admonisheth us elsewhere to cease from our owne Wisdome Prov. 23. 4. and not to leane to our owne understanding Prov. 3. 5. and to beware of Philosophy and vaine deceit c. Colos 2. 8. and telleth some that their Wisdome and knowledge had perverted them Isay 47. 10. and it is his purpose to destroy the Wisdome of the wise and to bring to nought the understanding of the prudent and them that leane to and rely on it 1 Corinth 1. 19 21. and 2. 6. and those led of God came not with excellency of speech or of Wisdome declaring the testimony of God for the Wisdome of words maketh the cross of Christ of none effect 1 Corinth 2. 1. and 1. 17. this Wisdome is foolishness with God and it is so farre from helping us to understand and know Gods name or his sons name as that it is an hindrance thereto and therefore that we may be wise it is needfull that we become fools and lay aside and cease from our Wisdome and understanding But the Wisdome and understanding here commended to us and that which will render us happy in the injoyment of it is the Wisdome that is from a bove which is first pure then peace able c. Jam. 3. 17. even the Wisdome of God and not that of our owne according to that my son attend unto my Wisdome and bow thine eare unto my understanding Prov. 5. 1. and so hereby is meant and signified to us 1. Jesus Christ the Son of God in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily in whom dwelleth the father and on whom rests the holy Spirit And he is so called 1. As he is the Son of God by divine and eternall generation so where as in one place it is said the Lord by Wisdome founded the earth by understanding hath he establisht the heavens in another it is said he created all things by Jesus Christ Compare Prov. 3. 19. with Ephes 3. 11. Hebr. 1. 2. and of this Wisdome even of Christ in this consideration of him it is said by himselfe the Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his workes of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was when there were no depths I was brought forth when there were no fontaines abounding with water c. Prov. 8. 23 32. 2. And he is so called and may be comfortably viewed by us as Wisdome as he was abased for us and tooke our nature upon him when we had sinned and departed from God and as he was crucified for us and by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised againe according to the scriptures so Christ is the Wisdome of God and power of God 1 Corinth 1. 22 24. so when the Apostle saith that he came not with excellency of speech or of Wisdome declaring the testimony of God that the beleivers faith might not stand in the Wisdome of men but in the power of God He addeth howbeit we speak Wisdome among them that are perfect yet not the Wisdome of this world nor of the princes of this world that come to nought But we speak the Wisdome of God in a mystery even the hidden Wisdome which God ordained before the world unto our glory which none of the princes of this world knew for had they knowne they would not have crucified the Lord of glory Where it appeareth that Jesus Christ the Lord of glory is the Wisdome which they preached 1 Corinth 2. 1 8. with 2 Corinth 4. 5. and so this excellent one calls himselfe Wisdome and understanding Prov. 8. 12 14. compare Matth. 23. 34. with Luc. 11. 49. and he is called Wisdome and understanding 1. Because he is the great cleare and comfortable evidence and manifestation of the Wisdome of God here it is brightly discovered and may chearfully be viewed in the cross of Christ Jesus He did by Wisdome make the heavens and give a being to all things and in his workes of creation it may be seen by us but this invention of his is a greater and clearer discovery of his infinite Wisdome and unsearchable understanding For in his first creating us there was nothing contrary to his worke But unto his shewing mercy to us where we were fallen there was somwhat in the way stood cross and contrary his justice which was provoked by us must be satisfied his truth fulfilled his law which we had transgressed must be answered and his wrath appeased our sin must be purged away our death died overcome and abolished and all creatures were insufficient for these things no man could redeeme his brother by any meanes nor give to God a ransome for his owne soule Psal 49. 6 7. righteousness could not come by the law Galat. 2. 21. not could any creature in heaven or earth divise a meanes for the helpfullness of us this Wisdome was hid from the eyes of all living Job 28. 12 22. this passed the understanding of men and Angells Philip. 4. 7. but herein appeared the manifold and unsearchable Wisdome of God who in the exercise thereof hath devised a meanes that his banished should not be utterly expelled from him 2 Sam. 14. 14. Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit 1 Timot. 3. 16. there is hidden and wonderfull Wisdome contained therein that the creatour should become a creature that the word that was God should be made flesh that the everlasting father should thus become a son and the mighty God a child yea that he who was the holy one of God yea holiness it selfe should be made sin for us that God should lay downe his life for us and all this to so gracions an end not to condemne the world but that thorow him the world might besaved here in was admirable and unsearchable Wisdome and here in we may clearely and comfortably see that the creatour of the ends of the earth fainteth not nor is weary there is no searching of his understanding that so when we walk in darkness and see no light we might trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon our God Isay 40. 27 29. hence he as our saviour is said to be the onely wise God Jude 25. hence also the Apostle when he had said this is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners persently addes Now unto the king eternall immortall invisible the onely wise God be honour c. 1 Tim. 1. 15 17. Hee hath herein evidenced himselfe to be the alone and onely wise God in finding out such a way for the delivering us from so great a death and curse and from the hand of all our enemies and for the treasuring up all the fullness of forgiveness grace and spirit in Christ that we sinfull creatures of mankind might be brought back to God 2. Christ Jesus is also said to be Wisdome and
