No wicked man a wise man, true wisdom described the excellency of spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge, above all humane wisdom and learning ... / by R. Younge ...

No wicked man a wise man, true wisdom described the excellency of spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge, above all humane wisdom and learning ... / by R. Younge ...

Table of contents

Title page

True WISDOM Described, &c. Section 1.

True WISDOM Described, &c.
Section 1.

[Page]

MEn no more differ from beasts, plants, stones, in shape, speech, reason, then some men differ from others in brain, in heart, in life: Whence the very heath [...]n Poets usually and most fitly compare some men to stones, for their hardness and [...]nsensibleness; others to plants, that only fill their veins; a third sort to beasts, that please their senses too; a fourth to evil Angels, that only sin, and cause others to sin; a fifth to good Angels, that are still in motion, always serving God, and doing good, yet ever rest.

Besides, experience teaches, that mens judgements and censures are as various as their pallats: for what one admires, another slights, as is evident by our Saviors auditors, of which some admired, others censured, a third sort wept, a fourth scoft, a fifth trembled, a sixth blasphemed when they heard him. And how should it be otherwise? when the greater part are as deeply in love with vice and errour, as the rest are with vertue and truth; when mens conditions and constitutions vary as much as their faces; as the holy Ghost intimates, in comparing several men, to almost every several creature in the Vniverse. Nor is the Epicure more like a Swine, the Lustful person a Goat▪ [...] [...]udulent man a Fox, the Backbiter a barking Dog, [...] an Asp, the Oppressor a Wolf, the Persecutor [...], the Church-robber a Wild Bore, the Seducer a Serpent, yea a Devil, the Traytor a Viper, &c. 2 Tim. 4. 17. Luk. 13. 32. Phil. 3. 2. Psal. 22. 12, 13, 16, 20, 21. & 74. 13, 14, 19. & 80. 13. Mat. 23. 33. Dan. 7. 4, 5, 6. &c. Zeph. 3. 3, 4, &c. Cant. 2. 15, 17. &c. then every of them is unlike another.

Amidst so much variety, I have chosen to acquaint you how one man differs from, and excels another in knowledge and wisdom; and to prove that to be wise indeed, is the portion but of a few, even in our Goshen, where is so much means of Light and Grace.

[Page] All sorts of men may be comprised under one of these three Heads: The

Sensual.

Rational.

Spiritual.

For if you observe it, some men like the Moon at Full, have all their light towards earth, none towards heaven: Others like the Moon at Wain or Change, have all their light to heaven wards, none to the earth: a third sort like to the Moon in Eclipse, as having no light in it self, neither towards earth, nor towards heaven. Insomuch that one excels another (in wisdom) as the stars excel one another in glory. Of which particularly.

First, There is no less difference between the rational and sensual, the wise & simple, the learned & unlearned, then there is between men and beasts, as Menander speaks; or between the living and the dead, as another hath it: and yet the rational do not so far excel the sensual, as the spiritual excel the rational.

Touching these three degrees of comparison, I begin with the sensual. Sensual, or (as wise Solomon calls them) brutish men, that have been ill bred, are so drowned in sin and sensuality, and their spirits so frozen, and pitifully benummed with worldliness, and wicked customs, that they cannot judge aright, either of spiritual matters, or rectified reason. They know no other way then the flesh leads them. It is the weight that sets all their wheels a going; the horses that draw their chariot, the very life of their corruption, the corruption of their life, without which they do nothing. Yea in matters divine and spiritual, they are of as deep a judgement as was Callico, who stuft his pillow (a brass pot) with straw, to make it soft. Or that German Clown, who undertook to be very ready in the ten Commandments, but being demanded by the Minister which was the first, made answer, Thou shalt not eat. Or that simple Fellow, who thought Pontius Pilate must needs be a Saint, because his name was put into the Creed. They are like the Ostrich, Job 39. 17. whom God hath deprived of wisdom, & to whom he hath given no part of understanding. And which leaves them without all hope of being wiser, they had rather keep conscience blind, that it may flatter them, then inform it, that it [Page] may give a just verdict against them; counting it less trouble to believe a favorable falshood, then to examine whether it be true.

Secondly, They are so far from receiving instruction, that they will scorn and scoff at their Admonishers. As do but tell them of their swearing, drinking, whoring, you are sure to be call'd Quaker, Phanatick, or the like. Yea what a clamour will the blundering rabble make, if they but hear one reprove a blasphemer, or any way endeavour to stop them in their way to destruction? and what a number of sharp and deadly arrows will each of them shoot both at the good and goodness, affirming with incredible impudence, accompanied with invincible ignorance, that there are not worse men in the world, then the Religious? and still the more sottish, the more censorious. It is the nature of ignorant and carnal men, that walk after the flesh, in the lusts of uncleanness, (whom St. Peter calls Brute beasts led with sensuality, and made to be taken and destroyed) to speak evil of the things which they understand not, 2 Pet. 2. 12. Nor will they believe any thing, but what they see with their eyes, or feel with their fingers.

And as in spiritual, so in natural things also. An Ignorant Rustick seeing a Geometrician drawing of Lines, not knowing to what end he doth the same, is apt to judge him foolish and phantastick: Tell a plain Country fellow that the Sun is bigger then his Cart-wheel, and swifter in course then the best of his Horses, he will laugh you to scorn: yea, I have red of a simple Clown that killed his Ass for drinking up the Moon, which he had a little before seen in the water: and of another, that looking into his Well, and seeing face answer face, ran home in all haste to call for aid to apprehend the thief. And commonly as they have no reason, so they will hear none. Now he that will learn of none but himself, hath a fool to his Teacher; and such as refuse admonition, are bruitsh, as the holy Ghost affirms Prov. 12. 1. And destroy their own souls, chap. 15. 32. By all which it appears, that their knowledge is ignorance, their wisdom folly, their sight blindness. They neither consider what reason speaketh, or religion commandeth; but what the will & appetite affecteth. For will is the Axeltree, lusts and passions th [...] [Page] wheels whereupon all their actions are carried and do run. Appetite being their Lord, Reason their Servant, and Religion their Slave. Whereas religion should govern their judgement, judgement and reason their wills and affections, as Adam should have done Eve. They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh: The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. 8. 5, to 9. So that it is impossible for fleshly minded men, to believe what Sots they are, touching the good of their souls. Wherefore when we see the folly and misery of those that serve sin and Satan, and how peevishly averse they are to their own eternal salvation, let us pity them, as being so much more worthy our commiseration, as they are more uncapable of their own misery. And so much of the first sort, namely, Sensualists.

Sect. 2. Secondly, There is another degree of knowledge, that is accrued or obtained by education & learning, observation & experience, called natural or speculative knowledge, or reason improved. For humane learning, is as oyl to the lamp of our reason, and makes it burn clearer; but faith & illumination of the Spirit, more then doubles the s [...]ght of our minds, as a prospective glass does the corporal sight, Mat. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 7, to 17. Joh. 12. 46. For as the soul is the lamp of the body, and reason of the soul, and religion of reason, and faith of religion; so Christ is the light and life of Faith, Joh. 1. 9, & 8. 12. Acts 26. 18. Ephes. 5. 14. Christ is the sun of the soul, reason & faith the two eyes: reason discerns natural object, faith spiritual and supernatural. We may see far with our bodily eye sense, farther with the minds eye reason; but farther with the souls eye saith then with both. And the believer hath the addition of Gods spirit, & faith above all other men. I am the ligh [...] of the world, saith our Saviour, he that followeth me (meaning by a lively faith) shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life, Joh. 8. 12. & more see two eyes then one; yea, the day with one eye, does far more things descry, then night can do with more then Argos eyes. So that as meer sense is uncapable of the rules of reason, so reason is no less uncapable of the things that are divine and supernatural, Jer. 10. 14. [Page] 1 Cor. 2. 14, 15, 16. Eph. 5. 8. And as to speak is onely proper to men, so to know the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven, is onely proper to believers, Psal. 25. 14. Prov. 3. 32. Amos 3. 7.

Now of natural and speculative knowledge, the wicked have as large a share as the godly; but of spiritual experimental and saving knowledge, which is supernatural, and descendeth from above, Jam. 3. 17. and keepeth a man from every evil way, Prov. 2. 12. the wicked have no part with the godly. Whence all men in their natural condition are said to be blind & in darkness, Mat. 4. 16. & 15. 14. Eph. 4. 18, 19. & 5. 8. whereas believers are called children of light, and of the day, 1 Thes. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 9.

Nor is this kind of knowledge any way attainable but by grace from above. No learning, experience, or pains in study and books, will bring them to it, Ephes. 1. 17, 18. & 3. 19. except they become new creatures, have hearts, eyes and ears sanctified from above, and that the holy Ghost becomes their teacher, Deut. 29. 2, 3. 4. Psal. 111. 10. Joh. 15. 15. Rom. 8. 14, 15.

