rr,,; The Favour of God obtained by Wifdom. SE R M. pure, and true, and hone, and virtuous, V. becaufe we are fure thefe things are approved L'"v"") by him. What the fcriptute declareth on this fubjea is perfectly agreeable to reafon, for it celebrateth the holinefs and the juftice of God, efpecially as manifefted in the di- ffindion he maketh between good and bad men, Pfal. xi. 5, 6, 7 The Lord trieth the righteous, but the wicked and him that loveth violence his foul hateth. Upon the wicked he (hall rain fnares, fire, and brimflone, and an horrible temp ji ; this (hall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteoufnefs, his countenance doth behold the upright. And elfewhere we are taught, that becaufe he is holy therefore he delight - eth in holinefs, he hateth fin, and the evil and the vicious are an abomination to him. But this is fo evident, I need not fpend time in endeavouring to illuftrate it. I fhall, therefore, apply myfelf to the confideration of an obvious obbjetion taken from the promifcuous adminiflration of things in this world. How doth it appear that the wife and virtuous obtain favour of the Lord, fince his providence doth not diftinguifh them by marks of favour; but, by the confef ion of the facred writers themfelves, they are in a$ bad
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