to have Perished in it for ever We were accursed creatures and helpless in our misery as is evident in that he hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us Psal 49. 6 7. Galat. 3. 13. yea in that he died for our sake that he might obtaine eternall redemption and in him dwelleth all fullness He is made of God Wisdome and righteousness herein appeareth that we were destitute of all good empty creatures Job 11. 12. that we have no Wisdome in us naturally no light in our understandings no freedome of will to any thing that is spiritually good no affection desire or inclination to the things that belong to our peace no spark of Gods image left in us but we are destitute thereof and inclined to all that is evill all have sinned and come short of the glory of God While we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly While we were yet sinners neither righteous nor good Christ died for us Rom. 5. 6 8. In him we may behold the vileness of sin so as to abhorre it and that it may be an abomination to our soules in that God hath so punished and condemned it in the person of Christ Jesus who knew no sin Rom. 8. 3. He was wounded or tormented for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities such was the odiousness of sin to God as that when it was but imputed to his son he spared him not but it pleased the lord to bruise him he hath put him to griefe Were this considered by us it would be powerfull to cause us to say how shall we live any longer in sin for which our saviour suffered so great and in expressible sorrowes Esa 53. 4 10. Rom. 8. 32. and 6. 1 2 3. and 4. 25. 1 Petr. 3. 18. Aswell as also in Christ we may perceive the greatness of the sin of not beleiving on Christ who by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised againe and is become such a good foundation and object of faith that mens faith and hope might be in God Joh. 16. 8 9. 1 Petr. 2. 6 7 8. he that beleiveth not God hath made him a liar because he beleiveth not the record that God gave of his son and this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life he that beleiveth not that God hath given to him eternall life in Christ Jesus hath made God a liar and is therefore condemned and the wrath of God abideth on him while he abideth in un beleife 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. Joh. 3. 16 18 36. if Christ died for the fewest of mankind onely it would be no sin in the greatest part for whom he died not not to beleive on Christ Yea they would beleive a lye in so doing but this is an ungodly conception for Christ died for all and rose againe that all men thorow him might beleive Joh. 1. 7. and 17. 21 23. In Christ also we may see the unprofitableness of our workes of righteousness that we might not have Confidence therein Joh. 16. 10. Corint 1. 29 30. if righteousness could have come by the law by the Workes or sacrifices there of then Christ died in vaine Galat. 2. 21. hence the Apostle though he was Concerning the righteousness of the law blameless yet what things were gaine to him the Priviledges and workes of the flesh those he counted loss for Christ Yea doubt less saith he and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine owne righteousness which is of the law but that which is thorow the faith of Christ c. Philip. 3. 4. 9. 't Is he and he onely that hath brought in everlasting righteousness thorow his personall abasement and sufferings even the righteousness of God without the law which was witnessed by the law and the Prophets but is now manifested by the faith of Christ to be unto all and upon all them that beleive for there is no difference Dan. 9. 26. Rom. 3. 21. 22. In Christ we may see death even the first death which was the wages of our first departure from God so as not to feare it nor any afflictions weaknesses sicknesses which are fore runners and branches of it and which God is now ordering to us while it is called to day For Jesus Christ our Saviour hath by the grace of God tasted this death for every man and hath overcome and abolished it taken out the sting and destructive nature out of it so as that now there is no hurt in it nothing in it to separate us from te love of God or keep us out of heaven nor shall any man perish therein for ever but all shall in due time be raised out of it by him who died for all and rose againe Christ hath in overcoming this death made it a shadow it is not the lively image of what sometimes it was 2 Tim. 1. 10. Gal. 3. 13. Psal 23. 4. Yea not onely so but he the great God and our Saviour hath turned our curses into blessings and the afflictions and corrections he is ordering are ordered to a gracious end as is before shewne In Christ also this havenly Wisdome we may see life even our naturall life how it is procured for us and by what meanes we have a comfortable injoyment of it and of Gods mercies even by Christ who gave his flesh for the life of the World Joh. 6. 51. in him is life and the life is the light of men Joh. 1. 4. Had he not laid downe his life for us we could have had no comfortable injoyment of our lives or of Gods creatures but had been alwayes and altogither accursed and miserable and all our life time thorow feare of death subject to the bondage of Satan Hebr. 2. 14. 15. But he hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Gal. 3. 13. and 4. 4 with Rom. 3. 19. And here we may also see to what end our lives are preserved and continued that to us to live might be Christ He died for all that they which live might not hence forth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose againe this was the very end of Christs suffering for us in the flesh that we might thereby cease from sin and thorow his grace that bringeth salvation to all men might live not to the lusts of men but to the will of God 2 Corinth 5. 15. 1 Petr. 4 1 3. 1 Joh. 4. 9. In this Wisdome we may know who are borne of God and so made of the elect and chosen generation even all such and onely such who are of yeares of capacity and where the
