268 Attending public Inflrublion, S E R M. enlarged on other particular Vices which the XI. author bath hinted in his Proverbs, as ob- L" --v .+ ftru6tions to wifdocn, fuch as cowardice, or an undue fear of men, lafcivioufnefs, intem- perance, covetoufnefs, and wrath, which do all of them darken the mind, marr its progrefs in any kind of valuable knowledge, weaken its force and expofe it a prey to temptations ; but fome of thefe have been occafionally touched upon, and fuch general rules of felf- government laid down, as, if duly applied, might be a defence to us ágainfi them all. What I intend at this time, is, to re- commend the careful ufe of thofe folemn means, which God hath gracioufly inflituted for our attaining to religious wifdom ; and I think the text giveth a jufl occafion for it ; Solomon reprefenteth wifdom as a divine per - fon, making a public appearance in the world, fetting up a court, or rather a fchool, fending out her minifters, inviting men, even the moil rude and ignorant, to become her difciples, by which they may hope for great advantage. I know not what can be more naturally underflood by all this, than the gracious defign God bath formed and exe- cuted for recovering men from their igno- rance, corruption, and mifery, and bringing them
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