3. It supposeth that the man be renewed and recovered out of the common apostasy ; for while a man remaineth in it the beast rideth the man, and nothing is sweet and pleasant but what gratifieth sensual appetite. Eegeneration and change of heart is necessary to taste the pleasures which are in the paths of wisdom ; for nothing is pleasant to men but what is suitable to their natures ; and we use to say that one man's pleasure is another's pain. Distempered souls are not capable of this peace and delight, for every man's gust is according to his con- stitution : Eom. viii. 5, 'They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.' Therefore the carnal man, that is wedded to his vain delights, is an incompetent judge of the pleasantness that is in the paths of wisdom. Will he that is wholly addicted to the flesh ever judge that there is more delight in the exercises of godliness than in the foolish pastimes of the world ; that it is better to be mourning for sin than rejoicing in the creature ; and that the congregation yieldeth a more solid pleasure than the theatre ; and that it is better to be mortifying the deeds of the body by the spirit than to court the senses ? If his judgment may be convinced, he will never yield to it in his practice. He doth not live by these rules and measures.
SERMON UPON PROVERBS III. 17. 369
II. Let me now prove that the true peace and pleasure is nowhere else to be found but in obedience to heavenly wisdom.
1. I prove it from the matter of this peace and joy, and that is wisdom, heavenly wisdom, which leadeth us to faith in Christ, love to God, and an holy and heavenly life. And what is the consequent of these things but the pardon of all our sins, the assurance of the love of God, and the lively foresight and foretaste of endless glory and blessedness ?
[1.] The wisdom that cometh from above doth teach us faith in Christ, as the whole scripture manifesteth : Acts x. 43, ' To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.' Well, now, can any man be truly cheerful till his sins be forgiven ? Alas ! if conscience were but a little awake, in the midst of all his mirth he would see a sharp sword hang- ing over his head by a slender thread, and that all his jollity is but like dancing about the mouth of the bottomless pit, into which he is tumbling every moment. Nay, let him stifle conscience as much as he can, yet he can never totally get the victory of it ; for he hath his pangs, and qualms, and hidden fears, if you dig him to the bottom ; and stinging remorses of conscience, which, though not always felt, are soon awakened. No ; this man can never be truly merry. Suppose none of this as yet ever felt, yet this you must grant, that he cannot be a man, recollect his ways, or use any sober consideration why he came into the world, and whither he is a-going (which every one that weareth the heart of a man should sometimes do), but his trouble is revived, such trouble as soureth his contentments, and puts a damp upon all his mirth. On the other side, a man that hath made it his business to enter into God's peace by Jesus Christ, and is humbly and broken-heartedly suing out his pardon in his name, and hath the justice and faithfulness of Ood engaged to, him, that so doing he shall be pardoned, hath not this man true and solid cause of rejoicing ? Yes ; certainly his great care is over, his wounds are healed, he hath got rid of the great sore that burdened and made his soul sit uneasy before : Mat. ix. 2, ' Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee.' His great trouble is gone, and the root of all misery is taken away: Kom. v. 11, 'We joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.' A condemned malefactor can never be heartily comforted 'with a feast his friends give him before execution, but with a pardon which his prince gives to reverse the sentence of death passed upon him. Or thus ; it is little comfort to give a man going to execution a posy of flowers, and bid him smell to that, and cheer his heart with that ; but jou cheer him indeed if you bring him not only a reprieve, but a pardon. So when God is reconciled, and all your sins are forgiven you, this is solid comfort and peace.
[2.] Again, wisdom inviteth us, and calleth us to the love of God ; for ■• Faith worketh by love,' Gal. v. 6. Though before we stood in dread of a condemning God, now we should be deeply possessed with the goodness of a pardoning God. Well, then, those that love God may assure themselves that he will ' love them, and manifest himself to them,' John xiv. 21-23. Do we believe this certainly ? It is true. Now if all the world loveth, and God hateth, you can have no solid peace, for you must at length fall into his hands. If you had all the world at will,