increase their earthly substance and meane time when a price is put into their hands for getting Wisdome they have no heart thereto they can neglect opportunities for getting this spirituall commodity and then cry there is a lion in the way I shall be slain in the streets they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth Jerem. 9. 3. but are fearfull and afraid of sufferings shame and reproach for Christs sake ashamed of him and his words in an evill and adulterous generation What will become of such in the end Christ will be ashamed of such when he cometh in his owne glory and in the glory of his father and in the glory of his holy Angells Luk. 9. 23 16. with Mark 8. 34 38. this is that whiâ—h is greatly provoking to God he was wroth with those who when they were invited to come into Wisdoms house and eat of her provision made light of the invitation and went one to his farme another to his merchandise Yea protests that none of them shall taste of his supper Matth. 22. 4-7 with Luk. 14. 16-24 oh that we may so consider it that we may walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise redeeming the time for-getting Wisdome because the dayes are evill Ephes 5. 15 17. 2. And let us all be exhorted seeing Wisdome is the principall thing to get it and with all our gettings to get understanding And to move hereto consider further The gaine of Wisdome and understanding is better then that of fine gold of the choicest and most refined gold and so better then the gaine of all earthly riches though the gaine of gold if it be honestly gotten and to a good end laboured for that we may honour the Lord with our substance and with the first fruits of our increase and live to him that died for us and rose againe is good Yet the gaine of spirituall Wisdome is better and more to be desired then gold yea then much fine gold and better then all the gainfull things here below and so have wise men accounted it Philip. 3. 7 8 9. It is admirably and inexpressibly better Prov. 16. 16. it is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come as is said of godliness And indeed this Wisdome and Godliness are the same The root and foundation of Godliness is God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit the meanes and medium for making it knowne and manifesting it and giving and dispensing it is the gospell especially as preached by the Apostles The exercising our selves to godliness is beleiving with the heart on Christ as delivered to death for our offences and raised againe for our justification and glorified as this t s declared to us in the gospell 1 Tim. 4. 8. with Chapt. 3. 16. 1. The gaine of it is better now by it there is profit to them that see the sun Eccles 7. 11. For 1. It gives all things that pertaine to life and gives life to them that get it even spirituall and eternal life now by faith and a first fruits of the Spirit and all contained therein which silver and gold cannot doe Wisdome is a defence money is a defence but the excellency of knowledge is that Wisdome giveth life to them that have it Eccles 7. 12. hereby the Holy Ghost doth evidence that the gaine of Wisdome is better then fine gold and therefore proposeth it as a motive to move and prevaile with us to seek and get it She is a tree of life to all that lay hold on her Prov. 3. 17. And this is contained in the blessedness they meet with and partake of that seek and finde her Whoso findeth her findeth life Prov. 8. 32. 35. As 1. It giveth unto those that finde Wisdome the forgiveness of sins by Christ all that beleive are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13. 39. And this forgiveness of sins is included in eternall life and therefore eternall life is opposed to condemnation and in having that a man passeth from death to life Joh. 5. 25. and being justified from their sins by the blood of Christ much more shall they be saved from wrath even from the wrath of God thorow him Rom. 5. 9. Hereinits gaine is greatly preferred before fine gold and all the riches of this World riches profit not in a day of wrath but righteousness delivereth from death Prov. 10. 2. and 11. 4. Neither mens silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath Zephan 1. 18. their riches will not procure them a pardon from God though they may from the Man of sin nor deliver them from his anger and the dreadfull and direfull effects thereof their money will not obtain the remission of their sins when they come to dye nor give them peace with God nor will this deliver in the day of wrath But men shall then cast their idolls of silver and gold to which they have given their loves and worship to the moles and to the bats to goe into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the ragged rocks for feare of the Lord they shall then cast their silver into the streets and their gold shall be removed or shall be as uncleaness their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath Isay 2. 