and 8. 33. and 19. 2. 2. There is diligence and industry especially of the soule to be used and exercised that we may get and be made partakers of it to wit an exercising our selves in the law of the Lord day and night as is said of the vertuous and wise Woman she girdeth her loines with strength and strengthneth her armes when she perceiveth her Merchandise is good her candle goeth not out by night Prov. 31. 17 18. so there is requisite hereto and contained herein a diligent seeking and serious searching for and earnest drawing out this sound Wisdome and a safe laying it up and keeping it when we have found it and thereto reading and searching the Scriptures of truth meditating therein praying unto God to open our eyes and give us Wisdome and as we finde his words to eat them that they may be the joy and reioycing of our hearts Matth. 13. 45. Joh. 6. 27. Matth. 6. 33. Prov. 8. 17 18. 2. Now this spirituall exercise may be called and compared to Merchandise 1. To signify to us that this excellent commodity of Wisdome and understanding is not in our selves as is before noted we must seeke it elsewhere even without us in Christ Jesus as declared to us in the gospell As those things that merchants seek after they have them not of their owne but the merchants ships bring their commodites from a farre Prov. 31. 14. so this Wisdome is above and farre of from us and the tidings of it is good newes from a farre countrey Prov. 25. 25. in us that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing we have no sound wisdome or understanding in us there is none that understandeth Rom. 3. 10 11. and 7. 18. but these treasures are hid in Christ and yet they are brought nigh to us in the word of faith and in the preaching of it they are in our mouthes and in our hearts that we might receive them they are brought to us in the Scriptures and in the opportunities we have to heare the gospell as commodities are brought nigh to men in a mart or market But we are without this Wisdome naturally and from our first by th Those are ungodly and antichristian spirits who say the true light Christ is in every man for Christ is in heaven and no otherwise had but in receiving him even in beleiving on his name Joh. 1. 12. and he that heareth and learneth of the Father cometh unto him and therefore he is naturally at a distance from him John 6. 45. 2. It is called and compared to Merchandise to instruct us that we must part with somewhat that we may have this excellent pearle as also before is said Commodities are sold to and therefore must be bought by the Merchants before they have them or somewhat must be parted with by the Merchant for them Prov. 31. 24. The Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant man seeking goodly pearles a good heart good frames and qualifications who when he had found one pearle of great price Christ in the gospell in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in whom is all good he went and sold all that he had all his former riches righteousness confidences hopes for Heaven markes signes c. and bought it Matth. 13. 45 46. Indeed herein also is a difference between the earthly and heavenly Merchandise The Merchants of this World part with somewhat usually that is in some measure worthy or judged worthy of the commodity But we have no worth nor worthiness and therefore can parth with nothing which may in the least be of like value with Wisdome And therefore he that hath no mony is invited to buy and to buy without money and price Isay 55. 1. Yet we must buy Wisdome and understanding Prov. 23. 23 and to that end we must forsake all that we have Luk. 14. 33. 3. This spirituall exercise is likened to Merchandise also because as in the earthly Merchandise a man meets with many troubles and stormes Their trading being much upon the sea and they being placed neare the sea Ezek. 27. 3. They meet with many boisterous windes and troublesome seas which many times doe affright them and threaten danger to them So also in seeking after this sound Wisdome Many are the afflictions of the righteous Psal 34. 17 19. They have many contrary windes of evill doctrines annoying them and hindering them in this pursuit and indeavouring to corrupt them and draw them off from listening to Wisdome and seeking and getting understanding Prov. 9. 1 6. 13 17. They are indeavouring to toss them to and fro Ephes 4. 14. that they might drive them back or cause them to come into their pretended harbour which will not indeed secure them Gal. 5. 7. Prov. 7. 1 18. and many stormes they meet with from violent dealars and profane ones many frownes and flatteries many scoffs reproaches and derisions many threats and actuall troubles and bodily persecutions also imprisonments spoilings of their goods loss of liberty name yea and life also when their enemies have permissive commission given to them Matth. 