Wirdom and Learning tobe denied. fromGod only, Joh. 5.44. Its more Honour to obey God in fnffering, then to be fo valiant as to murder another man. The day is neer when he will appear the Honourable man, that was likeft to Jefus Chrift, that when he war reviled, reviled nit again when hefoffered he threatneth not,hot committed himfelf to him that judgeth righteoufly, I Pet. 2. 23. Blind fanners do you think it more honourable to do hart, then to (Offil. he ? yea to be like the Devil, who is a murderer, then toChrift that was a fufferer, and came not to deftroy mens lives, but to fave them and lay down his own. Can any thing be more Honourable then to be the children of the heavenly Father ? and if you be fuch, you mull Love your enemier , blefi them that curieyoo, dogood to them that hate you, and pray for them that delpightfolly ufe youand perfecute pm] Mat. 5.44. What a Cafe are .thofe mens underfiandings in that think it their Honour to revenge themfelves whenGod hath fo forbidden it? Ram. 12.19, 239 CHA P. X-L V I: Wijdorn andLearning to be denied. 6: A Niother piece of vain-glory to be denkd, is in the Re: potation of wipom and Learning. The things them- - felves are very excellent, and to be defired- and much fought. after : but not for our own Honour, but the Service and Ho- nour of theLord.' And the greater is theworth of the thing, the greater: is the temptation to vain-glory in them that have it, and the harder it is to deny themfelves herein. This part of felf-denial confifleth not in a contempt of Learning or Wifdom, nor in a neglect of it : for this were a fin : but in a negleft offilf that wouldmake an advantage ofit; for its own carnal-exaltation ; and in a contempt of the Honour andvain- glory which may redound by it toour felves,, further then fuch, honour is ferviceable to God. 0 hown finful andmiferable a; life do abundance of learned men.live in the world 1 :Their whole
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