6. Challeiif/e likewise the covenant of ffrace. We have a promise of all grace, and the spring of all grace. We have a promise of love. God will teach us to ' love one another,' John xiii. 34. We have a promise of fear. He hath piomised that ' he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall never depart from him,' Jer. xxxii. 40. We have a promise of the Holy Spirit. Let us challenge these promises every day. So much for the direc- tions how to lead our lives by grace.
' But by the grace of God.' St Paul here makes it the ground of his rejoicing, that he led not his life bj^ ' fleshly wisdom, but in simphcity and sincerity,' and ' by the grace of God ;' and all that are led by St Paul's spirit live thus.
There is a religion in the world that bears itself very big, on high terms of universality, succession, antiquity, &c., and they will have it thought to be a spiritual and holy rehgion. Well ! if a man be a carnal man that is led with fleshly wisdom, and not by the grace of God, that religion must needs be a naughty religion that hath only the support and the foundation of it in fleshly wisdom, which is an enemy, and opposite to the gi'ace of God, and to simplicity and sincerit3\
But popery is this. Take it in the regiment and government of it, take it in the worship, take it in the opinions : you ma}' draw all to one of those three heads.
1. For the government of it. There is a wisdom, a wondrous wisdom, a fine subordination to one head, the pope, to hear all controversies ; and under him the cardinals, and under them the generals, and all at Rome ; and they have their provincials under them. Here is a wondi'ous fine sub- ordination; but all this is by ' fleshly wisdom.' For this 'beast' riseth out of the earth, and out of the sea, out of the tumult of the people, out of base earthly respects. Therefore it is said in the Revelation, when the bishop of Rome became pope, and was at the highest, that a star fell, Rev. ix. 1. He fell when he rose. ^^Taen he was at the highest, he was at the lowest. Why ? Because his rising was carnal and earthly ; or lower if you will, it was hellish and devilish.
Their government is opposite to Christ's government, and being so, it
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 297
must needs be mightily opposed by him again ; and therefore it must needs do\^Ti, the fabric of it being opposite to the fi'ame of Christ's govei*nment, though it be wondrous wittj-. Therefore in the Revelation, 6GG is the ' number of a man.' If you mark the frame of the Romish policy, it is wondrous accurate, it goes smoothly, by tens and by hundreds, OGG. This Babylon is the number of a man ; a fine policy ! But it is but the number of a man. It is the device of carnal wisdom itself. Therefore it is devilish wisdom. Thus it is in the government of it.
2. And their irorship is according to the wisdom of the flesh. Some wisdom there is in not going to God immediately, but by saints and angels. What ! is it not wisdom in the prince's court, first to go to the favourite, and by him to the prince ? So, is it not wisdom not to go directly to God ? It is bold rashness to come immediately to God, but by saints and angels. This is the wisdom of a man, this is the wisdom of the flesh, Col. ii. 8, seq., this is carnal wisdom. It is opposite against the truth.
Doth not Christ bid us come all to him ? Do angels love us better than he ? Is not he the great Favourite of heaven ? I will not enter into con- troversy, but only shew how they work by ' fleshly wisdom.' Here is wisdom, when we cannot raise ourselves up to God, to bring him down to us. As in the sacrament, they shew carnal wisdom. Oh ! it is a fine thing that Chrisfs body and om-s should be joined together! It seems to be a fine point, that Christ should be hid in the bread, &c. But here is no spiritual wisdom.
The union that the Scripture speaks of is by faith, ascending into hea- ven, lajang hold on Christ there ; and going back to the cross, and seeing Chiist crucified there, and so ' he is meat indeed, and drink indeed,' John vi. 55, as we see him crucified, and satisfying God's wrath for us, for our sins.
And so again, is it not a pretty wisdom to draw men by pictures, and likenesses ? Ai'e not men delighted with the images of their friends and of their parents ? And therefore is it not a good rehgious policy to have pictures of Christ, and pictures of God the father ? Here is wisdom cor- respondent to the dealing and aliairs of men, but all this is fleshly wis- dom. The Scripture speaks mightily against making of images, the word of God is directly agamst it. This is fleshly wisdom. Grace doth not rule here.