19 21. Ezeck 7. 19. But this is the gain of Wisdome In finding and winning Christ a man also receives remission of sins and deliverance from Gods wrath and the feares thereof So as being justified by faith he hath peace with God thorow our Lord Jesus Rom. 4. 25 and 5. 1. To him give all the Prophets witness that thorow his name whosoever beleiveth in him shall receive the remission of sins Act. 10. 43. 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. And oh what a blessed priviledge is this It is even the summe of all blessedness Even as David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputes righteousness without works saying blessed in the Man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sin is eovered Psal 32. 1 2. with Rom. 4. 5 7. And it is also the inlett unto all Salvation He giveth the knowledge and injoyment of salvation thorow the forgiveness of sins Luk. 1. 77. Psal 103. 1 3. Herethorow they receive salvation and deliverance from his anger the power whereof who knoweth Psal 90. 11 12. The wrath of this King of Kings is as messengers of death but a wise man will pacify it How not by fine gold but to this end how much better is it to get Wisdome then gold Prov. 16. 14-16 2. It gives to men the Spirit of life even that living quickning Spirit which is Wisdoms Spirit this money wil not get or give It was an heinous provoking iniquity in Simon Magus to offer money for the Holy Spirit and
give to him the honour due unto his name to trust in him Prov. 22. 17 20. to depart from evill Job 28. 28. to pray unto him Eccles 5. 1. to speak profitably unto men Prov. 15. 2. to seek and increase knowledge Prov. 18. 15. and 21. 11. to rebuke others when need requireth Prov. 25 12. Eccles 7. 5. to know when to speak and when to be silent Prov. 17. 27 28. yea it is profitable to direct us in all our conversation that we may give none offence in any thing to the Jew or Gentile or to the church of God but that we may doe all things that God in all things may be glorified and the good of men and especiall good of beleivers may be pursued and promoted hence the Apostle prayes and desires for the beleivers that they might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all Wisdome and spirituall understanding that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruit full in every good work and increasing with the increase of God and that they might be sincere and without offence til the day of Christ Philip. 1. 9 11. Colos 1. 9 11. and have instructed them to walk in Wisdome toward them that are without as intimating that this would teach them how to walk and please God and so help them to order their conversation that he might be glorified in all things thorow Jesus Christ Colos 4. 5 6. 3. The gain of Wisdome is better then fine gold because in seeking and getting that we shall have all other things appertaining to the naturall life which are good and needfull for us such meat drink cloathes health deliverance from trouble continuance of life as he sees good for us who is perfect in knowledge and infinite in goodness according to what our saviour saith take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or where withall shall we be cloathed For after all these things doe the Gentiles seek for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things But seek ye first the kingdome of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Matth. 6. 31 33. there are many things that gold wil not give which appertaine to this present naturall life it will not give a man health in sickness it will not make the life comfortable but by occasion thereof many times it is more full of disquietment and vexation of spirit it will not defend a man from danger but they that have it and have much of it are the more exposed to danger it will not deliver from the feare of evill but rather it occasioneth feare to a man nor can a man thereby adde one cubit to his age a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth Luk. 12. 15. But they that seeke this Wisdome shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 8 10. and 84. 10 11. it is so acceptable to God that men seek this excellent and heavenly commodity that he will with hold no good thing from such as are so exercised 1 Tim. 6. 5 6 8. and 4. 4 8. it did so please the Lord that Solomon asked of him Wisdome and understanding that he not onely gave that unto him and a wise and understanding heart but he also gave unto him that which he did not ask to wit riches and wealth and honour 1 King 3. 5. 13. 2 Chron. 1. 7 12. riches and honour are in Wisdoms left hand to dispense thereof as is good to those that seek her and therefore she invites us to trade for her Prov 3. 13. 16. and 8. 18. and God hath made provision in his great and precious promises and given us assurance that with Christ he will also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. and all things are theirs who are Christs the world life death things present and things to come 1 Corinth 3. 