2. Then take heed of carnal policy ; ibr we are made wiser than our enemies through the coinmandment. We must not oppose craft with craft, for so Satan will be too hard for us in the use of his own wea- pons. That is not wisdom to run to shifts, and to carnal and sinful devices. There is a wisdom that is necessary for the children of God : Mat. X. 16, 'I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be wise as serpents, simple as doves.' Ever it was so with God's people ; they are sheep in the midst of wolves, destitute of all outward support : ' Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' Carry yourselves prudently and holily in my service. That wisdom and knowledge which doth not agree with justice, but puts upon doing things that are unjust, that is craft, not wisdom. Now though Christ hath bid us be wise, yet he hath forbidden us to be crafty. When you run to carnal shifts, you think to be wiser than God. 'All the mischiefs of the pre- sent age have merely been occasioned by unbelief. We durst not trust God in his own way, but will run to carnal practices merely to prevent evil, and you see how we are entangled in all manner of confusion. Jeroboam would be wiser than God ; God would have settled the king- dom upon him, but he ran to a way of his own, and that was his un- doing. Take heed of this fleshly wisdom : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' Not in fleshly wisdom, but in simplicity and godly wisdom.' The more simple and plain a Christian walks according to the direct letter of the scripture, the more safe he is ; but when he doth run to those baser courses, merely out of distrust to God, all things come to ruin. Carnal policy never succeeds well with the children of God ; never did a Christian
8 SERMONS UrON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CIV.
thrive by carnal policy, or using: carnal fetches for carnal ends ; God crosseth them. A man that will walk by the light of In's own lire is sure to be led out of the way of peace and happiness. When they for- sake the light of God's word and Spirit, and follow a false light, they run into sorrow and inconvenience ; and therefore weaker Christians are sonietimes safer than those of stronger parts, that lean to their own understandings and trust to carnal policy.
Use 2. To prize the scriptures, because of this wisdom that is to be gotten in them. A very poor creature that walks in the fear of God is wise to avoid the chief est danger, to secure the greatest interest, to avoid hell beneath, Prov. xv. 24 ; that wisdom hath escaped the greatest danger, the wrath of God, and made sure of heaven, Christ, and salva- tion, his great interest. He that gives up himself to be governed by God's word, though never so plain and simple, will be found to be the wisest in the issue : Ps. cxix. 24, ' Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.' When God's testimonies are the men of our counsel, this is that which will give true wisdom. All things in this world are mutable and uncertain, they continue not long ; w^e cannot foresee all changes, therefore a wise man may be mistaken sometimes, and do things he could wish were never done if he had consulted with God. Therefore now be wise ; this will tell you when to act and when to forbear, not to be over-wise nor over-foolish.
Use 3. To get this wisdom from the word of God that will make, you wiser than your adversaries : Prov. iv. 7, ' Get wisdom, that is the principal thing, and with all thy gettings get understanding.' There are some maxims (if we would have this wisdom so as to be wiser than our enemies) and some graces.
First, Some maxims : —
1. Season the heart with this principle, that it concerns you to secure your interest in Christ rather than the world, Mat. vi. 34 ; Luke xiv. 26.
2. That we should not be solicitous about events so much as duty, or about dangers so much as sin, 1 Chron. xix. 13 ; 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18.
3. That in a way of duty it is better to depend upon Christ's care over us, without using any carnal reaches to secure ourselves, 1 Peter V. 7, iv. 19.
4. All that befalls the people of God is either good, or tends to good, Eom. viii. 28.
5. That when delivei-ance is more for our turn than bondage, yokes, and oppression, we shall be sure to have it. God hath engaged him- self by covenant that ' he will withhold no good thing,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11.
G. Close adherence to God, and constancy in obedience, is the surest way to present ease and future deliverance, Ps. cxxv. 3.
7. It is better to attend God's leisure than to get out of trouble by any carnal means of our own, Isa. xxxviii. 15.
8. No man can be a locer by God, though he suffers never so much for him, Horn. viii. 18 ; 2 Cor. iv. 17.