Nor is it saving knowledge that they seek after: for though many of them be great seekers after knowledge, great painstakers to become wise; yet it is not divine and supernatural knowledge that they labour for, or desire.

Indeed wisdom in the largest sense, hath ever carried that shew of excellency with it, that not only the good have highly affected it, (as Moses who studied for wisdom, and Solomon who prayed for wisdom, and the Queen of Sheba who travelled for wisdom, and David, who to get wisdom, made the word his counsellour, hated every false way, and was a man after Gods own heart) but the very wicked have laboured for it, who are ashamed of other vertues; as, O the pleasure that rational men take in it! Prov. 2. 3, 10, 11. & 10. 14. Phil. 3. 8.

Knowledge is so fair a Virgin, that every clear eye is in love with her; it is a Pearl despised of none but Swine, Prov. 2. 3, 10, 11. (whereas brutish and blockish men as little regard it) they who care not for one dram of goodness, would yet have a full scale of knowledge. Amongst all the trees of the garden, none so pleaseth them as the tree of knowledge. And as wisdom is excellent above all, so it is affected of all, as Oyl [Page] was, both of the wise and foolish Virgins. It hath been a Mark that every man hath shot at, ever since Eve sought to be as wise as her Maker: but as an hundred shoot, for one that hits the White; so an hundred aim at wisdom, for one that lights upon it, Eccles. 7. 28. because they are mistaken in the thing: for as Jacob in the dark mistook Leah for Rachel, so many a blind soul takes that to be wisdom, which is not; like Eve, who thought it wisdom to eat the forbidden fruit; and Absalom, who thought it wisdom to lie with his Fathers Con [...]es in the sight of all the people; and the false Steward, who thought it wisdom to deceive his Master. And so of Josephs brethren, of Pharaoh and his deep Counsellors, of Ach [...]ophel, of Herod, of the Pharisees in their project to destroy Jesus; and many the like. All these thought they did wisely, but they were mistaken, and their projects proved foolish, and turned to their own ruine.

Sect. 3. But take some instances to prove that all sorts of Naturians are Fools, in comparison of the Godly. I'll begin with those that repute themselves, & are reputed by others, the wisest amongst men: And they are your profound Humanist, and cunning Politicians, wherein you shall see, whether the most and greatest number are not grosly mistaken in their opinions and verdicts touching wisdom.

First, for profound Humanists, a man would think that they were incomparably wise, for none so thirst after knowledge and wisdom as they, and to get it they are no niggards of their labour: nor do they leave any thing unstudied but themselves. They know all parts and places of the created world, can discourse of every thing visible and invisible, divine, humane, and mundane, whether it be meant of substances or accidents, are ignorant of nothing but the way to heaven, are acquainted with all Laws and Customs, save the Law of God, and Customs of Christianity; they are strangers no where but in the Court of their own Consciences: Yea, they build as hard, and erect as high as did the Babel-builders, but all to no purpose; they never come to the roof, and when they die, they are undone. They spend all their [Page] time in seeking after wisdom, as Alchimists spend all their Estates to find out the Philosophers stone, but never find it; they never attain to that, which is true wisdom indeed. For as the ragged Poet told Petronius, that Poetry was a kind of learning, that never made any man rich: so humane learning of its self, never made a wise man.

As thus (if I may be so bold) what is it, or what does it profit a man, to have the etymology and derivation of wisdom and knowledge, without being affected with that which is true wisdom indeed, to be able to decline vertue, yet not love it? to have the theory, and be able to prattle of wisdom by rote, yet not know what it is by effect and experience? To have as expert a tongue, and as quick a memory as Portius, a perfect understanding, great science, profound eloquence, a sweet stile? To have the force of Demosthenes, the depth of Thesius, the perswas [...]e art of Tully, &c. if withal he wants Grace, and lives remisly? With the A [...]ronomer, to observe the motion of the heavens, while his heart is buried in the earth? to search out the cause of many effects, and let pass the consideration of the principal, and most necessary? With the Historian, to know what others have done, and how they have sped, while he neglects the imitation of such as are gone the right way? With the Law-maker, to set down many Laws in particular, and not to remember the common Law of nature, or Law general that all must die? Or lastly, with Adam to know the Nature of all the Creatures: and with Solomon to be able to dispute of ever thing, even from the Cedar to the Hyssop or Pellitory; when in the mean time he lives like Dives, dies like Nabal, and after all goes to his own place with Judas? Alas! many a Fool goes to hell with less costs, less pains, and far more quiet: That is but raw knowledge, which is not digested into practice. It is not worth the name of knowledge, that may be heard only and not seen, Joh. 13. 17. Deut. 4. 6. Good discourse is but the froth of wisdom: the sweet and solid fruit of it, is in well framed actions: that is true knowledge, that makes the knower blessed. We only praise that Mariner, that brings the Ship safe to the Haven.

[Page] What saies Aristotle? to be wise and happy are terms reciprocal. And Socrates, That learning, saith he, pleaseth me but a little, which nothing profits the owner of it, either to vertue or happiness: And being demanded, Who was the wisest and happiest man? He answered, He that offends least. He is the best schollar that learns of Christ obedience, humility, &c. He is the best Arithmetician, that can add grace to grace; he is the best learned, that knows how to be saved. Yea, all the Arts in the world, are artless Arts to this.

Sect. 4. The best knowledge is about the best things; and the perfection of all knowledge, to know God, and our selves: Knowledge and learning, saith Aristotle, consisteth not so much in the quantity, as in the quality; not in the greatness, but in the goodness of it. A little gold (we know) is more worth than much dross: a little Diamond, than a rockie Mountain. So one drop of wisdom, guided by the fear of God; one spark of spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge, is more worth than all humane wisdom and learning: yea, one scruple of holiness, one dram of faith, one grain of grace, is more worth than many pounds of natural parts. And indeed, Faith and Holiness, are the nerves and sinews; yea, the soul of saving knowledge.

What saith Aristotle? No more then the knowledge of goodness, maketh one to be named a good man; no more doth the knowledge of wisdom alone, cause any person properly to be called a wiseman. Saving knowledge of the truth, works a love of the truth known: yea, it is a uniform consent, of knowledge and action. He only is wise, that is wise for his own soul: he whose conscience pulleth all he hears and reads to his heart, and his heart to God: who turneth his knowledge to faith, his faith to feeling, & all to vvalk worthy of his Redeemer. He that subdues his sensual desires and appetite, to the more noble faculties of reason and understanding, and makes that understanding of his to serve him, by whom it is, and doth understand. He that subdues his lusts to his will, submits his will to reason, his reason to faith; his saith, his reason, his will, himself, to the will of God: [Page] this is practical, experimental, and saving knowledge; to which the other is but a bare name, or title. A competent estate (we know) well husbanded, is better than a vast patrimony neglected. Never any meer man (since the first) knew so much as Solomon; many that have known less, have had more command of themselves.

Alas! they are not always the wisest, that know most for none more wise and learned in the worlds account, then the Scribes and Pharisees; yet Christ calls them four times blind, and twice fools in one chapter, Mat. 23. And the like of Balaam, 2 Pet. 2. 16. who had such a prophetical knowledge, that scarce any of the Prophets had a clearer revelation of the Messiah to come. And the same may be affirmed of Judas and Achitophel; for many that know a great deal less, are far wiser. Yea, one poor crucified thief, being converted, in an hours time, had more true wisdom and knowledge infused into him, then had all the Rulers, Scribes and Pharisees.

It is very observable, what the high Priest told the Council, as they were set to condemn Christ, Ye know nothing at all: he spake truer then he meant it; for if we know not the Lord Jesus, our knowledge is either nothing, or nothing worth. Rightly a man knows no more then he practiseth. It is said of Christ, 2 Cor. 5. 21. that he knew no sin, because he did no sin: in which sense, he knows no good, that doth no good. These things if ye know, (saith our Saviour) happy are ye if ye do them, Joh. 13. 17. and in Deut. 4. 6. Keep the commandments of God, and do them; for this is your wisdom and understanding before God and man.

What is the notional sweetness of honey, to the experimental taste of it? It is one thing to know what riches are, and another thing to be Master of them: it is not the knowing, but the possessing of them that makes rich. Many have a depth of knowledge, and yet are not soul-wise; have a Library of Divinity in their heads, not so much as the least Catechism in their Consciences; full brains, empty hearts. Yea, you shall hear a flood in the tongue, when you cannot see one drop in the life. Insomuch, that in the midst of our so much light, and means [Page] of Grace, there be few, I fear, that have the sound and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and him crucified, which was the onely care and study of St. Paul, 1 Cor. 2. 2.

