Works, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
RUles of Wiſdome concerning God, and the things of God, are four. Rules of wiſdome concerning things of God 1 Love God as the chiefeſt go…d.1. That God is to bee loved above all, and that for himſelf, being the chief good. This is the ſcope of the whole firſt Table, the firſt and the great Commandement, Mark 12.33. To love God with all the heart, all the underſtanding, all the ſoul, and all the ſtrength, is more than all burnt offerings and ſacrifices, as the Scribe conf…ſſed; whereupon the Text infers hee anſwered (… cordate) diſcreetly, wiſely, and that in Chriſts Judgement. This is wiſdome, to give God the firſt place, firſt thoughts, firſt ſervice, chief praiſe and precedency; for, of him, and through him, Rom. 11.36.and from him are all things.
2 An…ther chief point of ſpiritual wiſdome in the things of God, is, 2 Purchaſe Chriſt above all gain.to purchaſe Chriſt and Remiſſion of ſins above all things in the World. The ſound Chriſtian is that wiſe Merchant, that ſells all to buy the Pearl, that is, Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs; that wiſe builder, that lays Chriſt a ſure foundation in his heart: Hee is of the number of thoſe Wiſe Virgins, that will bee ſure (what ever they lack) to furniſh themſelves of Oyl in their Lamps to meet their Bridegroom. Wiſdome will procure the beſt commodities, and chief gain, which is Chriſt both in life and death. Phil. 1.…1.Paul was a wiſe Merchant, who eſteemed all things as droſs and dung in compariſon of Chriſt. So were the Diſciples, ſaying, Maſter, wee have left all and followed thee. John 6.63.So were the Martyrs, whom the world accounted ſimple fools, in following Chriſt, with the loſs of life and all. Happy is that ſoul, and filled with ſound and ſaving Wiſdome, that comes to Chriſt with this reſolution, Maſter, thou haſt the words of eternal life, and whither ſhall I go?
3. Let us prefer in our election and choiſe, things of higher nature, 3 Chuſe beſt things firſt.before things of inferiour; for wiſdome keeps a method, by which it ever ſubordinateth lower things to higher. This rule our Saviour preſcribeth, Matth. 6.33. Firſt ſeek the Kingdome of God, and his righteouſneſs, and then the things of this life; Firſt provide for heaven, and then for earth. By which rule of wiſdome, 1 All profits and pleaſures muſt give place to piety; for all is but pidling gain to godlineſs. 2 By this rule of wiſdome, the ſpecial calling and trade of life muſt give place to the general calling, which is the trade of Chriſtianity. 3 By this rule a Chriſtian muſt chuſe to bee rich in God and good works, rather than in the world; which becauſe the Rich man in the Goſpel neglected, hee is called fool for his labour. Luke 12.10.4 By this rule we muſt with David, Pſalm 4.more affect one glimpſe of Gods favour and countenance, than all Corn, Wine, and Oyl, that is, the moſt neceſſary and delightful profits in the World. 5 By this rule wee muſt make more account of pardon of ſins looked up in our breaſts, than of the whole treaſury of a Kingdome in our cheſts. 6 By this rule wee muſt eſteem a grain of grace above a million of gold. And 7 a poor godly man, above a wicked Prince, Eccleſ. 4.13. Better is a wiſe Child, than an old fooliſh King, which will not be admoniſhed.
4 Fear God, and keep his Commandements; for this is the whole duty of man, 4 Fear God & keep his CommandementsEccleſ. 12.13. This is to apply our hearts to Wiſdome; to ſet our hearts, to keep Gods commandements, and do them. This is our Wiſdome, Deut. 4.5. Who is a wiſe man among you, indued with knowledge? Let him by good converſation ſhew his works in meekneſs of wiſdome, Jam. 5.13. A Wiſe man will attend the mouth of the King, and will fear the danger of the Law: So a wiſe Chriſtian will walk in the Law of the Lord, Pſalm 119.1. and will bee ſure to keep him to this rule and warrant contained in the word of God, Gal. 6.16. And as a Wiſe man is careful to keep his Aſſurances and Evidences for the certainty of his Lands and earthly Livelihoods, and is loath to forfeit any of them by failing in any of the conditions: So it is the Wiſdome of a godly man to keep the word ſafely in his heart, which aſſureth him of his eſtate in heaven, and which hee is loath to forfeit by failing in the conditions and clauſes of it.