1. First, It doth arise from a higher beginning than all other xoisdom whatever ; for it comes from God's goodness and mercy.
2. Secondly, The matter. It is a deep mysterij. Christ, God-man ; his nature, oflices, and benefits.
3. Thirdly, It is more poxverfid than all other wisdom ; for it transforms us. It makes us wise, and changes us from wicked, and makes us good.
4. Fourthly, It is better than the law, which was a kiUing letter. This gives life.
5. Furthermore, this wisdom is everlasting, and it is ancientest : intended before the world was. It is also inviolable. God will change the course of
» That is, ' wise ' = ingenious.— G. f ^'^- Isa. Ixv. 23, with i. 4.— G.
284 THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL.
nature for his church's sake ; and sooner will ho break covenant with the day and night than this covenant, which shall be for ever, Ps. xix. 9.
6. The end of it is to hrimj us home to God, 1 John i. 3.
This wisdom hath the same uavie tcith Clinst, who is the Wisdom of the Father. Ho gives his power to the word ; and what reproach is done to it, he accounts it as done to himself.
Use 1. This serves, therefore, to convince the atheists, who cannot choose but acknowledge there is a God, that it is fit the creatures should depend upon him, and shew it by way of service ; and that this service should be prescribed by God rather than by man. Let them know this is the wis- dom and the word of God. No word like it in the convincing power it hath in purity and holiness ; none so powerful to transform us from death to life, from nature unto grace.
Use 2. Secondly, it serves to exhort its all to attend upon the commands of this wisdom. Men are admired for their deep wisdom in policy, whereby they come to be great. This without grace is enmity to God ; and the devil dwells in the heads of such as makes honours, ambition, or pleasures their sole aim. The wisdom of arts and sciences goes beyond that, yet comes far short of this ; that being but temporary, and perishing with the things themselves, but this everlasting and eternal ; and indeed policy and civil learning at the most do but civilize and make men morally wise ; to which, if nothing else be adjoined, the life of such is but a smooth passage to hell.
Use 3. Lastly, this should teach us to consider, maijuifi/, and admire* at God's (foodness, that hath given such a wisdom to us as this, to be a lantern to light our way in this dark world, and to be as manna to feed us, that we faint not in the way, till we attain to everlasting life.
The second general thing is, that there are children of u'isdom, and that the xi-orld\ it is fruitful and able to het/et ; for it hath the Spirit of God accom- panying it, which is fruitful. We see the sun and the rain beget herbs ; trades makes men tradesmen, and arts artists ; and shall we not think this wisdom should make men wise, and this trade make a man fitting for work ? Yes, verily. No wisdom hath this begetting and operative spirit but this ; for the law finds us dead, and leaves us dead. Again, this wis- dom is the arm of God to salvation. By it ' we are begotten to be sons of God ;' by it we are children ' made like to God,' holy, pure, heavenly, begotten to his image ; and therefore as children we ought ' to obey the word' in performance of all duties ; of prayer, hearing, reading. Further- more, in that n-e are scJiolars in Christ's school, ivhich is ivisdom itself, we may be said to be ' sons of wisdom,' as those were called the sons of the prophets that were disciples to them. Now our teacher is a mighty teacher. It is no matter for the dulness of the scholar, this teacher can put wit and capacity where none was formerly, Ps. cxix. 12. Moreover, if this were not thus, then it would come to pass, that there should be a time when there would be no church ; that Christ should be a king without subjects, and likewise a doctor without scholars.
1. From the doctrine we may observe, therefore, that those that follow the best rule, which is God's word, and intend the best end, which is their own salvation, these are the most icise, for they provide for the worst times, as the ant for winter ; and with the wise steward they provide themselves of friends, and like Joseph they lay up for dear years. These are wise that pro- cure shelter for themselves against all dangers, and are fruitful in doing good. * That is, ' wouder.' — G. t Qu. ' word"?— Ed.
THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL. 285
2. And, in the second place, let this jiersuade us to attend upon wisdom, be we who we will be, a publican, an extortioner, a persecuting Saul, This wisdom will ' of stones raise children up unto Abraham,' Mat. iii. 9,