Sect. 5. And that I am not mistaken, the effect shews: For if men knew either God or Christ, they could not but love him; and loving him, they would keep his Commandments, Joh. 14. 15. For hereby (saith St. John) it is manifest that we know him, if we keep his commandments, 1 Joh. 2. 3. But he that saith, I know him, and yet keepeth not his commandments, is a lyar, and there is no truth in him, ver. 4. What saith our Saviour? This is life eternal to know thee the onely true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou [...] sent, Joh. 17. 3. But how shall a man know, whether he hath this knowledge? Answ. St. John tells you, 1 Joh. 2. 3. and so plainly, that you cannot be deceived, except you desire to deceive your own soul.

The knowledge of God that saves us, is more then a bare apprehension of him; it knows his power, and therefore fears him; knows his Justice, and therefore serves him; knows his mercy, and therefore truis him; knows his goodness, and therefore loves him, &c. For he that hath the saving knowledge of God, or of Christ, hath every other Grace: there is a sweet correspondence between every one, where there is any one in truth: As in the generation, the head is not without the body, nor the body without each member, nor the soul without its powers & faculties; so in the regeneration, where there is any one grace in truth, there is every one, 2 Cor. 5. 17. If you will see it in particulars, read Psal. 9. 10. Jer. 9. 24. 1 Joh. 4. 6. Joh. 4. 10. 1 Joh. 4. 7, 8 & 2. 3. Job 42. 5, 6. which Scriptures shew, that as feeling is inseparable to all the organs of sense, the eye sees and feels, the ear hears and feels, the pallate tastes and feels, the nostrils smell and feel; so knowledge is involved in every grace: Faith knows and believes, Charity knows and loves, Patience knows and suffers, Temperance knows and abstains, Humility knows & stoops, Repentance knows & mourns, Obedience knows & does, Confidence knows & reioyces, Hope knows and expects, Compassion knows and pities: Yea, as there is a power of water in every thing that grows; it is fatness in [Page] the Olive, sweetness in the fig, cheerfulness in the grape, strength in the Oak, talness in the Cedar, redness in the Rose, whiteness in the Lilly, &c. So knowledge is in the hand obedience, in the mouth benediction, in the knee humility, in the eye compassion, in the heart charity, in the whole body and soul piety. Alas! If men had the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, it would disperse and dispel all the black clouds of their reigning sins in a moment; as the Sun doth no sooner shew his face but the darkness vanisheth: or as Caesar did no sooner look upon his enemies, but they were gone. Egypt swarmed with locusts, till the west wind came, that left not one: He cannot delight in sin, nor dote upon this world, that know [...] Christ savingly.

Vertue is ordained a wife for knowledge; and where these two joyn, there will proceed from them a noble proginie, a generation of good works. Again, as the water engendreth ice, and the ice again engendreth water, so knowledge begets righteousness, and righteousness again begetteth knowledge. It is between science and conscience, as it is between the stomach and the head; for as in mans body, the raw stomach maketh a rhumatick head, and the rhumatick head maketh a raw stomach; so science makes our conscience good, & conscience makes our science good: Nor is it so much scientiae capitis, as conscientia cordis, that knows Christ and our selves; whence Solomon saith, Give thine heart to wisdom, Prov. 2. 10. and let wisdom enter into thine heart, Prov. 4. 4. And when he would acquaint us how to become wise, he tells us, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, Prov. 1. 7. as if the first lesson to be wise, were to be holy. Again, if it be asked, Why the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God? Saint Paul answers, he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2. 14. and indeed, if they are spiritually discerned, how should they discern them that have not the spirit? For though the outward man receives the elements and rudiments of Religion by breeding and education, yet his inward man receiveth them by heavenly inspiration, 1 Cor. 2. 11, 12, 13. & 12. 3, 8. Mat. 16. 16, 17. Deut. 29. 2. 3, 4. Psal. 111. 10. Luke 24. 45. John 15. 15. And this alone is [Page] enough to prove, that no wicked man is a wise man; for if God alone be the giver of it, we may be sure that he will reveal his secrets to none but such as he knows will improve their knowledge to his glory and the good of others: Even as the husbandman will not cast his seed, but into ground that will return him a good harvest, Psal. 25. 14. Luk. 24. 45. Mark 4. 34. Gen. 18. 17. 1 John 4. 7.

Sect. 6. But would there men (any one, even the best of them) thus improve, or imploy their knowledge? Or do they desire it to any such end? No: but to some other end, as I shall in the next place acquaint you.

Some men desire not to know, some desire onely to know; Or rather thus, Few men in comparison desire knowledge, fewer that desire divine and supernatural knowledge; fewest of all that desire to be the better, or that others should be the better for their knowledge: More particularly, a world of men desire knowledge for no other end but to remove their ignorance; as Pharaoh used Moses, but to remove the plagues. Others again study the Scriptures, and other good Books, only to make gain thereof; or to be the abler to dispute and discourse, as boys go into the water, only to play and paddle there, not to wash and be clean. With Eve, they highly desire the tree of knowledge, but regard not the tree of life.

As I would fain know what fruit or effect the knowledge of most men produces in them, except it be to inable them to dispute and discourse, to increase wit, or to increase wealth, or to increase pride, or perhaps to increase Athism, and to make them the more able and cunning to argue against the truth and power of Religion? Whether the utmost of their aim be not to enrich, dignifie, and please themselves; not on [...] casting the eye of their souls at Gods glory, their neighbours good, or their own salvation? Whether their main drift be not purchasing of a great estate for them and theirs, without either fear of God, regard of men, or the discharge of their duty and calling? Again, whereas a godly man and a good Christian, thinks himself as happy in giving light to others as in receiving it himself; how many are there, who as [Page] themselves are never the better (I mean in regard of grace) for their great wisdom and learning, so no more are others; for commonly▪ they resemble dark lanthorns which have light, but so shut up, and reserved as if it were not: and what is the difference betwixt concealed skill and ignorance? it is the nature and praise of good, to be communicative, whereas if their hidden knowledge do ever look out, it casts so sparing a light, that it onely argues it self to have an unprofitable being.

And for the most part these men if they may be thought great Rabbies, deep and profound Schollars, this is the height of their ambition, though neither the Church be benefited, nor God glorified by it; whereas they ought the contrary: for as the grace of God is the fountain from which our wisdom flows, so the glory of God should be the Ocean to which it should run: yea, that God may be honoured with, and by our wisdom, is the only end for which he gives us to be wise: And for default of this end, he not seldom crosseth the means whereby while men strive to expel ignorance, they fail into errour; as an Emperick to cure one disease, causeth a worse. Briefly, to conclude this point, So many as are puft up with their knowledge, or do not part with their sins, shew that they never sought it for Gods glory, but for their own honour and glory. And certainly if we seek not Gods glory in doing his work, he will give us no wages at the latter end.

Sect. 7. But for men to do no good with their gifts is not all; yea it were well if that were the worst, for not a few of them resemble Achitophel and Jonadab, who employed their wit wickedly, and do mischief instead of good with their wisdom: like Herod, whom you shall see turning over the Bible, searching the Scriptures, examining the Prophets; [...]ut to what end and purpose? To know good, but to do evil: yea, the greatest evil under the Sun, slay Christ in the cradle: With many, their knowledge and learning is not for God & for Gideon, but for Antichrist and for Babylon: and so of all other gifts; how many are the worse for them? As give Saul a Kingdom, and he will tyrannize; give Nabal plenty, and he will be [Page] drunk; give Judas an Apostleship, and he will sell his Master for mony; let Sermantus have a good wit, he will exercise it in scoffing at holiness. Briefly, how oft doth wisdom without grace prove like a fair estate in the hands of a fool, which not seldom becomes the owners ruine: Or Absoloms hair, which was an ornanent, wherewith he hanged himself: So that wisdom without grace, is nothing else but a cunning way of undoing our selves at the last. Many mens knowledge to them, being like the Ark to the Philistims, which did them more hurt than good; when their knowledge makes them prouder, not better; more rebellious, not more serviceable; as it is, Isa. 47. 10. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge they have caused thee to rebel. And very often this falls out, that as the best soyl usually yeildeth the worst air, so without grace there is nothing more pestilent than a deep wit, no such prey for the Devil, as a good wit unsanctified. Wit and learning well used, is like the golden ear-rings and bracelets of the Israelites, abused, like the same gold cast into an Idol; than which, nothing more abominable.

