3 28 The proper Improvement SE R M. but the other gifts which are the reward XII. of our Wing thefe wifely and honeftly, c--r--.r are of nearer and more important con - fideration to ourfelves, being properly our own goods which (hall always re- main with us. TheCe particulars, which have been briefly hinted as the contents of the text, (hall be more largely con - fidered in the following obfervations. .Firfl, That the common maxims of hu- man wifdom in the condnt of worldly affairs, and even thole of carnal and unjuft policy, may be ufefully applied for our di- reftion in the concerns of religion, and they reproach the folly and flothfulnefs of chri- ftians in working out their falvation; the children of this world are wi/er in their ge- neration than the children of light. No one can be fo unacquainted with the world as not to know that men ufually employ their un- derfianding in this manner ; they lay their fchemes for the eafy and comfortable enjoy- ment of life, and for avoiding all the incon- veniences they can forefee, with all the cau- tion and judgment they are mailers of ; and enter into deep and ferions deliberation for carrying on their defigns fzccefsfully. And even what St. Paul calleth the wifdom of the ,`f,
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