Christ Exalted and Wisdom Justified, Tract 2

Christ Exalted and Wisdom Justified · Tract 2

THE TEXT;

LUKE, 7.35.

But Wisdom is justified of all her Children.

THese are words of Wisdom, and oh that they may be words spoken in due season.

They are a part of the wisdom of God, being a portion of his written word and revealed will: They proceed from him that spake as never man spake, Jesus Christ the p. 2word essentiall, and wisdom of his Father: And they are spoken in the defence of wisdom against all the gainsaying sons and daughters of folly in the World; and directed to the children of Wisdom. Therefore it will be our wisdom to incline not only our ears, but our whole hearts to the hearing and receiving of them: I might deliver my mind in wise Solomons words, who was sirnamed for his admirable Wisdom Solomon the wise, because he preferred a wise and understanding heart above riches and honour, and therefore his wish being granted him, he ask'd wisdom, yea, he ask'd and had it, yea and had it so supereminently, that the World did ring of it in his lifetime, which brought the Queen of the South from far to visit him, and the Church hath rung of it since his death, yea, and all succeeding Generations will call him blessed, his memoriall being aeternized by those 3. admirable pieces of highest wisdom, his book of Proverbs, the book of the Preacher, and the Song of Songs. But that piece of his wisdom which I shall commend unto you is left upon Record, Prov. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? she standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the p. 3paths; she cryeth at the gates, at the entry of the City, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men I call, and my voice is to the sons of men: O yee simple, understand wisdom, and yee fools be of an understanding heart. Hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. In which words you have Wisdom speaking for it self, and speaking with a loud voice, speaking from the Pulpits, and house-tops, and high places; speaking from the press, and pressing herself upon you in the most earnest and publick manner, way-laying you in your paths, to catch you with guile in the indeavours of your Teachers, who become all things to all men, that by all means they may win some, lying at your City gates, and at your very doors, knocking in season and out of season for entertainment; to make short, she proclaims and commends such for wise and prudent that receive her, and brands, and condemns all such for fools, and bruits which refuse her, sed verbum sat sapientibus, I speak as unto wise men, judge yee what I say. From Wisdoms justifying of herself, we must …ass as the Text leads us to her justification …y her Children. For wisdom is justified of … her Children.

p. 4The words of my Text are also found, Mat. 11.19. and spoken in both places upon one and the same occasion: And they were occasioned by the morosity and frowardness of the unreachable Jews, whom no means could win upon, neither fair nor foul, rough nor smooth, John the Baptist came to them, clothed all in mourning, with a most sad, strict and austere gravity, as it did best become a Preacher of repentance, and they cry out that he had Divel.

And after the forerunner and harbinger, comes King Christ himself, but under the disguise of the Carpenters son, Christ he comes with all courtesie & affability, as it became a most gracious and propitious remitter of sins, and they charge him to be a glutton, and a wine-bibber, a friend of Publicans and Sinners: Neither Johns austerity, nor Christs courtesie could take with them, neither wind nor sun, means fair nor fowl could prevail with them to lay aside their sins, and submit to the Gospel. This is intimated by the comparison of childrens sports, of mourning and piping. saying unto their fellows, we have piped unto you, but yee have not danced, we have mourned unto you, but you have not wept: They would neither weep after John, nor dance p. 5after Christ; They had Copies both of mortification, and rejoycing set them by Christ and his fore-runner, but would write after neither, and therefore the Son and Spirit of God doth here implicitly call them fools in this disjunctive antithesis, speaking to this effect: Choose you whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, whether you will receive or refuse that wisdom from above, that is communicated to the World by John and my self: But know this of a truth, that the Children of Wisdom will receive it, and they are the Children of Folly that refuse it: Wisdom is justified of all her Children.

I shall first sense the words, and then observe a Doctrine, and in sensing of the words I shall open three things.

1. What we are to understand by Wisdom.

2. What by Wisdoms being justified.

3. Whom by the Children of Wisdom.

1. This word Wisdom is vox aequivoca, an ambiguous word, clothed with diversity of senses in sacred writ, to give you a taste.

1. Sometimes it is put for God the Father, p. 6who is the Father of Wisdom, as well as the Father of Christ, and the Father of the Elect: He is the God only wise, Rom. 16.27. and the giver of Wisdom, James 1.5. and to shew the transcendency of his Wisdom, the Apostle saith, the foolishnesse of God is wiser than men, 1. Cor. 1.25. Wisdom is not a quality in God as it is in men, but part of his Essence, and therefore as he is love it self, 1. Joh. 4.16. and light it self, 1. John, 1, 5. so he is ipsissima justitia, & ipsissima sapientia; righteousness it selfe, and wisdom it selfe: Nequit fallere quia justitia, nequit falli quia sapientia: He can neither deceive, nor be deceived, he cannot deceive because he is truth, or righteousness it self, neither can he be deceived, because he is Wisdom it self.

2. Sometimes God the Son is called by that name, for he is his Fathers Wisdom, as well as his Son, in which respect he is also called the Word, Joh. 1.1. because as the Word that comes out of mans mouth declares what is in his heart, (out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaking;) So Christ came out of his Fathers bosome to declare his will unto the World. Expositors do give their sense accordingly of that mystical Scripture, Prov. 9.1. Wisdom hath built her an house, p. 7that is, Christ hath built him a Church, and the Apostle calls him expressly Christ the power of God, and the wisdome of God. 1. Cor. 1.24.

3. Sometimes the spirit of God is called by that name, or something Equivalent, as Eph. 1.17. The spirit of wisdome.

4. But most usually by wisdome is meant the written word, or revealed will of God, because it containes, and holds out the manifold wisdome of God: Because it came from Wisdome it selfe, and was given by inspiration from God. 2. Tim. 3.16. And its tendency is to make wise: Its the true fruit of the tree of knowledge, fayre to look upon, and much to be desired to make one wise. The Scriptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, 2. Tim. 3.15. The word is therefore Pro. 1.20. according to the Originall called Wisdomes in the plurall number, because it abounds with with all fullness. Ps: 19.8. and 2. Tim. 3.16. And is so perfect and compleat a directory, that nothing may be added to it, nor taken from it. Deut. 4.2. Revel. 22.18, 19.

By wisdome here we are to understand chiefly the last of these, yet not excluding p. 8the rest: Gods Message to Mankind, The glorious Gospell of the blessed God: The great Embassy from Heaven sent by John and Jesus, that great Salvation that at first was preached by Christ himself, and afterward was confirmed by them that heard him. Hebr. 2.3. That sealed word that hath been witnessed by clowds of witnesses, and sealed by multitudes of Miracles; left upon record in the Magna Charta of Heaven, the Canonicall Scriptures, and faithfully handed down unto the Church as the keeper of it, the pillar and ground of the truth, by pastors and teachers as the true Successors of the Prophets, Evangelists and Apostles.

2. Secondly to give you the meaning of the next term, Wisdoms being justifyed.

Justification is in propriety of speech a Law term, signifying the cleering or acquitting of a person as innocent after a legall procedure, and Evidence received, so that he stands rectus in Curiâ, upright in judgment, as having a right cause.

And as borrowed from the Law it is transferred to the Gospell, and signifies an humble sinners full and free pardon of all his sinns and his gracious acceptation to mercy for th… imputation of the sufferings and righteousne… of Jesus Christ.

p. 9But here some Expositors do render the meaning of it, laudata est sapientia, Wisdom is praysed; others, honorata est sapientia, Wisdom is honoured: Both together do give you a full and most excellent sense of the expression.

1. Wisdom is praysed with the Mouth.

2. Wisdom is honoured with the Heart.

With the heart man believeth, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation: When the heart sets open its everlasting doors to entertain Wisdom in the beauty, and power, and fullness of it: And when out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will be speaking a good word for Wisdom, and make profession and confession on Wisdom's side; that is, to justifie Wisdom.

As God and Christ are justified, or magnified, or glorified, so is Wisdom; and that will be plain when we understand the different readings of that excellent Text, 1. Pet. 2.9. Yee are a chosen Generation, a royall Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people, that yee should speak forth the praises (saith one sense) that yee should shew forth the …ertues (saith another,) of him who hath p. 10called you out of darknesse into his marvellous light.

1. Then to justifie Wisdom, is to speak forth its praises.

2. To justifie Wisdom, is to shew forth its vertues.

1. To speak unto its praise, and

2. To live unto its praise, is to justifie Wisdom.

1. Our tongues must be tuned to give Wisdom its due acclamation; we may truely ascribe that unto Wisdom, which the people once did falsly and flatteringly to Herod, non vox hominem sonat! The Wisdom that we are speaking of, is the voice of God, and not of man. Or as when the Competition was betwixt Wine, Women, and Truth for supremacy; We may strike in with the last and say, Magna, maxima est veritas & praevalebit: Great is the Truth, and prevaileth! So we may cry ô Sapientia! Great and excellent is Wisdom, and excelleth over all.