21 23. how might this provoke and incourage us to get Wisdome and understanding and assure us that the gain of it is excellent and so help us to have our conversation without covetousness and be content with such things as we have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not feare what flesh can doe unto mee Hebr. 13. 5 6. 2. And the gaine of Wisdome and understanding is better then that of fine gold hereafter infinitely better a mans life as before is said consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth and much less eternall life but they that seek and get Wisdome shall inherit glory and such glory as eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive this is contained in the motives that the Wisdome of God maketh use of to provoke us to get Wisdome and with all our gettings to get understanding she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace a crowne of glory shall she deliver to thee Prov. 4. 5 9. and that which shewes the excellency of its gain compleatly is that this salvation glory and happiness shall be injoyed by such for ever and ever When the Ho Ghost gives us a particular evidence of the excellency and gainfullness of Wisdome he saith length of dayes is in her right hand as the most excellent thing Prov. 3. 13. 16. even length of dayes for ever and ever Psal 21. 4. this compleats its preciousness and demonstrates its gainfullness and evidenceth the happiness of those that trade for it and finde it Whatever glory and blessednes were set before us hereafter to prevaile with us and ingage us to seek Wisdome if we might have in finding her deliverance from all evill and the favour of God and fellowship with him and so the injoyment of all desirable and conceivable good yea of all good proposed to us yet it there were an end to such injoyment it would not be so truly gainfull nor so desirably precious but in the injoyment of her there will be fullness of joy and pleasures in her right hand for evermore Herein indeed its gain appeares evidently to be better then fine gold riches are not for ever nor doth the crowne indure to all generations Prov. 27. 24. but to them who by patient continuance in welldoing seek for glory and honour and immortality will the Lord give eternall life and possess them of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that passeth not away reserved in the heavens for them for the things that are not seen are eternall 2 Corinth 4. 16 18. Rom. 2. 7. they shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation and shall not be ashamed nor confounded world with out end this wisely considered imbitters the things of this world and weanes the heart from them and crucifies them to the soule the world passeth away and the lust thereof both the object of it
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
understanding because he is become the treasury fountaine and store-house of it he is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence for it hath pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily Colos 1. 18 19. and 2. 9. In him are hid all the treasures of Wisdome and knowledge Colos 2. 3. so he who calleth himselfe Wisdome saith counsell is mine and sound Wisdome I am or have understanding c. Prov. 8. 12 14. Salomon who set in order these Proverbs was a wise man yea in his time Wiser then all men God gave him wisdome and understanding exceeding much and largeness or wideness of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shore 1 King 4. 29 31. but behold a greater then Salomon is here Matth. 12. 42. for he was taught and directed to seek out and set in order these Proverbs by Christ Jesus that one shepherd Eccles 12. 9 11. God hath not given unto him the spirit by measure but hath given all things and so all Wisdome into his hand Joh. 3. 34 35. On him resteth the spirit of the Lord the spirit of Wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsell and might the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord and he is quicke of understanding Isay 11. 1 2 3. and 42. 1. and 61. 1. He knoweth the father and the mind and counsells of the father as is signified in that when John wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the booke of Gods counsells and purposes one of the elders said unto him weep not behold the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David even the lamb who was slaine and who hath seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God hath prevailed to open the booke and to loose the seven seales thereof and the foure beasts and twenty and foure elders in the new song they sang confess that the lamb which was slaine was worthy to take the book and to open the seales thereof jea and an innumerable company of Angells confirme it and say worthy is the lamb that was slaine to receive Wisdome Revel 5. 1. 5. 9 12 and he is quick of understanding and knowes us and what our needs and wants are and how to supply them he knowes how to teach us sinners to make wise us simple ones to speake a word in due season to the weary to open the eyes of the blind to bring forth the prisoners out of the pit to heale the broken hearted to forgive the guilty wash the polluted and perfect what soever concerneth us And he knowes the plots and designes of our enemies and adversaries and how to disappoint and defeat them that their hands may not performe their enterprizes yea he knowes all things all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe Joh. 21. 