A sermon concerning the wisdom of fearing God preach'd at Salisbury, on Sunday, July XXX, 1693 : being the time of the assizes / by E. Young ...
         Young, Edward, 1641 or 2-1705.
      
       
         
           1693
        
      
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             A sermon concerning the wisdom of fearing God preach'd at Salisbury, on Sunday, July XXX, 1693 : being the time of the assizes / by E. Young ...
             Young, Edward, 1641 or 2-1705.
          
           [6], 24 p.
           
             Printed by T.W. for Walter Kettilby ...,
             London :
             1693.
          
           
             Advertisement: p. 24.
             Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- O.T. -- Job XXVIII, 28 -- Sermons.
           Fear of God -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           CONCERNING
           
             The
             Wisdom
             of
             Fearing
             GOD
          
           ;
           Preach'd
           at
           SALISBURY
           ,
           ON
           SUNDAY
           ,
           July
           XXX
           .
           1693.
           
        
         
           BEING
           The
           Time
           of
           the
           Assizes
           .
        
         
           By
           
             E.
             YOUNG
          
           ,
           Fellow
           of
           Winchester-College
           ,
           and
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           Their
           Majesties
           .
        
         
           
             Publish'd
             at
             the
             Request
             of
             the
             Lawyers
             .
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             T.
             W.
          
           for
           
             Walter
             Kettilby
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Bishop's
           Head
           in
           St.
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ,
           1693.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           THE
           Worthily
           Honoured
           THE
           SERJEANTS
           ,
           And
           other
           Council
           of
           the
           WESTERN
           CIRCUIT
           .
        
         
           
             SIRS
             ,
          
        
         
           WHEN
           I
           received
           Notice
           of
           your
           Desire
           ,
           That
           this
           Sermon
           should
           be
           publish'd
           ,
           under
           the
           Style
           of
           being
           
             publish'd
             at
             the
             Request
             of
             the
             Lawyers
          
           (
           as
           is
           prefixt
           in
           the
           Title
           Page
           )
           I
           look'd
           upon
           it
           as
           a
           Desire
           intended
           to
           express
           not
           so
           much
           
           your
           Approbation
           of
           the
           Preacher
           ,
           as
           your
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Subject
           ,
           and
           the
           stipulation
           of
           your
           Assistance
           to
           promote
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           a
           declaration
           of
           your selves
           to
           be
           Professors
           of
           the
           Religious
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           you
           are
           of
           the
           Civil
           Wisdom
           :
           This
           being
           a
           Design
           suitable
           to
           the
           Honour
           of
           your
           Profession
           ,
           and
           to
           your
           known
           Personal
           Abilities
           ;
           which
           as
           they
           give
           you
           greater
           Power
           to
           serve
           the
           Interests
           of
           Religion
           ,
           so
           they
           lay
           a
           greater
           Obligation
           upon
           you
           to
           do
           it
           .
           Wherefore
           in
           combination
           with
           your
           Piety
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           obsequiousness
           to
           your
           Desire
           ,
           I
           publish
           my
           Thoughts
           upon
           this
           Subject
           ;
           not
           as
           mine
           ,
           but
           (
           as
           they
           are
           by
           Espousal
           )
           Yours
           ;
           to
           the
           end
           that
           Your
           Reputation
           may
           give
           them
           Credit
           ,
           and
           make
           way
           for
           their
           Reception
           ,
           and
           conferr
           on
           them
           the
           Felicity
           of
           doing
           Good
           in
           the
           World.
           If
           they
           shall
           do
           any
           Good
           (
           which
           is
           a
           most
           desirable
           ,
           
           but
           casual
           Event
           )
           I
           must
           impute
           it
           to
           your
           asserting
           them
           ;
           for
           Authority
           may
           reach
           Mens
           Affections
           ,
           when
           bare
           Arguments
           cannot
           :
           And
           therefore
           I
           humbly
           recommend
           them
           to
           that
           part
           of
           your
           Patronage
           ,
           and
           your selves
           to
           the
           Blessing
           of
           God
           for
           a
           Requital
           :
           Who
           am
           ,
           with
           all
           Respect
           ,
        
         
           
             SIRS
             ,
             Your
             very
             Humble
             Servant
             ,
          
           
             E.
             YOUNG
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           CONCERNING
           
             The
             Wisdom
             of
             Fearing
             GOD
          
           ;
           PREACHED
           At
           
             SALISBURY
             ,
             July
          
           30.
           1693.
           
        
         
           
             JOB
             xxviii
             .
             28.
             
          
           
             And
             unto
             man
             he
             said
             ,
             Behold
             the
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             is
             wisdom
             ,
             and
             to
             depart
             from
             evil
             is
             understanding
             .
          
        
         
           
             THE
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             is
             wisdom
          
           ;
           is
           a
           Sentence
           we
           meet
           with
           in
           several
           places
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           delivered
           by
           several
           of
           the
           holy
           Writers
           ;
           so
           that
           it
           seems
           to
           have
           been
           in
           proverbial
           use
           amongst
           the
           Ancients
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           a
           probable
           
           Conjecture
           ,
           that
           they
           derived
           this
           Proverb
           by
           Tradition
           from
           GOD
           himself
           ,
           and
           that
           Adam
           was
           the
           Man
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           to
           whom
           it
           was
           first
           spoken
           :
           For
           when
           Adam
           had
           eaten
           the
           forbidden
           Fruit
           ,
           which
           he
           was
           induc'd
           to
           do
           from
           the
           hopes
           of
           being
           made
           wise
           by
           it
           ,
           it
           was
           then
           (
           as
           some
           have
           thought
           )
           that
           God
           thus
           admonish'd
           him
           ,
           
             The
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             is
             wisdom
          
           ;
           this
           Admonition
           properly
           serving
           to
           set
           before
           him
           the
           grossness
           of
           his
           Mistake
           ,
           when
           he
           thought
           that
           any
           thing
           which
           made
           him
           sin
           ,
           could
           possibly
           make
           him
           wise
           .
        
         
           If
           this
           were
           spoken
           to
           our
           First
           Parent
           ,
           we
           cannot
           doubt
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           entred
           into
           his
           Soul
           with
           a
           full
           conviction
           :
           The
           shame
           and
           terror
           which
           he
           felt
           within
           himself
           ;
           for
           having
           departed
           from
           the
           fear
           of
           God
           in
           one
           instance
           ,
           throughly
           convinc'd
           him
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           nothing
           so
           wise
           ,
           as
           to
           fear
           him
           always
           .
        
