Therefore those that are to govern states, as they will answer to that one God, they are to establish that religion that he hath left to the w'orld in his word, and not any religion : not that which men have devised. To go a httle further.
In that one religion that is left by him, there must be a care had, that the people live by the rules of that one. For this is a rule in natui-e. Nothing in religion will help him that will not live according to the rules of it. Therefore it concerns all that are not atheists to labour to stablish one reli- gion, and obedience to that one.
And every particular man, as he looks for good by his religion, is not to live by the rules of fleshly wisdom, but by the rules of religion.
And here a man might dejilore the misery of poor religion above all other things, above all other arts and trades. In other arts and trades he is ac- counted nobody that works not according to his trade, and that hath not, besides some speculative skill and rules in his head, that hath not skill to work. He is accounted nobody but a talker, except he dutli. But in reli- gion men think it is enough to know. Practice it goes under base names. Any common conscience, any common care, and obedience to the rules we must be saved by, is reproached and rejected. Religion will not do a man good, except he be ruled by it. Wherefore serves the rule, but to bring things to it ? But I will not stand on this point longer.
There is a necessity of wisdom, And this wisdom may be had. And this wisdom it leads not only to salvation, but it reacheth to the state. And it leads every man in his calling. Well ! we may see, to touch that by the way, in the third place,
Ohs. True ivisdom toucheth conversation.
' My conversation hath been by the grace of God,' that is, in wisdom. He puts the general for the particular. There were other graces besides ; but together with them there was this wisdom. So wisdom tends to con- versation.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP, I, VER. 12. 281
Mark what I said, wisdom is not in word, but in work. A man that will be master of his trade must work. When a man can work well, he is master of his trade, and not till then, lleligion tends to practice. You know what Christ saith, ' If you know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,' John xiii. 17. He entails happiness to douig, ' If you know these things,' he saith not, you are happy if you know them : no ! 'If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.' For indeed true wisdom is not only speculative. This wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, when it is true and spiritual, it alway tends to practice ; and practice is never sound but when it springs from wisdom, from things known. Every article in the creed it tends to practice in a Christian's life, and quickens practice [of] every article."- So wisdom tends to conversation.
Now, besides that main wisdom which properly concerns salvation, there is another wisdom which is more particular, that tends to conversation, which is called spiritual prudence, for particular actions. This comes from the Spirit of God, ' I wisdom dwell with prudence,' Prov. viii. 12. Where- soever there is wisdom to salvation, there is prudence to the guidance of a Christian's life.
Use. But in a word, if so be that wisdom tend to conversation, and is joined with it, you may see tliat all nauyhty livers are nobodies in reliyion ; they are fools in religion. Wherefore serves knowledge ? wherefore serves hght, but to walk by ? wherefore serves an instrument, but to work by ? wherefore serves wisdom, but to guide our lives by ? Is it to be matter of discourse and talk ? Therefore this doth demonstrate clearly to any man that thinks there is any religion, or any heaven, who be the best Christians, even those that by the Spirit know the wisdom that God hath revealed in his word, and apply it in their lives and conversations to be ruled by it, to work to that end. Wisdom prefixeth an end alway, and those that work to that end, they are wise men. He is a wise man that works to attain his end. Now there is no man that can attain his end by mere knowledge. He attains his end by working, by doing. Therefore the wisest Christian, he sets himself to converse wisely and holily ; and he shews his religion in his particular calling, in everj^thing. ' If any man be religious, let him shew it in holy conversation, let him be unspotted of the world,' James i. 26, 27. So much for that.
' But by the grace of God.' To give a little further light to the words. Grace is either —
1. The free favour of God in himself, issuing from his goodness, where- upon we have forgiveness of sins, and acceptation through Jesus Christ to life everlasting. This is grace resting in the breast of God, but is only entertained of us, and works no change in us of itself. Or else,