Te facimus Regina Deam, caelo{que} locamus, This Queen of the Earth, we may cry up to the Heavens, and make a petty deity of her p. 11and yet be no Idola…ers; for so did Solomon, (one of Wisdom's eldest Sons) of old Prov. 4.7, 8. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get Wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding: exalt her, and she shall promote thee, yea she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost imbrace her; she shall give to thine head an Ornament of Grace, a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee: Who would not be prevailed with, to exalt Wisdom upon this very account, that it will exalt them and bring them to honour?

2. But this is not all: the heart is deceitfull, and fairest words do often come from fowlest hearts; therefore know further, that our yea, must be yea, when we commend Wisdom, when our tongues are let out in its praises, our hearts must say amen to it: we must not play the hypocrits in commending wisdom, by doing it ore tenus, and from the teeth outward; but we must honour it in our hearts, and shew forth its vertues in our lives: In justifying Wisdom we have to do with the God of Wisdom, the seeer and searcher of all hearts, and he will not justifie us in our hypocrisie: our own hearts may justifie us, and yet God may condemne us, for sordet in conspectu judicis quod fulget in conspectu operantis, that may p. 12look fowl enough in God's pure eyes, which looks fair in ours; But if our own hearts condemne us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things, as our Saviour said in another case, Not every one that saith Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven: I may say the like here; Not every one that can speak fair, and say, Wisdom is best, must passe for a child of Wisdom, and a justifier of Wisdom,— Video meliora probo{que} Deteriora sequor, — is a common practise, to see and praise the things that are exc…llent, and to pursue the contrary, was that that the Apostle charged home upon the Jews, Rom. 2.18. &c. And even a Poet could complain, Virtus laudatur & alget, Vertue is commended in words, but little regarded if we look to mens deeds: Therefore he that doth Wisdom's wills, which are the same that the Spirit of God calls foreign all the wills of God, Acts 13.22. I have found David the son of Jesse a man after mine own heart, who shall fulfill all my Wills, such a one as shall order his whole Conversation according to all Gods revealed will; and as it becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ; this is one that justifith… Wisdom.

p. 133. The third thing comes next under consideration; and that is, Whom we are to understand by the Children of wisdome. And here, I might give them many Characters whereby they may be known; but a few of the most Principall shall suffice.

1. You may know them by their Father; They are such as have received the Spirit of Adoption to cry Abba Father, and that spirit bears witness with their spirits that they are the Sonns of God, and if sonns then heyrs, fellow heyrs with Jesus Christ.

They are such as are effectually called out of the world and flesh, by the word and spirit; so that they are not conformable to this present world though they sojourn in it; neither doe they walk nor warre after the flesh whiles they are in the flesh. In a word, they are such as have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour into the powers of their souls, and by His sonship are made Sonns, and obtain that gracious and glorious priviledg to be the Sonns and Daughters of the Lord God Allmighty.

2. You may know them by their Mother; Jerusalem the holy, the Church Militant, is their Common Mother; They cleave fast unto that pillar and ground of the trueth: p. 14Whiles others turn retrograde, and runne their backs upon their fi…st love, they are ready to reply unto their Mother, as Peter did unto our Saviour, when he asked his Disciples Will yee also goe away? Joh. 6.68. Master whither should we goe? So they, Mother, whither should we goe, thou hast the words of Eternall life: Upon that Church of the living God, which is that pillar on which trueth hangs, they will hang too, and as inseparably clea…e to it as Ruth to Naomi: Who sayd bid me not leave thee nor forsake thee, for where thou goest I will goe, and where thou dwellest I will dwell: thy people shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God.

As Solomon gloryed in his Mother, saying, I am my Mother's Child, So will they, in the Church; Not in the Name, as the Jewes that cryed out the Temple of the Lord, and our Carnall professors that hang upon outside priviledges as the people in Noah's floud did upon the ou side of the Ark: But it is the Thing it selfe that they glory in, that they understand, and know the Lord. It is not the Temple of the Lord, b…t the Lord of the Temple that they make their boast of; not only that they have received the seal of their Matriculation in their Baptism, which is a Common p. 15livery that the Church gives unto all her visible followers: But that they have that trueth in the inward parts, which distinguisheth them from all hypocrites, and unsound professors and have their Testimony within, and their record on high, that God is unto them a God, & they are unto him a people.

3. You may know them by their Brethren. Simile gaudet simili: They love the brotherhood, and keep close unto the Saints Communion: They are birds all of a feather, and sheep all of the same pasture: Hear David speaking his own sense, and theirs. Away from me yee wicked, I will keep the Commandements of my God. The wicked should be none of his Councell, his soul should not come into their secret. But his delight was in the Saints, and in such as did excell in vertue; and he profest himself to be a Companion of all such as did fear God and keep his Commandements.

4. You may know them by their Enemies. The ignorant and disobedient, the spirit of God hath joyned them together. 2. Thes. 1.8. and therefore I shall not put them asunder. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angells. In flaming fire rendring vengeance to them that know not p. 16God, and that obey not the gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. David joynes them yet neerer and m…kes them both one in that Question of his; Are not they without understanding that work wickedness? Making the workers of iniquity, and such as are without understanding, to be one and the same; and its very obvious that David in his Psalms and Solomon in his Proverbs, do make the fool and the sinner to be Synonoma's, tearmes of one signification. Its the fool that sayth in his heart, There is no God; or else, Tush God cares not he hides away his face and will not see: Is there knowledg in the most high? Observe, the foolish Sinner hides God from himself, sayth in heart, Ther's no God, and then thinks he hath hid himself from God, Tush sayth he next, God sees not. But David saith enough, demonstratively to convince him. He that planted the Eare shall he not hear, and he that made the Eye shall not he see; or he that nurtureth the heathen and teacheth man knowledg, shall not he punish? I might adde further. He that takes his name from seeing foreign of foreign Quiu uno intuitu videt omnia praeterita, praesentia, & futura, at one entire act seeth all things, past, present, and to come, he that is foreign all Eye, before whose all p. 17seeing Eye all things are naked and manifest, it were strange indeed that he should not see: and yet ignorant Sinners dare take up such monstrous thoughts of the God only wise.

And as they think meanly of the father of lights; So they have like thoughts of the Children of light. They are ready to count such as preach, and search the Scriptures, to be but fools, and preaching it self they esteem but foolishness: but as the judgment of blindmen is of no value concerning colours, so neither of fools and madmen concerning wisdome. Hear the Apostle; Since in the wisdome of God the world by wisdome knew not God, It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that beleeve; As the wisdome of the flesh is enmity with God, so the wisdome of the spirit is folly with men. But let God be true, and every man a Lyar, let God be only wise and every man a fool; let that be Wisdom which God counts so, and let that be folly which he calls so; and then the fear of God must goe for the beginning of wisdome, and they that have no fear of God before their eyes, must wear the fools Coat, though they be never so noble, high, mighty, wise after …he flesh. However such as sit in darkness …d in the shaddow of death may flatter themselves, p. 18and speak evil of things that they kno… not, by speaking diminutively of the children and waies of wisdom; yet, if you will sit down by the testimony of such as have had thei… Eyes opened with Eye-salve from above, they are the readiest of all to befool and be- beast themselves in reference to thei… times of ignorance and vanity. Let David speak for all: So foolish was I, and ignorant; even as a brute before Thee. And they that speak thus of themselves, we need not make further inquiry, what they think of others. As one said once, Scientia (so we may now say Sapientia) nullum habet inimicum praeter ignorantem. As Science, so Sapience, hath no Enemy like to the Ignorant. Therefore as some of the Martyrs in Nero's time said, If they wanted a Mark to choose their Religigion by, they might doe wisely to make choice of that which Nero persecuted; so I may say, If men want a mark to know the children of VVisdom by, those are they whom the blind and leaprous rabble of carnal and worldly sinners have in scorn and derision.

5. You shall know them by their Fruits: A good fruits shew a good tree, so good works shew a gracious Soul. That's but a dead Fa… p. 19that works not, as the Apostle James hints, James 2.17. And the precious faith of Gods Elect is that that works by love. Gal. 5.6. Herein is my Father glorified, saith Christ to all the branches that abide in him, that ye …ring forth much fruit: (marke) fruite, and much fruit. A Christian's graces like grapes should grow in Clusters, 2. Pet. 1.10. Adde unto faith vertue, knowledge, temperance, pa…ience, godlinesse, brotherly kindnesse, love; …here's the bunch, and though it be large, yet must it not, like that the spies brought out of Canaan, be born betwixt two; every gracious …oul must be fraught with all this rich lading, …nd that is not all neither. These graces must …ot onelyonly be in them, but must abound in them. They must abound in grace, for they must …ave every grace; and grace must abound in …hem, for they must reach after all of every grace, forgetting that which is behind, and …eaching out unto the things that are before for …he prize of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus. And let as many as be perfect, be thus …inded. Where the grace of God that brings …dvation appears, and where that wisdom …at is from above comes, which makes Wife unto Salvation; these are the lessons …t it teacheth: First, to eschew evil, to deny p. 20ungodliness and worldly lusts. And secondly, to doe good; To live holily, justly, and soberly in this present world. Tit. 2.12. Thus have you the three tearms of the Text opened.