         
           And
           there
           are
           certain
           Seasons
           ,
           wherein
           every
           Son
           of
           Adam
           ,
           even
           the
           most
           loose
           and
           careless
           ,
           does
           readily
           deliver
           himself
           up
           to
           the
           same
           Conviction
           :
           Scarce
           any
           one
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           when
           lying
           under
           the
           sense
           of
           Guilt
           ,
           
           or
           the
           fear
           of
           Punishment
           ,
           or
           the
           destitution
           of
           
             Worldly
             Comforts
          
           ,
           or
           the
           apprehension
           of
           
             Approaching
             Death
          
           ,
           but
           will
           soon
           acknowledg
           ,
           That
           the
           
             fear
             of
             God
          
           is
           the
           true
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           other
           Attainments
           are
           but
           Folly
           ,
           in
           comparison
           of
           it
           .
           What
           therefore
           all
           men
           at
           some
           time
           or
           other
           confess
           for
           a
           Truth
           ,
           and
           most
           men
           with
           a
           Regret
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           no
           more
           consider'd
           it
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           the
           prudent
           man's
           part
           to
           consider
           at
           all
           times
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           it
           before
           him
           for
           a
           governing
           Principle
           of
           his
           Life
           .
        
         
           We
           may
           observe
           by
           the
           way
           .
           That
           if
           
             the
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           be
           Wisdom
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           happy
           step
           and
           advantage
           towards
           the
           Duty
           ,
           that
           Nature
           has
           planted
           in
           us
           a
           common
           Ambition
           to
           be
           wise
           .
           To
           be
           wise
           ,
           is
           the
           thing
           we
           long
           for
           above
           all
           other
           ;
           as
           (
           on
           the
           contrary
           )
           to
           be
           accounted
           Fools
           is
           the
           most
           hated
           of
           all
           Reproaches
           :
           And
           this
           is
           an
           Appetite
           as
           univerfal
           as
           Hunger
           it self
           :
           So
           that
           the
           difference
           betwixt
           Wise-men
           and
           Fools
           lyes
           not
           so
           much
           in
           the
           difference
           of
           their
           Affections
           towards
           Wisdom
           ,
           but
           only
           in
           the
           Controversie
           about
           what
           Wisdom
           is
           ,
           and
           wherein
           it
           consists
           .
           Which
           Controversie
           my
           Text
           
           comes
           in
           to
           determine
           ,
           and
           I
           shall
           deliver
           the
           full
           sence
           of
           it
           in
           these
           two
           Propositions
           .
        
         
           
             
               I.
               That
            
             the
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             is
             wisdom
             ;
             and
             ,
          
           
             II.
             That
             it
             is
             the
             
               Only
               Wisdom
            
             ;
             for
             so
             much
             the
             emphasis
             of
             the
             Relative
             imports
             ,
             —
             
               The
               fear
               of
               the
               Lord
               that
               is
               wisdom
               :
            
             As
             much
             as
             to
             say
             ,
             There
             is
             no
             Wisdom
             without
             it
             .
          
        
         
           I.
           
             I
             begin
             with
             the
             first
          
           ,
           —
           The
           fear
           of
           the
           Lord
           is
           wisdom
           .
        
         
           To
           fear
           God
           (
           if
           we
           will
           state
           the
           nature
           of
           it
           )
           consists
           in
           the
           having
           such
           a
           due
           sense
           of
           the
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           Holiness
           ,
           and
           Justice
           ,
           and
           Goodness
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           shall
           make
           us
           throughly
           fearful
           to
           offend
           him
           ;
           for
           each
           of
           these
           Attributes
           of
           God
           are
           proper
           to
           raise
           a
           suitable
           Fear
           in
           every
           considering
           Mind
           :
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           a
           Fear
           lest
           we
           affront
           it
           by
           being
           irreverent
           ;
           his
           Holiness
           ,
           a
           Fear
           lest
           we
           offend
           it
           by
           being
           carnal
           ;
           his
           Justice
           ,
           a
           Fear
           lest
           we
           provoke
           it
           by
           being
           presumptuous
           ;
           and
           his
           Goodness
           ,
           a
           Fear
           lest
           we
           lose
           it
           by
           being
           unthankful
           .
           But
           through
           all
           ,
           the
           ceasing
           to
           offend
           God
           is
           necessary
           ,
           for
           otherwise
           
           we
           cannot
           be
           said
           to
           fear
           Him
           :
           And
           therefore
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           we
           have
           the
           Fear
           of
           God
           defined
           by
           
             departing
             from
             evil
          
           ;
           as
           if
           its
           very
           Essence
           consisted
           in
           this
           necessary
           Effect
           .
           So
           Solomon
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             The
             fear
             of
             God
             is
             to
             depart
             from
             evil
             :
          
           And
           the
           same
           definition
           is
           imply'd
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           where
           the
           
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
          
           ,
           and
           
             to
             depart
             from
             evil
          
           ,
           are
           used
           only
           as
           two
           different
           expressions
           to
           signifie
           the
           same
           thing
           .
        
         
           And
           from
           this
           Observation
           it
           follows
           ,
           that
           Wicked
           Men
           can
           never
           be
           said
           to
           
             fear
             God
          
           ,
           tho'
           they
           do
           certainly
           fear
           his
           Punishment
           ;
           but
           where
           the
           Punishment
           only
           is
           feared
           ,
           there
           the
           Person
           is
           properly
           hated
           .
           I
           confess
           ,
           that
           to
           hate
           God
           carries
           a
           Horror
           in
           the
           very
           sound
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           implies
           a
           Guilt
           of
           such
           a
           dye
           ,
           as
           few
           Sinners
           will
           own
           to
           have
           been
           in
           their
           Intention
           .
           But
           when
           we
           consider
           that
           a
           Man
           cannot
           continue
           in
           
             deliberate
             Sin
          
           ,
           but
           that
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           his
           Heart
           must
           needs
           give
           him
           to
           wish
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           no
           God
           to
           punish
           him
           ;
           and
           that
           such
           a
           Wish
           is
           Formal
           Hatred
           :
           all
           we
           can
           conclude
           upon
           it
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           our
           Sins
           are
           seldom
           stinted
           by
           our
           own
           Intention
           ,
           but
           when
           we
           give
           Guilt
           
