616 Of Effelfnal Calling. St Sac T. XII. Ij SERMON CVI. R\eafns rib", godpath byHumane VVifdom, zrith the Difference betzaeen it and true jiiri- tual Wi (dom , a the Commendation of Hu- mane Learning, and holy necefJJryitisfor cliaer. I COlt. I.26. Ala many wifè men after theAP. THis Text bath difcovered two forts ofwife men, The Wife wan after the Spirit, and Thewife man after the fleJ7; as alfo, Gods determination about the later, which is full of admiration and terror. He bath not cho- fes many wife menafter the fiefh. Thecharaflers of carnal wife men, you heard the laft day. 1(hall conclude the first fubjeft hereenumerated at thistime, and that whichremaineth to be:onfidered in the firft place is, What are the Rea- fons why God paffeth by this humane wifdom, and makes no account of it, Would it not have made much for the honour of the Gofpel ? Would it not havebeen a greater credit'and ornament to Religion , to fee all the great wife menofthe world, tohave done like the wife men oftheEaft that came to adore Chrifi, though lying in a liable? Is not this Hiftory famous, that wife men fhould comefofarce, and bringtheir external oblations,and reflimonies ofhigh refpell toChrilt, in that mean and contemptible way, and that in danger of their lives by Herod? In outward judgement thefe might have beencalled, The fools of the Ea(t, rather then the wife men. This did wonderfully celebrate thename of Chrilt; and may not a may fay, If God would thus affelf all the wife men in the world, would not godlineffe and religion be freed from thofe blemifhes and fcandals that have been and !tillare upon it ? They are the (imple and more foolifh fortof people, that fet themfelves to thepoweç of reli- gion t None ofthe fubtil profound and wife menof the worldwill venture too farce this way. This Iconfeffe is a very plaufiblepretence, andmight have de- ceived many, did notoneexampleof ourSaviour wonderfully confound filch obje&ions, where you may fee himwonderfully affected with thisdivine difpen- fation, bis!heart is greatlymoved with it;I thank:bee,O Father,rhat thou haft hid thefethings from the Wife, and haß revealed them to babes, Mat. ra.25. The Text faith, hemade this confetloninapublike and folemn manner by wayofthankf- givingunto God. So then,if this riddleof Gods difpenfation be unfolded by cripture-direftion, we (ball feematteeofgreat praife and joy, not muttering be reafon or on Gods p twhy herejeas fuch; and reafotns onthe God arnnal wife mans part,why he is refu fed. And
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