I now proceed to the last clause : But loisdom is justified of her children.
We have observed : —
1. The different form and course of life wherein John and Jesus appeared.
2. Their censures of both.
3. The receiving of the gospel by the unprejudiced. In this last observe : —
[1.] The exceptive particle, hut. Though undeserved censures are cast upon the ways of Gotl, yet at length there is a wisdom found in them. Ignorant men mistake them, carnal men slight them, the pro-
102 WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED [MaT. XI. IS, 19.
fane snuff at tlicm, few or none entertain them with that respect they ouglit to do, yet this wisdom will not want advocates.
[2.] The tiiin<2; spoken of, wisdom. By wisdoni is meant the doctrine of the gospel, called elsewhere the counsel of God, as appeareth by the parallel place, Luke vii. 29, 30, * And all the people that heard him justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves.* The gospel method of salvation is there called the counsel of God, be- cause it is the counsel he giveth men for their good ; as here wisdom, because it is the result of God's eternal wisdom and decrees. And elsewhere the doctrine of Christ crucified is called * the wisdom of God ;' and again, 1 Cor. ii. 7, ' the wisdoni of God in a mystery.'
[3.] What is said of it, or how it is used ; it \?, justified. Justification is a relative word : as it is opposed to crimination, so to justify is the work of an advocate ; as to condemnation, so it is the work of a judge. The children of wisdom discharge both parts, chiefly the first ; they bear witness to their faith, or the doctrine of God concerning salvation by Christ, by their profession and godly life and ready obedience, and exalt it so much as others decry it, and every way manifest they hold it for good and right ; only, this pleading is real, not by word but deed : Sopie7itia non qucerit vocis^ testimonium sed 'o2Je7mm, saith Hierom. Divine wisdom is justified more l)y works than by a verbal plea. Wisdom's children hear her instructions, follow her directions and in- stitutes, and with diligence observe the way of salvation prescribed by God, though others slight it ; and so justify it against the exceptions and reproaches of the carnal world.
[4.] Of whom: of her children. The children of wisdom are the professors of it ; those who are begotten by God by the word of truth, James i. 18, and are willing to attain the end by the ways and means wherein God affordeth it. These are Wisdom's children, begotten, bred up, and instructed by her ; it is an Hebraism, as ' children of wrath,' ' children of light,' 'children of this world,' and the like ; the professors and followers of the gospel.
The point that I shall insist on is this : —
That the wisdom of God, leading men to salvation, in the ways and means pointed out in the gospel, is and should be justified of all the sincere professors of it.
In mannging this point, I shall show you : —
First, What is the wisdom of God in the way of salvation prescribed by the gospel.
Secomlh/, That this wisdom is despised, slighted, and contradicted by the carnal world, and why.
Third!.)/, How and why it must be justified by the sincere profes- sors of the gospel.
First, What is the wisdom of God in the way of salvation prescribed by the gospel ? The sum of the gospel is this : that all those who, by true repentance xmd fiiith, do forsake the flesh, the world, and the devil, and give themselves up to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as their creator, redeemer, ajn-d sanctifier, shall find God as a father, taking them for his reconciled cliildren, and for Christ's sake pardon- ing their sins, and by his Spirit giving them his grace ; and, if they per-
Ma.t. XI. 18, 19.] OF nER children. 103
severe in this course, will finally glorify them, and bestow upon them everlasting happiness ; but will condemn the unbelievers, impenitent, and ungodly to everlasting punishment. That this is the sum of the gospel appeareth by Mark xvi. 15, 16 : ' Go, preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned ;' — where you have all the Chris- tian religion laid before you in one short view and prospect. It con- cerneth either the end or the means.
1. The end. The apostle telleth you that God * hath brought life and immortality to light in the gospel,' 2 Tim. i. 10 ; or clearly disco- vered a happiness and a misery in the world to come.
2. The means. He hath pointed out a sure way for obtaining the one and avoiding the other. As to the means, Christian religion is considerable, either as to the entrance or the progress of it. Our Lord telleth us, Mat. vii. 14, ' Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life.' He speaketh of a gate and a way. The gate noteth the- entrance ; the way, the progress therein. In other scrip- tures we read of making covenant with God, and keeping covenant with God : the covenant must not only be made, but kept. So again we read of dedication and use ; of devotedness to God, and faithfulness to him ; of our purpose and progress, choice and course ; all which expressions tend to the same effect.