           leave
           to
           go
           
             so
             far
          
           ,
           it
           will
           go
           farther
           without
           our
           leave
           ;
           and
           so
           those
           ill
           habits
           will
           insensibly
           lead
           us
           on
           to
           pure
           Enmity
           with
           God
           ,
           in
           which
           ,
           at
           first
           ,
           we
           intended
           no
           more
           than
           the
           bare
           pleasing
           of
           our
           Passions
           .
           But
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           is
           a
           sure
           Guard
           against
           all
           these
           Mischiefs
           ;
           for
           ,
           when
           once
           this
           Fear
           has
           made
           us
           take
           care
           not
           to
           offend
           God
           ,
           our
           Souls
           will
           naturally
           tend
           to
           love
           him
           ,
           from
           the
           prospect
           of
           those
           gracious
           Promises
           ,
           wherein
           such
           as
           fear
           him
           are
           secure
           of
           a
           growing
           Interest
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           fearing
           God
           will
           be
           manifested
           ,
           1
           sty
           ,
           by
           considering
           the
           Reasonableness
           ,
           and
           ,
           2
           dly
           ,
           the
           Advantages
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           1
           st
           ,
           I
           shall
           consider
           the
           Reasonableness
           of
           the
           Duty
           .
           God
           Almighty
           gave
           us
           the
           passion
           of
           Fear
           on
           purpose
           to
           make
           us
           wise
           ;
           and
           its
           subserviency
           to
           Wisdom
           is
           visible
           in
           the
           whole
           course
           of
           Human
           Affairs
           :
           For
           ,
           set
           aside
           Fear
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           no
           Providence
           in
           management
           ,
           no
           Weight
           in
           Counsel
           ,
           no
           Prudence
           in
           Election
           ,
           no
           Discretion
           in
           Acting
           ;
           all
           runs
           to
           Rashness
           and
           Folly
           ,
           and
           ends
           in
           exposing
           us
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Evils
           .
           As
           therefore
           in
           a
           Town
           alarm'd
           by
           an
           Enemy
           ,
           a
           
           Sentinel
           is
           set
           to
           watch
           their
           Approaches
           ,
           and
           to
           prevent
           the
           danger
           of
           a
           surprize
           ;
           so
           ,
           in
           regard
           of
           those
           many
           Evils
           and
           Dangers
           to
           which
           we
           are
           obnoxious
           in
           
             this
             Life
          
           ,
           God
           has
           set
           Fear
           in
           our
           Soul
           for
           a
           Sentinel
           ,
           to
           watch
           when
           and
           which
           way
           they
           come
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           us
           Caution
           that
           we
           may
           avoid
           them
           .
           But
           the
           same
           God
           that
           has
           given
           us
           Fear
           for
           a
           Caution
           against
           Evils
           in
           general
           ,
           has
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           given
           us
           notice
           ,
           That
           His
           Displeasure
           is
           the
           greatest
           of
           
             all
             Evils
          
           :
           and
           therefore
           as
           we
           account
           it
           a
           point
           of
           Wisdom
           to
           be
           watchful
           against
           other
           Evils
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           necessarily
           the
           chiefest
           point
           of
           Wisdom
           to
           be
           watchful
           against
           this
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           is
           of
           so
           
             great
             importance
          
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           God
           seems
           to
           have
           intended
           a
           
             gracious
             intimation
          
           of
           it
           in
           every
           motion
           of
           our
           
             Natural
             Fears
          
           .
           Our
           
             Natural
             Fears
          
           (
           we
           know
           )
           are
           either
           sudden
           or
           deliberate
           ;
           the
           sudden
           are
           such
           as
           come
           upon
           us
           surprizingly
           ,
           and
           without
           deliberation
           ,
           and
           of
           these
           we
           may
           observe
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           very
           often
           immoderate
           ,
           boundless
           ,
           and
           ungovernable
           ;
           and
           as
           they
           prevent
           our
           deliberation
           in
           their
           coming
           ,
           so
           they
           often
           baffle
           it
           being
           come
           ,
           and
           
           are
           not
           to
           be
           controul'd
           by
           any
           power
           of
           Reasoning
           .
           How
           wonderfully
           will
           a
           man
           sometimes
           be
           affected
           at
           the
           hearing
           of
           a
           sudden
           noise
           in
           the
           Night
           ?
           his
           Blood
           runs
           back
           ,
           his
           Spirits
           sink
           ,
           his
           Soul
           melts
           within
           him
           ,
           and
           a
           Horror
           passes
           thro'
           every
           part
           of
           his
           Body
           .
           Now
           ,
           such
           a
           Fear
           as
           this
           seems
           absolutely
           unreasonable
           ,
           a
           Wise
           and
           Good
           Man
           would
           not
           fear
           any
           Accident
           of
           Life
           ,
           no
           ,
           nor
           Death
           it self
           ,
           at
           such
           a
           rate
           ;
           and
           yet
           a
           Wise
           and
           Good
           Man
           cannot
           sometimes
           hinder
           such
           a
           Fear
           from
           rising
           upon
           a
           meer
           
             Bugbear
             occasion
          
           .
           Now
           ,
           how
           unreasonable
           soever
           this
           Fear
           seems
           to
           be
           ,
           it
           carries
           a
           most
           reasonable
           Admonition
           along
           with
           it
           .
           And
           as
           the
           Sentinel
           ,
           when
           set
           ,
           has
           a
           Word
           given
           him
           ,
           whereby
           to
           distinguish
           his
           proper
           Officer
           ;
           so
           GOD
           ,
           when
           he
           set
           
             this
             Fear
          
           in
           us
           ,
           seems
           to
           have
           given
           it
           his
           own
           Word
           ,
           a
           Word
           which
           it
           whispers
           to
           us
           upon
           each
           of
           its
           
             surprizing
             motions
             ,
             (
             viz.
             )
             Thus
             it
             is
             that
             a
             man
             ought
             to
             fear
             God
             ;
             Thus
          
           it
           is
           that
           a
           Man
           ought
           to
           fear
           God
           ,
           because
           
             ev'n
             as
             a
             man
             feareth
             ,
             so
             is
             his
             displeasure
             :
          
           Ev'n
           as
           a
           Man
           feareth
           ,
           when
           he
           feareth
           most
           boundlesly
           ,
           most
           extravagantly
           ,
           
             so
             is
             his
             displeasure
          
           ;
           his
           Displeasure
           
           bears
           proportion
           to
           such
           a
           Fear
           as
           this
           ,
           tho'
           nothing
           in
           Nature
           does
           so
           besides
           it
           .
           Thus
           God
           has
           made
           nothing
           in
           vain
           ,
           no
           ,
           not
           our
           vainest
           Fears
           ,
           from
           whom
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           give
           our selves
           leisure
           to
           reflect
           ,
           we
           may
           learn
           so
           important
           a
           Lesson
           .
        
