3. Wisdom lies in a vigorous prosecution of fit means to the best end, without which all is nothing. It is in vain to be sensible of our end and to be convinced of our way unless we mind to walk in it. Many carnal men will say that their happiness lies in the enjoyment of God, that the scriptures are the word of God, and his directions to attain that happiness ; but their folly lies in this, that they have not a hearty consent to take this word for their rule, and give up themselves to the directions thereof : Prov. xvii. 16, ' Wlierefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it ? ' that is, such means and such opportunities given them to be happy, but that is a price in the hands of a fool, his heart hangs off from the way ; and therefore here is the great effect of wisdom, when we do with all our hearts give up ourselves to God, that he may take his own way with us to make us happy for ever. Wisdom lies in obedience : Deut. iv. 6, 7, ' Keep, therefore, and do them ; for this is your wisdom,' &c. The world will say it is a simple course to be so nice, scrupulous, and precise ; but God tells you it is your wisdom ; and they that keep his statutes are a wise and understanding people. The devil fills us with all kind of prejudices against religion. To such as love ease, he repre- sents difficulty, and the yoke of Christ to be a tedious yoke. If they love honour, he tells them of reproaches and disgrace. If they affect
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wisdom, he telleth them it is a low doctrine, beneath the sublimity of their parts and abilities. Now God assureth you this is your wisdom and understanding. So Job xxviii. 28, ' And unto man he said. Be- hold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil is understanding.' There is an inquiry there in that chapter where wisdom is to be found ; and it is resolved that it is nowhere to be found but in a strict obedience ; not in the knowledge of the secrets of nature, not in the crafts and policies of the world, not in the plots and contrivances of the wicked, not in dexterity to get wealth, but in keep- ing God's commandments with all preciseness and care. Briefly, this dexterous and efi'ectual prosecution of the means which lead to our end lies in three things, and so accordingly we may know wisdom : all these are called wisdom in scripture.
[1.] In diligence and constant labour in the spiritual life. "When a man makes religion his work, then he is a wise man, true to his end. There are a company of notional fools in the world that make religion their talk but do not make it their work, that can talk at as high a rate as others ; they have a naked approbation of the things of God, but do not lie under the power and dominion of them : Eccles. x. 2, ' A wise man's heart is at his right hand.' A speech which seems to be contrary to the natural posture of the heart in the body, for the heart both of the one and the other is towards his left, but a wise man's heart is at his right hand. The right hand is that which is ready for action, so a wise man is ready and prepared to obey every good work. When men are diligent, serious, and hard at work for God, ' working out their salvation with fear and trembling,' then are they thoroughly wise.
[2.] It lies in circumspection and watchfulness, when we are very heedful lest we be turned out of the way, and that we do not anything that is contrary to the will of God ; therefore it is said, Eph. v. 15, ' See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.' When is a man a fool and when a wise man ? When we are careful in all things to practise according to our light, to walk exactly according to the rules of God's word ; these are the only true wise, whatever the world thinks of them. The more circumspect men are the more the world counts them fools, crazy brains, and judge it to be a fond scrupulosity to ex- pose themselves to scorning and trouble, for that which they call a nicety^ : but the less circumspect, the more foolish ; and the more wary and more desirous to see God's word, this is w^isdom. That is the reason why it is said, ' The fear of the Lord prolongeth days,' Prov. X. 27. WHienmen once come to stand in awe of God, w'hen they are afraid to do anything that may displease God, and look for a war- rant and rule, and desire to know the mind of God in every action, these are wise men.
[3.] This wisdom lies in self-denial, or being at some cost or charge to compass our end. A godly man knows his end will recompense him sufficiently at last, the enjoyment of God will pay for all. It is a part of folly, not wisdom, to have great aims and designs, and loath to be at charges. He that will not be at the cost Avill never bring any weighty matter to pass. So he is called a wise merchant that sold all for the pearl of price. Mat. xiii. 46. Surely heaven is worth something ; there- fore, if you are called to despise the delights of the flesh, the lionom's