[3.] This profession must be honoured, and recommended to others, by a holy conversation. But now, what kind of conversation honoureth religion ?
(1.) Such as is carried on with diligence and seriousness. As Noah, Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house ; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteous- ness which is by faith.' They behaved themselves as those that ia
108 WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED [Mat. XI. 18, 19.
earnest believed a flood, when they made siicli thorough preparation, ■which was a just reproof to the security and incredulity of the carnal world : when we do as we say, in good earnest make preparation for another world, otherwise religion is but suspected as a vain pretence and empty talk. Tiien we look after heaven indeed, then we believe it when we do the things that belief bindeth us unto. A carnal man that is all tjilk and no practice, he doth not religion so much honour in his words as he doth dishonour it in his works. He liveth down his profession, while he seemeth to cry it up: Titus i. 16, ' They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.' Contrary motions are an implicit denial of the faith, 1 Tim. v. 8 ; but laziness and negligence do also foment and breed atheism ; and we carry on the life of godliness coldly and faintly, and so our conversations, which should be a confirmation of the gospel, prove a confutation rather. Those that are disciples in name only, the word of God cometh to them in word only. The careless practiser is as bad as he that is liaunted with actual doubts about the truth of Christianity. The troubled doubter mindeth his business, but these never regard it, and do in effect say that Christ and his salvation is not worth the looking after. As it is said of the Israelites, Ps. cvi. 24, ' They despised the good land, they believed not his word.' Those that resolved to give over the pursuit of Canaan are said to doubt of his promise. So they that neglect salvation do not believe the truth of it, Heb. ii. 3, 4 ; and though they talk liigh, they secretly propagate their infidelity. The strength of our faith should appear by the diligence of our lives, the seriousness of our endeavours, and the fervour of our duties. Prac- tices do more express the image of our minds than words. The faith that issueth (jut into works doth most commend itself to others : 2 Thes. i. 11, 12, ' That you may fulfil the work of faith with power; that Christ Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him.' Then is Christ glorified, when you live answerably to your profession, and do by the power of God carry on a holy life upon the encouragements of the promises of the gospel.
(2.) Such as is governed by the respects of the other world. When we are patient and joyful under the cross, and full of hope and com- fort in great straits, and deliglit in our work, wliich the world hateth and discountenanceth, and hope against hoj)e, and live in the pro- mises: Ps. cxix. Ill, 'Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever : for they are the rejoicing of my heart.' Then we justify wisdom, and commend our faith to others. God was angry with Moses and Aaron : Num. xx. 12, ' Because ye believed not, to sanc- tify me in the eyes of the children of Israel.' We are not only firmly to believe ourselves, but to sanctify him in the eyes of others ; and that is done by the labour of our faith, tlie i)atience of our hope, our joyfulness and delight in God when we have but little in hand, and the readiness of our obedience even under deep sufferings. When the Thessalonians had received the word in much assurance and much afl^iction, and much joy in the Holy Ghost, the apo.stle telleth, 1 Thes. i. 5-7, They were ' en.samples to all that believed in Achaiaand Mace- donia,' and from them ' sounded out the word of God to other places.'
Mat. XI. 18, 19.] of her children. 109
Thus we propagate our faitli, and commend the truth of God to others. The life of faith is a glorious thing, but the life of sense or reason hath no glory in it, or a life carried on merely upon external proba- bilities. When we can contemn this world, both the good and evil things of it, in hopes of a better, and part with all that is dear to us in this world upon the conscience of our duty, then we justify wisdom.
(3.) By an exact purity and holiness, or a full conformity to all God's precepts and institutes, and by a faithful discharging all duties to God and men. Every true Christian should be a transcript of his religion : 2 Cor. iii. 3, ' Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit.' An epistle is that wherein a man hath written his mind ; our conversations should be religion exemplified, a real sermon : Phil, ii, 16, ' Holding forth the word of life.' The wax hath an impression and stamp left upon it according to what is engraven upon the seal. Then we honour religion when the impression and print of it is left upon our hearts and lives, and we are cast into this mould. More particularly, duties of relations, which are visible and easily observed, justify and honour religion: Titus ii. 10, and 1 Peter ii. 15, ' So is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.' These conduce to the good of human societies, are most regarded, and make the ways of God amiable. Thus how wisdom is to be justified.