2. It is a singular favour to them on whom God bestowetli this heavenly wisdom, and so puts a difference between them and others. It is a greater sign of friendship and respect to them than if God had given them all the world : Mark xiii. 11, ' To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others it is not given.' This is no common benefit, but a favour which God reserveth for his peculiar people ; so John xv. 15, ' I have called you friends, for all things which I liave heard of my Father I have made known to you.' That is the highest argument of friendship, not to give you wealth, and honour, and greatness, but to give 3'ou an enlightened mind and a renewed heart. God may give honour and greatness and a worldly estate in judgment, as beasts fatted for destruction may be put into large pastures; but he doth not teach his statutes in judgment; it is a favour, though he useth a sharper discipline in teaching : Ps. xliv. 12, ' Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, and teachest him out of thy law.' If God will teach his child not only by the word but by the rod, and useth a sharp discipline to instruct in the lesson of Chris- tianity, it is a greater favour than if God did let him alone, and suffer him to perish with the wicked in his wrath. The prosperity of wicked men is s.o far from being a felicity to them, that it is rather the greatest judgment ; and to be punished and rebuked by God for all that we do amiss, and thereby to be reduced to the sense and practice of our duty, is indeed the greatest favour and mercy of God, and so the most valu- able felicity and evidence of God's tender care over us. So Prov. iii. 31, 32, ' Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways ; for the froward is an abomination to the Lord, and his secret is with the righteous.' You are depressed and kept bare and low, but your adver- saries flourish and grow insolent ; you cannot therefore say, God hateth you, or loveth them, If the Lord hath given you the saving knowledge of himself and his Christ, and only given them worldly happiness, it is a great token of his love to you and hatred to them, that you need not envy them, for you are dignified with the higher privilege.
3. Prayer is the appointed means to obtain it. There are other means by which God couveyeth this heavenly wisdom, as by study and search. Dig for wisdom as for silver, and for understanding as hid treasures, Prov. ii. 4. Dig in the mines of knowledge : attend upon
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the wortl which is able to malce us wise unto salvation : Mark iv. 24, ' Take heed what or how ye hear : with what measure ye mete, it shall he measured to you ; and unto you that hear shall more he given.' But all are sanctified by prayer : Prov. ii. 3, ' Cry for knowledge, and lift up thy voice for understanding.' Bene orasse est bene sfuduisse, saith Luther ; so to pray well is to hear aright. God giveth under- standing by the ministry of the word, but he will be sought unto and acknowledged in the gift, otherwise we make an idol of our own under- standing : Prov. iii, 5, ' Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, antl lean not upon thine own understanding : in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' Let us not make a God of our own wisdom ; do not seek it in the means without prayer to the Lord. Let us not study without prayer, nor you hear without prayer, nor go about any business in your general and particular callings without prayer.
Projy. 2. This benefit cannot be too often nor too sufficiently asked of God.
1. Because of our want. We never know so much but we may know more of God's mind, and know it better and to better purpose. To know things as we ought to know them is the great gift : 1 Cor. viii. 2, ' If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know ; ' that we may be more sanctified, more prudent, and orderly in governing our hearts and lives, that we may know things seasonably when they concern us in any special business and temptation: Prov. xxviii. 26, ' He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool ; but he that walketh wisely shall be delivered ; ' that is, he that followeth his own conceit soon falleth into a snare ; he that maketh his bosom his oracle, and his own wit his counsel, thinks himself wise enough without daily seeking to God to order his own business, never succeedeth well, but plungeth himself into manifold inconveniences.
2. From God's manner of giving ; he is not weary and tired with constant supplicants : James i. 5, ' If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.' The throne of grace lieth always open ; the oftener we frequent it, the more welcome. We frown upon one that often troubleth us with his suits, but it is not so with God ; we may beg and beg again.