception for Christ died for all and rose againe that all men thorow him might beleive Joh. 1. 7. and 17. 21 23. In Christ also we may see the unprofitableness of our workes of righteousness that we might not have Confidence therein Joh. 16. 10. Corint 1. 29 30. if righteousness could have come by the law by the Workes or sacrifices there of then Christ died in vaine Galat. 2. 21. hence the Apostle though he was Concerning the righteousness of the law blameless yet what things were gaine to him the Priviledges and workes of the flesh those he counted loss for Christ Yea doubt less saith he and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine owne righteousness which is of the law but that which is thorow the faith of Christ c. Philip. 3. 4. 9. 't Is he and he onely that hath brought in everlasting righteousness thorow his personall abasement and sufferings even the righteousness of God without the law which was witnessed by the law and the Prophets but is now manifested by the faith of Christ to be unto all and upon all them that beleive for there is no difference Dan. 9. 26. Rom. 3. 21. 22. In Christ we may see death even the first death which was the wages of our first departure from God so as not to feare it nor any afflictions weaknesses sicknesses which are fore runners and branches of it and which God is now ordering to us while it is called to day For Jesus Christ our Saviour hath by the grace of God tasted this death for every man and hath overcome and abolished it taken out the sting and destructive nature out of it so as that now there is no hurt in it nothing in it to separate us from te love of God or keep us out of heaven nor shall any man perish therein for ever but all shall in due time be raised out of it by him who died for all and rose againe Christ hath in overcoming this death made it a shadow it is not the lively image of what sometimes it was 2 Tim. 1. 10. Gal. 3. 13. Psal 23. 4. Yea not onely so but he the great God and our Saviour hath turned our curses into blessings and the afflictions and corrections he is ordering are ordered to a gracious end as is before shewne In Christ also this havenly Wisdome we may see life even our naturall life how it is procured for us and by what meanes we have a comfortable injoyment of it and of Gods mercies even by Christ who gave his flesh for the life of the World Joh. 6. 51. in him is life and the life is the light of men Joh. 1. 4. Had he not laid downe his life for us we could have had no comfortable injoyment of our lives or of Gods creatures but had been alwayes and altogither accursed and miserable and all our life time thorow feare of death subject to the bondage of Satan Hebr. 2. 14. 15. But he hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Gal. 3. 13. and 4. 4 with Rom. 3. 19. And here we may also see to what end our lives are preserved and continued that to us to live might be Christ He died for all that they which live might not hence forth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose againe this was the very end of Christs suffering for us in the flesh that we might thereby cease from sin and thorow his grace that bringeth salvation to all men might live not to the lusts of men but to the will of God 2 Corinth 5. 15. 1 Petr. 4 1 3. 1 Joh. 4. 9. In this Wisdome we may know who are borne of God and so made of the elect and chosen generation even all such and onely such who are of yeares of capacity and where the