         
           Our
           deliberate
           and
           just
           Fears
           are
           as
           just
           to
           the
           same
           intimation
           ;
           and
           each
           of
           their
           motions
           point
           out
           God
           to
           the
           first
           glance
           of
           our
           Reasoning
           :
           For
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           reasonable
           to
           fear
           Want
           ,
           how
           much
           more
           reasonable
           is
           it
           to
           fear
           Him
           ,
           whose
           Bounty
           is
           the
           Fountain
           of
           all
           our
           Supplies
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           reasonable
           to
           fear
           Disappointments
           ,
           how
           much
           more
           to
           fear
           Him
           ,
           whose
           Providence
           disposes
           the
           issue
           of
           all
           we
           project
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           reasonable
           to
           fear
           Disgrace
           ,
           how
           much
           more
           to
           fear
           Him
           ,
           whose
           estimation
           imports
           more
           towards
           it
           than
           that
           of
           all
           the
           World
           beside
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           reasonable
           to
           fear
           Pain
           ,
           and
           other
           Inconveniences
           of
           Life
           ,
           how
           much
           more
           to
           fear
           Him
           ,
           whose
           Pleasure
           determines
           both
           all
           our
           Ease
           ,
           and
           all
           our
           Sufferings
           ?
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           reasonable
           to
           
             fear
             them
             that
             can
             kill
             the
             body
             ,
             how
             much
             more
             him
             ,
             who
             after
             he
             hath
             killed
             ,
             can
             cast
             into
             hell
             ?
          
           This
           then
           is
           the
           Moral
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           the
           
           Lesson
           of
           all
           our
           Fears
           ,
           
             Fear
             God
          
           :
           And
           if
           it
           be
           not
           Wisdom
           to
           do
           so
           ,
           it
           is
           equally
           no
           Folly
           to
           kick
           against
           the
           Pricks
           ,
           to
           embrace
           a
           Scorpion
           ,
           to
           run
           under
           a
           falling
           Tower
           ,
           into
           the
           mouth
           of
           a
           Lyon
           ,
           into
           the
           bottomless
           Pit.
           
        
         
           Thus
           much
           for
           the
           Reasonableness
           of
           the
           Duty
           ;
           let
           us
           ,
           2dly
           ,
           consider
           its
           Advantages
           .
        
         
           And
           to
           give
           my
           Thoughts
           a
           Track
           in
           this
           wide
           Field
           ,
           I
           shall
           confine
           them
           to
           this
           Particular
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             the
             Fear
             of
             God
             is
             the
             cure
             of
             all
             other
             Fears
          
           ;
           and
           when
           I
           have
           said
           this
           ,
           I
           have
           imply'd
           a
           
             mighty
             Advantage
          
           ,
           because
           Fear
           (
           when
           loose
           from
           God
           )
           is
           undoubtedly
           both
           the
           
             greatest
             Burden
          
           and
           the
           
             greatest
             Snare
          
           that
           Human
           Life
           is
           acquainted
           with
           .
           I
           call
           Fear
           the
           
             greatest
             Burden
             of
             Life
          
           ,
           because
           of
           its
           natural
           torturing
           power
           ;
           and
           I
           call
           it
           the
           
             greatest
             Snare
             of
             Life
          
           ,
           because
           of
           its
           moral
           corrupting
           power
           .
           Let
           us
           reflect
           a
           little
           upon
           them
           both
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Fear
           carries
           with
           it
           such
           a
           torturing
           power
           ,
           that
           could
           we
           but
           estimate
           the
           Conditions
           of
           all
           men
           together
           ,
           we
           should
           find
           that
           the
           World
           is
           at
           all
           times
           more
           miserable
           from
           what
           it
           fears
           ,
           than
           from
           what
           it
           feels
           .
           
           Nay
           ,
           Fear
           is
           such
           a
           Tyrant
           ,
           that
           let
           us
           feel
           never
           so
           much
           ,
           it
           will
           still
           heap
           on
           weight
           ,
           and
           make
           that
           which
           
             may
             be
          
           worse
           than
           that
           which
           is
           .
           As
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Book
             of
             Wisdom
          
           tells
           us
           concerning
           the
           Egyptians
           ,
           That
           when
           they
           lay
           under
           their
           
             grievous
             Plague
          
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           yet
           
             their
             Fear
             was
             more
             grievous
             than
             the
             Darkness
             .
          
        
         
           But
           ,
           2.
           
           Beside
           this
           torturing
           power
           ,
           Fear
           has
           in
           it
           a
           corrupting
           and
           debauching
           power
           ,
           whereby
           its
           moral
           Mischiefs
           come
           to
           be
           excessive
           ;
           for
           ,
           Fear
           is
           the
           main
           Rock
           upon
           which
           most
           men
           split
           their
           Faith
           ,
           their
           Honour
           ,
           their
           Integrity
           ;
           all
           are
           sacrificed
           to
           some
           sort
           of
           cowardly
           compliances
           ,
           and
           Men
           become
           vitious
           perhaps
           less
           from
           the
           love
           of
           being
           so
           ,
           than
           from
           want
           of
           Courage
           to
           be
           otherwise
           .
           And
           this
           is
           a
           sufficient
           Reason
           why
           ,
           Rev.
           21.
           8.
           the
           Fearful
           are
           set
           first
           in
           the
           List
           of
           those
           that
           go
           to
           Perdition
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           tho'
           Fear
           was
           given
           us
           on
           purpose
           to
           make
           us
           wise
           ,
           yet
           it
           never
           effects
           that
           purpose
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           as
           it
           is
           fixed
           upon
           God
           ,
           and
           receives
           Virtue
           from
           that
           supreme
           Object
           ,
           to
           govern
           its
           motions
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           all
           the
           rest
           ;
           for
           the
           
             fear
             of
             God
          
           ,
           like
           a
           wise
           
           Monarch
           set
           up
           in
           a
           disturbed
           State
           ,
           composes
           all
           the
           Tumults
           of
           vulgar
           Fears
           ,
           and
           keeping
           them
           subordinate
           to
           it self
           ,
           renders
           them
           both
           harmless
           and
           useful
           to
           their
           proper
           Ends.
           
