as gold and silver c. Which are corruptible and the act also but he that doth the will of God in seeking Wisdome abideth for ever there will be an injoyment of its gain to all eternity and of the blessedness of those that have and retaine her there shall be no end here is a commodity worthy our trading for because it is so infinitely and eternally gainfull that which other merchants trade for will come to an end the merchandise of gold and silver and precious stones and of pearles and fine linnen and purple and silk and scarlet and all sweet wood and all manner vessells of ivory and all manner vessells of most precious wood and of brass and iron and marble and cinamon and odours and ointments and frankincenfe and wine and oyle and fine floure and wheat and beasts and sheep and horses and chariots c. shall all depart away and the merchants of these things shall weep and waile because these riches shall come to nought Revel 18. 11 23. But herein it will appeare that the Merchandise of Wisdome is better then silver and the gain thereof then fine gold and that they are wise and happy merchants that trade for and in this heavenly commodity because it hath the promise of the life to come by this Wisdome their dayes shall be multiplied to all eternity and the yeares of their life shall be increased Prov. 9. 10 12 and 4. 9 10. Let all then be of usefullness to us 1. Te take us of from listening to Satan the God of this world whose work it is to glorify the things of this world that we might love them and set our hearts upon them and for the sake thereof neglect and despise this Wisdome and to take us of from admiring and being bewitched with Mystery Babilon or her merchandise Revel 18. and to help us to cease from our owne Wisdome Prov. 23. 4. for all the gold and silver and precious stones of this world will not make us happy and if we should get never so much of this world yet what will be our hope though we have gained when God taketh away aur soule Job 27. 8. Mark 8. 36 37 38. 2. And seeing there is such a pearle of great price prepared for us and proposed to us and which may be injoyed by us in seeking for it even a treasure to be desired Prov. 21. 20. O! let us incline our eare and come unto Christ let us heare that our soules may live Isay 55. this is a treasure will make us happy in the injoyment the merchandise of it is better then the merchandise of silver and the gaine thereof then fine gold she is more precious then rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her let us then seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure and redeeme the time and watch for and in all opportunities that we may get Wisdome and with all our gettings get understanding considering above all that this gain is everlasting Hence the Wisdome of God calls upon us to seek for her Riches and honour are with me yea durable riches ad righteousness I was set up from everlasting now therefore hearken unto me O ye children ye sons and daughters of men for blessed are they that keep my ways heare instruction and be wise and refuse it not blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doores for whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord But whoso sinneth against me wrongeth his owne soule all they that hate me love death Prov. 8. 18 36. O Lord open our eyes to see and make us willing to behold the excellency of Wisdome that we may cry after her and sell all we have for the excellency of her that we may win her and retaine her that at last we may know compleatly injoy the happy gaine thereof in being delivered for ever from sorrow and sadness and having everlasting joy upon our heads Amen Amen February 25. 1669 70. Coppied out June 25. 1670. FIN
Wisdome and understanding is better then the merchandise of silver because it is a more sure and certaine way of finding none shall faile of it who seek it as men seek silver and search for it as for hid treasure men may seek for the treasures and riches of this World and not finde them they are uncertaine riches there is an uncertainty in getting aswell as in keeping 1 Tim. 6. 17. though many times the diligent hand maketh rich and they meet with profit and increase who are industrious and diligent in their business and however if they be skilfull therein also yet this is not allwayes so I returned saith the preacher and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift nor the battell to the strong neither yet bread to the Wise nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favour to men of skill but time and chance happeneth to them all Eccles 9. 11. men may in vaine and to no profit rise up early and sit up late and eat the bread of carefullness Psal 127. 2. there is a great uncertainty in getting and retaining this unrighteous Mammon especially by merchandise the merchants ships may be broken in going for commodities or sinke and be cast away when they are full and returning 2 Chron. 20. 36 37. Or trading may faile and decay Or those to whom they sell and adventure their commodities may breake or cheat and deceive them or moth and rust may corrupt and theeves break thorow and steale and however God hath not ingaged his word that those that seek silver and gold Shall certainely finde what they aime at and seek after But in seeking Wisdome with the whole heart we shall be sure to finde it for God who cannot lye hath so promised as hath been said and these promises are confirmed with the precious blood of Jesus who in the vertue thereof is raised againe and is the Mediator of the New Testament that the called may receive the promise of the eternall inheritance Hebr. 9 15. 2 Corint 1. 20. Matth. 26. 