Now when it comes to this, That they fight against God with the weapon he hath given them; when with those the Psalmist speaks of, Psal. 73. 9. They set their mouths against heaven, and are like an unruly Jade, that being full fed kicks at his Master; what course doth the Lord take with them? Answ. Read but that Parable, Luke 19. 24. John 7. 17. it will inform you: For to him that useth his Talent of knowledge well, he giveth more; as to the servant that used his talents well, he doubled them: but to them that use not their knowledge well, much more if they abuse it, he taketh away that which he had formerly given them: as he took heat from the fire when it would burn his Children, Dan. 3. 27. As you may see, Isa. 44. 25. [...] Thess. 2. 10, 11, 12. Joh. 7. 17. Psal. 111. 10. 1 [...] 26. Prov. 28. 5. Mat. 21. 43. Acts 26. [...]8. Isa [...] & 44. 25. & 6. 9, 10. Dan. 2. 19▪ 23. Job 5. 13, 14. John 9. 39. & 12. 40. Rom. 1. 28. Eph. 4. 18, 19. 1 Cor. 1. 20. 2 Thess. [...]. 10, 11, 12. turn to the places, for they are rare. I will destroy the tokens of the South sayers, and make [Page]them that conjecture, fools: I will turn the wise men backward, and make their knowledge foolishness, saith the Lord, Isa. 44. 25. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the wicked is made foolish, Job 5. 13. the case of Achitophel: And justly are they forsaken of their reason, who have abandoned God; yea, most just it is, that they who want grace, should want wit too. And so much of abusing their gifts.

Lastly, These great knowers and wise men are so far from desiring soul wisdom, and saving knowledge to the ends before specified, that they do not at all desire it, for that it suits not with their condition. For Natural men desire only humane and mundane knowledge: Spiritual men, that which is heavenly and supernatural: and the reason why they desire it not, is, for that they know it not. A man desireth not that he knoweth not, saies Chrysostom; neither are unknown evils feared: wherefore the work of Regeneration, begins at Illumination, Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 9.

Now according as men are wise, they prize and value this wisdom, and endeavour to obtain it, Prov. 18. 15. For it is more true of divine wisdom, than it was of that Grecian beauty: No man ever loved her, that never saw her; no man ever saw her, but he loved her.

And so on the contrary, according as men are ignorant and blockish, they under-value and dis-esteem it, hate it and are prejudiced aginst it: And hereupon carnal men being blinded by the Prince of darkness, together with their own wickedness, and being of a reprobate judgement, do most usually and familiarly term and esteem this soul-wisdom, this divine, spiritual, experimental, and saving-knowledge, to be meer foolishness or madness, Wisd. 5. 3. to 9. and the Professors thereof to be fools and madmen: Elisha was counted no better, 2 Kings 9. 11. and the rest of the Prophets, Hos. 9. 7. & St. Paul, Acts 26. 20. and all the Apostles, 1 Cor. 4. 10. Yea, our Saviour Christ himself with open mouth was pronounced mad by his carnal hearers, Joh. 10. 20. Mark 3. 21. and this hath been the worlds vote ever since. The sincere [Page] Christian was so reputed in Pliny's time, and after in St. Austin's time: yea, Julian the Pelagian could give St. Austin, that he had none of the wise Sages, nor the learned Senate of Philosophers on his side; but only a company of mean Tradesmen, of the vulgar sort, that took part with him: whose answer was, Thou reproachest the weak things of the world, which God hath chosen to confound the things that are mighty.

To worldly men Christian wisdom seems folly faith Gregory. And well it may, for even the wisdom of God is foolishness with the world, 1 Cor. 1. 18 23. therefore no disparagement to us his servants, if they repute us fools; nor I think any honour to such sensualists that so repute us: However we will give them their due? For,

Sect. 8. I grant that in some kind of skill they out-strip the best [...]f Gods people, who, if they are put to it, may answer as Themistocles did when one invited him to touch a Lute; for as he said, I cannot fiddle, but I can make a small town a great State: So the godly may say, we cannot give a solid reason in Nature, why Nilus should over flow only in the Summer, when waters are at the lowest? Why the Load-stone should draw Iron; or inc [...]ine to the pole-star? How the heat of the stomach, and the strength of the nether chap should be so great? Why a flash of lightning should melt the sword, without making any impression in the scabbard? Kill the child in the womb, and never hurt the Mother? How the waters should stand upon a heap, and yet not over flow the earth? Why the clouds above being heavy with water, should not fall to the earth suddenly, seeing every heavy thing descendeth? Except the reason which God giveth, Gen. 1. 6. & Job 38. 8. to 12. & 26▪ 8. Psa. 104. 9. But we know the mystery of the Gospel, and what it is to be born a new, and can give a solid reason of our faith: we know that God is reconciled to us, the Law satisfied for us, our sins pardoned, our souls acquitted, and that we are in favour with God▪ which many of these with their great learning do not know. And thus the godly are proved wiser than the wisest humanist that wants grace. You [Page] have likewise the reasons why these great knowers, know nothing yet as they might and ought to know; that is to say,

First, Because they are mistaken in the thing; they take speculative knowledge for soul wisdom; and soul saving wisdom to be foolishness and madness. Now if a man take his aim amiss, he may shoot long enough ere he hit the white: and these men are as one that is gone a good part of his journey, but must come back again because he hath mistaken his way.

Secondly, Because they are Vnregenerate, and want the Eye of Faith.

Thirdly, For that they seek not to God for it who is the giver thereof, & without whose spirit there is no attaining it.

Fourthly, Because they are proud, and so seek not after it, as supposing they have it already.

Fifthly, Because if they had never so much knowledge, they would be never the holier, or the better for it, but rather the worse; nor would they imploy it to the honour of God, or the good of others.

Sixthly, Because they either do, or would do mischief in stead of good with their knowledge.

Seventhly, Because they will not consult with the word about i [...] nor advise with others that have already attained to it. O [...] thus, They read and hear the Scriptures and mind not, (I mean the spirituality of the word) or mind and understand not, or understand and remember not, or remember and practise not. No, this they intend not of all the rest; and they that are unwilling to obey, God thinks unworthy to know.

When the Serpent taught knowledge, he said, If ye eat the forbidden fruit, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall know good and evil: But God teacheth another lesson, and saith, If ye will not eat the forbidden fruit, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall know good and evil, Rom. 12. 2. See Psa. 111. 10. & 119. 97, 98, 99, 100. Or if you do eat it, you shall be like images that have ears, and cannot hear, Rom. 11. 8. Isa. 6. 10. Mat. 13. 14. Psal. 115. 6.

From all which Reasons we may collect, That there are but a few amongst us, that are wise indeed, and to purpose; for these Seven Hinderances are appliable to seventy seven [Page] parts of men in the Nation. Besides, if these great knowers know so little, how ignorant are the rude rabble, that despise all knowledge? Nor can it be denied but all impenitent persons, all unbelievers (who prefer their profits and pleasures before pleasing of God; as Herodias preferred John Baptists head before the one half of Herods Kingdom) are arrant fools; yea, fools in Folio: For if they were wise, says Bernard, they would foresee the torments of Hell, and prevent them.

And so wise are the godly, for they prefer grace, and glory, and Gods favour, before ten thousand worlds.

And so much to prove, that he is the wisest man, whose knowledge lies in the best things, (as the weaker vessel may hold the better liquour) and that if men be never so learned, except they have learned the Mystery of the Gospel, and what it is to be born again by their own experience (which few with their great learning do indeed know) they are in Gods account, no better then fools. I come now to prove, that the greatest Politician is a verier fool then the former.

Sect. 9. Secondly, if we shall look upon the most cunning Politician, with a single eye, judge righteous judgement, and not according to appearance only, we shall find that the greatest Politician is the greatest fool; For he turns all his Religion into hypocrisie, into statism, yea, into Atheism, making Christianity a very footstool to policy. I consese they are wiser in their generation, then the children of light, & are so acknowledged by Christ himself, Luke 16. 8. But why? not that there is a deficiency of power in the godly, but will: for could not David go as far as Achithophel? could not Paul shew as much cunning as Tertullus? yes, surely if they would: but because their Ma [...]er, Christ, hath commanded them to be innocent as Doves; They have resolved in an heroical disposition with Abraham, Gen. 14. 21. that the King of Sodom shall not make them rich. No crooked, or indirect means, shall bring them in profit; they will not be beholden to the King of Hell for a shoo-tie. And hereupon the Fo [...]es wiles, never enter into the Lions head.

But to speak of them as they are: These cunning Politicians, in stead of being wise as serpents, they are wise serpents, [Page] they are so arted in subtilties, through time and practise, that they are near upon as wise, as that old serpent the devil. Indeed he hath one trick beyond all theirs; for like a cunning fencer, he that taught them all their tricks, kept this one to himself, namely, how to cheat them of their souls. But take a short character of them.