1. Wisdom.

2. Being justified.

3. Of her Children.

And nothing of difficulty now remains, but that we may draw up to some Conclusion which may be the natural result of the words.

Expositors, that tie themselves strictly to the Text, give us this as the sense of the holy Spirit in the words. Wisdom is justified of her Children. That is to say, Ab iis qui vere sunt prudentes, & intelligentes, of such as are truely wise, and intelligent, vel ab iis qui à patre sunt Electi ut sapientiae Dei sint participes. Such as are Elected of God the Father to be made partakers of his heavenly wisdom: And they are called the Children of wisdom in the same sense, as the receivers o… the Apostles and their doctrine are called Sons of peace, quia pacem amant, vel qui… electi sunt à Deo ut pacis sint participes … p. 21because they love peace, or because they …re Elected by the God of peace to be …ade partakers of the peace of God.

Those that have relation to the Context, …ive us these interpretations.

1. Of her Children, (i. e.) a Johanne & Christo, of John and Christ, dum nihil praeter…iserunt quod esset utile saluti hominum; who …eclared unto the Church God's whole will, …nd withheld nothing back from the sons of …en of Gods great Counsell. Et hic est sen…s magis genuinus, saith the Author of it; This is the most natural and proper sense.

2. Others think that sense too narrow, be…ause St. Luke, addes ab Omnibus filiis, Of all …er Children, and therefore take in wise …earers, as well as teachers. Those that …lose with Gods wise purpose in revealing the Gospel, and are not beaten off by prejudice …f persons from receiving and imbracing it. That will receive the message that comes …rom God by any Messenger that comes, …ther in a Legal severity, or Evangelical lenity. … shall not defraud you of the variety by ta…ing one sense and leaving the other since …ey will agree together so lovingly to make … the full meaning of the Text, but shall p. 22give you the marrow of all, in this following point of Doctrine.

Those Ministers that do faithfully teach, an… those hearers that do chearfully receive the word of Wisdom, are thereby known to be th… Children of Wisdom; and in so doing, VVisdom is justifyed.

We shall take the Doctrine in sunder, because it falls so naturally into parts, and shew you.

1. First, that Wisdom's children are wise Teachers.

2. Secondly, that VVisdom's children are wise Hearers.

But my scope in both, shall be rather to describe unto you by certain characters and marks, who these are, both wise Teachers, and wise Hearers distinctly and apart, than light a candle to shew you the Su… by proving these to be the children of Wis… dom, which appears so plainly in the very meaning of the Text, as if it were written p. 23with a Sun-beam, that such as run may read ….

1. It being clear from the Text, that wise …eachers are Wisdom's Children; and not only …o, but filii natu majores, the elder and more …oble of the family, to whom the priority of …ignity of right belongs: I shall lay down …ertain marks to know them by,

1. Their first care is to lay a sure foundation.

2. They build sutable materialls upon it.

3. Their work is progressive, and carrying on towards perfection.

1. In their Church work, and Bethel build…ng, their great care is to lay a sure foundati…n, or rather they account it their Masterpiece to keep close to that foundation that is …lready laid; for other foundation can no man …ay than that that is laid, and that foundation is Christ. 1 Cor. 3.11: This the Apostles have …aid to our hand, as Paul saith there in the …erse precedent, According to the grace which is given unto me as a wise Master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another …uildeth thereon. Or rather indeed, this chief p. 24Corner-stone which was refused by the builders, when he came to his own, and his own received him not, God the Father who was the Master builder indeed, hath layd as a sound Foundation, a rock to build his Church upon, and so sure a one, that the gates of Hell can never prevail against it. See 1 Pet. 2.6. which is taken out of Isay, 28.16. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tryed stone, a precious Corner-stone, a sure foundation, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Or what if I said, this stone hath laid himself as the foundation of the building, it were no monstrous, nor heterodox principle, for the Apostle is plain, Hebr. 2.3. and saith, That great Salvation which the Gospel brings to light, began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him: God also bearing them witnesse, both with signes and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will. And Christ is called a living stone, 1 Pet. 2 4. and 'tis no incredible thing that a living stone should lay it self, yea, and bege… other living stones too. 1 Pet. 2.5. To who… coming as to a Living stone, disallowed indee… of men, but chosen of God, and pretious, yee also p. 25as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. This is that living stone, that of dead stones raises up children unto Abraham; that turns all the Elect into Free-stones, to build himself a Temple, according to that of the Psalmist, Psal. 110.

3. Thy people shall be willing (or free) in the day of thy power, and if the Son have made them free, then are they free indeed, Joh. 8.36. And therefore Gods called ones, who are quickened and made alive, and have access by one spirit unto the Father, are said to be fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God, and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the building fitly framed …ogether, groweth unto an holy Temple in …he Lord, in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through …he spirit. Its reported of Amphion, that he was so exquisite a Musitian, that playing up…n a Lute that Mercury gave him, the stones …hat built Thebes followed him to the place …here they should be laid: The Morall of …he fiction is given us thus. He was so p. 26mighty in oratory, that with his wonderfull faculty, he brought together a rude and savage and stony hearted people to live peaceably and lovingly together in Thebes where he was King.

But such is the mighty power of the Royal King Jesus, the King of Saints, and King of Kings, and Prince of Peace, that he makes the Woolf to dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard to lie down with the Kid, and the Calf, and the young Lyon, and the Fatling together, and a little Child to lead them, and the Cow and the Bear to feed their young ones together, and the Lyon to eate straw like the Oxe, and the sucking child to play on the hole of the Aspe, and the weaned child to put his hand in the Cockatrice den, Isay, 11.6, 7, 8. The meaning of all which is no more, but that this omnipotent King shall take away hearts of stone, and give hearts of flesh, and make such a wonderfull change upon men and manners, as if there were a new Heaven, and a new Earth, wherein dwelt righteousness. But I forget my self, its easie to be lost in the Labyrinth of Christs Excellencies, and so long as I am not besides my foundation, I am well enough. In the 12th. of the Revelation you may read of a woman clothed with the Sun, p. 27treading upon the Moon, and crowned with a Crown of twelve stars, and surely Solomon in all his royalty was not arrayed like this wonderfull woman. I know you will readily turn aside to behold this strange sight. Know then, that this woman was the Church, compared to a woman for three things.

1. Her weakness, the woman being the weaker sex.

2. Her fruitfullness, the Church is a breeding woman, bringing forth sons and daughters to Christ.

3. Her love towards her Husband, her heart is alwaies towards Christ.

Her Sun-clothing was the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, or Christ mystical, which believers are said to put on, Rom. 13.14.

Her treading upon the Moon, is her despising, or setting light by all sublunary and terrestrial things.

Her Crown of twelve stars is the Churches enriching and beautifying with the doctrine of the twelve Apostles; now observe,

Though the Apostles writings are the Churches crown, yet the cloth of Gold that p. 28she is arrayed in, is Jesus Christ: Though the Apostles lie next to the foundation, or may be taken in as part of the foundation, yet Jesus Christ hath still reserved this priviledg to himself to be the chief corner stone.

And this stone is also a touchstone to try who are wise Master-Builders. Whosoever brings any other Gospel (i. e.) Whosoever layes any other foundation, let him be accursed. Gal. 1.8, 9. Its doubled in the two verses, as if he had sayd what is sayd. 1 Cor: 16.22. Let him be Anathema Maranatha, cursed with a curse, double accursed. Babel-builders will content themselves with a Sandy foundation: But Bethel-builders will have a rock (the rock,) Or nothing. Super hunc Petrum will serve the builders of Rome: Upon thee Peter will I build my Church: But Super hanc petram, is the sense of the reformed Churches, they will build upon the rock Christ, for they will own no other foundation.

