God's \visdom is seen in befooling wise men, and making their wisdom a means of their overthrow. Ahithophel had deep po- licy, 2 Sam. xvi. 23., " The counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled, in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God :" but he consulted his own shame. The Lord turned his counsel into foolishness, 2 Sam. xvii. 23.; Job v. 13., " He taketh the wise in their own crafti- ness ;" that is, when they think to deal wisely, he not only disappoints them, but insnares them. The snares they lay for others catch themselves, Ps. ix. 15., " In the net which they hid, is their own foot taken." God loves to counterplot politi- cians; he makes use of their own wit to undo them, and hangs Haman upon his own gallows.
Use 1st. Adore the wisdom of God ; it is an infinite deep the angels cannot search into, Rom. xi. 33., " His ways are past finding out." And as we should adore, so we should rest in the wisdom of God; God sees what condition is best for us. Did we believe the wisdom of God, it would keep us from murmuring. Rest in God's wis- dom in several cases : I . In want of spiritual comfort. God is wise, he sees it good some- times we should be without comfort. Per- haps we should be lifted up with spiritual enlargements, as Paul with his revelations, 2 Cor. xii. 7. It is hard to have the heart low, when comfort is high. God sees hu- mility is better for us than joy. It is bet- ter to want comfort, and be humble, than to have it, and be pioud. — 2 In want of bodily strength, rest in God's wisdom ; he sees what is best. Perhaps the less health the more grace ; weaker in body, the strong- er we are in faith, 2 Cor. iv. !(»., " Though our outward man perish, yel the inward man is renewed day by day.' At Rome there were two laurel-trees ; when the one withered, the other flourished. The inward man is renewed. When God shakes the tree of the body, he is now gathering the fruits of righteousness, Heb. xii. II. Sick- ness is God's lance to let out the imposthume of sin, Isa. xxvii. 9. — 3. In case of God's providences to his church : we wonder what God is d<>ing with, us, and are ready to kill
ourselves with care, rest in God's wisdom; he knows best what he hath to do, Ps. Ixxvii, 19., " Thy footsteps are not known." Trust him where you cannot trace him. God is jjiost in his way, when we think he is most out of the way; when we think God's church is, as it were, in the grave, and there is a tombstone laid upon her, God's wisdom can roll away the stone from the sepulchre. Christ Cometh " leaping over mountains," Cant. ii. 8. Either his power can remove the mountain, or his wisdom knows how to leap over it. — 4. In case we are low in the world, or have but little oil in our cruse, rest in God's wisdom, he sees it best ; it is to cure pride and wantonness. God knew, if thy estate had not been lost, thy soul had been lost. God, he saw riches would be a snare unto thee, 1 Tim. vi. 9. : art thou troubled that God hath prevented a snare ? God will make thee rich in faith ; what thou lackest in temporals shall be made up in spi- rituals : God will give thee more of his love. Thou art weak in estate, yet God will make thee strong in assurance. O rest in God's wisdom ! he will carve the best piece for thee. — 5. In case of the loss of dear friends, a wife, or child, or husband, — rest satisfied in God's wisdom. God hath taken away these, because he would have more of your love ; he breaks these crutches, that we may live more upon him by faith. God would have us learn to go without crutches.
Use 2d. If God be infinitely wise, then let us go to him for wisdom ; as Solomon, 1 Kings iii. 9, 10., " Give thy servant an understanding heart ;" " and the speech pleased the Lord." And there is encour- agement for us : " If any one lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not," James i. 5. Wisdom is in God, tanquam infonte, — as in the fountain ; his wisdom is imparted, not impaired ; his stock is not spent by giving. Go then to God : Lord, do thou light my lamp ; in thy light shall I see light ; give me wisdom, to know the fallacy of my heart, the subtilties of the old serpent, to walk jealously towards myself, religiously towards thee, prudently towards others ; guide me by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory !
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OF GOD'S POWER.
OF GOD'S POWER.
THE next attribute is God's power, Jolj ix. ll'., " If I speak of strength, lo, lie is strong." In tliis cliapter is a magnificent description of God's power : " Lo, lie is strong !" The Hebrew word for strong^ signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. " He is strong :" the superlative degree is intended here, viz '* He is most strong." He is called, El-shaddai, ' God almighty,' Gen. xvii. I. His almightiness lies in this, lie can do whatever is feasible. Di\dnes distinguish between authority and power ; God hath both.