        
         
           'T
           is
           a
           sad
           mistaken
           Project
           (
           tho'
           yet
           it
           be
           a
           common
           one
           )
           to
           cast
           off
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           in
           order
           to
           be
           free
           ;
           for
           ,
           in
           so
           doing
           ,
           Men
           only
           pass
           from
           one
           Fear
           which
           is
           without
           Torment
           ,
           to
           a
           multitude
           that
           are
           without
           Relief
           :
           As
           Cain
           ,
           when
           he
           had
           departed
           from
           the
           Presence
           of
           God
           ,
           became
           terrified
           with
           the
           presence
           of
           every
           thing
           he
           met
           .
           And
           tho'
           all
           men
           in
           Cain's
           case
           are
           not
           so
           fearful
           as
           Cain
           was
           ,
           yet
           they
           make
           the
           mischief
           equal
           by
           being
           more
           stupid
           than
           he
           .
        
         
           How
           galling
           must
           the
           Fears
           about
           the
           things
           of
           this
           Life
           needs
           be
           to
           one
           who
           carries
           no
           eye
           to
           the
           Blessings
           of
           a
           future
           ?
           They
           make
           the
           World
           look
           like
           a
           Shaft
           thrust
           into
           a
           man's
           Body
           ,
           which
           grieves
           and
           tortures
           while
           it
           stays
           in
           ,
           and
           when
           it
           is
           drawn
           out
           ,
           draws
           away
           Life
           along
           with
           it
           :
           But
           he
           that
           fears
           God
           has
           a
           Preservative
           against
           the
           fear
           of
           all
           Worldly
           Evils
           ;
           for
           he
           fears
           them
           not
           before
           they
           come
           ,
           because
           he
           is
           secure
           of
           
           the
           Good
           Providence
           of
           God
           on
           his
           side
           ,
           and
           when
           they
           come
           ,
           he
           has
           wherewithal
           to
           break
           their
           blow
           ,
           because
           he
           has
           assurance
           of
           Recompence
           at
           least
           ,
           if
           not
           of
           Relief
           .
        
         
           But
           especially
           ,
           how
           amazing
           must
           the
           fear
           of
           Death
           be
           to
           him
           that
           fears
           not
           God
           ?
           Death
           !
           that
           ,
           like
           a
           dark
           passage
           to
           a
           comfortless
           Prison
           ,
           puts
           an
           end
           to
           all
           he
           would
           have
           ,
           and
           a
           beginning
           to
           all
           he
           would
           not
           .
           I
           confess
           indeed
           ,
           that
           Sin
           ,
           ev'n
           while
           it
           is
           
             drawing
             on
          
           such
           formidable
           Consequences
           as
           these
           ,
           has
           likewise
           Arts
           to
           fence
           off
           their
           Affrightment
           :
           For
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           sometimes
           an
           
             Excess
             of
             Fear
          
           ,
           that
           
             betrays
             all
             the
             Succours
             of
             Reason
             ,
          
           so
           there
           is
           sometimes
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           such
           a
           Hardiness
           ,
           and
           want
           of
           Fear
           ,
           as
           stifles
           all
           the
           Actings
           of
           Reason
           :
           And
           hence
           it
           comes
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           some
           Men
           ,
           who
           are
           altogether
           careless
           how
           they
           live
           ,
           do
           yet
           seem
           as
           indifferent
           about
           the
           Concern
           of
           dying
           .
           The
           Scripture
           gives
           us
           the
           Emblem
           of
           such
           hardy
           Spirits
           ,
           in
           
             a
             Horse
             rushing
             to
             the
             Battel
             ,
          
           and
           
             an
             Ox
             going
             to
             the
             slaughter
          
           ;
           Creatures
           that
           are
           not
           frighted
           with
           Consequences
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           not
           capable
           of
           thinking
           :
           Which
           may
           likewise
           serve
           for
           an
           intimation
           
           to
           us
           ,
           That
           when
           a
           man
           fears
           not
           God
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           fears
           not
           Death
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           Courage
           in
           him
           ,
           but
           Brutality
           ;
           for
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           there
           should
           be
           any
           Guard
           against
           the
           Fear
           of
           Dying
           ,
           to
           those
           who
           are
           reasonable
           ,
           and
           aware
           of
           the
           Issues
           of
           Dying
           ,
           but
           only
           the
           Fear
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           secures
           against
           all
           other
           Fears
           :
           And
           as
           to
           this
           in
           particular
           ,
           it
           makes
           Death
           resemble
           a
           Viper
           ,
           when
           its
           Poyson
           is
           whipt
           out
           ;
           its
           very
           form
           indeed
           brings
           some
           Horror
           to
           our
           Nature
           ,
           but
           Reason
           tells
           us
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           so
           far
           from
           doing
           harm
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           altogether
           medicinal
           and
           restorative
           .
        
         
           By
           the
           way
           ,
           it
           is
           remarkable
           ,
           how
           this
           
             Passion
             of
             Fear
          
           will
           not
           suffer
           it self
           to
           be
           slighted
           by
           any
           of
           the
           
             Children
             of
             Pride
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           it
           takes
           a
           mocking
           Revenge
           upon
           those
           that
           seem
           to
           slight
           it
           most
           :
           for
           we
           may
           observe
           ,
           concerning
           such
           as
           fear
           not
           GOD
           ,
           and
           pretend
           likewise
           not
           to
           fear
           Death
           ,
           that
           yet
           they
           extreamly
           fear
           the
           vain
           Breath
           of
           the
           vainest
           Men
           ,
           which
           they
           falsly
           set
           up
           to
           be
           the
           Standard
           of
           Honour
           :
           This
           Breath
           (
           as
           despisable
           as
           it
           is
           )
           they
           fear
           as
           much
           as
           any
           others
           can
           fear
           Death
           ,
           and
           will
           run
           themselves
           
           into
           greater
           Mischiefs
           to
           escape
           it
           .
           Whereas
           ,
           in
           truth
           ,
           nothing
           is
           honourable
           neither
           ,
           but
           only
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           such
           Offices
           as
           are
           consequential
           to
           it
           ,
           if
           God
           himself
           may
           pass
           for
           the
           Standard
           ,
           who
           says
           ,
           
             Them
             that
             honour
             me
             I
             will
             honour
             .
          
