Chap.tz, An Expofttionsrpon the BookofJOB.Verfe z3. (faith he) we are to enquire offormer ages, I am ofyour opi- nion too , that , with the ancient is wifdome ; yet I do not ex- pea to find állwifdome among the ancient, (their well bath not depth enotIgh to yield thefe waters to all corners or for all oc- cations) no, I muff go to God ; Withhim is wifdome , and he bath counfcl and undemanding. Though all the ancient men in the world, and ancient Councels, affirme that, which the word of Goddenies, we muff not believe them, forWith him is wifdome. In the 28 Chapter of this book, verf. 12. the queftion is put , Wherefhall wifdome befound ? and where is the place of undea ftanding ? Where ? the creatures difclaim it, The depth faith, it is not inme, and the leafaith, it is not with me. Though we may gain wifdome byconvertingwith the creatures,yet there is no creature bath wifdome inhis keeping or at his difpofing. That's the priviledgeof God ; With him wifdome. With him, as with a Mafter, as with a Lord ; His it is. With him, as with a difpenfer, aswith a Steward ; He gives it out 4 he pleafeth , he betowes it upon whom he will ; all wifdome is Originally in him, and derivatively from him. (Chap.15 8.) Haft thou heard theferret ofGod, and doeft thou reftrrain wifdozn to thyfèif ? As if he had laid, Thou talkeit as if thou hadit'been of Gods councel, or at leaft as ifthou hadft learnt knowledge , not only from the mouth of men, but immediatly from the mouth of God himfeif. Thirdly Obferve, ' That all the wifdome ofman, comparedwith God is no wifdome Our wifdome is foolithnefs compared with God. I ground it from the Text,thus. He had laid before, With the ancient is wife- dome, and in length ofdaies undemanding. Now faith he , With him is wifdome, andhe bath counfel and underftanding. As if he had Paid, I told you of wifedome in old men, and of underfl.and. ing in length of daies, but I affure you this wifedome is nothing to the wifedome I now (peak of. He meanes not a wifedome different in kinde, for if there be true wifedome in old men, it is a drop of Godsocean , a beamof the Father oflights. But the wifedome that is in God carries the name ofwifedome from the wifedome that is in oldmen. As all the light of the Stars is but darknefs compared to the light of the Sun ; fo there is wifedom with men, with old men efpecially , and there is wife- dome with God : But thewifedom that is in God, who is the an- cient ofdayes , extinguifheth andovercommeth all the wifedom Hh in 233
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