Stand but upon this rock, or upon the Churches Mount, and take a prospect of the Enemies of the Church and truth, and you may easily conjecture that they are building a Babel by the Confusion of their languages: p. 29and on the other hand view the Orthodox, and you will find so much onenesse in their heart, and mouth, that its most conclusive that it is Christs spirituall Temple that they are raising: Why do the faithfull Ministers of England fight with beasts here (as Paul did at Ephesus) in the shapes of men and Women; but out of a resolution to contend unto bloud for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints? Why do the Gospells and Churches freinds shew themselves in the high places of the field against those men, and Women-Monsters that have militated under the names of Ranters, Quakers, and others, but that they are revolted into such a damnable Apostacy, that with their Heresies, and Blasphemies they indeavour to overturn the foundation. Oh that the Lords remembrancers would give him no rest, but cry mightily day and night against these crying sinns, which threaten to overturn both Church and State. Let us keep close to the foundation, least we be robbed of our Crown. Thats the Counsell that the spirit gave unto the Church of Philadelphia. Revel. 3.11. and the Apostle gave the same in effect unto the Church of Colosse. Col. 2.18, 19. Let no man beguile you of your reward, in p. 30a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angells, intruding into those things that he hath not seen, vainly puff't up in his fleshly mind, and not holding the head, from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

2. Though it be a rule that Dimidium facti qui benè cepit habet. A good beginning is like to have a good ending: Yet we must proceed to the following Markes, whereof the next that was named is: That wise builders after they have layd a sound foundation, do build suitable materialls upon that foundation. To make use of the Apostles allusion. 1. Cor. 3.12. They build gold, silver, and precious stones upon that foundation: Their second care is that the Superstruction be suitable to the Foundation: Their Doctrines, Reproofes, Corrections, Instructions in righteousness, Their Convictions, Admonitions, Exh…rtations, Consolations shall be all Scripture-proofe. They will gather, guide, and teach the Churches not according to fa…cy, but according to rule: They will be carefull to do what the Apostle so expressly commanded his Son Timothy. 1 Tim. 4.16. Take heed unto themselves, and the doctrine, p. 31and continue in them, knowing that in so doing they shall save both themselves, and those that hear them. They will tast and try truths for their people, and be sure that it be sincere milk, and wholesome meat that they commend unto them: They will weigh and touch all that passes for Gold, and be sure it be right, if not weight before they offer it unto those of their charge. They will keep close unto the pattern of wholsome words, knowing that Heterodox speaking will soon overthrow Orthodox believing and living: Scripture tells them what difference was between a Sibboleh and a Shiboleh, Judges 12.6. and antiquity informs what a breach an foreign and foreign made in the Church, and therefore they will not swerve so much as an hairs bredth, a letter or a sylable from the standard of the word, knowing the unavoidable danger of adding to the word, or taking from it. Their indeavour is to speak out the words of wisdom and sobriety, that such as savour the things of the spirit may readily close with them, as with the true sayings of God. They will not, like the sons of Novelty, and Factors for Heresie sore so high, and walk aloft in the clowds, that none shall understand them: Those high swelling p. 32words of vanity, the spirit of God makes a mark of Heresie, Jude 16. They will not deliver themselves of such aeriall conceptions as shall amuse their Auditors, nor like the divels oracles speak with forked tongues, that you may well suspect them to be the serpents seed, and walking with cloven feet, that you may say of them as Christ did of the Jews, Yee are of your Father the Divel; But the words of the wise are pure words, as Solomon saith, and such as become the simplicity of the Gospel: I need say no more concerning this mark, but only give you the Assembly note upon that place, 1. Cor. 3.12. That the Apostle by Gold and Silver, and precious stones understands pure and solid truths, such materials as Isay the Evangelical Prophet, and John the prophetical Evangelist did lay down for the materials of the Holy City, the Heavenly Jerusalem; and these are opposed to curious fancies, and philosophical conceits, and all such teaching as tends rather to ostentation and seduction, than edification, which are by him compared to timber, hay and stubble.

3. The third mark whereby these sons of Wisdom are to be known is, that they are still driving on towards perfection, hear one p. 33of them speaking the sense of the rest, Hebr. 6.1. Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection▪ Though there are some like a Mill-wheel, all the year in motion, and at the latter end at the same place, as in the beginning, alwaies learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth, yet this dwarfish stature, as it is no credit, so no comfort unto their spirituall Fathers: They count those hearers to be their joy and their crown, that thrive and increase in knowledge, and glorifie God by bringing forth much fruit, and stand fast in the faith, in the midst of shaking times, finis coronat opus, its the end that crowns the action, and therefore they are carryed on with a longing desire to be laying the top stone, that the acclamation of grace, grace, may be given unto it. They are still leading on their followers from grace to grace, and revealing righteousness from faith to faith.

You shall never hear them flattering men into that fools Paradise of being already perfect, its legal to be reproved for sin, and to be instructed in duty. Its beneath the spirit of the Gospel to be under ordinances, and mans teaching; these are beggerly rudiments, and they can make their brags of more sublimated p. 34and seraphical Doctors; yea, they talk as if their Churches were like Alciabiades his Armie all Commanders, and all Teachers; like that monstrous body which the Apostle in derision of such a fancy, supposes, 1. Cor. 12.17. where the whole body is eye, and there is no hearing. This and such like is the language of false Prophets, and sons of delusion and folly, and not the sons of Wisdom; and whensoever you hear any of these enchantments, wherewith deceivers go about to bewitch the people, then look to your selves that we lose not the things for which we have laboured, 2 Joh. 8.6. We labour for your souls, desiring not yours, but you, if they are lost to you, they will be lost to us too, a great losse to us, for they that turn many to righteousness shall be graded in glory accordingly; but an invaluable loss to you, For what will it profit a man though he should gain the whole World, if he lose his soul? Surely the Apostle saith enough to awake any rational man out of that dream of sinless perfection, when he saith, Whosoever saith he is without sin, is a Lyer, and if a Lyer be no sinner, he may flatter himself that he is none, but that place that is instar omnium, as good as a whole clowd of Witnesses, is p. 35Phil. 3.12. Not as if I had already attained, or …ere already perfect, but this one thing I do, forgetting that which is behind, and reaching …ut unto the things that are before, pressing forward towards the mark for the price of the high calling, which is in Christ Jesus, and let as many as be perfect be thus minded. (Observe the words well, and you will find in the beginning of them a perfection which the Apostle had not,) and that was a sinless perfection that is not attainable in this life, where we know but in part, and are sanctified but in part; 1. Corinth. 13.9. And in the close of those words mention is made of a perfection, which the Apostle had, and which the children of God must have, and that is a perfection of sincerity, such as God injoyned unto Abraham, Gen. 17.1. I am God allufficient, walk before me, and be thou perfect; and though a sinless perfection be not attainable on this side Heaven, yet it is the mark that the Saints aim at, and they are still pressing towards it: Its their petition, Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven, and their wish! Oh that my waies were made so direct that I might not sin against thee, that I might keep thy statutes: They comply with God in that desire of his for Israel! Oh that there were in them but such an heart that they might love me, and keep p. 36my Commandments alway, &c. Deut. 5.29. & this affectio Christiani est perfectio Christiani, God is graciously pleased to take the will for the deed; and as it is the Saints aime, so it is the longing desire of their Teachers, and therefore when they have planted, they betake themselves to watering, and fain they would reap where they have sowen: They resolve to go on with unwearied diligence through thick and thin, through all opposition, (through evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true, as dead, and yet alive, as poor despised things, yea, rather no things, things that are not, and yet making many rich, as having nothing, yet possessing all things:) If Christ may but increase, so it be by their decreasings, they can with the Baptist make it their glory and rejoycing, and if Christ be exalted, though it be upon their ruines, they have their consolation. A good builder sits down and counts the cost, that he may be as good at finishing as beginning, whereas its the reproch of a foolish builder that he leaves in the midst of's work, and having begun, is not able to finish.

Right buildings indeed will indure the fiery tryall, 1 Cor. 3.13. Every mans work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare p. 37it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and …he fire shall trye every mans work of what …ort it is, &c. Whether we understand it of …he tryal of the Spirit, which by the light of …he Word doth manifest the verity or vanity of the doctrines of men, in which sense we …re to understand the Apostle, 1 Joh. 4.1. …here he bids us Try the Spirits whether they …re of God, or whether we understand it of …ribulations, temptations, or persecutions, …hereby sound doctrine is tryed, and differ…nced from false, by bearing up the spirit …hen all other fails.

I might here take up some time in laying …efore you marks of false Teachers, and …ons of folly, but Rectum est mensura sui & …bliqui; a streight Rule will as well shew you …hat is crooked, as what is streight: If those …hen be the Children of Wisdom, that,

1. Lay a sure foundation.

2. Build Gold and silver upon it.

3. Go thorough with their work.

Then by the Rule of contraries, they must …asse for the Sons of Folly that,

p. 381. Erre in the foundation.

