The Favour of Godobtained by Wifelom. 115 Solomon in this book, which muff be fo in- S E R M. terpreted, as chap. ix. I i. By me thy days V. j all be multi flied, and the years of thy (hall be increafed. And chap. x. 27. The fiar of the Lord prolongeth days, but the years of the wicked (hall be pruned. Yet, confidering that life in this text is not fo limited, that often in fcripture it hath a larger fignification, and that the words ad- ded to explain this advantage of wifdom, and flew the trae caufe of it, namely, ob- taining faveur of the Lord, leads us to more important and durable efieds than the meer lengthening out our prefent frate of exift- ence : Confidering all this, I fay, it feem- eth reafonable by life to underfrand that which indeed is better, and for which life, in the firfr and more obvious fenfe, is only va- luable, that is, happinefs; and fo it muff be taken in that faying of our Saviour, Luke xii. s. The if of a man (or his enjoyment and felicity) doth not conf in the abundance of the things which he poffeth. The in- tention of this text, then, is to reprefent a very great bleffedrefs to good men, whether in t ?w ,r-refent-ei a future frate, annexed to wifdor:x or religious virtue, in confequence of their obtaining God's favour. I 2 The
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