Circumspect Walking, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Prouing strict walking to be the wisest walking.
1. HE that is but a little acquainted with the Scriptures, shall easily obserue that he who walks most strictly according to Gods word, is led by Gods wisedome, which makes him discerne betweene good and euill, and so walketh at a certain, by a most right and constant rule and direction: so as you shall finde him square and stable of good iudgement,foreign Arist. and sound resolution in the things hee is about. Hee is the wisest man that followes the wisest guide: But what man is hee that feareth the Lord? that is, walketh exactly: Him will the Lord teach the way that hee shall chuse, Psal. 25. 12. Whereas it is a iust punishment of carelesnesse, to wander as vagrants and vnsetled persons in the way of religion, and grounds of Christianity; and to bee tossed and tumbled eueryevery way with the waues of inconstancie, and doubtfulnesse in eueryevery thing, for want of sound information and iudgement in the wayes of God: & needs must such be as wauering in their practice, as in their iudgment.
2. He is the wisest man, that being to iourny takes the safest, shortest, cleanest, and most lightsome way: But so doth he that walkes most strictly, and circumspectly; he only walkes safely, because he walkes sincerely; whereas in declining Gods wayes but a little, there can bee nothing but feares without, and terrors within, and danger on eueryevery side, which nothing but vprightnesse can fence out. So who can deny but God himselfe hath described the rightest, and so the shortest way to heauen, which is the way ouer which hee holds his owne light? And howsoeuer many aspersions and foule things be cast vponupon it, yet this is the only cleane way of holinesse and innocencie, that leadeth to the Holy of Holies, into which no vncleane person or thing can enter.
3. He is the wisest man, whose words and actions being scanned most narrowly will abide the triall: But thus must needs his words and actions bee found, that is most exact, and stands most strictly the word. So Dauid saith, Then shall …not be confounded when I hauehave respect to all thy Commandements, Psal. 119. 6. and Iob 31. 35. the Almighty will witnesse for me, though mine enemies write a booke against me. Let the enemies of grace, duplicate page duplicate page slander, reproach, and traduce for a time the wayes of Gods righteous seruants, hee will make their righteousnesse breake out as the light, Psal. 37. 5.and time shall shew they were not so ouershot as the world deemed. For, standing straitly to the word, they may truly say with Ieremy, Lord, if I bee deceiued, thou and thy Word hath deceiued mee.
4. He is the wisest man that best acquits himselfe in all estates: But he that walks precisely according to the directions of the Word, shall most handsomely demeane himselfe in all estates. If God giuegive prosperity to a wicked man, it drownes him: Ease slayeth the foolish: Prou. 1. 32.But this man vseth it warily, without pride or insolency; he is taught to vse the world weanedly,1 Cor. 7. 31 as not vsing it. If he be in aduersity, which sinkes the sinner, this man beares it without impatience or murmuring, yea, he makes himselfe a great gainer by it. Gods word fits him for eueryevery estate: he can want, Phil. 4. 12.and abound; he is for peace or warre, for sicknesse or health, for life or death: no euill tidings can make him afraid. As a wise man he hath rule and power ouer his affections, and is free from vnruly passions.
5. He is the wisest man that taketh the best course for his own prefermēt: But so doth hee that walketh most exactly:1 Tim. 6. 6. Godlinesse is the greatest gaine. This man is euer in the way of preferment, hee stands still in the presence of God, liues continually in his eye; by constant honoring of him, hee is comming into place of great honour, and great honour is comming vponupon him. Hee hath wealth and riches, and is still storing vp as one couetous for heauen, is euer increasing in grace and glory.
6. He is the wisest man that can giuegive others the best and wisest counsell: But who is so well able to giuegive aduice, as hee that is best acquainted with the wayes of God? If experienced counsell be the best, who so fit as hee, who hath tasted how good God is: 1 Pet. 2. 3.Who so able as hee, whom God hath stored with wisdome, such as hath winded him out of many troubles, such as brought into his hands so rich a stocke, and reuenue of grace, and made him a patterne and example of piety and vertue to many other?
Which if it be so,Such as charge strict walking of sillinesse and folly, do… it with greater folly. then we might take occasion to reproue such as charge Gods people with simplicity and foolishnesse, and condemne them of much madnesse, in that they goe in a way vnknowne, vncouth, and contrary to the world. They cannot walke in the dirty path of sinfull pleasures, nor by the crooked rule of carnall policie, nor make the fashion of the world the measure of their conformity: but are content to walke in the straight way vntounto eternall life;Luk. 1…. 34 which the foolish world counts foolishnesse, and a simple sillinesse: but with greater folly: For God and his word approue them as the wisest men in the world, and so denominateth them, wise Virgins, wise seruants, wise marchants, &c. And our text cals them fooles that walke not circumspectly.