Chapter 12: Who are the truly wise men; with the encouragement to the Saints in the happy choice they have made

HEre you see who are the wise men in the earth; wisdom does most discover its self in choice, for choice requires understanding to compare and weigh things: The will of every man is for some good he would have; every man wills to be happy; this is as natural for every reasonable Creature, as for the fire to burn: But herein appears wisdom, to make a right choice of those means that may bring us to that happiness that we do will; here is the infinite mistake of the world, they would be happy, but they choose means that are quite contrary to happiness; but those that choose right, and pitch upon the means that will indeed bring to that happiness that an immortal soul is capable of, surely those are wise; this is the wisdom that is from above, that can dispose of such means, as to obtain this end, and the greater the means are, and the more excellent the end is, the greater is the wisdom that orders thereunto, & guides therein: every one can propound an ordinary end to himself, and means to attain it; but if the business be of high consequence, as for a General to manage an Army, his end is a high end, that concerns the prosperity of a whole Countrey, and because his end is so high, that wisdom that can order means to attain this end, is admired in the world, it is not an ordinary skil that is able to do this.

Now the attaining of God himself, the being blessed to all eternity, if there be any end that is high, this must be it; for one therefore to be able to order and dispose of means, so as not to miscarry in such a high end as this, such a glorious and great work as this, it must be wonderful wisdom. The men of the world think themselves wise men, and bless themselves in their wisdom, because they can order and dispose of means to get money and fine cloaths; they are poor, and base, and low spirits, who mind and regard no higher, and no better things then these base things that are below; whereas the godly, because God has let the fear of eternity fall upon them, and they regard nothing but in subordination to that, therefore they sometimes miscarry in the things of the world; upon this the men of the world looking at them, and seeing no higher end but the enjoyment of pleasure, and the like, they count them a company of fools that will undo themselves, and prove to be beggers, and so slight them in that respect.

But there is an infinite mistake in this; were it that Gods servants did propound that end to themselves, and had no higher then that which other men have, they would shift as well as they; but because they have a higher end, therefore their thoughts in wisdom are drawn out about that: As St. Paul said, 1 Cor. 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world; we cannot shift and plot in the world; but we have received the Spirit of God, that spirit that shall order us, and dispose us to enjoy communion with God and his Angels for ever. A swine that wanders up and down, can make better shift to get home to the trough, then a sheep that wanders to get home to the fold: The men of this world are indeed wiser in their generation then the children of light, but the children of light have their ends and ways, in which their wisdom appears to be full of excellency and glory.

The wisdom of Politicians is seen in this, They will let go things that are low, and be content to be crossed in things that are mean, if their great plots may go on; so it is in all true spiritual wisdom: A gracious heart, when it looks at the enjoyment of God in the way of godliness, so be it that great plot may go on, it does not so much look at things that are under: and therefore let men know that there is a mistake in this, one day God will make it known, who are those that are wise on the earth. Surely the world did not commend Daniel for his wisdom, that he would not omit prayer one day to save his life, but had rather lose all: Would not the worldly-wise say, What a foolish thing is this, not to omit prayer one day to save a mans life, and he must open his window too; that spiritual wisdom which God gives unto his people, it is foolishness to a carnal heart; and therefore you shall have some Parents themselves, when children come to be strict in their way, will say, What, shall we have a fool of you? And one neighbor to another, when they see any have a tender conscience, who before gave himself to the pleasure of the flesh, We shall have a fool of you now: Though you count them fools, they know your way is folly. They think the matters of Religion are but niceties, and and to venture the loss of so much for such niceties, what a foolish thing is it? As Pilate wondered at Christ, when his life was in question, he talks of truth, What is truth? Your life is in danger, and do you now talk of truth?