17. Hebr. 4. 13 14. and this unsearchable Wisdome and understandidg he hath to improve for our good as the saviour of all men especially of them that beleive and to dispense to us according to our needs and capacities and his willingness to improve it for us and communicate it to us is abundantly evidenced in the great abasement where to he so willingly humbled himselfe for mankind that he might obtaine all things pertaining to life and godliness into himselfe for us Oh! let us rejoice in him and not glory in our owne Wisdome for he is made of God for us Wisdome that according as it is written he that glorieth may glory in the Lord 1 Corinth 1. 29 31. 3. He also in the Object of Wisdome and understanding in knowing whom we may be made truly wise and furnished with sound Wisdome and see and know things for our good so Wisdome many times signifieth the Object of Wisdome or that which is to be knowne and in the understanding where of we shall be rendred wise indeed Prov. 1. 2. and 5. 1. In coming unto and knowing Jesus Christ we may know the father so as to beleive and hope in and love him no man knoweth the father but the son and he to whomsoever the son will reveale him come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy loden ye that run to the wise and prudent and read many bookes and tire your selves herewith and yet meet not with what you seeke for I will give you rest saith our saviour Matth. 11. 25 28. He is the image of the invisible God in seing whom we may see the father also and whosoever cometh unto and followeth him shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life he will shew them the father and give them the knowledge of him and this is life eternall that they know him the onely true God Joh. 8. 12. and 12. 44 46. and 14. 6 10. and 17. 3. Colos 1. 15. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ even the glory of his Wisdome power truth holiness and justice 2 Corinth 4. 4 6. yea and he gives such a gracious and amiable discovery of the father to us that there thorow we might be incouraged to come unto and beleive in him and put our trust under the shadow of his Wings For here in we may see that he is the God of love the God of all grace we may in the cross of Christ see Gods secret will even what his will towards man was when secret this Christ hath revealed God is love charity it selfe he is so essentially and was so towards mankind when they had sinned against and departed from him And in this he hath manifested himselfe to be love and manifested his love to us which was hid in himselfe because he sent his onely begotten son into the World to be the saviour of it 1 Joh. 4. 8 9 10 14 16. Joh. 3. 16. in Christ our saviour appeareth that his will which was secret was good will and not evill will toward mankind Luc. 2. 10 14. Christ hath revealed the father who was hidden from us and reavealed his thoughts and heart and in him we may see that God is light and in him is no darkness at all that God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. And in him we may know our selves so as to be humbled and abased in fight of our owne vileness and wretchedness and to loath our selves and have pride hidden from us for saith the Apostle we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and he died for all 2 Corint 5. 14 15. In that Christ died for all by the grace of God herein it appeareth that we were all dead condemned to die and deserved to have died that death which he tasted for every man and
our harvest time I meane to those choice and advantageous opportunites which yet in mercy he is cotinuing to us if we continue in hating knowledge and for such wickedness and then it will be more difficult to seeke Wisdome He may send a famine not of bread or a thirst for water but of hearing the words of the Lord And men may wander from sea to sea and from the north even unto the east and run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and not finde it and in that day the faire virgins and young men who may have too much neglected the present opportunites shall faint for thirst Amos 8. 11 13. Goe then to the Ant thou sluggard consider herways and be wise which having no guide overseer or ruler provides her meat in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest how long wilt thou sleep ô sluggard when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as an armed man Prov. 6. 6 11. and 10. 5. O! if God should send such a famine upon us as we have by our iniquities deserved that we may not then have cause to bewaile it with the Prophet and say the harvest is past the summer ended and we are not saved Jerem. 8. 18 20. 4. Yea God may deprive us of all meanes and leave striving with us or deprive us of capacity that no man can be an instrument of good to us for our manifold and long continued in provocations of him if we should deferre seeking Wisdome till the evill dayes come He is not tied or ingaged to us to wait our leisure or pleasure and though he is rich in mercy and abundant in goodness yet it is dangerous to despise the riches of his goodness forbearance and long suffering Rom. 2. 4 5. his spirit shall not alwayes strive with men Genes 6. 3. and if we should provoke him to leave striving wo will be unto us No man can come to Christ except the father who hath sent Christ draw him Joh. 6. 