2. Build with rotten materials.

3. Apostatize, and fall away from their work having put their hand to Gods Plough, do loo… back.

The second part of the Doctrine is; Tha… Wisdom's children are wise Hearers: I shall not spend time to prove that it is so, since it results so naturally from the Text, according to the interpretation that I have given of it. But as in the former part I shewed you by certain infallible marks how you may know wise Teachers from foolish, so I shall here in like manner indeavour to paint out wise Hearers in their colours, that you may be able to distinguish them from the Children of Folly. Know then that they are wise Hearers, not that are Hearers only, or will take some pains to read and study, and know the word, and do no more, though these are good and commendable things, provided that they are introductory to better things, otherwise their tendency will be but to aggravate mens condemnation, for He that knows his Masters will, and doth it not, shall be beaten with the more stripes.

p. 39But they have the true Marks of wise Hearers upon them, that

1. Believe or receive the Word.

2. Retain the Word,

3. Practice according to the Word.

4. Propagate the Word.

1. Wise Hearers are such as Believe, or Receive the Word; for both these may be well comprehended under one head; as Receivers of Christ, and Believers in Christ are Synonoma's, and tearms that belong both to one thing, Joh. 1.12. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: So the Receivers of the Word, and Believers of the Word are all one, Acts, 2.41. They that gladly received the Word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about 3000. souls; Hearing attentively may bring the History and Notions of Christ into mens heads, but its the receiving and believing of what is heard that brings the mystery and possession of Christ home unto their hearts: The Apostle tells us that faith cometh by hearing, Rom. 10.17. and that without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. p. 4011.6. And therefore except we hear the Word believingly we cannot please God. The Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation, but it is through the faith that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 3.15. And the Apostle on the other side notes, that the Word that was preached to the Jews of old did not profit them, because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4.2. That was the best ground of the four that received the seed into depth of Earth, Luke, 8.8. and that shaddowed out those honest hearted Hearers that do receive the word into the deep of their hearts: If the bodies receptive faculty be not good, there ensues an foreign a listlesness, and loss of appetite, and that body must needs languish of an Atrophe, and dye of a Consumption for want of nourishment, and it fares no better with the queasie soul that receives not the Word, and Christ into the powers of it. Take notice therefore of this mark, and make it a touch-stone to try your selves by: Observe how earnest the Apostle is in pressing to it, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves, whether you are in the Faith, prove your own selves, know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you, except yee be Reprobates: Its as much as if he had said; p. 41Oh try, try, try your selves, whether you are in the faith: And David was as earnest with God upon the same errand, as the Apostle was with men, whereby it appeared that he desired to be a man after Gods own heart indeed. Psal. 139.23, 24. Search me O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting; Where he saith in effect, as much as Lord, try, and try, and try me, as if he would have all the three angles of his deceitfull heart put upon tryal. Be sure to take your errand with you, which is, that every wise Hearer, is a believing Hearer; And he that hears believingly, is one that justifies Wisdom, he sets to his seal that God is true, yea, Good and Wise, and Just, and Mercifull, and many waies he glorifies God, and justifies Wisdom, our faith being our reasonable, and our universal service: But he that hears the Word, and remains an unbeliever, ignorant still, and disobedient still; no change wrought upon heart or life; note that man for a foolish Hearer, he's as evident to be known, as a fool by his fools cap, or his fools coat.

Oh that all hearers might be prevailed with to try themselves by this mark, and not to do it superficially, but thoroughly. I am p. 42confident that many figures of men and women that go for Professors, and are taken by themselves & others to signifie much, would be found to be meere Cyphers, crowd as many of them together as will fill a volume, and they will stand for nothing, but we may give up the count of them like beginners in Arithmetick; adde nought to nought, and it makes nought, take nought from nought, and there remains nought. Surely when Christ shall come with his fanne to purge out of his Kingdom things that offend, and all the workers of iniquity; so much of the heap will fly away in the chaff of light Professors, that the remaining wheat will be so small a remnant, that we may say, not with the Prophet, what is the chaff to the wheat in respect of excellence, but on the contrary, what is the wheat to the chaff, in respect of bulk and quantity; surely, if trees be to be judged by their fruits, we see seducers and deceivers run away, as it were with the ball upon their foot; when many a faithfull Minister may say with Peter; Master, we have fished all night, and caught nothing; Or cry out with the Prophet of the paucity of Believers, Lord, who hath believed our report, or to whom hath the arme of the Lord been revealed, Isay, 53.1.

p. 432. A second mark of wise Hearers is, that they retain the VVord, you may know who are retainers to God, by retaining his VVord; love the King, and love his Laws, love God, and love his VVord: No Lord Keeper so honourable, as the keepers of the VVord, for Christ the blessed of the Father calls them blessed; blessed, "yea blessed, yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it:" The virgin was rather blessed in conceiving Christ in her heart, than in her womb, and if all Generations do call her blessed for the one; I am sure Christ himself gives her blessedness a rise, and preeminence for the other. A certain woman, as Christ was speaking, lift up her voice, and said, blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked; But he said, yea rather blessed are they that hear the word, and keep it, yea blessed are the people which have the Lord to be their God saith David, Psal. 144 15. Yea blessed are the people that have the VVord of God to be their treasure. The truths of Gods VVord are like arrows in the hands of Gyants; blessed is he that hath his Quiver full of them. As Christ did repel Sathan with Scripture, so must we, that shield of Faith will quench all the fiery darts of the Devil; p. 44I have hid thy Word within my heart said Holy David, and by so doing he was made wiser than his Elders, Enemies, Teachers: Solomon teaches us to dig for it, as for hid treasures, Prov. 2.4. And David teaches us to lay it up as hid treasure; when corn is sowen in the best ground it must be covered with depth of Earth, if we look for a crop, otherwise we may expect that the fowls will devour it there, as well as by the way side; and when this immortall seed of the Word is sowen in our hearts, it must be received into deep furrows, and covered; if ever we will purchase the repute of fruitfull and wise Hearers That the body may receive sound nourishment, and be strong and lusty indeed; its requ…site that the retentive faculty be strong▪ as well as the receptive, otherwise the body falls into an Apepsie, and languishes for wan… of nourishment, and even so, and no otherwise it falls out with the soul. Its as true in spirituall good hu bandry, as well as other, no… minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tuer… good keeping, or carefull saving is good getting; I'l close with that, Luke, 8.15. That o… the good ground are they which in an hone… and good heart, having heard the word keep … and bring forth fruit with patience; whic… p. 45last words of bringing forth fruit leads us to the,

3. Mark of a wise Hearer, or such Hearers as are children of Wisdom, which is; that they are such as practise according to the Word: Our principles and practises must be twins, and go hand in hand; Laus omnis virtutis in actione consistit, is a rule in Divinity, as well as Humanity: The practical Christian doth as far excell the meer nominal or notional thing, as the thing doth the Name, or the Power of Godliness, doth the forme: Our Saviour told his Disciples that except their righteousness did exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharises, they could not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: The Scribes had a form of knowledge, and the Pharises a form of Godliness, but Christs Disciples must have the power of both: You shall never hear the word promise much unto the meere hearers of the Word, except they be more than so; Blessed are they that hear and keep, as you heard before; and if yee know these things, blessed shall yee be if yee do them, Joh. 13.17. Revealed things belong to us, that we may know and do them, Deut. 29.29. Its pitty saying and doing should be thought to be two mens offices by us Teachers, and its pitty p. 46knowing and practising should not meet in the same men amongst our Hearers; as the ignorant and disobedient make the Epitome of profaness, 2 Thes. 1.8. So knowing our Masters will, and doing it, is the very summe and substance of our Religion; for they are not the hearers of Gods Word, and the knowers of his will, but the doers that shall be justified, Rom. 2.13. As one saith of the 119. Psalm, which gives us an account of Davids pious practise; so may we say of the whole Word of God; they are verba vivenda non legenda, rules to be lived over, and not only to be read over, like lessons in Musick, that are never well learnt till we have practised them; when we can say with David, Lord thy Word is a lanthorn to my feet, and a light unto my paths; and we have cleansed our waies by ruling our selves after Gods Word, then are we good proficients indeed. Many think it a great matter to have the Bible in their houses, though they count a pair of Tables to be the more necessary and usefull ornament of the two; some think it enough to have the Bible or some good book sometimes in their hands, and if they have some confused notions of Religion in their heads, this is some great matter; But Moses taught p. 47the Israelites to go a degree further, if they would be true Israelites indeed. Deut. 6.6. These words which I command thee shall be in thy heart, and yet this Mark in hand carryes further, our heads must not only affect our hearts, but our hearts must also set all the wheeles of our Conversation in motion, only let your Conversation be as it becommeth the gospel of Jesus Christ, This is the unum magnum, what ever is forgotten let this be remembred, for thereunto we are ordained to shew forth his vertues, who hath called us out of darkness into his mervelous light.