gospell is plainely declared as come unto and beleive on him If ye know that he is righteous ye know as included in the knowledge of him that every one that doth righteousness is borne of him 1 Joh. 2. 29. To Christ coming the living stone disallowed indeed of men yea of the builders land leaders of the people but chosen of God and precious ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house Ye are an elect and chosen generation a royall priesthood though not owned by men as Gods clergy aen holy nation a peculiar people c. Which in tim past were not a people but now are the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Petr. 2. 4 5 9 10. And here we may also see who are rejected and reprobated of God not any man in a personall consideration or before he was borne but those that disallow and reject Christ Jesus and persist in refusing and rejecting him till the day of grace and patience be ended 1 Petr. 2. 6 7 8. Whosoever shall fall on this stone though they be builders shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grinde him to powder Matth. 21. 42 44. God so infinitely loveth his son the son of his love that whosoever kisseth him not but refuseth him and will not have him to reigne over them his wrath will be kindled against them and they shall be destroyed with an everlasting destruction Psal 2. 10 12. Joh. 3. 36. In knowing Christ the Wisdome of God we may come to have an usefull understanding and knowledge of all the scriptures of truth otherwise not he is the interpreter and opener of them to us in his cross and testimony hence our saviour intimately instructs the Jewes in searching the scriptures to come unto him and faults and reproves them for not coming unto him in them that they might have life even the light of live Joh. 5. 39 40. our saviour in shewing unto his disciples in the scriptures the things Concerning himselfe thereby opened the scriptures to their understandings and their understandings into the schriptures and unless we come unto and know Christ Jesus we shall remaine ignorant of the scriptures though we read them and heare the voices of the Prophets and Apostles read to us if we come not to Christ as the rest we shall have the word of the Lord to our selves precept upon precept line upon line here a little and there a little and not see the harmony and agreement of the scriptures nor receive the use fullness of them Luk. 24. 25 27 32 44 46. Isay 28. 12 13. Yea in a word they that seeke the Lord to know him win him and be found in him understand all things Prov. 28. 5. the knowledge of this one this excellent object of Wisdome is that which will make us wise to salvation hence the Apostle determined to know nothing else save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Corint 2. 2. and to the end Timothy might have an understanding in all things he exhorts him to remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to his gospell 2 Tim. 2. 7 8. and the way whereby the Ho Ghost teacheth all things and leadeth into all truth is to glorify Christ and take of his things and shew unto us Joh. 14. 26. and 16. 13 14. oh that this were seriously and heartily considered by us that our hearts may be fixedly set to know Christ in and unto all things Philip. 3. 8 10. 4. And he is called Wisdome because he is the giver and dispenser of it the Lord giveth Wisdome Prov. 2. 6. hence tho Apostle prayeth for Timothy that the Lord would give him an understanding in all things even the Lord Jesus 2 Tim. 2. 7. this is his gift God hath given him power over all flesh that he might give eternall life to as many as the father hath given him and this is life eternall that they know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Joh. 17. 2 3. And himselfe saith to his disciples I will give you a mouth and wisdome which all your adversaries shall not be abele to gainsay nor resist Luk. 21. 15. Ephes 4. 7. 2. By Wisdome and understanding is meant also the gospel of Christ which holy men of God have declared as they were moved by the Ho Ghost even the gospell as testified by the Prophets in whom the spirit of Christ did signify before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow 1 Petr. 1. 11. and as the same gospell is now reported to us by the Apostles with the Ho Ghost sent downe from heaven vs 12. Which is recorded and preserved to us in the records of it in the scriptures of truth thorow the greatness of God goodness and wonderfulness of his working the summe and first things whereof are that Christ died for our sins even for the sins of Jews and Gentiles according to the scriptures and was buried and rose againe the third day according to the scriptures 1 Corint 15. 1 4. Rom. 1. 1 4. this is called the word of Wisdome 1 Corint 12. 8. and the gospell or preaching of the cross is said to be the Wisdome of God 1 Corint 1. 17 18 23 24. Prov. 5. 1. and 7. 1 4 5. and this is called Wisdome and understanding 1. Because Christ who is Wisdome and understanding is herein evidently set forth unto us before our eyes even the eyes of our understanding Galat. 3. 1. here though now we see him not as the first trusters in Christ did yet we may see him in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit and so in this word of faith which is the evidence of things not seen As Moses by faith saw him that was invsible Hebr. 11. 1 13 27. in which gospell we may looke upon things that are not seen 2 Corint 4. 18. So here we may see the great sufferings and Wonderfull a basement of Christ and for whom he tasted death and was raised againe even for all mankind Hebr. 2. 9. and here in this glass we may with open face behold the glory of the Lord 2 Corint 3. 18. and therefore because this gospell testifieth of Christ and discovers him to us who is Wisdome and understanding therefore his name is named upon it 2. Because here in especially as now preached according to the revelation of the mystery God hath a bounded in all wisdome and prudence unto the first trusters in Christ and by them to us having made knowne to us the mystery of his will c. Ephes 1. 8. 9. herein the manifold Wisdome of God is made knowne that all men may see it in this gracious and blessed meanes which he hath devised that his banished be not utterly expelled from him Which is discovered to us in this Wisome Ephes 3. 9. 10. here in God hath wrltten to us excellent things in
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
