Moreover, this is a ground of exhortation, to move us to this duty of jus- tifijiny the ordinances and ways of God in life and conversation. Justify Christ to be our Saviour by relying on him, and let the justified soul justify him to the world by repairing to him and depending on him. Justify God to be our Father, by repairing to him in all estates. Justify truth to be the best riches, by esteeming all other wisdoms dross and dung in com- parison ; and let us admire the goodness of wisdom, else wisdom will not lodf^e with us. Let it rule in our hearts, and it will abide with us ; else it is a°stranger, and will not tarry, In our days the voice of wisdom is heard. It uses ail means. It hath sent men of all manner of conversations and gifts. Of all others, we are inexcusable if we entertain it not, and justify it not in our lives and conversations.
But it will be asked, How shall we justify wisdom ?
I answer, Let us strive first to empty ourselves and souls of corruption. As a vessel full of bad liquor must be emptied before good can be put in, so we by nature are full of folly, and must empty ourselves before we can be enabled to justify wisdom ; and in what proportion this folly is overruled in us, in the same proportion do we justify wisdom ; for where wisdom is, it must dwell largely and purely ; for itself is pure, and will endure no mix- ture. And therefore those that justify themselves in any ill course cannot justify wisdom ; for when it once comes to cross him in his beloved course, let his words be never so good, his folly will discover itself. ' How can you believe, when you seek for glory one of another ?' saith Christ, John V. 44.
Secondly, Beg of God that he would take away the veil of our hearts, that tve may knoiv and love the best things in the best manner ; that he would open to us the wonders of his law.
Thirdly, Labour that all our knowledge may be spiritual, for if it be acquired out of books, and not written in our hearts, in time of temptation we shall never justify wisdom. This is evident out of the history of the martyrs. Many illiterate men stood out stiffly for the truth, and justified it with their blood, when many great clerks* gave over their profession ; for when the Spirit teaches, it teaches to obey, to want, to abound, and to despise the * That is, ' learned men.' — G.
THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL. 287
glory of the world. Spiritual wisdom brings humility, other wisdom puffs men up with pride.
Fourthly, Therefore we should pray for the Spirit of God, that it would settle and seal truths into our hearts, and teach us to obey and practise the things it enjoins us.
Fifthly, We should also condemn ourselves, and groiv poor in spirit ; for what justifying is there like to that of those that, being abased by outward afflictions, are likewise inwardly humbled ; so, condemning themselves, they justify God's wisdom ; and therefore those that either trust to intercession of saints or their merits, in vain they think ever to come to the perfor- mance of this duty.
Si-Kihlj, Attend ive on wisdom; for what is more excellent than it, and without it all are fools. Wise they may be for the world to get riches, while their end is condemnation and perpetual beggary in hell. Many are wise to get high places here, and witty* to get a deep place in hell. They study for wisdom in the creatures, and when they die, their wisdom porisheth with them, and they want that true wisdom that should support them in death.
Seventhly, And endeavour we to he rooted in it, that we may be able to speak out of the power thereof in our souls, and to resist the temptations of Satan, with sound resolutions against them ; and then when that day of revelation of all things shall come, Christ will own us, and justify us, when the children of this world shall tremble to hear that truth and wisdom condemn them perpetually, which here they hated and slandered.
Lastly, In all our wants and distresses, so carry we ourselves that we may shew we have a Father to provide, a King to defend us in our desertions, that we have a Priest in heaven to make our peace, and in all temptations that we have a Prophet that will direct us in the right way unto heaven, in spite of the malice of hell itself.
* That is, 'wise, ' = ingenious. — G.
NOTE.
(a) P. 286. — 'Ignorance . . . the mother of devotion.' This subsequently famous or infamous phrase was perhaps first used by Dr Cole in the great Disputation held at Westminster. Cole was an out-and-out defender of Popery. G.
MARY'S CHOICE.'
Now it cnme to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her house, d'C. — Luke X. 88-40.
This history is absolute of itself. Christ having despatched business else- where, went from place to place to do good, it being his whole aim and office. And now divine providence and holy love directs him to these two women, who formerly had entertained him in heart, and now in their house ; yet did he feast them more liberally than they could him. And yet so studious they were in his entertainment, that they fall out in a manner about it. Mary she sat at Jesus's feet, knowing his custom, that his lips did ever drop down sweet-smelling myrrh in his gracious words, as it is Cant. v. 13; and therefore she forgat all other things. But to come to some observations.