4. The 4th. and last Mark of wise hearers is. That they propagate the word: True Wisdome is Communicative, and the Children of Wisdome do improve their talents by imparting them: They are as free of their Counsells as the Sun of light, that lends it to all under the same horizon: They are as free of their graces as the Sea of its Waters, that lends them to the earth and rivers, and like rivers in their Course, they fill all empty pitts in their passage. They have drunk freely of the living waters at the fountain hea…▪ and as they have freely received, so they are as free to give. Nascitur indignè per quem non nascitur alter. As Creatures desire to p. 48Communicate their being, so the new Creature desires nothing more than to Communicate well being to relations. They consider that as no man is born for himself, so neither new born; and therefore when Christian parents have begotten infants in their sinfull likeness, they travel in birth again untill Christ be formed in them, and they are born anew of the word and spirit. Recoile to the forecited place, Deut. 6.6, 7. These words shall be in thine heart, but they must not rust there, for it follows, thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou lyest down, and when thou risest up, Christ…ans and wise hearers must like provident husbands lay in prov…sions in their full treasures, even truth new and old, but with faithfull Joseph they must draw them out in times of scarcity to their families, freinds, Enemies, and must prove themselves good Neighbours to all that need th…m: That they may shew themselves not only to be true Sonns of Wisdome, but Sonns of their heavenly father, who causes his sun to shine upon the good and bad, and his rain to fall upon the just and unjust. It was Davids rejoycing that he had p. 49hid the word in his heart, and again that he had not hid it: That he had hid it for himself, to be a bridle to hold him back from sin, and to be a spurre to put him on to duty. That he had not hid it from others, but was willing to publish it upon the house topps, and to propagate it to the great Congregation, yea to old and young. Come yee Children and hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Ps. 34.11. Christ Commands Peter when he is converted to strengthen his brethren. Luke, 22, 22. Those that with Andrew and Philip have found Jesus themselves, should bring others to him as they did Peter and Nathaniell. Joh. 1.41, 43. Oh what golden times should we have, If insteed of Homo homini Lupus, & Homo homini demon: It might be sayd homo homini deus, & homo homini Jesus. If insteed of one mans being a Wolfe to another, by rendering Evill for Evill, and one mans being a Divell to another in rendering Evill for good; If insteed of these I say, one man would be a God un…o another, and a Saviour unto another, and deal so Christian like as to overcome Evill wtih good. That they would shew true brotherly love unto one anothers soules, by not suffering sin upon their p. 50brethren, but telling them plainly of their faults, and by provoking one another unto love, and to good workes. I shall close up this Mark with that expression of our Saviour in that memorable prayer of his for all the members of his body mysticall. Joh. 17. where v. 9. he saith I pray not for the world, but for them also which thou hast given me. and v. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. Noting that true converts will shew themselves to be such by propagating the word, and to be the Children of wisdome by Communicating wisdoms precepts, principles, and practises to others, their light shining before men that they may be stirred up to glorify the father of lights; which is in Heaven.

Now if these things be so, that the Children of wisdome are wise hearers, and they are known to be so by these Markes, then it w…ll be most manifest by the rule of Contraries. That.

1. Such as receive not, and believe not the word.

2. Such as retain not, and keep not the word.

3. Such as practise not the word.

4. Such as propagate not the word.

p. 51All these are unprofitable hearers: such as in hearing hear not, and Wisdome it self disownes them as none of her family, but the Children of folly.

We shall Modell our Application into 4. Uses.

1. Of Exhortation:

2. Of Direction.

3. Of Caution.

4. Of Consideration.

1. USE.

1. Use is Exhortation: As David saith be Wise O yee Kings, be learned yee that are judges of the Earth: So I may Exhort, Be Wise O yee Teachers, be learned yee that are hearers of the Word. Men do account it one of the greatest reproaches to be accounted fooles, and esteem it one of the greatest credits to be reputed Wise: And if Wisdome after the flesh do look so lovely, Wisdome after the Spirit doth farr out-shine it, David and Salomon have wrapped up the fool and the sinner under the same Notion: O yee fooles when will yee understand sayth David. p. 52Ps. 94.8. And O yee simple ones how long will yee love simplicity, and fooles hate knowledg? Prov. 1.22. I shall onelyonly use Salomons Exhortation, Pro. 8.5, 6, O yee simple understand Wisdome, and yee fooles be of an understanding heart. Hear, for I will speak of Excellent things and the opening of my lipps shall be right things. and Prov. 9.14, 16. Wisdome sitteth at the dore of her house to call Passengers, Who so is simple let him turn in hither. And as the Apostle bespake his Corinthians when he had been Comparing gifts and graces. Covet yee the best things, and behold I shew you a most excellent way. 1. Cor. 12.31. and that is to be done in a

2. USE,

2. Use, which is of Direction, upon which we should look as intentively as Eve did upon the fruit of the tree of knowledg, the text sayth it was pleasant to the Eye, and to be desired to make one wise: And this is no forbidden fruit neither, yea it is Commanded fruite, and whosoever will may take it freely; Ho every one that thirsteth Come yee to the waters, Come, Come, Come, yea Come and wellcome, though you Come without money, p. 53and welcome, though you come without money, and buy Wine and Milk, yea, better blessings than Milk and Honey, the bread and water of life, the sincere milk of the Word, and Wisdom that will make wise unto Salvation, which is sweeter than Honey, and the Honey-comb; would you be made wise, and attain unto true Wisdom? Me thinks you should be as greedy of it, as you are of life and prosperity, which David concludes to be every mans vote and desire: What Master is he that lusteth to live, and would fain see good daies: Yea, who is it but would profess himself to be that man? Its but rational to expect that every rational soul should joyn in Moses's prayer, Psal. 90.12. Lord teach us so to number our daies, that we may apply our hearts unto Wisdom. In order thereunto take these three brief directions.

1. Labour to be wise in Heart.

2. Labour to be wise in word.

3. Labour to be wise in walking.

Our thoughts, words and actions do make up the totum integrale, the totality of a Christian Conversation; and what manner of persons ought they to be in all manner of Conversation? p. 54And that they may be exact in all, compleat, and lacking nothing, their thoughts, words and actions must be seasoned with this salt of true Wisdom.

1. The heart must be seasoned; The heart is primum vivens in the spirituall life, as well as the natural; and that being the sacrifice of the God of Wisdom, must be first given up to God; my son give me thy heart, was the demand of Solomon, and is the demand of him that is greater than Solomon: As nothing that God gives Believers can satisfie them without himself; so nothing that they can give back unto God will satisfie him without themselves: I desire not yours, but you said Paul to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 12.14. And we may conceive God speaking so to us, without Benjamin there was no seeing the face of Joseph, and without Jesus there's no seeing the face of God, and without the heart there's no seeing the face of Jesus: The eyes that the eye salve from above opens, are the eyes of the inner man: The first gift that God gives, is that that Solomon first wisht, an understanding heart, and in seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, he had cast in as vantage ex abundanti, Riches and Honour. That Wisdom that floates above p. 55in the head, comes so short of true Wisdom, …hat without this heart, Wisdom is but eru…ita ignorantia, a finer sort of folly, or more earned ignorance: There's abundance of …eady Wisdom in the Land, carnal, sensual, …nd devilish Wisdom, which makes men wise …or the World, and for the flesh, and wise to do wickedly, (though indeed David saith; they are without understanding that work wickedness.) And this serpentine Wisdom wanting the simplicity of the Dove to joyn with it, hath begotten those Paroxismes in Church and State, which may make work for Israels mourners in their Lamentations, both …n our dayes, and after-ages: from whence have sprung all our State-projects, and all …hose Heresies, Schismes, and Novelties in the Church, have they not been the cursed and unhappy off spring of worldly Wisdom, and wanton wits! Oh that we could unanimously labour for that Wisdom that is from above, which is first pure, and then peaceable, and will prompt us to contend unto bloud; for that faith that was once delivered to the Saints, and to lay our whole possibility to preserve verity, purity and unity, to indeavour all that in us lies to keep the unity of the spirit in the …ond of Peace. Observe what Solomon saith, p. 56Prov. 2.10. when Wisdom entreth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee! Oh be sure that when you hear, or read, or study, that you do it in good earnest, and as for your souls, and for eternity. Apelles was exact in Limming, because said he, pingo Eternitati, I limme for Eternity. Ministers should be diligent in preaching, be instant in season and out of season, and Hearers should be diligent in hearing, and all in practising from the same consideration, that we preach, and you hear, and both live for Eternity! Oh let our understandings open to let Wisdom into our hearts, and let our understandings and hearts like double doors fly wide open, to give entrance to the King of Glory; Let us be sure that we understand and and believe aright; for sound Doctrine makes a sound judgement, a sound heart, a sound Conversation, and a sound conscience, and on the contrary, false Doctrine makes an erroneous judgement, a deceived heart, a rotten Conversation, and a wounded or seared conscience; and in order to the attainment of this hearty VVisdom; Let us,

p. 571. Set the fear of God before our eyes, which is the beginning of Wisdom.