That which is honest and vertuous, is vile and contemptible to him whose body and sensual part is dear to him, says Seneca. I remember Lactantius brings in a Heathen scorning at the ways of Christians in this manner, thinking Christians to be fools, when they see they should endure such things, and yet they would be Christians; says he, Scorn us, contemn us,and despise us, we know our foolishness profits us, let us alone with our foolishness, we do not envy your wisdom: We do not care though you count us fools, so you disturb us not in our way. True wisdom, says he, lies hid there, where there is the title of folly; for God with affliction, and with the name of folly, does hide the beauty of godliness from the eyes of men; but this is the only wisdom, to know God, to worship God, to be Religious; and for this, says the same Author, with the greatest voyce that I can speak, I testify and proclaim, and denounce, That this is the greatest wisdom. Let us be established in this, that it is the only wisdom to choose the ways of God upon any terms, let come what will come, let all sorrows and afflictions to the outward man come that possibly can come, this is the absolute wisdom, and this, says he, is my opinion and judgement, it is that I am throughly convinced of, and shall for ever rest, and be setled in.

Mark how Solomon so glorious for wisdom testifies of grace, Prov. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. he heapeth up several expressions to manifest what wisdom comes to the heart by godliness, for that is the scope there; it causes, 1. To know Wisdom; 2. Instruction; 3. To perceive the words of Understanding; 4. To receive the instruction of Wisdom, Justice, Judgement, Equity. 5. To give subtilty to the simple; not only understanding, but subtilty; and that notwithstanding all natural simplicity, in those who the world accounts simple ones, yet are by grace made subtile, they can descry the danger of subtile temptations, they will not be undermined for their souls, they will not be cousened and cheated by the subtile policies of Devil or World, in the matter of their souls, and the great things of eternal life, so as the great wise men of the world are. 6. Knowledge and discretion to the yong man; of all men, yong men are most ignorant, most rash and heady; but grace gives knowledge and discretion both, even to the yong man; How many gracious yong men have more understanding in the ways of God, and can guide their way to Heaven more discreetly then many ancient men, who have repute in the world for wise and understanding men? Yea, 7. grace teaches wise counsels; their counsels about their spiritual estates are wise. Who now dare accuse the ways of godliness, of folly, when the holy Ghost has honored them with so many several expressions of wisdom in them? This then is true wisdom, to choose with Moses, rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Secondly, here is much encouragement to all Gods people in their way and choice that they have made. Has God given you a heart to make choice of his ways? O bless God! There was a time when you went on in giving pleasure to the flesh, and you saw then no better thing then such a kinde of life, and the Lord has been pleased to discover better things to you, so as to make you renounce your former ways, and to make choice of another way, in which your souls have found other manner of comforts, and satisfactions, and contentments then ever you did before: bless God as David did, Blessed be the Lord that has given me counsel, and made me to understand aright: So may such a soul say, for had I been left to the counsels of mine own heart, I know what should have become of me. I have as vile a heart as any, and my heart did take as much delight in the flesh as any, and I should have gone on, God knows whither, and might by this time have plunged myself into the bottomless pit: my friends would have given me other counsels to harden me in my ways of sinful pleasure, but blessed be God that has overpowered my heart. How many do I see every day, whose parts of nature exceed mine, and yet they are mistaken in the things that concern their everlasting welfare; they mind no other things but the pleasures of the flesh, and stumble at the meanness of Gods people, and this hides the beauty of godliness from their eyes; and what a great mercy is this, that God has taken this stumbling block from me, and that he has opened mine eyes to see pearls, though wrapped up in rotten rags, and to see the excellency of godliness, notwithstanding all afflictions that do attend upon them? Certainly it is no other but a beam of Gods own light from Heaven, that has shined into your heart.

It is a remarkable passage that we have Esay 44. 20, 21. where God showing the difference between those who forsook the true God, and his people who chose him to be their God; stirs up his people to remember for ever this mercy of God towards them, that they should be delivered from the deceit and vanity whereby others were deluded, and guided in a right and safe way, to be the servants of the blessed God; As for the Idolater, he feeds upon ashes, a deceived heart has turned him aside that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lye in my right hand? Now mark what follows, Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for you art my servant, &c. As if he should say, Do you see how others have left God, and God has left them? They feed upon ashes, a seduced heart has deceived them; but it is otherwise with you, God has put it into your hearts to be my servants, to choose me for your God: Remember for ever these things, O Jacob! here is a mercy indeed, never to be forgotten; How comes it to pass that your hearts should not be so seduced as theirs? it is Gods free grace and rich mercy towards you.