28. hence our savior exhorteth aske and it shall be given you seeke and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened to you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh is shall be opened If earthly fathers who are evill give good gifts to their children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit the spirit of Wisdome and revelation to them that aske him Luk 11. 9-13 Ephes 1. 17. Prov. 2. 1-6 Jam. 1. 5 6. the Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soule that seeketh him even herein he is good he will give himselfe unto them to be their Wisdome and inheritance and with himselfe all things that pertaine to life and godliness according to that ye shall call upon me and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and finde me when jou search for me with all your heart and I will be found of you saith the Lord Lament 3. 25. with Jer. 29. 12-14 and in dispersing this heavenly Wisdome it shall certainly tend to the inriching of them according to that be stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as your labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord in due time we shall reap if we faint not 1 Cor. 15. 58. Galat. 6. 9 10. What an incouragement is this for us to seeke Wisdome to get up and be doing when there is a certainty of finding and what a shame will it be for us to neglect the opportunities put into our hands are the merchants of the earth so diligent in seeking perishing substance when also there is so great an uncertainty of finding and shall we be so bruitich and foolish as to have no heart to seek durable riches and righteousness when there is a certainty of finding in seeking in the due opportunity those that seek Wisdome early shall finde her Prov. 8. 17. O! let us not be slothfull but diligent followers of them who thorow faith and patience inherit the promises 5 The merchandise of Wisdome and understanding is the most excellent merchandise because it is most safe and secure from dangers and feares those that occupy themselves in the earthly merchandise are exposed to manifold feares lest they should lose their commodities yea and if they adventure upon the seas they are in danger of losing their lives For many times God commandeth and raiseth up the stormy winde which lifteth up the waves thereof they mount up to heaven they goe downe againe to the dephts their soule is melted because of trouble they reele to fro and stagger like a drunken man and all their Wisdome is swallo wed up Psal 107. 25-27 yea and many times they lose their lives also by stormes or robbers c. And if they grow rich they are in daily danger and feare lest theeves should break in upon them and spoile thein or kill them and this feare hath torment and occasions much disquietment to them But whoso hearkneth to Wisdome shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the feare of evill Prov. 1. 20-33 This is a motive laid downe by Wisdome to ingage us to trade in this excellent commodity to keep sound wisdome and discretion Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely and thy foot shall not stumble When thou liest downe thou shalt not be afraid Yea thou shalt lye downe and thy sleep shall be sweet Be not afraid of sudden feare for the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keepe thy foot from being taken Prov. 3. 21-26 Indeed the wise merchants as men and sons of Adam are subject to like passions and infirmities as others and so to seare and be afraid of danger but this wisdome strengthneth the wise against the feare of evill more then ten mighty men which are in the city A wise man is strong yea a man of knowledge increaseth strength Eccles 7. 19. and 9. 16-18 Prov. 24. 5. the love of God knowne and heartly beleeved casteth out continually that feare which hath torment and makes men bold as a lion 1 Joh. 4. 18. Prov. 28. 1. these wise merchants know that that good part and portion they trade in and make choice of shall never be taken away Luk. 10. 42. and that he that seeth the son and beleiveth in him shall never perish but have everlasting life God preserveth their soules and none can pluck them out of his hand who is greater then all and though in this Merchandise and for Christ sake they hate and may lose their lives in this World they shall keep them unto life eternall He that beleiveth in Christ though he were dead yet shall he live and be that liveth and beleiveth shall never dye Joh. 12. 25 26. and 11. 25 26. the name of the Lord is astrong tower and they run thereinto and are safe and set on high from evill
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
a greater degree of glory afterwards men that delay the applying their hearts to understanding till the evill dayes come they cannot have such opportunity for exalting Wisdome to others and so doing them good as those that heartily imbrace it in their more youthfull dayes and therefore not so much fruit will abound to their account in the day of the Lord. They that are wise will shine as the firmament and they that turne many to righteousness as the starres for ever andever Dan. 12. 3. But. 3. It is needfull for us to seek and get Wisdome and understanding in the present time and dangerous to neglect it because our times are not in our owne hands but in the Lords and we cannot boast our selves of the morrow for we know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. In Gods hand is the soule of every living thing and the breath of all manking Job 12. 10. and how many doth he cut off in their full strength being wholy at ease and quiet whose brests are full of milk and their bones moistened with Marrow Job 21. 22 24. and if he cut of or shut up or gather together then who can hinder him Job 9. 12. 13 and 11. 10. and 12. 