Works, Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
CHAP. II. What Circumſpect Walking is, and wherein it conſiſteth.
OUt of which ſo ſubſtantial a ground, it ſhall be worth our labour to inquire what this Circumſpect Walking is; for we may not conceive it as any carnal craft and policy by which a man is wary to ſave his goods & outward eſtate, as many crafty heads and worldlings caſt about, and continually contrive with all warineſs to ſave themſelves and their profits, and he muſt riſe early that can get the better of them in any bargain. Neither is this Circumſpection any ſuch policy and warineſs in matters of Religion, as relinguiſheth any good duty to which it hath calling, or any practice of holineſs, for outward profits and commodity, or to preſerve outward peace and pleaſures, as many crafty and deceitful Proteſtants, that are ſo circumſpect, as they will profeſs a Religion which ſhall coſt them nothing. Neither is this Circumſpection in any thing contrary, or croſs to that dove-like ſimplicity and Chriſtian innocency, What it iswhich is the ornament of holy profeſſion. But is a carefull and exact proceeding in the ways of God, according to the rules of God: even as a work-man moſt exactly fitteth his work by the level and rule, and departs not from it.
And in what.Now to this Circumſpection are four things required:
To circumſpect walking four things required.1. A knowledge of the right way, which is as the light, guiding him to ſet every foot ſafely. For let a man be never ſo circumſpect and wary, if he be in the night without a light, and without a guide, he can never walk ſecurely and ſafe. The Word is the Lanthorn, and the Commandement is the light. And when wiſdom enters into the heart, and knowledge delighteth the ſoul, then ſhall counſel preſerve thee, and understanding ſhall keep thee, and deliver thee from the evil way, Prov. 2.11, 12.
2. A diligent watch and care to keep from all extremities, to turn neither to the right hand, nor to the left. For it is hard to keep a mean, we being very propenſe to extreams. Satan cares not ſo he can conquer us, whether it be by curioſity or by careleſneſs; whether he can keep us out of the Church, or caſt us out by our own conceits; whether he can keep us ſo cold, as no good thing greatly affects us, or whether he can make us boil over with unbridled zeal, that becauſe we cannot have all the good we would, we will refuſe a great deal of good we might have. A Circumſpect Chriſtian will diſtinguiſh good from evil, and not refuſe good for evil, for that is an extremity.
3 An holy jealouſie and ſuſpicion, leſt the heart be deceived through the deceitfulneſs of ſin. The moſt ſimple-hearted Chriſtian is a moſt wary man, that is, of his own hearts ſlipperineſs, ſuſpecting himſelf in all thing…, fearing in all things leſt hee ſhould offend God. He knoweth ſin lies in ambuſh, and ſuſpects the inſinuations of it. As he that is very circumſpect for the World, is moſt ſuſpicious of others, leſt they over-reach and beguile him: So one that is moſt circumſpect for heaven, doth more ſuſpect himſelf than any other.
4 A Provident Walking, by which a man is able to foreſee future danger and evils to prevent them, and provide for ſuch things as may beſt beſtead him in the way. Thus Solomon ſpeaks of the circumſpect and prudent Chriſtian, that he forſees the Plague, and hides himſelf; and learns of the Emmet to provide in Summer for Winter. This property of Circumſpection we ſee in the wiſe Virgins, that prepared Oyl in time. All theſe are inſeparable properties of a provident and circumſpect walking.
Which is injoyned us in ſundry other places of ſcripture, as Prov. 4.26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be ordered aright. Matth. 10.16. Be wiſe as Serpents: This Serpentine wiſdom is nothing elſe but Chriſtian Circumſpection. Heb. 12.13. Make right ſteps unto your feet▪ as good runners, who not onelyonly ſpeed themſelves in the way, but are wary to keep the right way, which they know is the ſhorteſt, and ſo carefully obſerve every ſtep and every advantage.
CHAP. III. Of the next Words of the Apoſtle, further explaining Circumſpect Walking. Not as unwiſe, but as wiſe.
THe Apoſtle here expoundeth what he meaneth by circumſpect walking, namely, a wiſe ordering of a mans ſelf according to the rules of Chriſtian Prudence. For wiſdom is two-fold, either Worldly and Carnal, or elſe Heavenly and Spiritual.
This diſtinction is the Holy Ghoſts own, in Jam. 3.15, 17. where both of them are at large deſcribed. True wiſdom, what it is.Our Text ſpeaketh of ſpiritual and heavenly wiſdom, which is ſuch a gift of God, as both directeth and effecteth, or cauſeth a man to do that which is acceptable and pleaſing unto God. Wherein it is much diſtinguiſhed from humane wiſdom, which is meerly contemplative knowledge; but this is an active knowledge, giving rules and guidance in practice and action, Eccleſ. 10.10. The excellency to direct a thing is wiſdom. As a Coach-man in a Coach, ſo ſpiritual wiſdom in the heart, orders the whole motion of a Chriſtian in all his ways.They are wiſeſt men that walk moſt ſtrictly.
The connexion implies, that thoſe be the wiſeſt men that walk moſt exactly, Prov. 14.8. The wiſdom of the prudent is to underſtand his way, Deut. 4.6. Keep them, and do them, for this is your wiſdom, and your underſtanding in the ſight of the people: — OnelyOnly this is a wiſe people and underſtanding, Prov. 23.19. O thou my Son, hear, and be wiſe, and guide thy heart in the way.