And his mercy is the greater, in that it is in such a weighty thing, that the Lord has given you counsel to make a right choice in: If a man makes an ill choice in a matter that is of moment, that will bring him trouble in his life, how is he grieved? as in marriage, when he is to make choice in that one thing, upon which he knows, the comfort or trouble of his life does much depend; if the Lord has so provided for him, that he has made a good choice only in that, how does he bless God? it is that which sweetens all his life: If it be such a mercy, to be guided to make a good choice in marriage; what a mercy is it to be guided to make a good choice for ones soul, to be happy to all eternity? if the Lord should leave a soul in that choice, what a lamentable condition had the soul been in? And therefore, those that have any savour of godliness, if they be to change the condition of their lives, they will seek God, and be earnest that God would guide them, and not leave them to themselves, and take advantage to punish their former sins, in their choice now. If you be to make a choice that concerns the outward comforts of your lives, you will earnestly desire God, not to leave you there; Now you are to make your choice for your eternal condition, if God should leave you now, what a lamentable condition would you be in, as he does leave most in the world?

As soon as we come to years of discretion, we come to make our choice, to go on in the ways of God, or in the ways of death; How many yong ones make a woful choice in the beginning, and go on, and are hardened in their choice, and perish for ever? And has the Lord looked upon you, and considered how like you would be to fail in your choice? And has the Lord been pleased to come in with his Spirit, and a light from Heaven to show you the way? Have you heard a voyce from heaven, saying, This is the way, walk in it? Though God should leave you in all outward things, yet you are made for ever; and therefore you mayest say as Judas, not Iscariot; Lord, therefore is it that you revealest yourself to us; and not to the world? Lord, therefore is it, that in this great business of my choice, that concerns my eternal estate, you art pleased to reveal yourself to me, a poor contemptible creature, rather then to the world?

1. Hence it is, because you art one of the chosenones of the Lord, because the Lord has made a choice of you, and has separated you from all eternity, to do good to your soul: hence it is manifest, that you art the chosen one of the Lord; when you seest most in the world, to follow the pleasures of the world, if God has given you a heart to choose his ways upon any terms, take this as an argument, that you art a chosen vessel of God. Reciprocal signs of Gods grace are the most sweet; as if I love God, this is an argument God loves me; if Gods honor be dear to me, then my soul is near to God; so if I choose God, then God has chosen me.

2. This choice is that for which thousands of Gods people have blessed God upon their deathbeds; they counted it a blessed time, and blessed the means, the Word, and the Instrument that God was pleased to work by, to incline their hearts to such a choice as this.

3. Yea, this choice of your, though it be suffering affliction, it is that you shall bless God for, to all eternity in the highest Heavens; it is such a great mercy, as this little, poor, span-long life of ours, is not sufficient to give God glory for it, therefore there is an eternity reserved to praise God for it; when you shall see what good comes of your choice, then you shall bless God indeed. Certainly, God takes it well at your hands now. Jer. 2:2 I remember the kindeness of your youth, and the love of your espousals, when you wentest after me in the wilderness. God takes it kindely, that men will choose him and his ways in affliction: if there were always prosperity in the ways of God, it were nothing, but when it is with affliction, it is so much the more an argument of your love to God, and your sincerity, and therefore he takes it so kindely. Bless God for it; and bless him the rather, because he has begun with you betimes: If the Lord has given you a heart when you are yong to make this choice, what a great mercy is this? what abundance of sin does such a one prevent? If one that is yong, goes on in the ways of Religion, though he suffers much in the family in which he lives, his brethren scorn at him, and his Parents hate him; yet he has cause to rejoice, and bless himself in the goodness of the Lord.

4. Again, you hast further cause to bless God, because he has given you such encouragements since you hast made your choice: you madest your choice many years ago; I ask you, Hast you not had encouragement in your choice? Hast any cause to repent you? O no! blessed be God, I have found more good then I looked for.