2. Search the Scriptures, and dig for Wisdom, as for hid treasures.

3. Lift up our voices for understanding, and ask wisdom of God.

4. Remember our latter end, for the numbering of our daies will cause us to apply our hearts unto Wisdom; and Moses said of Israel, oh that they were wise to consider this! Oh that they would remember their latter end!

2. The speech must be also seasoned with this salt of Wisdom: The word hath no other meaning when it bids, let your speech be seasoned with salt, Col. 4.6. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth must speak, and we must utter from the heart words of Wisdom: It is said of our Saviour, that all that heard him admired at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, Luke, 4.22. and its our duty to be so savory in our conference, that our words may administer grace unto the Hearers; Index animi sermo, the speech shews how the heart goes, as the hand shews how the clock goes, a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things, and an evil p. 58man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things; as with the heart man believeth, so with the tongue man confesseth, and professeth to Salvation; As the hearts of the wise are pure hearts, Mat. 5.8. so the words of the wise are pure words; let us remember that of every idle word account must be given, and by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned.

3. And as we must be wise in thinking, wise in heart, and wise in speaking, wise in tongue; so we must be wise in walking, wise in action. Take heed that yee walk circumspectly, foreign exactly, treading never a step awry; it follows not as foolish, but as wise, redeeming the time, foreign Its a Metaphor borrowed from Merchants that will loose no time while the market lasts, Eph. 5.25. like that before men ioned, Phil, 1.27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ: As if he had said, would you have one rule for all, then take this, let your conversation be a Gospel becoming conversation; Its said of Peter and John, that all that saw their boldness wondered at it knowing that they were unlearned men but they took notice that these had been with Jesus, Acts, 4.13. Oh let all that p. 59we have our conversation amongst have cause to take notice from our gracious words, and unblamable conversations, that we have been with Jesus, and that the grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto us, and taught us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live holily, justly and soberly in this present World, Tit. 2.12. 1. Pië erga Deum, 2. Justè erga proximum, 3. Sobriè erga teipsum, &c.

1. To walk holily towards God.

2. Righteously towards our Neighbour.

3. Soberly towards our selves.

These 3. comprehend the summe of wise and circumspect walking, Or;

1. When we walk wisely towards our selves, and those that are within, indeavouring to build up our selves and them in their most holy faith.

2. When we walk willingly towards those that are without, labouring by our instruction, and exemplary conversation to reclaim them, this is to be wise in walking.

p. 603. USE.

3. Use, Is Caution, wherein my scope shall be to fortifie the well-meaning hearers against seducers, and all such sons of strong delusion, that lie in wait to deceive, and that manage their deceiving trade with such efficacie of errour, that the spirit of God attects it, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect, and I shall enter my caveats in this order,

1. Against false Teachers.

2. Against false Hearers.

1. The Teachers that I would forearm you against by forewarning you, are,

1: Such as deny the Scriptures.

2. Such as pervert, or wrest the sense of them.

3. Such as Cry up something else beside, or prefer something else before Scripture.

1. Such as deny Scriptures. Contra principia negantem non est disputandum, never hearken to such as agree first to blow out the p. 61light, that all may be left in darkness; for if once our light be out, the blind must lead the blind and all fall into the pit. Oh the height of madness that men are arrived at, that dare to do more than the Divells themselves, for though they set men awork to deny the Scriptures, yet they beleeve them, yea Credunt & tremunt, they believe the dreadfullness of perfected damnation, and tremble to believe it.

2. Such as pervert the sense, and wrest the Scriptures, that handle the word deceitfully, and cosen soules like Cheaters by Cogging of a die, as the word in the originall signifies, foreign Ephesians. 4.14. Hereticks do squeez bloud insteed of Milk from the Churches breasts, the two Testaments. They go about to make the word speak Contrary to the sense of the holy ghost, underpropping their damnable Errours with the Scripture, as if they had been taught by their father the Divell to bring a Scriptum est for their own advantage. Mat. 3.6.

3. Such as Cry up something else insteed of Scripture. Additions, or Traditions, and call them Revelations, and new lights to make them the more taking, which for the most part are nothing else but,

p. 621. Papisticall or Sophisticall Receipts.

2. Phantasticall Conceipts, or

3, Diabolicall deceipts.

The Prophet that hath a dream, let him tell his dream, but he that hath my word let him preach my word faithfully, for what is the chaffe to the wheat, saith the Lord. Jer. 23.28. And the Prophet Isay sends to the Law and to the Testimony, Isay. 8.20. and thats an extinguisher to all new, no-Lights, that speak not according to this rule, for it concludes it is because there is no light in them. And the A…ostle is most expresse, Gal. 1.8. Whosoever shall bring any other gospel, let him be double accursed. Shut your eares against such enchauntments, for false doctrine frets like a Cancre, and spreads like a Leaprosy or gangrene; and shut your dores against such seducers, least you open a dore to the Divell, you had as good entertain such as have the Plague upon them as such as these.

But from Men of f…ber judgments, sound principles, and peacable spirits I disswade not, notwithstanding there may be some Circumstantiall differences in opinion betwixt them and such as are thought to be more Orthodoxe.

p. 632. My next Caveat lies agrinst false hearted hearers, and I shall Caveat you against 3. Sorts.

1. Such as are of dissolute lives, and debauched Conversations.

2. Such as do magnify Seducers.

3. Such as are given to change.

1. Such as having lived long under the power of the word, and a searching Ministry, are notwithstanding of debauched Conversations. It must needs trouble Creatures that are rationall, if they should be shut up with doggs and swine, and have no other Company, and such hearers are Compared to such bruites, give not that which is holy unto doggs, neither cast yee your pearles before swine. Mat. 7.6. And the Apostle Saint Peter sayth. The dog is returned to his vomit, and the sowe that was washt to wallow in the mire. 2. Pet. 2.22. Wo is me saith David that I am constrained to dwell with Meseck, and to have my habitation amongst the tents of Kedar. Ps. 120.5. The Apostle commands the orderly to withdraw from every brother that walketh inordinately. Such whose sinns have been Sermon-proofe for many yeeres standing p. 64old drunkards, swearers, Sabboth-breakers that have long setled on their lees, been frozen in their dreggs, and have laine soaking in their lusts. Its too probable a sign that God hath given his ordinances a hardening Commission concerning such, and hath sealed, and seared them up for condemnation, by saying let them be ignorant and disobedient still, and when he will not open, theres none that can, When God will not succour, the barne and wine… presse cannot. When God hath punished hardness with hardning, an affected senslesness with an inflicted senslesness, and hath blinded, deafned, fatned mens Eyes, Eares, and hearts, thers no possibility of seeing, or hearing, or understanding, or being converted, or being healed. When an Architect hath come into his timberyard time after time for many yeeres together, and cull'd out pieces for service, and hath still thrown aside other Cross-graind, knotty, or crooked pieces, you will easily conclude that they are designed to the fi…e, and that will be their end. Hear the Apostle. Hebr. 6.7, 8. The Earth which drinketh in the rain that commeth oft upon it, and bringeth forth hearbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth the blessing from God. But that which beareth p. 65thornes and bryars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. If Lazarus did stink when he had been but three daies dead, what shall we think of them that have been dead in sin some 20. some 30. some 40. some 50. some 60. yeeres? Surely these are not fit for Gods people to make familiars, and bosome-freinds of, we ought to pitty them, and pray for them and restrain them from sin, and study to do them good, but we must keep at a distance from them, that they may be ashamed.

2. Such as magnifie seducers: These are Satans decoyes to bring plain-meaning men and women into the snares of seducers: Oh they are sweet men, heavenly men, men of such choice notions, affable carriage, winning expressions, and plausible lives, and many such good morrows! Oh that you would but hear them, and be acquainted with them, and many allurements to the same tune: As for your Teachers they are old and out of fashion, they tell you of nothing but what is in the Bible, and they tell you the the same things over and over. But my brethren never like a Preacher the worse for his old matter, and his plain language, for you are directed to stand in the way, and inquire for the p. 66old way, which is the good way, and you shall find rest unto your souls, Jeremy, 6.16. And the Apostle glorified in plain teaching, 1. Cor. 2.1. And I brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellencie of speech, or of Wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God; For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified: And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, and my speech, and my preaching was not with entising words of mans Wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit, and of power, that your faiih should not stand in the Wisdom of men, but in the power of God; And as you must not like an Orthodox Teacher the worse for his old truth, and plain languages; so neither must you think the better of the Heterodox for their high swelling words of vanity, and notions of novelty: Never have a false Prophet in the greater esteem for his sheeps clothing, he is a ravening VVoolf for all that, and the chief shepherd gives his sheep warning to beware of such disguised ones, and sets this mark upon t…em, John, 10.5. A stranger they will not follow, but will fly from him, for they know not the voice of Strangers.