           And
           therefore
           whatsoever
           is
           acted
           contrary
           to
           this
           Principle
           ,
           and
           whatsoever
           Men
           dare
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           Rules
           of
           Piety
           ,
           it
           can
           be
           no
           other
           than
           dishonourable
           and
           weak
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           debauching
           power
           of
           Fear
           ,
           it
           is
           deplorable
           what
           Multitudes
           it
           brings
           under
           captivity
           to
           Sin.
           The
           Fear
           of
           being
           laught
           at
           ,
           of
           being
           reproach'd
           ,
           of
           being
           frown'd
           upon
           ;
           the
           Fear
           of
           Contempt
           ,
           of
           Hardships
           ,
           of
           Poverty
           ,
           of
           Shame
           ,
           of
           Death
           ,
           are
           each
           of
           them
           Cords
           that
           draw
           Men
           daily
           from
           their
           Integrity
           ;
           and
           tho'
           they
           are
           all
           of
           different
           strengths
           ,
           yet
           by
           means
           of
           opportunity
           they
           all
           equally
           serve
           the
           Ends
           of
           the
           Tempter
           ;
           insomuch
           ,
           that
           as
           many
           are
           debauch'd
           by
           the
           Fear
           of
           being
           laugh'd
           at
           ,
           as
           by
           the
           Fear
           of
           being
           undone
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           is
           Armour
           of
           Proof
           against
           all
           these
           Temptations
           ;
           it
           fortifies
           the
           Mind
           ,
           and
           works
           it
           to
           firmness
           ,
           such
           a
           firmness
           
           as
           was
           glorious
           in
           the
           three
           Israelites
           in
           Babylon
           ,
           who
           when
           the
           Question
           was
           put
           ,
           Whether
           they
           would
           worship
           the
           Image
           ,
           or
           be
           cast
           into
           the
           Furnace
           ,
           they
           replied
           with
           all
           composedness
           ,
           Oh
           Nebuchadnezzar
           ,
           
             we
             are
             not
             sollicitous
             to
             answer
             thee
             about
             this
             matter
             :
          
           As
           much
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           The
           Question
           which
           thou
           ,
           O
           King
           ,
           takest
           to
           be
           so
           puzling
           to
           us
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           its
           Terror
           ,
           is
           not
           worthy
           the
           shortest
           of
           our
           Deliberations
           ;
           we
           can
           resolve
           in
           an
           instant
           what
           to
           do
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           because
           we
           were
           resolved
           long
           ago
           to
           suffer
           any
           thing
           rather
           than
           God's
           Displeasure
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           thus
           far
           shewn
           the
           Reasonableness
           and
           the
           present
           Advantages
           of
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           evidence
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           I
           must
           carry
           the
           Argument
           a
           little
           farther
           .
           For
           ,
           altho'
           allMen
           did
           not
           only
           desire
           to
           be
           wise
           (
           as
           certainly
           they
           do
           )
           but
           would
           allow
           us
           this
           Point
           too
           ,
           That
           
             the
             fear
             of
             God
             is
             wisdom
          
           ;
           yet
           this
           would
           not
           convince
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           must
           necessarily
           
             fear
             God
          
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           be
           wise
           ,
           unless
           it
           appear
           likewise
           that
           they
           cannot
           be
           wise
           any
           other
           way
           :
           For
           ,
           as
           when
           there
           are
           several
           Meats
           of
           several
           tasts
           ,
           one
           Man's
           chusing
           what
           he
           likes
           best
           does
           
           not
           tax
           the
           Discretion
           of
           a
           second
           for
           chusing
           of
           another
           kind
           ;
           so
           ,
           supposing
           there
           are
           several
           kinds
           of
           Wisdom
           ,
           ungodly
           men
           may
           acquit
           their
           Pretences
           to
           Wisdom
           ,
           by
           chusing
           to
           be
           
             wise
             after
             their
             own
             Palate
          
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           own
           way
           .
           I
           shall
           shew
           therefore
           in
           the
           next
           place
           ,
           That
           no
           such
           Choice
           is
           to
           be
           had
           ;
           but
           that
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           is
           so
           essential
           to
           Wisdom
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Wisdom
           without
           it
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           the
           design
           of
           holy
           Job
           ,
           in
           the
           Chapter
           of
           my
           Text
           ,
           to
           put
           us
           in
           mind
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           mighty
           Difference
           betwixt
           
             to
             know
          
           and
           
             to
             be
          
           wise
           :
           He
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           
             Man
             findeth
             out
             the
             veins
             of
             silver
             ,
             and
             the
             ore
             of
             gold
             ,
             and
             the
             beds
             of
             sapphires
             :
          
           That
           
             He
             cutteth
             out
             rivers
             among
             the
             rocks
             ,
             and
             his
             eye
             seeth
             every
             precious
             thing
             :
          
           That
           
             He
             bindeth
             the
             floods
             from
             overflowing
             ,
             and
             the
             thing
             that
             is
             hid
             he
             bringeth
             forth
             to
             light
             .
          
           But
           amidst
           all
           this
           ,
           Where
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             shall
             wisdom
             be
             found
             ?
             and
             where
             is
             the
             place
             of
             understanding
             ?
             Man
             knoweth
             not
             the
             price
             thereof
             ,
             neither
             is
             it
             to
             be
             found
             in
             the
             land
             of
             the
             living
             .
          
           In
           which
           Passage
           the
           Holy
           Man
           intimates
           ,
           that
           Wisdom
           is
           the
           pure
           Gift
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           cannot
           be
           found
           by
           the
           most
           curious
           
           Enquiries
           into
           Nature
           :
           And
           we
           may
           add
           ,
           That
           neither
           can
           it
           be
           found
           by
           the
           most
           curious
           Enquiries
           into
           Truth
           it self
           ,
           whether
           Moral
           or
           Divine
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           as
           Grace
           accompanies
           the
           Enquiry
           :
           For
           ,
           a
           Man
           may
           know
           all
           the
           Offices
           and
           Bounds
           of
           Virtue
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Precepts
           and
           Ends
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           yet
           not
           be
           wise
           ,
           because
           Wisdom
           is
           not
           the
           Speculation
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           but
           the
           Love
           and
           Practice
           of
           them
           .
           Wisdom
           is
           not
           only
           Light
           ,
           but
           Strength
           ,
           to
           the
           Understanding
           ,
           whereby
           it
           is
           enabled
           to
           govern
           the
           Passions
           ,
           and
           make
           the
           Life
           regular
           ;
           whereas
           a
           bare
           Knowledge
           leaves
           the
           Understanding
           as
           weak
           in
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           Life
           as
           irregular
           as
           before
           ;
           and
           (
           indeed
           )
           serves
           to
           nothing
           so
           much
           as
           the
           more
           inexcusable
           conviction
           of
           our
           Folly.
           