14. There is no man hath power over the Spirit to retaine the Spirit neither hath he power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that warre neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it Eccles 8. 8. And in the grave there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor Wisdome Eccles 9. 10. no hoping for Gods truth Isay 38. 18. None to preach the Gospell or to Commemorate Gods praises Psal 6. 5. and 88. 11 12. and 115 17 18. And besides all this the state of man is then fixt for ever when theydye there is then a great gulfe fixed so that there is no passing from one place or state to another no not forever But as the tree falls so it lies whither toward the south or toward the north In the place where the tree falleth there it shall bee Luk. 16. 26. Eccles 11. 3. Let us consider this according to what the Apostle James saith Go to now ye that say to day or to morrow we will goe into such a city and continue there a yeare and buy and sell and get gaine Whereas you know not what will be on the morrow for what is your life It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Therefore because our lives are so uncertaine and brittle to him that knoweth to doe good and doth it not in the present season to him it is sin Jam. 4. 13. 17. All that hath been said doth in some measure shew that it is good and needfull for us to search diligently for Wisdome and understanding in the present opportunity And it may be of usefullness to us 1. To shew unto us who are fooles indeed even such as procrastinate and delay their seeking Wisdome such as know not or take no notice of their time Eccles 8. 5 7. They are more bruitish herein then many creatures that have no understanding The stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times and the swallow and the turtle and the crane observe the time of their oming but my people saith the Lord know not the judgement of the Lord how doe ye say we are Wise Jerem. 8. 7 9. such are instructed to goe to the Ant and consider her wayes though she be without the understanding that men have yet she provideth her meat in the summer in the proper season Whereas sluggards Whom God teacheth more then the beasts of the earth and maketh wiser then the foules of heaven observe not the proper time Job 35. 11. Nay herein also men are preferred before or have greater advantages then the ants that weak people they have no ruler overseer arguide whereas generally we have some parent or yoke fellow or relation or faitfull friend to Counsell and provoke us to doe whatever our hand findeth to doe with our might Prov. 6. 6 10. Eccles 9. 10. 2. It may exhort us all not to have fellowship with men in their unfruitfull workes of darkness but to redeeme the time especially when the dayes are evill that we may understand what the will of the Lord is Ephes 5. 11 17. and with David to thinke on our wayes and turne our feet to Gods testimonies to make haste and not delay to keep Gods commandements Psal 119. 59 60. And to ingage us hereto consider the last instruction noted in this Affirmation Viz. 4. He is and shall be an happy man that findeth Wisdome and getteth understanding The translatours have put in is and read happy is the man but it is more full left out and read Happy the man that findeth Wisdome c. namely happy now and for ever Happiness is a deliverance from evill and an injoyment of all good according to that Psal 84. 11 12. the Lord God is a sun and sheild and will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Blessed happy as is evident in the former verse is the man that is in such a case so here He that is and shall be thus happy is such an one as findeth Wisdome c. Not that hath found simply but to him that by patient continuance in welldoing seekes for glory c. Rom. 2. 7. to such as alwayes abide in this exercise and are not weary of welldoing he that indureth to the end the same shall be saved Gal. 6. 9. Matth. 10. 22. Otherwise all will be in vaine Men may have run well in former times and yet by some meanes be hindred from Obeying the truth They may draw back after they have begun well and then during such neglect of or departure from this exercise Gods soule shall have no pleasure in them Gal. 3. 1 3. and 5. 7. Hebr. 10. 38. When the righteous man turnes away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shall he live Shall he be happy All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed and in his sin that he hath sinned in them shall he dye Ezek. 18. 24. But she is a tree of life to all that lay hold on her and happy is every one that retaineth her He that getteth Wisdome loveth his owne soule he that keepeth understanding shall finde good Prov. 3. 18. and 19. 8. Happy is such an one and it shall be well with him for ever Psal 128. 1 2. like to those sayings of our Saviour He that beleiveth on him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 15 16 18 36. He that cometh to me shall never hunger he that abideth in me shall bring forth fruit but if a man abide not in him he is cast forth as a branch and whitereth and