5. And know, within a while, the end of your choice will be attained, and then it shall appear before men and Angels, you madest a good choice, and all the world shall bless you for your choice. Blessed be that man or woman that ever they were born, to make such a choice: and you shall be honored of all those that do despise you now, and they shall wish they had made your choice. It is reported of a yong man who loved his pleasures, standing by St. Ambrose, and seeing his excellent death, he turned to other yong men by him, and said, O that I might live with you, and dye with him! You hast little cause to envy them that will choose vanities for their portion, let them have them: though you hast lost something of your bravery, of your carnal delight for this choice, be content, it is made up infinitely here, and shall be made up more hereafter.

And seeing God has thus enclined your heart to himself, be for ever established in your choice: seeing God has shown to you his ways, say, as Pilate in another case, That I have written, I have written; so, That I have chosen, I have chosen. If any temptation come to tempt you from your choice, as flesh and blood would be ready to mutter, and think, I might have lived as brave a life as such a one, & might have had as much pleasure as such a one; I have lost so many friends, and so much means, and brought myself into a great many straights; indeed, they spoke much of Gods Ordinances, and I was taken with it, and I ventured, and I have brought myself into troubles: and upon the mutterings of flesh and blood, you are beginning to bethink yourselves again, and examine things again, and think whether you did wisely or no: O take heed of that first degree of Apostacy, namely, that suspition of your choice.

Many in their yong time are very zealous in the ways of Religion, while all is well with them, and now they meet with other things then they looked for, and they begin to think they were too forward, and wish they were not so far engaged as they are: they begin to repent, as chapmen who have out-bid themselves: Many go on in a profession, and suffer much, because they are engaged in that way, and they know not how to get off; if they could get off, they would: take heed of repentings of your choice, lest God lead you out with the workers of iniquity, do not listen to the reasonings of flesh and blood. Cassianus reports of a yong man, that had given himself up to a Christian life, and his Parents misliked that way, and they wrote Letters to him, to persuade him from it; and when he knew they were Letters come from them, he would not open them, but threw them into the fire: and so flesh and blood will come and say, Do thus and thus, you may do well enough at last; throw away these letters, these suggestions of flesh and blood, and do not answer them, but be resolved in your own heart, I know in whom I have believed, I know whom I have chosen, I did not choose rashly, but I felt the power of God upon my heart, before I made my choice, and I had grounds and arguments of my choice; and what, shall I by such an argument as this be persuaded to the contrary? Therefore go on, and be established in your choice, and the Lord confirm you in it, and give my soul part with you in that choice you have made: let flesh, and the world, and temptations say what they will, peace will be in the end.

You have found some good already, that might make you say with David, Surely it is good for me to draw near to God: and though I do meet with some troubles and temptations that do cry down this way, yet let my soul say, It is good for me to draw near to God: it is good for me that I left such andsuch things; it is good for me that I have these Ordinances, though it be with the loss of some outward comforts, and my estate be abated, and my trading less: say as David, in the 73. Psalm, Truly God is good to Israel; however it be, yet God is good to Israel, though many things seem to the contrary: and therefore, conclude with your own heart, Though I should never see good day in the world, yet that comfort I have received in the ways of God, it is enough to make me prize them for ever: if now I should dye, and be annihilated, if God should deprive me of the joys of Heaven, and turn me into nothing, yet that good that I have had already in Gods ways, should be enough to countervail all the troubles that I have met withal in the world, or ever shall meet withal: though God should withdraw himself in all the course of my life, and I should be in darkness, and have nothing but trouble, yet I have had enough in God already, to countervail all.

Has God thus spoken peace to your soul? remember that text in Psalm 85:8 Return not again to folly: the Lord has spoken peace already to your soul in afflictions, and therefore, God forbid that you should return to folly, but continue in your way, and go on constantly in your way to the end, and the Lord bless you in your way. And this is for the encouragement of the hearts of Gods people, that have with Moses made this choice, Rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.