44. doe we then provoke the Lord to anger are we stronger then he Who ever hardned his heart against him and prospered oh that we may then be admonished to walk while we have the light lest darkness come upon us and while we have the light to believe in the light that we may be the children of the light Joh. 12. 35 36. Nay 2. Suppose thou shouldst live to old age and that then thorow the grace of God that brings salvation to all men thine heart should be turned to the Lord yet it is much better now and the present time is the most excellent opportunity for getting Wisdome because 1. The sooner we apply our hearth to finde and get walk in Wisdome the more truly joyous and comfortable will be our life here in the flesh to be spiritually minded in life and peace Rom. 8. 6. Wisdome is sweet to the soule life to the soule and health to all the flesh it doth good like a medicine Prov. 24. 14. and 3. 21 24. and 4. 20. 21. and whatever afflictions such meet withall as are found in this exercise Whatever troubles they have in the flesh and as to the outward man yet they have a mercy heart and thereby a continuall feast Prov. 19 8. and 15. 13 15. When they have tribulation in the World they have peace in Christ who hath overcome the World and such peace guards their hearts as passeth all understanding Joh. 16. 33. in beleiving God fills them with joy and peace and such joy as astranger intermedleth not with Rom. 15. 13. Prov. 14. 8 10. Yea when they are in heaviness thorow manifold temptations yet beleiving what Christ hath done and the hope set before them and so in Christ They reioyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Petr. 1. 6 8. Whereas the laughter of those fooles that despice Wisdome is but like the crackling of thornes under a pot it makes a great shew but is gone presently it is but for a moment it vanisheth away in an instant All the things men reioyce and trust in besides the name of the Lord and our God Whither they be the more gross lusts of the flesh such as surfetting drunkness uncleaness ease and pleasure or the desires of the mind as covetousness pride the honour of this World the friendships and praise of men Wisdome or our owne workes of righteousness c. they are all but sparkes of our owne kindling they are assoone out as in There is no abiding comfort in them And even in the laughter thereby occasioned the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heaviness Eccles 5. 6. Isay 50. 10. 11. Prov. 14. 13. A dreadfull sound is in their eares many times trouble and anguish takes hold of them in Gods awakenings of them and when they are recovered out of the snare of Satan oh what shame is then upon them for their former evill wayes They were unfruitfull to them while they walked in them and now appeare exceeding shame full to them when they reflect upon them according to that what fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed Rom. 6. 21. Oh how are they then filled with grife and sorrow both for their owne personall evills and for the injury they have done to others They will then mourne at the last and say how have I hated instruction And mine heart despised reproofe And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers nor inclined mine eare to them that instructed me I was almost in all evill in the midst of the congregation the great congregation to which the Scriptures in the records of them are vouch safed and amongst which continued read every Sabbath and upon which the name of Christ is called and in the midst of the assembly of the upright that have been taught of God as the truth is in Jesus and love him and without hidden things of dishonesty hold forth the word of life and speak often thereof one to another in their frequent assemblings of themselves together Which aggravates the evill of any that have such advantages to despise Wisdome Prov. 5. 11 13. with Psal 111. 1. but contrariwise the sooner we search for Wisdome and seek for understanding the more comfortable will our lives be here hence that come ye children hearken unto me I will teach you the feare of the Lord which is the beginning and instruction of Wisdome What man is he that will love life and see good dayes keep thy tongue from evill and thy lips from speaking guile depart from evill and doe good seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of the Lord are upon the richteous c. Psal 34. 11 15. with 1 Petr. 3. 9 14. 2. And the earlier we seek Wisdome it will probably tend to more happiness or
in this heavenly commodity may have respect to the recompence of the reward to that gaine which is better then that of fine gold the hope of this is that which causeth them to labour and suffer reproach and forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Philip. 3. 13 14. This is the motive the faithfull and true witness useth to ingage those who were wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked to listen to his counsell and buy his commodities because they were gainfull to wit gold tried in the fire wherewith they might be made rich and white raiment c. Revelat. 3. 17 18. and because of this gaine proposed they who are spirituall and heavenly Merchants are strengthned to beare up against all stormes and to hoise up their sailes in all foule weather and not to faint but set their faces like a flint knowing that their light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for them a farre more exceeding eternall weight of glory While they look not on the things that are seen but on the things which are not seen 2 Corinth 4. 