Wisdom comprehends two things, 1. Knowledge of the nature of things which, in the creature, is called science. 2. Knowledge how to govern, order and dispose them, which, in the creature, is cdXled. prudence ; these things in a man are but faint shadows of that which is in God, in the most absolute perfection ; he fully knows himself, for his understanding is infinite, Psal. cxlvii. 5. and the thoughts he thinks towards us, Jer. xxix. 11. And as he perfectly understands himself, so likewise all things that are without himself, Acts XV. 18. " Known unto God are all his works from the begin- " ning of the world.'"' Together with all the secret designs, thoughts, and purposes which lie hid from all others, in the inmost recesses of men's hearts, Psal. cxxxix. 2.
And as he perfectly knows all things, so he fully understands how to govern and direct them to the best end, even the exalting of his own praise, Psal. civ. 24. Rom. xi. 36. " For of him, and *' through him, and to him are all things:'' of him, as the efficient cause : through him as the conserving cause : and to him as the final cause. And in this wise disposition of all things, he hath a gracious respect to the good of his chosen, Rom. viii. 28. " AU *' things shall work together for good to them that love God." More particularly, the wisdom of God is to be considered by us in its ex- cellent properties, among which these four following are eminently conspicuous, as it is the
1. Original, 3. Perfect, and
2. Essential, 4. Only wisdom.
1. The v/isdom of God is the original wisdom, from which all the wisdom found in angels or men is derived, and into that foun- tain we are directed to go for supplies of wisdom, James i. 5. " If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God." There is in- deed a spirit in man, but it is the inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding. Job xxxii. 8. The natural faculty is ours, but the illum.ination thereof is God's, the understanding of the creature is the dial, which signifies nothing till the sun shine upon it.
2. God's wisdom is essential wisdom. Wisdom in the creature is but a quality separable from the subject ; but in God it is his na- ture, his very essence, he can as soon cease to be God as to be most wise.
3. The wisdom of God is perfect wisdom, full of itself, and ex-
THE RIGHTEOUS MAN*6 REFUGE. 357
tluslve of its contrary ; the wisest of men are not wise at all times; the o-reatest wits are not without some mixture of madness ; it is an high attainment in human wisdom to understand our own weakness and folly ; the deepest heads are but shallows, but the wisdom of God is an unsearchable depth, Rom. xi. 33. " O the " depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! " how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding "out!''
4. To conclude, the wisdom of God is the only wisdom : there is no wisdom without him, none against him, he is the only wise God, Jude, ver. 25.
2. The wisdom of God must be considered relatively, and that in a double respect :
1. To his promises. S. To his providences.
Sect. II. Let us view it in its relation to the promises, where you shall find it made over by God to his people for divers excellent uses and purposes in times of distress and danger. As,
1. It was made over to them in promises for their direction and guidance when they knew not what to do, or which way to take. So Psal. XXV. 9. " The meek will he guide in judgment, and the *« meek will he teach his way :" and Isa. Iviii. 11. " The Lord shall " guide thee continually C and Psal. xxxiii. 8. " I will guide thee " with mine eye."" And with this the Psalmist encourages himself, Psal. Ixxiii. 24. " Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and " afterwards receive me to glory."" O what an invaluable mercy is this! we should make shipwreck both of our temporal and eternal mercies quickly, were it not for the guidance of Divine wis- dom.
2. To extricate them when involved in difficulties. So 2 Pet. ii. 9. '• The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temp- " tation." They know not how, but their God doth ; they are often at a loss, but he is never. So 1 Cor. x. 13. " There hath no " temptation taken you, but such as is common to man, but God is " faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which " you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to " escape, that ye may be able to bear it.'"*
3. To over-rule and order all their troubles to their good and real advantage. So runs that most comprehensive promise, Rom. viii. 28. " All things shall work together for good to them that *« love God.'' In the faith whereof Paul concludes, Phil. i. 19i Even this shall work for his salvation. Thus the people of God were sent into captivity for their good, Jer. xxiv. 8. and Joseph into Egypt, Gen. 1. 20. "Ye thought evil against me, but God
358 THE IlIGHTEOUS MAK's REFUGE.
** meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much '* people aHve."
2. Let us view the wisdom of God in its relation to his provi- dences, for there it shines forth eminently, Ezek. i. 18. The wheels were full of eyes, i. e. the motions and providential revo- lutions in this lower world are very judicious and advised motions; Non cocco impetu volvuntitr rotce ; it hath an end and design which no man understands till it open itself in the event.
The enemies of the church are oft-times men of the finest brains and deepest policies : Herod a fox for subtlety, Luke xiii. 32. Julian and Ahithophel, with many otl>ers, who have digged as deep as hell in their counsels, and laid their designs so sure that they doubted not to be masters of it ; yet their hands could not perform their enterprize.
The wisdom of providence has still befooled them, and baffled the cunningest head-pieces that ever undertook any design against the church, as fast as ever they arose; and here the wisdom of providence is remarkable in three things especially.
1. In revealing and discovering the secret conspiracies and coun- sels of the church's enemies, and thereby frustrating their designs. Gen. xxvii. 41, 42. Providence (as one calls it) is the bird of the air, that carries tidings, and whistles deeds of darkness ; Job xii. 22. " He disco vereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth " out to light the shadow of death.'' And this God hath done both immediately and mediately. 1. Immediately, 2 Kings vi. 11. AVhat counsel soever the king of Syria took in his bed-chamber was still discovered by the word to the prophet. So ^ue is that. Job xxxiv. 22. " There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the " workers of iniquity may hide themselves." Thus the design of Herod is revealed to Joseph in a dream.
But commonly he doth it by means ; as,