(2.) It is not then God's laying him aside from his office simply, but also his intimation that he must shortly lay' down his mortality, and so come into the condition wherein he was 'to rest' until the end. This then is his dismission, he died in his work, life and employment go together. ' Go thou thy ways.'
Observation I. There is an appointed season wherein the saints of the most eminent abilities, in the most useful employments, must receive their dismission : be their work of never so great importance, be their abilities never so choice and eminent, they must in their season receive their dismission.
Before I handle this proposition, or proceed to open the following words, I shall crave leave to bring the work of God, and the word of God, a little close together, and lay the parallel between the persons dismissed, the one in our text, the other in a present providence, which is very near, only that the one lived not out half the days of the other.
1. Three personal qualifications we observed in Daniel, all which were very eminent in the person of our desires.
(1.) Wisdom. There is a manifold wisdom which God imparteth to the sons of men ; there is spiritual wisdom, that by the way of eminency is said to be ' from above,' James iii. 17. which is nothing but the gracious acquaintance of the soul, with the hidden wisdom of God in Christ ; 1 Cor. ii. 7. And there is a civil wisdom, or a sound ability of mind for the management of the affairs of men in subordination to the providence and righteousness of God. Though both these were in Daniel, yet it is in respect of the latter that his wisdom is so peculiarly extolled. And though I am very far from assuming to myself the skill of judging of the
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abilities of men, and would be far from holding forth things of mere common report, yet, upon assured grounds, I suppose this gift of God, ability of mind, and dexterous industry for the nianagement of human affairs, may be ascribed to our departed friend.
There are sundry things that distinguish this wisdom from that policy which God abhors, which is ' carnal, sensual, and devilish ;' James iii. 15. though it be the great darling of the men of the world; I shall name one or two of them.
[L] A gracious discerning of the mind of God, accord- ing to his appearance in the affairs wherein men are em- ployed ; Micah vi. 9. ' The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, the man of wisdom shall see thy name, hear the rod, and who hath appointed it.' It is the wisdom of a man, to see the name of God, to be acquainted with his will, his mind, his aim in things, when his providential voice crieth to the city. All the works of God have their voice, have their in- struction: those of signal providences speak aloud, they cry to the city; Here is the wisdom of a man, he is a man of substance, a substantial man, that can see his name in such dispensations. This carnal policy inquires not into, but is wholly swallowed up in the concatenation of things among themselves, applying secondary causes unto events, without once looking to the name of God, like swine following acorns under the tree, not at all looking up to the tree from whence they fall.
[2.] Such acquaintance with the seasons of providence^ as to know the duty of the people of God in them; 1 Chron . xii. 32. the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do : this it is in- deed to be a man of understanding, to know in any season the duty of Israel, that they may walk up to acceptation with God in the performance thereof. A thing which is neither prescribed in the rules, nor followed in the practice of men, wise only with that cursed policy which God abhors : to have a mind suited unto all seasons and tempers, so as to compass their own selfish ends, is the utmost of their aim.
Now in both these did this gift of God shine in this de- ceased saint.
1. He ever counted it his wisdom to look after the name of God, and the testification of his will, in every dispensa-
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tion of providence, wherein he was called to serve : for this were his wakings, watchings, inquiries ; when that was made out, he counted not his business half done, but even accom- plished, and that the issue was .ready at the door; not what saith this man, or what saith that man, but what saith the Lord? that being evident; he consulted not with flesh and blood, and the wisdom of it, whereof perhaps, would he have leaned to it, he was as little destitute as any ill his gene- ration, I mean the whole w-isdom of a man. The name of God was as land in every storm, in the discovery whereof, he had as happy an eye at the greatest seeming distance when the clouds were blackest, and the waves highest, as any. 2. Neither did he rest here: what Israel ought to do in every season, was also his inquiry ; some men have a ^7is- dom to know things, but not seasons in any measure; surely a thing in season is no less beautiful, than a word in season: 'as apples of gold in pictures of silver:' there are two things that belong to civil affairs, but are alterable upon the incom- prehensible variety of circumstances. These alter and change the very nature of them, and make them good or bad, that is, useful or destructive. He that will have the garment that was made for him one year, serve and fit him the next, must be sure that he neither increase nor wane. Importune insisting on the most useful things, without re- spect to alterations of seasons, is a sad sign of a narrow heart. He of whom we speak, was wise to ' discern the sea- sons,' and performed things, when both themselves, and the ways of carrying them on were excellently suited unto all coincidences of their season. And indeed, what is most wisely proposed in one season, may be most foolishly pur- sued in another. It had been wisdom in Joshua not to have made any compact, but to have slain all the Gibeonites ; but it was a folly sorely revenged in Saul, who attempted to do the same. He who thinks the most righteous and suitable proposals or principles, that ever were in the world (setting aside general rules of unchangeable righteousness and equity compassing all times, places, ways, and forms of government) must be performed as desirable, because once they were so, is certainly a stranger to the affairs of human kind.