16 18. They doe not so observe the wind as to be discouraged but the gaine being so sweet and delightfull it causeth them to trade that they might get more knowledge of Christ and God in him more acquaintance with him and conformity to him that they might adde to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity and that their pound might gaine five or ten pound and that at last they might be made partakers of the hope of eternal life Luk. 19. 15 18. this makes them lanch out into the deep amidst the waves and billowes of the sea and to feare no weather because they know they shall reap in joy and at last partake of that glory which eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive this hope saves them and strengthens them with patience to wait and with resolution to hold on their way and not to feare what flesh can doe unto them and this gaine makes them willing to count as loss those things that formerly were gainfull to them and to sel and part with all that by any meanes they may attaine the resurrection of the dead no stormes or blasts they must indure and pass thorow no goodly things they must forgoe and part with no flatteries and inticements they meet withall move them while the eye is fixed on this great gaine but he that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as he is pure Act. 20. 19 24. 1 John 3. 1 3. 5. This exercise may be compared to merchandise because we should seek after this heavenly Wisdome that we might impart it to others thus it is with the merchants of the earth they adventure for commodities and buy them that they may sell and get gaine as before and here in merchants are differenced from many other buyers many others buy for themselves and their owne use onely or for their owne families But Merchants buy not commodities for themselves and their families onely but that they may sell to others to any that will buy of them and this is part of their trade and traffique Ezek. 27. 33 34. So those wise and spirituall Merchants should seek and get Wisdome and understanding not for themselves or their families onely though especially they are to seek their good and to teach and instruct their Children diligently and to talk unto them when they sit in the house c. Deut. 6. 4 9. But they are also to impart Wisdome to others I say not sell it however not in such a sense as to part with it and let in goe the Ho Ghost hath instructed us to buy the truth and not sell it Prov. 23. 23. but to disperse it as instruments in the hand of God to others this is the exercise of wise men and hereby they still grow richer according to that in the house of the righteous is much treasure the lips of the wise disperse knowledge hereby they are more filled with treasure to him that hath shall be given but the heart of the foolish doth not so Prov. 15. 6 7. this is the way for merchants to grow rich to disperse their commodities to others and hereby shall the wise merchant increase knowledge the more he scattereth the more he increaseth the liberall soule shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himselfe Prov. 11. 24 26. Christs disciples are the light of the World and are instructed to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation holding forth the word of life in word and conversation Philip. 2. 14 16. this liberty and authority he hath given them who taught them their trade and committed to them his goods and gave them ability to traffique therewith I meane he who is king of saints who is their judge to plead their cause and right their wrongs and justify them when thy are unjustly condemned Who is also their Law-giver and Statute-maker Whose lawes they ought to observe and according to whose statutes they are to act and by which to be judged And who is their king to save them from all evill and enemies and to help them as the needs of their matters require Isay 33. 22. And if any of them should forbeare to exalt and promote Wisdome to others because they are forbidden by men or because danger threatens them or on what account soever they hide their talents it will tend to their great dammage if not to their utter undoing from him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath those who are unprofitable servants shall be cast into utter darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Luk. 19. 26. Matth. 13. 12. and 25. 29 30. their Apostle and the Bishop of their soules hath instructed them to exhort one another daily and as they have received the gift so to minister as good stewards c. Hebr. 3. 1 13. 1 Petr 4. 10. with Chap. 5. 1. 1 Thess 5. 11 12. and those that are indeed Wise merchants are found in this exercise to invite others to this excellent commodity the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come and whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely Isay 55. 1. Revel 22. 16 17. the very end wherefore they are brought into so neare a relation to Christ and have this treasure committed to them is that they might shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light and call others into Wisdom's house that they in eatingh her bread may be wise also 1
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