10. 38 39. So that as it is needfull for us in coming unto and following Christ Jesus to deny our selves and sell all that we have So also it is needfull to take up our cross daily and follow him Luk. 14. 26 27. Matth. 16. 24. Such as use this Merchandise must exspect to meet with manifold stormes and tempests The flouds of the ungodly lift up they lift up their voice they lift up their Waves Psal 18. 4 5. and 93. 3 4. They shall be hated of all men and suffer Persecution who will live godly in Christ Jesus Matth. 10. 22. 2 Tim. 3. 12 13. Yea and their Lord and Master will be more abundantly trying correcting and chastening them not to discourage them in their way but to purify them and try them and make them white to the time of the end The raine will descend upon them and the floods beat and the windes blow and it is good and needfull for them to know this who resolve to exercise themselves in this Merchandise that when persecutions afflictions arise for the gospell sake they may not be offended or count it strange concerning the fiery triall as if some stronge thing happened unto them Luk. 14. 25 26-33 1 Peter 4. 12. Matth. 7. 24 25. 4. This is Merchandise because gaine is aimed at and may lawfully be proposed by us Those that use Merchandise in this World doe it to this end that they may inrich themselves by their traffique and trading Ezek. 27. 12. and 28. 5. in all labour there is profit aimed at and sought after Prov. 14. 23. and indeed this is the great thing the Merchants of the earth propose to themselves that they may inrich themselves and therefore they willingly adventure and indure many stormes and goe thorow much foule weather Revelat. 18. 11 17. 23. So also those that trade for and
HAPPY MERCHANDISE OR WISDOMS Excellency darkly discovered OR Rather greatly obscured by Words without knowledge By CHARLES PHELPES WISDOME is better then Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Proverb 8. 11. At AMSTERDAM Printed by Steven Swart Bookseller at the Crowned Bible neere the Exchange THe great designe of men generally is to exercise themselves unto that which may be gainfull and profitable unto them and to that end many men take a great deale of paines and weary themselves and adventure themselves into many dangers that they may increase to themselves and because their Wisdome is folishness and their knowledge bruitishness therefore they labour for such riches as will not truly in rich them nor make them happy in the account of God if they finde the life of their hands and for such also as are uncertaine both as to the getting and keeping Prov. 23. 4. 5. Now then that the Ho Ghost may take us off from labouring for that which will not satisfy he here commends to us a better and induring substance Which is of infinite and eternall worth and value that we might not for lying vanities forsake our owne mercies And commendeth to us the excellency of the Merchandise it selfe or way of getting it That we might labour not for that meat which perished but for this which indureth unto everlasting life which the son of man will give unto us O that we may all so considerer it that ceasing from our owne Wisdome we may get Wisdome this Wisdome of God which is the principall thing and with all our gettings get understanding that we may at last inherit glory when shame shall be the promotion of fooles Proverb 3. 13 14. Happy is the man that findeth Wisdome and the man that getteth or draweth out understanding For the Merchandise of it is better then the Merchandise of silver and the gaine thereof then fine gold THis Booke of the Proverbs of Salomon though in many places thereof it seemeth not to have such dependance and connexion as other places of the scripture of truth yet is fitly disposed and the Proverbs therein are orderly placed for because the preacher was wise He gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs Eccles 12. 9. yea indeed these words of the wise though spoken by Salomon yet came not by his will but he spoke as he was moved by the Ho Ghost 2 Petr. 1. 20 21. and they are all given from one shepherd even from Jesus Christ the great shepherd of the sheep and God in him Eccles 12. 9. 11. Who is the God of order and not of confusion And therefore if we see not that wise order and disposing of them its meet for us to take shame to our selves and judge our selves and to cry to him who putteth Wisdome into the inward parts and giveth understanding to the heart to teach us what we see not and to open our eyes to behold wondrous thing out of his law Job 38. 36. and 34. 31 32. And the Principall end of writing the Proverbs was to know Wisdome to make it knowne and that we might know it and know that it is the principall thing Prov. 1. 1 2. and 4. 