        
         
           In
           ancient
           Rome
           ,
           when
           the
           Empire
           was
           come
           to
           its
           height
           ,
           and
           Learning
           and
           Arts
           were
           grown
           into
           reputation
           among
           them
           ,
           it
           was
           the
           Fashion
           for
           such
           as
           aim'd
           at
           the
           Credit
           of
           being
           
             Accomplish'd
             Gentlemen
          
           ,
           to
           frequent
           Conferences
           ,
           and
           entertain
           the
           Company
           with
           Discourses
           of
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           Specimens
           of
           Study
           and
           Wit
           :
           In
           consequence
           
           to
           this
           it
           hapned
           ,
           that
           others
           ,
           who
           had
           neither
           Parts
           nor
           Industry
           to
           accomplish
           themselves
           on
           this
           manner
           ,
           and
           yet
           were
           ambitious
           to
           have
           a
           share
           in
           every
           thing
           that
           made
           Men
           look
           Great
           ;
           made
           it
           their
           Practice
           to
           buy
           some
           Learned
           Slaves
           out
           of
           Greece
           ,
           and
           to
           carry
           those
           about
           with
           them
           into
           Company
           ,
           and
           there
           whatsoever
           Wit
           or
           Learning
           the
           Slaves
           could
           produce
           ,
           that
           their
           Masters
           look'd
           upon
           as
           their
           own
           ,
           and
           took
           the
           Glory
           of
           it
           unto
           themselves
           .
           How
           ridiculous
           soever
           the
           affectation
           of
           this
           Practice
           may
           seem
           ,
           it
           is
           but
           too
           just
           an
           Emblem
           of
           the
           
             Generality
             of
             Mankind
          
           ,
           priding
           themselves
           in
           the
           attainment
           of
           
             mistaken
             Wisdom
          
           :
           For
           ,
           while
           we
           please
           our selves
           with
           the
           knowledge
           of
           Arts
           ,
           and
           Laws
           ,
           and
           Policies
           ,
           and
           Business
           ,
           nay
           ,
           of
           Virtue
           and
           Religion
           too
           ,
           yet
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           our
           Understanding
           ,
           the
           Faculty
           where
           this
           Treasure
           of
           Knowledge
           lyes
           ,
           is
           very
           often
           no
           other
           than
           a
           Slave
           ,
           held
           in
           servitude
           to
           our
           Lusts
           and
           Passions
           :
           These
           rule
           and
           command
           ,
           like
           the
           
             Roman
             Gallant
          
           ,
           and
           that
           only
           serves
           ,
           like
           the
           
             poor
             Greek
          
           ,
           to
           furnish
           Matter
           for
           our
           Vanity
           ;
           insomuch
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           not
           really
           the
           wiser
           
           for
           all
           the
           Wisdom
           we
           carry
           about
           us
           .
           And
           thus
           it
           must
           be
           ;
           nor
           can
           it
           ever
           be
           otherwise
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           as
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           presides
           over
           what
           we
           know
           ,
           and
           directs
           it
           to
           the
           Purposes
           of
           a
           Holy
           Life
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           World
           in
           this
           present
           matter
           ,
           which
           conferrs
           the
           Character
           of
           Wisdom
           upon
           several
           human
           Endowments
           ,
           however
           found
           separate
           from
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           ;
           well
           may
           it
           pass
           for
           a
           Courtesie
           ,
           but
           its
           passing
           for
           a
           Due
           we
           have
           this
           Consideration
           to
           hinder
           ,
           (
           viz.
           )
           That
           not
           any
           of
           those
           Endowments
           ,
           no
           ,
           nor
           all
           of
           them
           together
           ,
           can
           prevent
           a
           Man
           from
           being
           a
           Fool.
           
        
         
           And
           this
           is
           a
           Truth
           I
           shall
           chuse
           to
           prove
           by
           Example
           ,
           Example
           being
           a
           good
           Remembrancer
           ,
           and
           this
           being
           a
           matter
           which
           we
           are
           not
           so
           like
           to
           doubt
           of
           ,
           as
           to
           forget
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           begin
           with
           the
           Example
           of
           the
           
             Rich
             Man
          
           ,
           mentioned
           St.
           Luke
           12.
           who
           according
           to
           the
           vulgar
           Standard
           ,
           must
           certainly
           pass
           for
           a
           Wise
           Man
           ;
           for
           ,
           he
           understood
           Business
           ,
           and
           Improvements
           ,
           and
           Managery
           ,
           as
           we
           may
           guess
           by
           the
           encreasing
           of
           his
           Estate
           ,
           and
           the
           enlarging
           of
           his
           Barns
           .
           And
           another
           piece
           of
           reputed
           Wisdom
           he
           
           was
           Master
           of
           too
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           he
           resolv'd
           to
           enjoy
           what
           he
           had
           :
           And
           yet
           how
           emphatically
           is
           this
           man
           call'd
           Fool
           ,
           in
           his
           peremptory
           Summons
           from
           God
           ?
           
             Thou
             fool
             !
             this
             night
             shall
             thy
             soul
             be
             required
             of
             thee
             ;
             and
             then
             whose
             shall
             those
             things
             be
             that
             thou
             hast
             provided
             ?
          
        
         
           The
           next
           I
           shall
           mention
           is
           Achitophel
           ,
           a
           man
           of
           such
           sagacity
           and
           insight
           into
           Affairs
           ,
           that
           (
           as
           the
           Sacred
           Story
           tells
           us
           )
           his
           Counsel
           upon
           all
           occasions
           was
           ,
           
             As
             if
             a
             man
             had
             enquired
             at
             the
             oracle
             of
             God
          
           ;
           and
           yet
           this
           Great
           Man
           ,
           for
           all
           his
           mighty
           Talent
           of
           Wisdom
           ,
           had
           so
           little
           as
           to
           make
           a
           violent
           end
           of
           himself
           upon
           a
           small
           Affront
           ,
           and
           so
           at
           one
           Act
           to
           cut
           himself
           off
           both
           from
           all
           the
           Enjoyments
           of
           this
           Life
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Hopes
           of
           a
           Future
           :
           Too
           great
           a
           Proof
           of
           being
           a
           Fool
           !
        