They are such cunning dissemblers, that like Pope Alexander the sixth, what they think they never speak: Why is this cast away, saith Judas? Crafty [...]ub, he would have had it himself. They are like a fellow that rides to the Pillory, they go not the way they look, They will cut a mans throat under colour of courtesie, as Vlysses by gold, and forged letters, was the means of stoning Palamides, even while he made shew of defending him. And then to wipe off all suspition from themselves, their gesture and countenance shall be like Julius Cesar's, who seeing Pompey's head, sell a weeping, as if he had been sorry for it, when by his only means it was cut off. So like Rowers in a boat, whilst in their pretence they look one way, in their intent they go the q [...]ite contra [...]y: As our Saviour found it to fa [...]e with the Pharisees and Sadduces, Ma. t 16. 1, 3. which made him to conclude with, O hypocrites! Nor shall any man be able to determine, either by their gesture, words, or actions, what they resolve, though like Hebrew letters, you spell them backward. Only this you may be sure of, that they do not intend, what they pretend: Like as in jugling feats, though we know not how they are done, yet we know well, that they are not done as they seem to be.

Now if they can any way advantage themselves by anothers ruine, and do it cunningly, as Jezabel did, when she killid Naboth, by suborning false witness against him, and proclaimed a Fast before the murder: Though all such policy be but misery, and all such knowlendge ignorance, Yet, O how wise they think themselves! but they are grosly mistaken: for wherein doth this their great wisdom consist? but first, in being wise to deceive others; as the Old serpent did our first Parents: or secondly, in the end to deceive themselves, as the same serpent did, which brought a curse upon himself for so doing, [Page] Gen 3. The crafty Fox hugged himself to think how he had cozened the Crow of her break-fast: but when he had eaten it, and found himself poysoned with it, he wisht the Crow her own ag [...]in. Wealth got by deceit, is like a piece of buttered spunge, an Italian Trick, it goes down glib, but in the stomack, swells, and will never be got out again. The gains a man gets by deceiving, at last he may put in his eye, and yet see himself miserable. Sin is the greatest cheater in the world, for it deceives the deceiver.

Sect. 10. That it is so with them, and all others who go to counsel, and leave the God of wisdom behind them, let their case be viewed in other persons. What saith Pharaoh to his deep Counsellers? Come let us do wisely, when indeed he went about that which destroyed both him and his Countrey. The Scribes, Pharisees, and Elders took counsel against Christ; as though they would most wisely prevent their own salvation. Josephs brethren, to prevent his having dominion over them (as his dreams imported) thought they had taken a very wise course, in selling him to the Ishmaelitish Merchants, which was indee [...] the only means to effect it. They murder Christ, lest the Romans should come: and by so doing, their coming was hastned. The Jews say, Come let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours: but in killing him, they [...]ost the inheritance and themselves too. And so it always fares with our Machivilians in the end, speed they never so well for a time. For let the Devil promise them never so fair, (suppose it be a Kingdom) the upshot will be but sad and doleful: as it fared with Athaliah, who having slain all the Kings seed, that she alone might raign, lost both the government, and her life too. Or as it did with Abimelech, who slew seventy of his brethren, that he might with safety enjoy the Kingdom, lost both it, and his life with it. And many the like we read of.

Whence St. Ambrose observes, that the plots of the wicked, always return upon their own heads. A [...] Pope Hildebrands servant, by stumbling, was killed with that stone he should have thrown down on Frederick the Emperour, at his Devotions. [Page] Or as Griphus his Mother, was made to take that draught, wherewith she intended to poyson him. Yea, how little was Judas set by of the High Priests, when once he had served their turn? How did they shake him off in that pitiful distress, with, Look thou to it? And so how poor are the witches, that in confidence of these promises, even sell their souls to the Devil?

See here in these few Examples, you have the depth and solidity of our greatest and wisest Politicians, and yet lewd men, most ridiculously and absurdly, call wicked policies, wisdom, and their success, happiness. But herein Satan makes them of all fools the superlative, in mistaking villany and madness, for the best vertues. And what is the summa totalis of all, but this? Faux-like, they project other mens overthrow, purchase their own. Neither hath any man been wise to do evil, but his wisdom hath had an evil end. As O the multitude of Examples that are recorded, to give credit to this Doctrine! was not the wisdom of the serpent turned into a curse? the wisdom of the Pharisees into a wo? the wisdom of A [...]ithophel into folly [...] the wisdom of Nimrod into confusion? the wisdom of the unjust Steward into expulsion out of Heaven? the wisdom of Jezabel, into a shameful death? &c. So that in the issue, their case proves but like the Spiders, that was weaving a curious net to catch the swallow: who when she came, bore away both net and web, and weaver too. Wherefore, O God, make me but soul-wise, and I shall never envy their knowledge, that pity my simplicity: Let me be weak in policy, so I may be wise to salvation.

And I cannot but wonder to see, how the most are mistaken in them: but being thus discovered, I hope it will appear, that as love and lust are not all one, so a cunning Politician and a wise man are not both one. As we have seen some that could pack the Cards, and yet were not able to play well.

Sect. 11. True, if men shall look upon them side-ways, as Apelles painted Antigonus; that is, upon their strength of brain and parts alone, and not consider them whole, and together, [Page] their abilities with their deficiencies, they will take them for wise men, and so be mistaken. But,

If you would know how to call them, they are properly subtle persons, as the Holy Ghost stiles Jonadab, who gave that wicked and crafty counsel to Amnon, 2 Sam. 13. 3, 5. And the woman of Tekoah, 2 Sam. 14. 2. And Elimas, Acts 13. 10. as being rarely gifted to deceive, and more crafty and wily then is usual. But not wise men; for this is rather wisdom backward, and to study the dangerous art of self-sophistry, to the end they may play wily beguile themselves, and to plot Self-treason, then which there is no greater, when the Betrayer and Betrayed spell but one man.

Again, admit them the most, they are not wise in good, though they be wise to do evil: Or if you will, wise in goods, not wise in grace: For as that old Serpent seemed to boast, that he was richer then Christ, when he said, All these are mine, Mat. 4. 9. So the Politician may truly say, for the most part, I am wiser then my plain dealing neighbour by five hundred pounds. So that in some sense it may be said of them, as one speaks of women, though partially, that they are more witty in wickedness then men. Nor can I more fitly compare them, then to Bats, Night-crows Owls, and Cats, which can see better in the dark, then in the light. Their wisdom is like that of the Polypus, which is a most stupid and foolish fish, yet useth great skill in taking of other fishes. Nevertheless, yield them all that hath been mentioned, this is the upshot; They are blind, and in darkness, as having their beginning from Satan, the Prince of darkness, and their end in Hell, which is the pit of darkness: and because they are wise only to evil, their wisdom shall have but an evil end.

In the dialect of the wise man, the greatest sinner is the greatest fool, Prov. 1. 7. And David thinks, there is no fool to the Atheist, Psa. 53. 1. & 49. 13. And St. Austin tells us, that the wisest Politician upon earth, the most ample, and cunning Machevilian that lives, be he a Doctor in that deep reaching faculty, is worse then a fool: for if the Holy Ghost, saith he, terms him a fool that only laid up his own goods, Luke 19▪ [Page] 18, 20. find out a name for him that takes away other mens. And though worldly men call the simple fools, yet God calls the crafty fools▪ Jer. 8 9. Mat. 6. 23 And of all Athie [...]s, and fools, which seem wise, there [...]e no such fools in the world, as they that love money better then themsel [...]es.

And so you have the wisdom of [...]umani [...]s, and Politicians dec [...]phe [...]ed; together with the wisdom of Gods servants Y [...]u see the difference between them, and therein as I suppose, that neither of the former are so wise as the godly man, nor so wise as the world reputes them, or they themselves▪

I confess the one speak Latine, Greek, and Hebrew, the other Statutes History, and Husbandry, well enough to make their neighbours think them wise: but the truth is, they seem wiser then [...] are, as is said of the Spaniard; whereas the godly, like the French, are wiser then they seem. The former are wise men in foolish things, and fo [...]lish men in wise things: sharp eyed as Eagles, in the things of the Earth; but blind as Beetles in the matters of Heaven. O that they had [...] wit to know, that when all is done, Heaven is a brave place, where are such joys as eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath p [...]epared there for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2. 9.

Sect. 12 Now as I have shewn these two sorts of men their folly, so it were as easie to prove, that all sorts of sinners are no better then Sots, and Shallow-brains, in comparison of the conscientious Christian. I'll give you some particular Instances. And the next that I will speak to, shall be such as come nearest to these last mentioned; that is, your Covetous, Miserly Muck-worms, who though they be near neighbours to those Ambodexters I last spake of, yet they are not the same men.

Now although you cannot name one property of a natural fool, but the Covetous man is in that particular a greater fool; Yet I will make the parallel in one onely, lest I should vveary my Reader, before I have dispatcht all my Clients, or half Li [...]ed my men.

