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
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
their faces may not be ashamed Isay 42. 1 6 7. He is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world the light of the world Joh. 1. 9. and 8. 12. and 12. 46. and God in and by him giveth to all men liberally that whereby they may be made partakers of Wisdome Jam. 1. 5. And God in Christ by his spirit doth both discover unto men and give unto them Wisdome even the object of Wisdome and gives unto them some sight and opening of the eye to behold it in and thorow his testimonies in the holy scriptures the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple namely both rendring Christ precious unto them and opening the eye of their soules that they might know Christ and win him Psal 19. 7 8. the entrance of Gods words giveth light to discover that in knowing whereof we may be wise indeed and it giveth understanding unto the simple Psal 119. 129 130. My Father saith our saviour giveth you the true bread from heaven in receiving and eating where of they should be made wise but how should they receive this heavenly bread they as all men are were dead and without life in themselves and had no will to it nor strength to receive it to remove this discouragement our saviour addes the bread of God is he that cometh downe from heaven and giveth life to he world which hath none naturally this bread of Wisdome is the most excellent bread it is the bread of God living quickening bread it prevents them with life that have none aswell as preserveth them in life even unto eternall life that eat it but how doth this bread of God give live our saviour tells us in the word in which it is declared and commended to us the words saith he that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life Joh 6. 27 32 33 35 51 63. the spirit of Wisdome and revelation is given in the knowledge and gospell of Christ Ephes 1. 17. Christ was anointed with the holy spirit to preach the gospell or glad tidings of and concerning himselfe and therewith to preach recovery of sight to the blind to preach their eyes open and to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death Luk. 4. 18. and as he thus prevents men with the discovery of the excellency of himselfe and inlighteneth their eyes Prov. 29. 31. he then calls unto and upon them to looke unto and behold him and to come unto him to receive this instruction and Wisdome which he is giving unto them for no man can receive any thing except it be given him from above Ioh. 3. 27. and not silver and knowledge rather then choice gold Prov. 8. 6 10 11. to get Wisdome get understanding and not forget it neither decline from the words of his mouth in which Wisdome is brought and given to us Prov. 4. 4 8. and not onely doth Wisdome call and cry unto us but also she stretcheth for t her hand to help and strengthen us to receive it where the word of this king of kings is there is power Eccles 8. 4. he is not onely opening mens eyes in and by his gospell but also turning them from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God that men might come unto him Prov. 1. 20 24. Act. 26. 18. 22 23. he is in and by his law and doctrine converting the soule wither men be converted or no and yet to the end they might be converted and therefore calls upon them be ye converted not convert your selves be ye saved be ye reconciled to God be ye wise be ye of an understanding heart to signify to us that God is not wanting to men but is in and with his calls and by his gospell converting saving reconciling and making men wise and of an understanding hearth and therefore if they perish their destruction is of themselves Psal 19. 7. Act. 3. 19 Isay 45. 22. 2 Corint 5. 19 20 Prov. 8. 5. by all which it evidently appeareth that men may in due time finde Wisdome and get understanding 3. It also appeareth that men may finde and get Wisdome and understanding because he not onely hath prepared it for men in Christ and is giving it unto them in and with him but also he hath made and confirmed great and precious promises that in our seeking and searching for it as thus prevented we shall finde it and get it from this motive and argument our saviour exhorteth aske and ye shall receive seek and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Matth. 7. 7 8 11. To the same purpose the Wisdome of God speaketh if thou criest after Wisdome and liftest up thy voice for understanding if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth Wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding Prov. 2. 1 6. the same incouragement also the Apostle James sets before the beleivers Ifany of you lack Wisdome let him aske of God that giveth liberally to all men and upbraideth not and it shall begiven him Jam. 1. 5. see also Joh. 4. 10. and 6. 27. Prov. 8. 14 17. many promises of this nature are proposed to us to the end we might seek and get Wisdome and faithfull is he that hath promised who also will doe what he hath promised according to the tenour thereof and these promises are now confirmed to us by the precious and incorruptible blood of Christ for in him all the promises of God are yea and Amen 2 Corint 1. 20. and he also who by his blood hath ratified and sealed them is alive and lives for evermore as the mediatour of the New Testament to take away our iniquities and give unto us in his fathers way all things that pertaine to life and godliness so as none that seek Wisdome or any other good thing shall be ashamed Hebr. 9. 14 15. Psal 69. 6. And this consideration that men may while called to day finde and get Wisdome and understanding as is in part thus evidenced may be usefull to us and usefully considered by us 1. To help us to cease to heare those instructions that cause to erre from the words of knowledge Prov. 19. 27. namely such instructions as whereby sinners intice us to cast in our lot amongst them and to walk in the way with them to run with them to the same excess of riot in lasciviousness lusts excess of wine revellings banquettings c. Prov. 1. 10 20. 1 Petr. 4. 1 4. to have fellow ship with them in their unfruitfull workes of darkness Aswel as also to goe from the presence of such foolish and false teachers as have not in them the lip of knowledge Prov. 14. 7. both
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