3. Such as are fickle hearers, and trade altogether p. 67in changeables; lunatick men that change as often as the Moon, that changeable Planet. We count them fools that are ready to follow every vain fashion in their apparrel, gestures and complements, and can we think them wise that are carryed away with every wind of Doctrine, like the weather-cock that turns with every wind, or a ship that wants Ballast, that is tossed from coast to coast, and driven upon rocks and quicksands: The Apostles counsell is; Be not carryed about with divers and strange Doctrines, for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, Hebr. 13.9. noting that such unsetledness in judgement is a symptome of an unestablisht heart, such lenity shews them to be but chaff, and it cannot be expected that chaff can stand before such whirl-winds. A reverend brother saith, leap-christians are not much to be liked, such as commence per saltum, and usually leap out of one extream into another, as if they were possest of such a Devil as the Demoniack in the Gospel, that cast him sometimes into the fire; and sometimes into the water. Ficklenesse doth exceedingly disgrace the Gospel, and stedfastness doth as much credit it; be yee stedfast and unmoveable saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15. ult, Wisdom's p. 68children should be like Mount Syon, which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever. While others are like the waves of the Sea when the wind is upon them, that cannot rest; sound Christians should be like the rocks of the Sea, that cannot be moved. The Apostle speaks of such as have itching ears; the itch in the body is a fulsome disease, but the itch in the eare is far worse; take heed of catching this itch, for when you are once sick of it, you will covet a multitude of Teachers, whose tongues have caught a lax to scratch them: The wise mans advice is excellent, and the children of Wisdom will not refuse it, Prov. 24.21, 22. My Son, meddle not with them that are given to change, for their calamity shall rise suddainly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both, Consortium indicat virum, A man may be known by his consorts; mix not thy self therefore with strangers, nor changers, seducers nor seduced, for they will be cut off at once, deceivers and deceived will fare both alike, being blind leaders, and blind followers, and one pit (but it is bottomless) prepared for them both: Therefore of seducers and seduced, we must say as it was said of Simeon and Levi, that they were brethren in iniquity, Gen. 49.6. and as Jacob p. 69said of them, we must say of these; O my soul, come not thou into their secret, unto their Assembly, mine honour, be not thou united, and as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and upon the whole Israel of God; I have spoken in my directions, and cautions, as unto wise men, judge yee what I say, and the Lord who is the giver of Wisdom, and the God only wise, give you understanding in all things.

4. USE.

And the last is of consideration, wherein I shall commend unto your serious consideration these few things.

1. That Wisdom justifies it self.

2. That God justifies Wisdom.

3. That the time is near when Wisdoms enemies, the children of Folly, will justifie Wisdom.

1. Wisdom justifies herself, res ipsa loquitur; The word speaks a good word for it self; what an admirable plenitude there is of Scripture, that is said to be perfect from which nothing can be taken, and to which p. 70nothing must be added, and such a perfection there is in Scripture, Deut. 4, 2. Revel. 22, 18, 19. see Ps. 19, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The Law of the Lord is perfect, &c. there's a whole huddle of expressions follow like a clowd of Witnesses speaking the same thing, and Junius gives us the sense of them all in that short account, doctrina Jehovae integra est, The doctrine of Jehova is perfect, see further of this subject, 2 Tim. 3, 15, 16. The Scriptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus: All Scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works, we need not say who shall ascend into Heaven, to fetch Wisdom from above, the word is nigh us, God God may challenge us with a quid amplus? what could I have done more; Qui pereunt non possunt justè de Dei sapientia conqueri: If men perish in this clear sun-shine of the Gospel, every one must say, it is for want of sight, and not for want of light.

2. God justifies Wisdom: If I bear witness of my self saith Christ, my Witness is nothing, my Father beareth witness of me, Joh. p. 715.31, 32. So may Wisdom say, if I bear witness of my self, and have none else to justifie me; my witness is nothing, my Father beareth witness of me, for God is Wisdom's Father, as well as Christ's. How hath God justified Wisdom even in our daies, by making errours to be but like a fan, to separate the chaff from the wheat: Its necessary saith the scripture, that heresies should be in the Church, that those that are perfect may be approved, and manifest, Nil tam certum est quàm quod ex dubio certum est, that is usually made most sure, which is made sure through many doubtings: As strong trees take deeper rooting for being shaken of strong winds; so doth faith by distressing doubtings, though doubting being in its nature opposite to believing, yet hath it such an accidental tendencie to the increasing, and strengthening of a Believers faith, that its owned as a maxime in Divinity. Qui nunquam dubitavit nunquam credidit; The oftner a mans title to an Estate hath been questioned, and disputed in the Law, and still carryed, the stronger is the owners assurance. The sun usually shines brightest when it comes out of a dark clowd, and so doth Truth when it triumphs after a victory gotten upon errour. How hath God of late p. 72stained the pride of wanton wits? How many loose opinions are already fallen to the ground before Truth, like Dagon before the Ark, and the rest are tottering.

Novelties have been like Jacob's venison, too soon caught to be right, and have also been like Jonas gourd, up in one night, and down in another; Truth and Holiness shine the brighter for opposition, no thanks to your opposers, but all to our wise God, that brings light out of darkness, and good out of evil.

3. The time drawes neer when the very Enemies of Wisdome will justify Wisdom. And that either,

1. In their Conversion, or,

2. In their Confusion.

1. Convincingly and Convertingly. If God look upon them in a time of love, and the day of his grace; for then they will condemn themselves, and befoole and bebeast themselves, as you may see David doing. He befooles himself, Ps. 38.5. My wounds stink and are Corrupt through my foolishness. And he both befooles and bebeasts himself. Ps. 73.22. So foolish was I and ignorant, p. 73even as a very bruit before thee, thus do they glorify God in the day of their visitation. 1. Pet. 2.12.2. Confoundingly. When God shall speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure: When the day of his grace and patience is at an End, and his abused long-suffering breaks out into fury. Then out of their own Mouths God shall judge these unprofitable servants. Read their Confession, Wisdom, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Though it be somewhat aliene to the Canon of Orthodoxe Scripture, being part of the Apocrypha, yet its a most Orthodox and Canonical Truth; Then shall the Righteous stand with great boldness before the face of such as have tormented him, & taken away his labours, when they see him, they shall be vexed with horrible fear, & shall be amazed for his wonderful deliverance, and shall change their minds, and sigh for grief of mind, and say within themselves, This is he whom we sometimes had in derisi…n: and in a parable of reproch We fools …hought his life madness, and his end with…ut honour: How is he counted among …he children of God, and his portion is among …he Saints? Therefore we have erred from …e way of Truth, and the light of righteous…ess hath not shined unto us, and the sun of un…rstanding rose not upon us, we have wearied p. 74our selves in the way of wickedness and destruction, and we have gone through dangerous waies, but we have not known the way of the Lord; what hath pride profitted us? Or what hath the pomp of riches brought us? all those things are passed away like a shaddow, and as a Poast that passeth by, &c. Read the Chapter throughout to the end, and read it over and over, for all the Advocates for Wisdom on this side Heaven are not able to speak more to the purpose in Wisdom's Justification; so powerfull is our wise God, our God only wise, to extort a confession from any mouth for to serve his gracious and wise purpose.

As Mordecay once said to Ester, whether thou wilt appear for the Jews or not, they shall have a deliverance from another place, but thou and thy Fathers house shall be destroyed, and who knows whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? Ester, 4, 14. So I m…y take my farewell of you, whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, remember that you had warning, whether you will shew your selves to be Wisdom's children or no, Wisdom shall b… justified without thanks to you; God is able out of stones to raise up children unto Abraham, and out of the very mouths of Enemies, Fools and Devils to justifie Wisdom.

p. 75A short Postscript or Conclusion.

READER,

Christ doth here offer to make thee gracious, that hereafter he may be made glorious in thee; Though a word to the Wise be said to be enough, yet here are two, and yet I hope not one more than enough; joyn thy prayers with mine, and thy practise with both, that they may be words in season: The Scriptures mind us of two Words.

1. The word Essential, the Son of God

2. The word Written, the Word of God.

Here are both in a narrow room; The first is the Word that was made Flesh, and the second is, the Word that is made spirit, and both for us men, and for our Salvation; That these may prove so, is the aime of the Treatise, and the prayer of its Author, who is

Thine if thou be Christ's, or thine own, RICHARD EEDES.