LIFE OF FAITH. 421 So necessary is foreknowledge in the common affairs of men, that without it, the actions of the world would be but mad, tu- multuary confusion. What would you think of that man's under- standing, or how would you value the employments of his life, that looked no further, in all his actions, than the present hour, and saw no more than the things in hand ? What would you call him that so spends the day, as one that knoweth not there will be any night ; and so passed the night, as one that looked not for the day ? that knew not, in the spring, there would be, an harvest.; or, in the summer, that there would be any winter; or, in youth; that there would be age or death ? The silly brutes, that have no fore- knowledge, are furnished with an instinct that supplieth the want of it ; and alsohave the help of mall's foreknowledge, or else their kind would be soon extinct. The bees labor in summer, as if they foresaw the winter's need. And can that man be wise that foreseeth not his everlasting state ? Indeed, he that knoweth not what is to come, bath no true knowledge of what is present; for the worth arid use of present things is only in their respect to things eternal; and there is no means where there is no end. What wisdom, then, remains in unbelievers, when all their lives are misemployed, because they know not the end, of life? and when alltheir actions are utterly debased by the baseness of those brutish ends to which they serve and are referred? Nothing is truly wise or honorable that is done for small and worthless things. To draw a curious picture of a shadow, or elegantly write the his- tory of a dream, may be an ingenious kind of foolery ; but the end will not allow it the name of wisdom and such are all the actions of the world (though called heroic, valiant and honorable) that aim at transitory trifles, and tend not to the everlasting end. A bird can neatly build hpr nest, but is not therefore counted wise. How contrary is the judgment of the world to' Christ's ! When the same description that he giveth of a fool, is it that worldlings give of a wise and happy man; "One that layeth up riches for himself, and is not rich towards God; " Luke xii. 20, 21. Will you persuade us that the man is wise, that can climb a little higher than his neighbors, that he ma"( have the 'greater fall? that is attended in his way to hell with greater pomp and state than others ? that can sin more syllogistically and rhetorically than the vulgar, and more prudently and gravely run into damnation, and can learnedly defend his madness, and prove that he is safe at the brink of hell? Would you persuade us that he is wise, that contradicts-the God and rule of wisdom, and that parts with heaven for a fewmerry hours, and bath not wit to save his soul ? When they see the end, and are arrived at eternity, let thèm boast of their wisdom as they find cause ; we will take them then for more
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