give to him the honour due unto his name to trust in him Prov. 22. 17 20. to depart from evill Job 28. 28. to pray unto him Eccles 5. 1. to speak profitably unto men Prov. 15. 2. to seek and increase knowledge Prov. 18. 15. and 21. 11. to rebuke others when need requireth Prov. 25 12. Eccles 7. 5. to know when to speak and when to be silent Prov. 17. 27 28. yea it is profitable to direct us in all our conversation that we may give none offence in any thing to the Jew or Gentile or to the church of God but that we may doe all things that God in all things may be glorified and the good of men and especiall good of beleivers may be pursued and promoted hence the Apostle prayes and desires for the beleivers that they might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all Wisdome and spirituall understanding that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruit full in every good work and increasing with the increase of God and that they might be sincere and without offence til the day of Christ Philip. 1. 9 11. Colos 1. 9 11. and have instructed them to walk in Wisdome toward them that are without as intimating that this would teach them how to walk and please God and so help them to order their conversation that he might be glorified in all things thorow Jesus Christ Colos 4. 5 6. 3. The gain of Wisdome is better then fine gold because in seeking and getting that we shall have all other things appertaining to the naturall life which are good and needfull for us such meat drink cloathes health deliverance from trouble continuance of life as he sees good for us who is perfect in knowledge and infinite in goodness according to what our saviour saith take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or where withall shall we be cloathed For after all these things doe the Gentiles seek for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things But seek ye first the kingdome of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Matth. 6. 31 33. there are many things that gold wil not give which appertaine to this present naturall life it will not give a man health in sickness it will not make the life comfortable but by occasion thereof many times it is more full of disquietment and vexation of spirit it will not defend a man from danger but they that have it and have much of it are the more exposed to danger it will not deliver from the feare of evill but rather it occasioneth feare to a man nor can a man thereby adde one cubit to his age a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth Luk. 12. 15. But they that seeke this Wisdome shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 8 10. and 84. 10 11. it is so acceptable to God that men seek this excellent and heavenly commodity that he will with hold no good thing from such as are so exercised 1 Tim. 6. 5 6 8. and 4. 4 8. it did so please the Lord that Solomon asked of him Wisdome and understanding that he not onely gave that unto him and a wise and understanding heart but he also gave unto him that which he did not ask to wit riches and wealth and honour 1 King 3. 5. 13. 2 Chron. 1. 7 12. riches and honour are in Wisdoms left hand to dispense thereof as is good to those that seek her and therefore she invites us to trade for her Prov 3. 13. 16. and 8. 18. and God hath made provision in his great and precious promises and given us assurance that with Christ he will also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. and all things are theirs who are Christs the world life death things present and things to come 1 Corinth 3. 21 23. how might this provoke and incourage us to get Wisdome and understanding and assure us that the gain of it is excellent and so help us to have our conversation without covetousness and be content with such things as we have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not feare what flesh can doe unto mee Hebr. 13. 5 6. 2. And the gaine of Wisdome and understanding is better then that of fine gold hereafter infinitely better a mans life as before is said consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth and much less eternall life but they that seek and get Wisdome shall inherit glory and such glory as eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive this is contained in the motives that the Wisdome of God maketh use of to provoke us to get Wisdome and with all our gettings to get understanding she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace a crowne of glory shall she deliver to thee Prov. 4. 5 9. and that which shewes the excellency of its gain compleatly is that this salvation glory and happiness shall be injoyed by such for ever and ever When the Ho Ghost gives us a particular evidence of the excellency and gainfullness of Wisdome he saith length of dayes is in her right hand as the most excellent thing Prov. 3. 13. 16. even length of dayes for ever and ever Psal 21. 4. this compleats its preciousness and demonstrates its gainfullness and evidenceth the happiness of those that trade for it and finde it Whatever glory and blessednes were set before us hereafter to prevaile with us and ingage us to seek Wisdome if we might have in finding her deliverance from all evill and the favour of God and fellowship with him and so the injoyment of all desirable and conceivable good yea of all good proposed to us yet it there were an end to such injoyment it would not be so truly gainfull nor so desirably precious but in the injoyment of her there will be fullness of joy and pleasures in her right hand for evermore Herein indeed its gain appeares evidently to be better then fine gold riches are not for ever nor doth the crowne indure to all generations Prov. 27. 24. but to them who by patient continuance in welldoing seek for glory and honour and immortality will the Lord give eternall life and possess them of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that passeth not away reserved in the heavens for them for the things that are not seen are eternall 2 Corinth 4. 16 18. Rom. 2. 7. they shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation and shall not be ashamed nor confounded world with out end this wisely considered imbitters the things of this world and weanes the heart from them and crucifies them to the soule the world passeth away and the lust thereof both the object of it