[Page] The Covetous Miser, if you mark it, esteems not of things according to their true value; but pref [...]reth bables and tri [...]es before things of greatest worth, which is the most rema [...]kable prop [...]ty of a natural fool, that is, being like the ignorant Indians in Florida, Vi [...]ginia, New-England, and Ken [...]da, who for a Copper [...], and a few toys, as Beads and Hatchets, will depart from the purest gold, and sell you a whole Country, with the h [...]uses and ground which they dwell upon.

As Judas preferred thi [...]ty pieces of si [...]ver, before him that was Lord of the whole world, and [...]ansom of mankind; so the covet [...]us man prese [...]s earth, yea hell to heaven, time to [...], his b [...]dy before his soul, yea his outward estate before either soul or body. Whereas the godly care for the s [...]ul as the chief Jew [...]l▪ and onely treasure; and for the body for the souls sake, and settle their inheritance in no land but the land of promise; their end being to possess a Kingd [...]m without end. They are not like Sh [...]bna, who built his Sepulchre in [...]n [...] Country, and was buried in another. But like our English Me [...]chants, that traffique in Turkey, [...] wealth in Turk [...]y, yet plant not in Turkey, but transport for England. It cannot be said of them, as it may of the most, that they worship the Golden Calf, because they consider, that Pe [...]unia, the Worlds Queen, (I mean, that world whereof the Devil is King) extends her R [...]giments, but to the brim of the grave, and is not current one step farther.

Worldly hearts are penny-wise, and pound foolish; they know how to set high prizes upon the worthless trash of this world; but for heavenly things, or the God that owns them, they shamefully undervalue. Like Judas, who valued Mar [...]es Oyntment, which she bestowed upon the feet of Christ, at three hundred pieces of silver, and sold his Master, on whom that odour was spent, for thirty. But it is not so with the godly, they think it the best purchase that ever was in the world, to buy him who bought them, in comparison of whom all things else are dross and dung, as Paul speaks, Phil. 3. 8 And indeed if we once hav [...] him, we have all things, as the Apostle argues, Rom. 8. 32. 1 Cor. 3. 21, 22, 23. So that the godly man is onely rich, the servant of Christ is Lord of all. Whereas by a just judgement of God upon the covetous Mise [...], who makes Mamm [...]n his god, the Devil makes them his D [...]udges, to get and bring him in Gold, (as the King of Spain does the poor I [...]dians) that he may keep it in banke, for the next prodigal to spend as ill, as the other got it. As how often is that spent upon one Christmas revelling by the Son, which was forty years a getting by the Father? O fools incompa [...]able! to take a world of care and pains, en [...]ure so much g [...]ief, sting of co [...]science, loss of credit, to deprive themselves of h [...]aven, damn their own souls, to get wealth; and when they have got it, not to be a [...]ot the better for it. Yea, they are less satisfied, and con [...]ented then other men, [...] a [...]commodated then mean men; Yea, a [...] begger that hath n [...]thing here, is in better estate then a rich Miser, that hath nothing in effect, either here or hereafter. O that they would but use that! yea ha [...]f that wit, study, and industry hereafter, to save their souls, that they have f [...]rmerly done to damn them. But hear more.

[Page] Aristippus cared onely for his body, as if he had had no soul: Zeno but for his soul, as if he had had no body: Achitophel for his Family alone, as if neither soul nor body had been worth caring for: but these neither for body, nor soul, nor any thing, but for a little muck to leave behind them. Yea, he can find in his heart to go to h [...]ll for another, that wishes him gone, and will damn his own soul to leave his son rich. Yea, what a deal of pains and care does the covetous man take for his own damnation? ever tormenting himself to get that, for getting whereof, he shall be tormented? so himself is voluntarily miserable here and hereafter, that others may be happy. And so much of the Miser. The next I will fall upon, shall be such as equal these in their Idolatry another way; as,

Sect. 13. Fourthly, what think you of common Idolaters? are not they arrant fools? I'll give you but one instance mentioned, Exod. 32. and you will need no more. Turn to the place, and there you shall find that those blockish Israelites made them a mo [...]ten Calf, and then said, This is thy god, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt, ver. 34. This is such a pregnant example, that there needs no mo [...]e to prove it; that a Beast should be their god, yea, and a Beast of their own making, and that this Beast should have brought them out of Egypt, which could not move it self, but as it was moved, and that before it had any being: This is such a blockish absurdity, that as one would think, should never enter into the heart of him who is endowed with a reasonable soul. But what can the Prince of darkness propound, that a wicked heart (blinded with the custom of sin, and given up by God, to be further blinded by Satan) will not believe? as appears, by Isa. 6. 9, 10. Psal. 69. 23. Mat. 13. 15. Joh. 12. 3 [...], 39, 40. Rom. 1, 21, to 33. 2 The. 2. 10, 11, 12 2 Cor. [...]. 3, 4. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Ephe. 2. 2.

And such other fools are the Papists, though great Clerks, and Wise men, who (i [...] I could intend to acquaint you) maintain a thousand ridiculous tenents, stifly defending those things for truth, which the Holy Ghost calls in express words, The doctrine of devils, 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3. And most justly are they forsaken of their reason, who have abandoned God. Yea, most just it is, that they who want grace, should want wit too. If Idolaters will needs set up a false god for the true, is it not equal, that the true God should give them over to the false? Again,

Fifthly, how does Lust blind and be [...]ot men? when the Adulterer prefers a filthy Strumpet before his own chaste Wife, though his own lawful Consort is known to be more comely and lovely then the strange woman. Yea, when they shall confess the same, (as it was the speech of a Nobleman) That were she not his Wife, he could love her above all women in the world: a word able to [...]ot out the tongue that spake it. But take an instance of this nature, I'll give you one amongst many very remarkable. We read, Judg. 16. that Sampson cared more for this very sin, then his life. O strange debauchedness! his filthy lust of a Nazarite, leaves him scarce a man! He that might not drink wine, is drunk with the cup of fornication. How could he other then think, if Lust had not blinded and betwitched him, She whose body is mercenary to me, will [Page] easily sell me to others? she will be fal [...]e, if she be an Ha [...]lot. Was there ever such a motion made to a reasonable man? Tell me, wherewith thou maist be bound to do thee hurt. Who would not have spurned such a suitor out of doors? And when upon the tryal he saw such apparent treachery, he yet wilfully betrays his life, by her to his enemies. All sins, all passions have power to blind and infa [...]ua [...]e; but lust most of all. Never man that had drank flaggons of wine, had less reason left him, then this Nazarite. Many an one l [...]ses his life, but he casts it away; not in hatred to himself, but in love to a Strumpet. He knew [...]he aimed at nothing but his slavery and death, yet had not power to deny her. He had wit enough to deceive her thrice, nor enough to keep himself from being dece [...]ved by her. Thrice had he seen the Philistims in her chamber, ready to surprize him upon her bands; and yet will needs be a Slave to his T [...]aytor. Yea, in effect, bids her bind him, and call in her Executioners to cut his throat. O beware of a Harlot, as you would of the Devil! And the rather, for that under the habi [...] of a woman, it may be the Devil in shape of a woman, as some have so been cheated. But

Sixthly, what can we think of an improvident Gamester? Is not he a Fool? who will hazard his whole estate upon the chance of a treacherous Die, that flatters him with his own hand, to throw away his wealth to another. And a Thief he is too, for if he wins, he robs another; if he loses, he no less robs himself.

Sect. 14. Seventhly, let me refer it to any rational man, whether the Voluptuous Prodigal is not a sta [...]k Fool? who suffers himself to be stoln away for an Apple: For, for a little tickling of the Palate, a kind of running Banquet, he will hazard the loss of eternal comfort, and expose himself to a devouring fire, an everlasting burning? Isai. 33. 14. And what greater folly? Is it not a dear purchase, an ill penniworth? yea, a desperate madness, to buy the merriment of a day (yea, possibly the pleasure of an hour may determine it) with ages of pangs, with eternity of unsufferable torments, that are capable of neither [...]ase nor end▪

Nor is this all, for they run upon Gods judgements, as Balaam did upon the swords point in the Angels hand, and yet are so far from being afraid, that they applaud their own wisdom for giving such liberty to their lusts; thinking no men in the world enjoy the like freedom. When indeed their bondage is much worse then the cruel and tyrannical bondage and slavery of Egypt. For first, that bondage was of the body only, but the service of sin is of the whole man, body and soul.

Secondly, in the bondage of Egypt, they served men; but in this bondage, service is done to sin and Satan, most vile Lords, which command most base and filthy works.

