2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 209
the world shall daunt us ; wo shall have comfort in all the passages of our lives, be they what they will. Whereas other men that lead not their lives in a constant course of holy simphcity and sincerity, they are as the prophet saith, ' like the leaves of the forest,' Isa. vii. 2, shaken with every altera- tion, with every rumour of ill news. But a sound Christian in the worst alteration, there may be combustions, there may be alteration of state, yet his ' heart is fixed,' Ps. Ivii. 7, he is not moved.
Likewise, in the hour of death he can say with Hezekiah, ' Thou knowest, Lord, I have led my life in simplicity,' Isa. xxxviii. 2, that I have served thee ' with a perfect heart,' that is, in sincerity. I have desired, and en- deavoured to grow better, which is all the perfection we have in this world. Sincerity witnessed by growth, and strength against the contrary, this will comfort us in all the alterations and changes in this world, which is as a sea full of trouble, and at the hour of death likewise, and at the day of judgment. This is that only that will make us able to look Christ in the face.
Truth hath a divinity in it, this simplicity and sincerity, more than any earthly thing. It hath that in it that is real and spiritual.
A man that hath the gi-ace of God in the truth of it, there is a gi'eat deal of majesty in it. There is the greatest majesty in heavenly things when they appear most simple, because of their excellency. There is something of God's in sincerity. So much as a man hath in truth, so much of God's. He partakes of the divine nature, as St Peter saith, 2 Peter i. 4, so much as he hath in truth, though it be never so little. And being a branch of God, it will make him look upon God in the day of judgment. Why ? Because he knows he is in the covenant of grace, that he hath title to heaven by Christ.
When a man's conscience can tell him that he hath led his life, not by carnal wisdom, but in the truth of grace, it will make him out-look Satan, and all the troubles of the world, and look unto Christ with comfort. WTio would not be in such a state ? Thus we see a Christian leads his life, ' Not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of Go^' I will add one thing more, and so finish the verse.
W^e may see hence, that the most reVKjious men. are the best statesmen.
I know proud, carnal Machiavellian dispositions make a scorn at these positions. They think them to be austere and poor principles, till they come to death ; as that wretch said himself, when he came to die, ' That he had provided for all things but for death ' ((///). But while they are in their rufl', they think they can manage states, and do all, when, indeed, they bring the vengeance of God upon their own persons, and upon the state they live in ; for God is neither in them, nor with them. He is not in them ; for they want grace, they are led by carnal wisdom altogether. And he is not with them. God will not give them good success, unless it be to increase their judgment. He will not give good success to those projects that they take up contrary to his rule.
Therefore, those that will be guided by reasons of religion, and submit themselves to the guidance of God's blessed Spirit, they are best for the state of their own souls, and best for the public estate. For doth not God know the mysteries of state better than any man ? Is not he a better politician than any Ahithophel in the world ? If they have any state policy that is worth the naming, is it not from him ? Is it not a beam from that sun ? Yes ! why then, who is the better ? the difference of parts excepted. But take them alike, a gracious man, and another that is not so ; let the
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one fotcli his counsel from holl, from darkness, and the other bo ruled by reasons of conscience and religion, there is no comparison.
God win cross and curse their projects that are for their own ends, both in themselves, and in the state too.
As for the other that are under grace, and the government of grace, God will be wise in them by his Spirit, and he will be wise for them. ' What- soever a good man doth, it shall prosper,' Ps. i. 8. It is a large promise. How wondrous happy and wise were the children of Israel, when they kept the covenant of God. ' This is your wisdom, to keep the commandments of God,' Ueut. iv. G ; and their wisdom made them happy. How happy were they in David's time, who made the statutes of God, ' the man of his counsel,' Ps. Ixxiii. 24. How happy was the state in Solomon's time, till Solomon did warp and bend to carnal counsel to strengthen himself. How happy was his government till that time, but never after that. They were environed with enemies roimd about. But, alas ! who could hurt the people of God, so long as they submitted themselves to the government of gi'ace ! they were alway happy.