And it might be powerfull also to awaken us to seek the Lord to seek Wisdome and righteousness while he is exercising patience and forbearance to us and crying to us to turne at his reproofes and to stirre us up hereto the next branch of the instruction is good to be considered by us viz. 2. The present time is the opportunity in which it is good and needfull for us to seek and get Wisdome and understanding Wherefore as the Ho Ghost saith to day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts Hebr. 3. 7 8 14 15. and 4. 7. strive now to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you saith our saviour shall seek to enter in and shall not be able When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut too the doore and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the doore saying Lord Lord open unto us Then all pleadings and arguments will be in vaine he shall say I tell you I know you not whence you are Luk. 13. 24 27. gather your selves therefore together yea gather together before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lords anger come upon you Zephan 2. 1 2. Objection If any one should say I am young and strong and the evill day will not yet prevent nor overtake me I may now rejoyce in my youth and let my heart cheere me I may now seek after the world and love the lust of the flesh mine ease and pleasure Or the lust of the eye in labouring to be rich and laying up for my selfe and mine Or the pride of life I may hereafter apply my heart to Wisdome I know not yet how to be so serious it will be time enough for that when old age cometh Answer 1. To this I may say this Objection savours of great ignorance and folly and want of consideration of the worth and invaluable price of Wisdome did we seriously consider that Wisdome is the principall thing and that all the things we may or can desire are not to be compared to her as God is discovering the excellency of it and opening our eyes to behold it and that it is prepared for us and may be found and gotten by us it would be powerfull with us to seek it early to seek first the kingdome of God and the righteousness thereof to cry after it and be restless in our spirits for it and with all our gettings and in all opportunities to seek after this one thing that is so profitable unto all things Prov. 3. 15 16 17. and 4. 1 8. and 8. 1. 6. 10 11 17. And therefore also 2. It is safe good and needfull to seek it in the present opportunity and dangerous to neglect that For. 1. If thou shouldest live to old age it may be more difficult then to finde Wisdome then now because 1. When old age cometh then our naturally capacities and powers will be much weakned and impaired and afflictions and weaknesses are ordinarily so many and so flowing in upon us like the waves of the sea one in the neck of another the clouds returning after the raine that then we shall be more out of capacity to seek and get Wisdome hence when the preacher had by way of severe reproofe to such an Objector said rejoyce ô young man in they youth and let thy heart cheere the in the dayes of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thine owne heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment c. He addes Remember now thy creator in the dayes of thy youth while the evill dayes come not nor the yeares draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them While the sun or the light or the Moone or the Star be not darkned nor the clouds returne after the raine c. Eccles 11. 9 10. and 12. 1 7. it will then be more hard to heare and seeke after Wisdome when we are prest downe and burdened with manifold paines sicknesses weaknesses and when also our naturall strength is weakned As is signified in what is said of the Israëlites when God sent them word by the hand of Moses that he would bring them out from Under the burdens of the Egyptians and rid them out of their bondage c. yet they hearkned not unto Moses for anguish of spirit Exod. 6. 2 9. 2. Then also it will â—e more hard and difficult to get understanding because they have been accustomed to doe evill When it hath been mens manner from their youth to neglect Wisdome and despise instruction and to seek after and set their hearts upon the world and the things thereof this renders it more difficult with them to leave their old wayes and practices and cause their hearts to come to Wisdome according to that Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the Leopard his spots then may ye also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill Jerem. 13. 23. Indeed with God all things are possible nor doe I speak this to discourage them that are old but to awaken the young and others before they are older to break of their sins and forsake their unrighteous wayes and thoughts and turne unto him who delighteth in mercy and who will multiply to pardon Nor doth the Holy Ghost use that saying fore mentioned Jerem. 13. 23. to signify that it is impossible for them to learne to doe well as he is giving grace unto them for he vers 27. thus still expostulates with them wilt thou not be made cleane When shall it once be As intimating that God was yet waiting upon them and cleansing them from the evill they had been accustoming themselves unto but he speakes it to the end he might ingage them to consider their waies and turne unto him but continuance in evill makes it more difficult with us to depart there from and to forsake our old lovers and companions and to incline our hearts to Gods understanding which we have so long despised and set light by What one is wont to doe becomes at last after a sort necessary for him to doe As whereas in Matth. 27. 15. it is said Pilate was wont to release unto the people a prisoner it is thus rendred Luk. 23. 17. of necessity he must release unto them one at the feast As on the one hand the holy spirit saith traine up a child in the way in which he should goe and when he is old he will not depart there from Prov. 22. 6. so on the other hand we may say when we have been training up our selves in the days of our youth and strength in the ways in which we should not goe it becomes more hard with us to depart therefrom when we are old 2 Petr. 2. 14. let this be considered by us 3. Yea God may put an end to
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
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