Thirdly, in the bondage of Egypt, the most harm was temporal loss of liberty, smart and pain of body; in this service of sin, the loss is eternal, even destruction in, Hell for ever (without the infinite goodness of God.) Fourthly, in this bondage under Phoraoh, they had a sense of their thraldom, and desired liberty; in this of sin, men do not so much as suspect [Page] themselves to be bound, but think themselves f [...]ee, and despise liberty. Lastly, in all outward bondage, they which are bound may possibly help themselves; as by running away, or by intreaty, or by [...]ansom: In this bondage we lie still, as it were, bound hand and foot ( [...]ill God by his mercy deliver us) not having so much as the least thought of relieving our selves. By all which it appears, that such who take the most liberty to sin, a [...]e the most perfect slaves in the world, because most voluntary slaves: and that Christs service is the only true freedom; his yoke an eas [...] yoke, his bu [...]den but as the burden of wings to ab [...]d, which makes her [...]lie the higher. Wherefore, as we serve the laws, that we may be free, so let us serve Christ, and we shall be the f [...]eest people a [...]ve.

A godly man being demanded, what he thought was the st [...]angest and foolish [...]st thing in the world, answered, an impenitent sinner, or an V [...] believer: For said he, that a man should provoke God, so gracious and mighty, that he should believe Satan the Father of lies and c [...]uelty, forget his own death so imminent and inevitable; obey the command of his flesh, a D [...]udge so ignoble, admire the world so fickle and dangerous, prefer it before Heaven so blessed and glorious, wilfully cast himself into Hell, a place so woful and dolorous, and all for vanity, such a wretched emp [...]iness; that he should fear the blasts of mens breath, and not the [...] Gods w [...]ath, weep for the loss of friends, and not f [...]r his soul. And lastly, that Christ should stand at the door of his heart, c [...]aving for entrance, that he may [...]emedy all, and make him everlastingly happy; and God call him every day, either by his Wo [...]d in the mouths of his Messengers, or by strange judgements, or extraordinary mercies upon himself, or others, and all in vain. Such an one, sayes he, is the most foolish and degenerate creature alive.

Thus I might go on to Traytors, Murderers, Backbiters, Seducers, Drunka [...]ds, Blasphem [...]s, Persecuters of the godly, proud persons, Hypocrits, Thieves, A [...]iests, and what other sinners you can name; and prove them all fools alike. But I have already (upon one occesion or other) done it in some other Tract, only, a word or two more, that may reach to all, that are in their natural condition, and I shall concude.

Sect. 15. In the last place, Are not all wilful sinners a [...]ant fo [...]ls? who Adam like, will receive whatever comes, or is offered them? be it b [...]ibe, or other sinful bait, not once thinking this is forbidden fruit, and thou shalt die the death. That think the v [...]wed enemy of their souls, can offer them a bait without a ho [...]k? you cannot but acknowledge them stark fools, though thy self beest one of the number.

Again, for men to dishonour God, and blaspheme his Name, while he does support and relieve them, to run from him▪ while he does call them, and forget him, whiles he does [...]eed them. To imitate the common Protestants in Queen Marys time, who laughed the Martyrs to scorn, and esteemed them superstitious fools, to lose their lives and fortunes, for matters of Religion, accounting Faith, Holiness, Immortality of the soul, &c. mee [...] fopperies and illusions. To be quick sighted in other mens failings, and blind to their own. Are [...] these so many infallible properties of a fool? [Page] and yet these are the lively characters of every sensualist. Insomuch, that if I should give you a List or Catalogue of all the fools in one City, or County: you would bless your selves, that there are so few Bedlam-houses, & yet so many out of their wits, that cannot perceive or discern the same. And yet no wonder; for as before I told you, sensual men are so benighted, & puzled with blindness, that they know no other way, then the fl [...]sh leads them. Yea, many by loss of conscience become Athiest [...] and by loss of Reason, Beasts. Yea, to any thing that is spiritually good, the natural man is blind, and deaf, and dead, as ye may see by these en [...]uing Scriptures, 1 Tim. 5. 6. Rom. 1. 21, 22, 25. Eph. 5. 14. Isa 6. 9, 10. John 12. 40. Psal 69 23. Mat. 4. 16. & 15. 14. Eph. 4. 18, 19. & 5. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Acts 28. 27. Rom. 11. 8. Mat. 23. 16, 17, 19, 24, 26. & 27. 3▪ 4, 5. 2 Pet. 2. 16. Rev. 3. 1 [...]. Rom. 6. 13. & 8. 11. Micah 7. 16. Psal. 58 4. Eph. 2. 1. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, whom the god of this wo [...]ld hath blinded, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4.

But it is otherwise with the godly: as let Satan and the world offer a wise Christian the bait of pleasure or profit; his answer shall be, I will not buy r [...]p [...]nta [...]ce so dear: I will not lose my s [...]ul, to please my sense. If affliction comes, he will consider, that Gods punishments for sin, calls for conv [...]rsion from sin: and in case God speaks to him by his Word, to forsake his evil ways, and turn again to him, he will amend his cou [...]se, lest i [...] he hear not the wo [...]d, he should feel the sword. Whereas nothing will con [...]ute a fool, but fire and brimstone.

The Lo [...]d spake to Manasses and to his people, but they would not regard: Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the Captains of the Host of the King of Ashur, that took Manasses, and put him in fetters, and brought him in chains, and carried him to Babel, 2 Ch [...]on. 33. 10. 11.

Fools, saith holy David, by reason of their transgression, & because of their iniqui [...]y, Psal. 107. 17. From which words Musculus in [...]ers, that all wilful transg [...]ess [...]rs are a [...]ant f [...]ls. And it is the saying of Cardan, That dishonesty is nothing else but folly and madness. Yea, Solomon throughout all his Proverbs, by a fool, means the natural man; and by a wise man, a man sanctified. O that it were rightly learned, and laid to heart by all, that are yet in the state of unregeneracy! for it is every one of their cases. To conclude in a word, Without knowledge, the soul is not good, Pro. 19. 2. The ignorant cannot be innocent. I am the light of the world (says our Saviour) John 8, 12. & 12. 46. Where light is not, Christ is not: for Christ is light.

Sect. 16 Object. But here thou wilt say, (or at least thou hast reason to say) if there be so few that are soul-wise, I have all the reason in the world to mistrust my self; wherefore, good Sir, tell me how I shall be able to get this spiritual and experimental knowledge? this divine and supernatural wisdom?

Answ. By observing these Five Rules.

First, Let such a willing and ingenious soul, resolve to practise what he does already know, or shall hereafter be acquainted with from the Word of God, and Christs faithful Messengers: For He that will do my Fathers Will, saies our Saviour, shall know the doctrine, whether it be of God or no, John 7. 17. A good understanding have all they that keep the Commandments [Page] (saies holy David) Ps. 111. 10. and proves it true by his own example and experience: I understood (saies he) more than the Ancient, and became wiser than my teachers, because I kept thy precepts, Psal. 119. 97, 98, 99, 100. To a man that is good in his sight, God giveth knowledge and wisdom, Eccle. 2. 26. The spiritual man understandeth all things, 1 Cor. 2. 15. Wicked men understand not judgement, but they that seek the Lord, understand all things, Prov. 28. 5. Admirable [...]nc [...]uragements for men to become godly and conscientious; I mean p [...]actical Christians.

Secondly, If thou wouldst get this precious grace of saving knowledge; the way is, to be frequent in h [...]aring the word preached, and to become studious in the Scriptures, for they and they alone make wise to salvation, 2 Tim. 3. 15. Ye erre (saith our Saviour) not knowing the Scripture, Matth. 22. 29. Ma [...]k 12. 24. We must not in the search of heavenly matters, either do as we see others do; neither must we follow the blinde guide carnal reas [...], or the deceitful guid [...] our corrupt hearts; but the undeceivabl [...], and in [...]al [...]ible guide of Gods Wo [...]d, which is truth it self: and great need there is, for as we cannot perceive the fulness of our faces, unless it be told us, or we take a glass and look our selves therein: so neither can we see the blemishes of our Souls, which is a notable degree of spiritual Wisdom, but either God must make i [...] known to us by his Spi [...], or we must collect the same out of the Sc [...]iptures, that cel [...]stial glass; though this also must be done by the Spirits help. Therefore

