2. We have no sure rule to walk by but the will of God. It is his favour we seek as our life, his displeasure which we fear as death to ns ; into his presence we hope at last to come, and his wrath we shun as our greatest misery ; therefore it is his will we must obey, or we are not safe : 1 Peter iv. 2, ' That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God ; ' Kom. xii. 2, ' And be not conformed to this world ; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' Many walk according to the course of this world : Eph. ii. 2, ' Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience.' Others live by sense and passion and carnal reason, and ensl ave that wisdom that they have to their sensual passions and desires ; but he that would approve himself to God must be careful that he liveth according to the will of God, for if he doth what God will have him to do. he is safe.
380 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXI,
3. This will is revealed to ns in his word. There our duty and our happiness is clearly stated : Ps. cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.' Tlie light of nature discovereth some- what of our duty, but very imperfectly with respect to the light of Christianity, which discovereth our lost estate by nature, the way of deliverance by a redeemer, that obedience in its full extent whereby we express our gratitude or thankfulness to God. There is a great deal of wisdom in the law part of the word : Deut. iv. 6, ' Keep there- fore and do them, for this is your wisdom, and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' Much more in the gospel part : Eph. i. 8, ' Wherein he hath abounded to us in all wisdom and prudence.'
4. This word we need thoroughly to understand, otherwise how shall we know our duty ? Prov. xix. 2, ' Also that the soul be without know- ledge, it is not good ; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.' That proverb discovereth the two great causes of men's miscarriage, ignorance and precipitancy ; either they understand not their rule, or else mind it not, but run on as they are led by their headlong passions ; therefore we have two opposite precepts : Prov. iv. 25, 26, * Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee ; ' ' Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.' They that would walk circumspectly had need have their eyes in their head, and to mind their business, if they would not slip, or stumble, and dash their foot against a stone. Still examine your actions by the word of God.
5. This understanding must not be idle, but reduced to use and practice. The scrij^ture showeth that this should be our end in seek- ing knowledge : Isa. ii. 3, ' And he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths;' Ps. cxix. 34, 'Give me understanding, and I will keep thy law ; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.' Knowledge without practice layeth us open to the greater judgment : Luke xii. 47, 48, ' And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whom- soever much is given, of him shall be much required ; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.^ Both are beaten ; but according to the degree of knowledge, our crimes receive an aggravation of sin and punishment ; and the more light and grace God bestoweth upon any, the greater duty he requireth from them. Again, John vii. 17, ' If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God.' A readiness to serve God in God's way bringeth us soonest to a knowledge of God's will. Therefore our aim in getting understanding of God's word is not that we may jangle about questions, but direct and order our conversations. The word was not given us to try the acuteness of our wits in disputing, but the readiness of our obedience in practising.
6. This reducing what we know to practice is our wisdom. Know- ledge is never right but when wi.sdom goeth along with it : Prov. viii. 12, ' I wisdom dwell with prudence.' Besides a knowledge of divine mysteries, there must be wisdom and prudence to rule and order our