he will greatly and highly esteeme them both now and here after And those that despise him and love their gold or silver or children above him shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. Hence we have this motive proposed to ingage and prevaile with us to get Wisdome and understanding she shall bring thee to honour not onely hereafter but when thou dost imbrace her Prov. 4. 5-8 the way of life is above to the wise it is above any other way that he may depart from hell beneath Prov. 15. 24. the conversation of such is in heaven and they are minding and trading for and in heavenly things Philip. 3. 19 20. and as high as heaven is above the earth so answerably the exercise of those that are seeking after and dwelling in heaven is higher then the Merchandise of those who seek gold and silver and indeed to be the servant of Christ in this exercise is the highest honour and most honourable service and exercise if any man serve me saith Christ him shall my father honour he that waiteth on this master shall be honoured Joh. 12. 26. He that hath my commandments my word and gospell and keepeth them saith our saviour he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest my selfe unto him as I will not doe to the World and those that trade for that onely and my father and I will come unto him and not onely give him a short visit but we will make our abode with him What an honour is this to have the favour of and fellowship with the father and with his son Jesus Christ and this honour have all his saints who are exercising themselves in this heavenly merchandise Joh. 14. 21-23 and those that are led by Wisdome honour them that feare the Lord Ps 15. 4. and are instructed to hold them in reputation and very highly to esteeme them in Love for their works sake who are sanctifide and made meet for their masters use and prepared to every good worke Phil. 2. 29. 1 Thess 5. 11 12 13. 2. This heavenly exercise is better then the Merchandise of silver because it is more pleasing to God men may laudably serve God in any work of his providence he gives them to be exercised in and may while they are so exercised with the blessing of God become rich though when that is the highest end aimed at it is displeasing and abominable to God Prov. 23. 4. Luk. 16. 15. but still to cry after Wisdome and lift up the voice for understanding this exercise is better in the eyes of God then to seek silver or the riches of this World So much is signified to us in what is said of Solomon who wrote this booke of the Proverbs When the Lord in vision had bidden him to aske what he should give him Solomon desired Wisdome and knowledge and a wise and understanding heart And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing And God said unto him because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked for thy selfe long life neither hast asked riches for thy selfe nor the life of thine enemies but hast asked for thy selfe understanding behold I have done according to thy Word 1 King 3. 5 12. 2 Chron. 1. 7 12. our saviour instructs us first to seek the kingdome of God and rather to seek that then any of the things of the world and the kingdome of God is not meat and drinke but righteousness and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is wel pleasing to God and approved of men Matth. 6. 33. Luk. 12. 30 31. with Rom. 14. 17 18. God hath no pleasure in fooles that are destitute of and lightly esteeme this excellent Wisdome Eccles 5. 4. but there is ioy in heaven and it even reioyceth the heart of our heavenly father when we retaine his words and there thorow get Wisdome and understanding it maketh his heart as it were glad Prov. 10. 1. and 27. 11. Whoso loveth Wisdome reioyceth his father Prov. 29. 3. hence that my son if thine heart be wise my heart shall reioyce even mine yea my reynes shall rejoyce when thy lips speak right things Prov. 23. 15 16. 3. This spirituall merchandise is better then the merchandise of silver because it is more pleasurable delightfull and joyous to us while wee sek this Wisdome with the whole heart The Ho Ghost doth hereby evidence and demonstrate that the Merchandise of Wisdome and understanding is better then the Merchandise of silver because her wayes are wayes of pleasantness and all her pathes are peace Prov. 3. 14 17. My son saith Wisdome eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet to thy taste So shall the knowledge of Wisdome be unto thy soule when thou hast found it then there shall be a reward c. Prov. 24. 13 14. The words of Wisdome are pleasant Words even as an honey-comb sweet to the soule and health to the bones yea they are admirably sweet sweeter then honey and the honey-comb Prov. 16. 24. Psal 19 10. and 119. 103. Prov. 2. 10. Whatever pleasure and delight men finde in the earthly merchandise yet it falls short of that they partake of who trade for Wisdome there is no fullness of ioy in the former nor is it sweet and delightfull to the most noble part of man the soule that may be sad and sorrowfull enough in the midst of all their outward ioy and delight for the World about which they are exercised and all the things thereof are broken Cisternes that can hold no water But the God of hope fills the soule with ioy and peace in beleiving and with such ioy as a stranger intermedleth not with Prov. 14. 10. Rom. 15. 13. 1 Petr. 1. 8. while the heart is exercised in a beleiving mind fullness and consideration of the precious blood of Christ and of what there by he hath effected and obtained in to himselfe and is become and of the grace of God as herein commended and of all the treasures of Wisdome and knowledge which are hid in this mystery it causeth them to rejoyce alwayes in the Lord and to ioy in the God of their salvation and though they are as sorrowfull yet alwayes rejoicing Habak 3. 15 18. Phil. 3. 1 3. and 4. 4. 2 Corint 6. 10. this is life to the soule and health to all the flesh and the more they are thus exercised the more they increase in understanding and thereby they increase joy in the Lord who is the onely true object of joy Isay 29 19. For God giveth to a man that is good before him Wisdome and knowledge and joy but to the sinner that wanders out of or erres from the way of understanding travell to gather and to heape up that hemay give to him that is good before God Eccles 2. 26. 4. The merchandise of
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