7. and there sore in the nine first chapters of it there is a large commendation of Wisdome and declaration and discovery of its excellency with manifold intimations that we may be made partakers of it and directions how we may finde and get it and there fore many invitations to get it and affirmations and demonstrations of the blessedness of him that hath and retaineth it and of the misery and wretchedness of him that refuseth it with many warnings and cautions to take heed of the evill man and woman even of all evill persons and spirits who would hinder us or call us off from seeking it that we might have fellowship with them in eating of their bread of deceit and in their unfruitfull workes of darkness all which words of the wise are pleasant and profitable For this holy man as directed by that one shopherd sought to finde out acceptable words words of delight and that which was Written was upright even words of truth And these words of the wise are as goads to pricke and provoke us that whe may not be slothfull but diligent followers after Wisdome and as nailes fastened by the masters of assemblies in a sure place which are given from one shepherd upon which we may leane and depend and have our trust in the Lord according to them that our faith may not stand in the Wisdome of men but in the power of God Eccles 12. 10 11. And these words we have proposed to considerer and speak unto are added to that instruction set downe vs 11. 12. My son despise not the chastening of the Lord neither be weary of his correction or saint not when thou art rebuked of him Hebr. 12. 5. for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth c. To signify to us either 1. That the end of God in all his chastenings and corrections of us while it is the day of his grace and patience is to drive out of us that foolishness that is bound up in our hearts Prov. 22. 15. and to awaken us and ingage us to apply our hearts to Wisdome Psal 90. 7 12. for the rod and reproofe give Wisdome Prov. 29. 15. he doth not correct and chasten us for his pleasure simply but for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness even of Christ who is made Wisdome and righteousness and holiness c. Hebr. 12. 5 10. Lament 3. 33. and therefore it is unseemly for us to despise and set light by Gods chastenings or faint when rebuked of him because he hath such a gracious end therein that we might seek and finde Wisdome and apply our hearts to Gods understanding Or. 2. He doth hereby direct us unto and commend unto us that excellent meanes and thing where by we may be helped and strengthned neither to despise Gods chastenings nor faint when he rebuketh us namely this sound Wisdome and understanding which is profitable in and under all afflictions and unto all things to direct us Eccles 10. 10. and so it is as if he should say that you may behave your selves comely and laudably under Gods afflicting hand so as not to erre on the one hand or on the other needfull it is to get Wisdome and an happy man he is that getteth understanding For this will shew unto us that he never correcteth but when our need requires it and to seale our instruction that we might not set light by his chastenings and this acquaints us with his grace in Christ and gracious end and intention in all his debatings with us that we might not be weary or faint in our mindes for it is out of love and for our good that he taketh this paines with us and is now judging of us and this considered
unclean covetous ambitious revengefull lusts but to doe good they have no understanding Jerem. 4 22. every man is bruitish by his knowledge Ierem 10. 14. God did indeed make man righteous at first in his owne image after his likeness and put Wisdome into his inward parts he was created in knowledge as the Apostle signifieth when he saith ye have put on the new man Which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him renewing is a restoring a Person or thing that is deformed to its first and primitive estate there in then is intimated that at first man was created in knowledge Aswell as also it so appeares in that it is said that the renewing in knowledge is after the image of him that created him and so at first man being created in or after his image he was created in knowledge and understanding Colos 3. 10. But man not abiding in that honour in which he was made but aspiring to an equality with God and desiring some higher wisdome and knowledge thorow his listening to the Lye of the tempter Genes 3. 5 6. Mist what he aspired unto and lost what he had and so man in honour not abiding therein understandeth not but is like the beasts that perish Psal 49. 12. 20. they are destiture of all true and sound Wisdome that which they have leades them to labour to be rich Prov. 23. 4. Ezek 28. 4 5. and to trust in their riches and worship their gold and silver Hose 13. 2. and to seek after greatness and glory in this world Isay 10. 