Thirdly, If thou wilt be Soul-wis [...], and truly profit by studying the Scriptures, be [...] and fervent in Prayer to God, who is the only giver of it, for the direction of his holy Spirit: For first, humble and faithful Prayer, u [...]he [...]ed in by meditation, is the cure of all obscurity. Especially being accompanied with f [...]rvour and ferven [...]y; as you may see, Matth. 21. 22, If any [...]ack wisdom, saith St. James, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and reproacheth no man, and it shal be given him, Jam. 1. 5. Mark the words, it is said, if any; wherefore let no man deny his soul this comfort. Again, ask and have; It cannot come upon easier terms. Yea, God seems to like this suit so well in Solomon, as if he were beholding to his Creature, for wishing well to it self. And in vain do we expect that alms of grace, for which we do not so much as beg. But in praying for Wisdom, do not pray for it without putting difference; desire not so much brain-knowledge, as to be Soul-wise, and then you will imploy your wisdom to the glory of the giver. Let thine hearts desire be to know God in Christ, Christ in Faith, Faith in good works; to know Gods Will, that thou mayst do it; and before the knowledge of all other things, desire to know thy self; and in thy self, not so much thy strength, as thy weakness: Pray that thine heart may serve thee in stead of a commentary, to help thee understand such points of Religion as are most needful and necessary, and that thy Life may be an Exposition of thy inward man, that there may be a sweet harmony betwixt Gods word, thy judgement, and whole conversation, that what the natural man knoweth by roat, thou mayst double by feeling the same in thine heart and affections. As indeed experimental and saving knowledge is no less felt then known; and I cannot tell [Page] how, comes rather out of the abundance of the heart, than by extreme study; or rather is sent by God unto good men, like the Ram that was brought to Abraham when he would have Sacrificed his son Isaac. When Christ taught in the Temple, they asked, How knoweth this man the Scriptures, seeing he never learned them? So it is a wonder what learning some men have, that have no learning! Like Prisilla and Aquila, poor Tent-makers, who were able to school Apollos that great Clerk, a man renowned for his learning: What can we say to it? For no other reason can be given, but as Christ said, Father, so it pleaseth thee: For as Jacob said of his Venison, when his Father asked how he came by it so suddenly? Because the Lord thy God brought it suddenly to my hands. So holy & righteous men do more easily understand the words of God, than do the wicked, because God brings the meaning suddenly to their hearts, as we read, Luk. 24. That Christ (standing in the midst of his Apostles after he was risen from the dead) opened their understandings, that they might understand clearly the Scriptures, and what was written of him in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, ver. 44. 45. Lo how suddenly their knowledge came unto them! But see what a general promise God (in the Person of Wisd [...]m) hath made to all that serve him, Prov. 1. Turn you at my reproof, and behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, and make known my words unto you, vers. 23. And Psal. 25. The secrets of the Lord are revealed to them that fear him, and his covenant is to give them understanding, ver. 14. These secrets are hid from the wicked, neither hath he made any such covenant with them, but the contrary: As see, Dan. 12. 10. Vnto you it is given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to others in Parables, that they seeing should not see, and hearing they should not understand, Luk. [...]. 10. Mark 3. 11. Matth. 13. 13.

Again, It is not enough to pray, except also it be in Christs name, and according to his will, believing to be heard for his sake, and that it be the intercession of Gods own spirit in you: And (being truly sensible of your sins and wants) that you chiefly pray for the pardon of sin, the effusion of grace, and for the assistance of Gods Spirit: that you may more firmly believe, more soundly repent, more zealously do, more patiently suffer, and more constantly persevere in the practise and profession of every duty.

But above all you must know, that as Sampsons companions could ne [...]er have found out his Riddle, if they had not plowed with his Heifer, so [...]o man can knew the secrets of God, but by the revelation of his Spirit, 1 Cor. [...]2. 8. Mat. 16. 17. Yea, suppose a man be not inferiour to Portius or Pythagoras, who kept all things in Memory, that ever they had read, [...]eard, or seen: To Virgil, of whom it is reported, that if all Sciences [...]ere lost, they might be found again in him: To Aben Ezra, of whom [...] was said, that if knowledge had put out her Candle, at his brain she might [...]ght it again; and that his head was a throne of Wisdom: or Josephus [...]aligar, who was skilled in thirty Languages: Yet if he want the Spirit [...] God to be his teacher, he is a dunce to the meanest and most illiterate [...]liever. For one excellent and necessary prerogative of the spiritual man [...] this, he hath God for his teacher; he learns the counsels of God, of [Page] that Spirit which only knoweth Gods counsels, Luk. 21. 15. which is no small priviledge: for the Scholar learns quickly, when the holy Ghost is his Teacher; the Eye sees distinctly, when the holy Ghost doth enlighten it. With the Spirits help, the means can never be too weak; without, never strong enough, Luk. 24. 44, 45. P [...]v. 1. 23.

Sect. 17. Fourthly, Thou must get an humble conceit of thine own wisdom. The first step to knowledge, is to know our own Ignorance. We must become fools in our own opinion, before we can be truly wise, as the Apostle sets it down▪ 1 Cor. 3. 18. And indeed, the opinion of our k [...]owing enough, is one of the greatest causes fou [...] knowing so li [...]le: for what we p [...]esume to have attained we s [...]ek not after. Ye [...], the very first [...] of a Christian is humility. He will teach the humble his way, Psal. 25. 9. Jam. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5 5. And he that hath not learned the first le [...]on, is not fit to take out a new. Pride is a great l [...]t to true wisdom: For God resisteth the [...], and giveth grace to the humble, Jam. 4. 6. 1 Pet 5. 5. Whence it comes to pass, that few proud wits are reformed, Joh 9. 39. And fo [...] this cause also did out Saviour propound his woes to the Pha [...]s [...]es, his d [...]ct [...]ines to the Pe [...]ple.

A heart full of Pride, is like a vessel full of [...] This self-opinion must be blown out of us, before saving knowledg [...] will be p [...]u [...]ed into us. Christ will know none but the humble and none but humble souls truly know Christ.

Now the way to become humble, is by taking a serious view of our wants. The P [...]aco [...]ks pride is much abated, when she looks on the blackness of her legs and feet. Now suppose we know never so much, yet that which we know is [...] then that which we are ignoran [...] of: and the more we know, the more we know we want, Prov 1. 5, 7. Psal. 73. 22. And the less [...]ensible we are of our blind [...]ess, sickness, d [...]formity, &c. the more blind, sick, and d [...]fo [...]med we are.

Fifthly, Thou must labour to get a true and lively faith: for as without faith we cannot please God, so without faith, no man can know God. Faith most clearly beholds tho [...]e things which are hid both from the eye of sense, and the [...] of reason, John 12. 46. Vnregenerate m [...]n, that want saith, are like blind Sampson without his guide; or like P [...]liphemus, who never had but one eye, and that V [...]ysses put out. For so does the pleasure and custom of sin blind the Sen [...]ualist.

We must have minds lifted above natu [...]e, to see and love things above nature, heavenly wisdom, to see heavenly truth; or else that truth which is saving, will be to us a Mystery, Ma [...]k 4. 11. If it seem not foolishn [...]ss, 1 Cor. 2. 7, 8, 14. To them that are lost, the Gospel is hid, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. Whereas the Believer discerns al things, even the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2, 15, 16 Yea, God giveth him a mouth, and wisdom, where-against all his Adversaries shall not be able to speak or resist, Luke 21. 15. These are the five steps, which lead up to the palace of wisdom, which all must ascend by, that mean to enter. If you have once attained this precious grace of saving knowledge, you wil as much as in you lies, employ the same to the glory of the give [...].

An end of the first part (as a penyworth of Lawn out of the whole piece) Such as would have the residue, let them read the Trial of true Wisdom, as it is in the first part of my Christian Library; out of which Quiver this Arrow is drawn.

FINIS.

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No Wicked Man a Wise Man, True Wisdom DESCRIBED. The EXCELLENCY OF Spiritual, Experimental and Saving Knowledge, above all Humane Wisdom and Learning: With Directions how to become Wise. Wherein also is proved [...] what Sensual Men account the greatest Freedom, is indeed the most perfect Slavery and Vassallage. BEING A choice & cheap Gift to profit & please a Friend. By R. Younge [...] in Essex. Florilegu [...].

Licensed and Entred according to Order.

Receive my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather then choice gold. For wisdome is better then rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it,

Prov. 8. 10, 11. See Job 28. 15, to 20. Prov. 1. 23. Psal. 111. 10. Joh. 7. 17. Psal. 25. 9, 14. Eccles. 2. 26. Prov. 28. 5. James 1. 5.

Rare Scriptures touching Wisdome.

London, Printed by Tho. Milbourn, and are to be sold by James Crumpe in little St. Bartholomews Well-yard; and by Peter Parker in Popes-Head-Alley. With 39 other pieces composed by the same Author. 1666.

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No wicked man a wise man, true wisdom described the excellency of spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge, above all humane wisdom and learning ... / by R. Younge ...

Younge, Richard.

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1666

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Wing Y167

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99129

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— No wicked man a wise man, true wisdom described the excellency of spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge, above all humane wisdom and learning ... / by R. Younge ..., Younge, Richard..

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Printed by Tho. Milbourn, and are to be sold by James Crumpe ... and by Peter Parker ...,. London :: 1666.. ("Licensed and entred according to order") (Reproduction of original in British Library.)

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