         
           I
           shall
           end
           with
           the
           Example
           of
           Solomon
           ,
           whose
           Character
           for
           Universal
           Wisdom
           is
           this
           ;
           
             That
             there
             never
             was
             the
             like
             before
             him
             ,
             nor
             ever
             shall
             be
             after
             him
          
           ;
           and
           yet
           so
           soon
           as
           he
           turned
           his
           Back
           upon
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           ,
           see
           whither
           he
           sunk
           ;
           
             His
             heart
             clave
             unto
             strange
             women
             ;
             he
             had
             seven
             hundred
             wives
             ,
             and
             three
             hundred
             concubines
             :
          
           and
           forasmuch
           as
           most
           
           of
           them
           were
           Idolaters
           ,
           he
           comply'd
           with
           them
           all
           ,
           in
           worshipping
           their
           several
           Idols
           .
           And
           now
           say
           how
           the
           weakest
           man
           in
           the
           World
           could
           have
           shew'd
           himself
           a
           greater
           Fool
           than
           Solomon
           did
           in
           these
           Extravagances
           .
           Well
           might
           he
           take
           it
           for
           his
           Motto
           ,
           as
           he
           does
           in
           the
           Book
           of
           Ecclesiastes
           (
           which
           he
           is
           supposed
           to
           have
           written
           after
           his
           Recovery
           out
           of
           this
           Infatuation
           )
           
             All
             is
             vanity
             ,
             —
             but
             the
             fear
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           And
           tho'
           perhaps
           few
           of
           those
           that
           fear
           not
           God
           have
           Appetites
           to
           carry
           them
           to
           the
           Extravagances
           of
           Solomon
           ,
           and
           fewer
           to
           the
           Desperateness
           of
           Achitophel
           :
           yet
           none
           of
           them
           can
           escape
           the
           Folly
           of
           the
           first
           Instance
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           have
           their
           Soul
           stript
           of
           all
           its
           Enjoyments
           together
           ,
           without
           the
           provision
           of
           any
           to
           succeed
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           we
           may
           conclude
           ,
           That
           whatever
           commendable
           things
           Human
           Wisdom
           may
           do
           by
           the
           bye
           ,
           yet
           it
           certainly
           fails
           of
           its
           main
           pretence
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           of
           making
           a
           Man
           wise
           :
           For
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           some
           Actions
           ,
           done
           with
           the
           semblance
           of
           Discretion
           ,
           in
           matters
           of
           smaller
           moment
           ,
           but
           the
           Discretion
           a
           man
           shews
           in
           actions
           of
           chief
           concern
           ,
           
           that
           must
           give
           him
           his
           Character
           .
           And
           what
           then
           must
           be
           the
           Character
           of
           those
           that
           always
           want
           Discretion
           in
           the
           main
           ?
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           shall
           leave
           the
           whole
           matter
           upon
           your
           Thoughts
           ,
           under
           the
           illustration
           of
           this
           sensible
           Image
           ,
           
             (
             viz.
             )
             Human
             Wisdom
          
           ,
           (
           in
           the
           prospect
           of
           its
           whole
           management
           )
           looks
           like
           a
           man
           shewing
           great
           Skill
           in
           the
           choice
           of
           curious
           Paintings
           and
           Hangings
           ,
           and
           other
           Rarities
           ,
           wherewith
           to
           furnish
           his
           House
           ,
           when
           all
           the
           while
           an
           Enemy
           is
           burning
           the
           Town
           :
           For
           ,
           thus
           it
           is
           that
           Human
           Wisdom
           provides
           noble
           Furniture
           for
           the
           Soul
           ,
           but
           never
           reflects
           that
           the
           Soul
           it self
           lyes
           perishing
           at
           the
           same
           instant
           .
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           Art
           ,
           and
           Reasoning
           ,
           and
           Experience
           ,
           and
           Dexterity
           ,
           are
           excellent
           Furniture
           ,
           and
           these
           Human
           Wisdom
           brings
           in
           .
           But
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           what
           need
           of
           all
           this
           Sail
           to
           run
           against
           a
           Rock
           ?
           What
           needs
           the
           Pomp
           of
           all
           these
           excellent
           Qualities
           to
           be
           undone
           ,
           when
           a
           Man
           may
           be
           undone
           less
           reproachfully
           without
           them
           ?
           For
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           all
           these
           Qualities
           do
           not
           in
           the
           least
           prevent
           a
           Man's
           being
           undone
           ;
           't
           is
           only
           
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             God
          
           that
           can
           do
           that
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           may
           most
           confidently
           determine
           ,
           That
           
             the
             Fear
             of
             God
             is
             the
             only
             Wisdom
             .
          
        
         
           This
           is
           Wisdom
           ,
           not
           in
           Semblance
           ,
           but
           in
           Deed
           ;
           not
           Parcel-Wisdom
           ,
           but
           Wisdom
           entire
           ;
           not
           Wisdom
           for
           the
           Bye
           ,
           but
           Wisdom
           for
           the
           Main
           ;
           not
           Wisdom
           for
           a
           Day
           ,
           but
           Wisdom
           for
           Ever
           .
        
         
           
             To
             God
             ,
             that
             is
             the
             Only
             Giver
             of
             this
             Wisdom
             ,
             and
             of
          
           every
           Perfect
           Gift
           ,
           
             be
             all
             Glory
          
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           AMEN
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           Sermons
           written
           by
           the
           same
           Author
           ,
           and
           sold
           by
           
             Walter
             Kettilby
          
           .
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           preach'd
           before
           the
           Lord
           Mayor
           ,
           
             Feb.
             4.
             1682.
          
           on
           St.
           Mat.
           V.
           3.
           
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           ,
           exhorting
           to
           Union
           in
           Religion
           ,
           preach'd
           at
           Bow-Church
           ,
           
             May.
             20.
             1688.
          
           on
           St.
           John
           XVI
           .
           31
           ,
           32.
           
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           preach'd
           before
           the
           Queen
           on
           Easter-day
           ,
           on
           1
           Thess.
           IV.
           18.