13 14. and fills them with enoyings and strifes against all that stands cross to their designe Jam. 3. 14 16. but as with respect to his Wisdome that is from above they are like wilde asses colts Job 11. 12. In this consideration they are all untill and further then in lightned of God simple and foolish ones And this is true of them all even of those also that have the highest esteeme of themselves As young persons they are usually highly conceited of themselves but they are simple as is signified in that the end of the Proverbs in making knowne Wisdome is said to be to give subtilly to the simple to the young man who is simple also knowledge and discretion Prov. 1. 4. and 7. 7 8. and this is true also of those that have much of the Wisdome of this World who are great schollars and rich in that knowledge which is science falsly so called their wisdome is foolishness with God and the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vaine 1 Corinth 3. 18 20. and it is also true of those that are of the professed church they are simple and without understanding naturally Prov. 1. 21 22. Rom. 3. 1 2 9 10 11. Yea of all men Job 32. 7 9. hence Wisdome saith to men and the sons of Man o ye simple understand Wisdome and ye fooles be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8. 4 5. and 30. 2 3 4. The naturall man receveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Out of the heart of men proceed evill thoughts of God as if he had a secret pleasure in the destruction of the greatest part of man kind Ezech. 33. 10 11. and though he speaketh faire and commands the gospell to be preached to all yet he hath a secret will contrary to his revealed We need not be taught and strengthned in such blasphemous thoughts for they naturally proceed out of our hearts And thence also proceed evill thoughts of our selves high esteemes and conceits of our selves from whence we are filled with pride And evill thoughts of the world as if the injoyment of that would render us truly happy and hence proceedeth covetousness Yea and evill thoughts of all things thinking evilly and calling light darkness and darkness light every imagination of mans heart is onely evill continually Genes 6. 5. And hence we are chusing loving and affecting vaine things that cannot profit nor helpe us because they are vaine even any thing besides this excellent Wisdome to wit Christ and God in him Mark 7. 21 22. Use 1. This consideration might be of usefullness to us to hide pride from us for we are all naturally fooles And to cause us not to glory in Gods presence but be willing to become fooles that we may be wise in receiving this heavenly Wisdome here commended to us 1 Cor. 1. 29 31. and 3. 18 19. 2. To admonisch us cease from man for wherein is he to be accounted of Isay 2. 22. and not to have our faith standing in their Wisdome we are such simple and foolish ones as that if men use good words and faire speeches to us and have much of the Wisdome of this world especially if also therewith they have a forme of godliness upon them to depend upon and admire them and receive what they say though they come in their owne name and to imbrace their interpretations of the scripture though therein they consent not to wholesome words but cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles Rom. 16. 17 18. and to glory in the Wisdome of man whereas their wisdome is foolishness with God And were this considered by us as discovered to us in the light and instructions of the gospell it would take us off from that idolatrous esteeme we have of them and their Wisdome Matth. 11. 25 26. 1 Corinth 2. 1 5. and 3. 18 21. 3. To shew unto us the great grace and love of God to us in taking notice of such simple foolish ones as we are with him and in his account who judgeth righteously and in making a way for us that we might become wise He hath not despised us in this sad condition into which we brought our selves but hath of his goodness prepared for us and is giving good counsell to us in hearing which we may be made wise to such he calls be ye of an understanding heart heare for I will speak of excellent things Prov. 8. 4 6 7. Behold God is mighty and despised not any he is mighty in strengh and Wisdome and yet despiseth not us who are weak and simple Job 36. 5. learn we of him 4. To come to Christ in the testimony that we may be made wise Matth. 11. 27 28. and to move here to consider the next instruction viz. 2. That though men are naturally simple and fooles yet thorow the grace of our Lord Jesus they may finde this excellent Wisdome and get or draw out this understanding here commended to us while it is called to day and this is intimated to us in that the holy Ghost here affirmeth and presently evidenceth the blessedness and happiness of the man that finds it of the man indefinitely he had spoken before to the sons of Wisdome more directly vs 11 12. but here happy is