Works, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Proving ſtrict walking to be the wiſeſt walking.
1. HE that is but a little acquainted with the Scriptures, ſhall eaſily obſerve, that he who walks moſt ſtrictly according to Gods word, is led by Gods wiſdom, which makes him diſcern between good and evil, foreign Ariſt.and ſo walketh at a certain, by a moſt right and conſtant rule and direction; ſo as you ſhall find him ſquare and ſtable, of good judgement and ſound reſolution in the things he is about. He is the wiſeſt man that followes the wiſeſt guide. But what man is he that feareth the Lord? that is, walketh exactly: Him will the Lord teach the way that he ſhall chuſe, Pſal. 25.12. Whereas it is a juſt puniſhment of careleſneſs, to wander as vagrants and unſetled perſons in the way of Religion, and grounds of Chriſtianity, and to be toſſed and tumbled every way with the waves of inconſtancy, and doubtfulneſs in every thing, for want of ſound information and judgement in the wayes of God; and needs muſt ſuch be as wavering in their practice, as in their judgement.
2. He is the wiſeſt man, that being to journey, takes the ſafeſt, ſhorteſt, cleanneſt, and moſt lightſome way; But ſo doth he that walks more ſtrictly and circumſpe…ly; he onelyonly walks ſafely, becauſe he walks ſincerely; whereas in declining Gods ways but a little, there can be nothing but fears without, and terrors within, and danger on every ſide, which nothing but uprightneſs can fence out. So who can deny but God himſelf hath deſcribed the righteſt, and ſo the ſhorteſt way to heaven, which is the way over which he holds his own light? And howſoever many aſperſions and foul things be caſt upon it, yet this is the onelyonly clean way of holineſs and innocency that leadeth to the Holy of Holies, into which no unclean perſn or thing can enter.
3. He is the wiſeſt man whoſe words and actions, being ſcanned moſt narrowly, will abide the trial: But thus muſt needs his words and actions be found, that is moſt exact and ſtands moſt ſtrictly to the word. So David ſaith, Then ſhall I not be confounded, when I have reſpect to all thy Commandements, Pſal. 119.6. and Job 31.35. The Almighty will witneſs for me, though mine enemies write a Book againſt me. Let the enemies of Grace, ſlander, reproach, and traduce for a time the ways of Gods righteous ſervants, He will make their righteouſneſs break out as the light, Pſalm 37.5.& time ſhal ſhew they were not ſo overſhot as the world deemed. For, ſtanding ſtraitly to the word, they may truly ſay with Jeremy, Lord, If I be deceived, thou and thy word hath deceived me.
4. He is the wiſeſt man that beſt acquits himſelf in al eſtates: but he that walks preciſely according to the directions of the word, ſhall moſt handſomly demean himſelf in all eſtates. If God give proſperity to a wicked man, it drowns him; Prov. 1.32.Eaſe ſlayeth the fooliſh; but this man uſeth it warily, without pride or inſolency; 1 Cor. 7.31.he is taught to uſe the world weanedly, as not uſing it. If he be in adverſity, which ſinks the ſinner, this man bears it without impatience or murmuring; Phil. 4.12.yea, he makes himſelf a great gainer by it. Gods word fits him for every eſtate; he can want, and abound; he is for peace or war, for ſickneſs or health, for life or death, no evil tidings can make him afraid. As a wiſe man lace hath rule and power over his affections, and is free from unruly paſſions.
5. He is the wiſeſt man that taketh the beſt courſe for his own preferment: But ſo doth he that walketh moſt exactly, 1 Tim. 6.6.Godlineſs is the greateſt gain. This man is ever in the way of preferment, he ſtands ſtill in the preſence of God, lives continually in his eye, by conſtant honouring of him, he is comming into place of great honour, and great honour is comming upon him. He hath wealth and riches, and is ſtill ſtoring up as one covetous for heaven, is ever encreaſing in grace and glory.
6. He is the wiſeſt man that can give others the beſt and wiſeſt counſel: But who is ſo well able to give adviſe, as he that is beſt acquainted with the ways of God? If experienced counſel be the beſt, who ſo fit as he, Who hath taſted how good God is? who ſo able as he whom God hath ſtored with wiſdom, 1 Pet. 2.3.ſuch as hath winded him out of many troubles, ſuch as brought into his hands ſo rich a ſtock and revenue of grace, and made him a pattern and example of piety and vertue to many others?
Such as charge ſtrict walking of ſillineſs and folly, do it with greater folly.Which if it be ſo, then we might take occaſion to reprove ſuch as charge Gods people with ſimplicity and fooliſhneſs, and condemn them of much madneſs, in that they go in a way unknown, uncouth, and contrary to the world. They cannot walk in the dirty path of ſinful pleaſures, nor by the crooked rule of carnal policie, nor make the faſhion of the world the meaſure of their conformity, Luke 13.34.but are content to walk in the straight way unto eternal life, which the fooliſh world counts fooliſhneſs, and a ſimple ſillineſs, but with greater folly; for God and his word approve them as the wiſeſt men in the world, and ſo denominateth them Wiſe Virgins, Wiſe Servants, Wiſe Merchants, &c. And our Text calls them Fools that walk not Circumſpectly.