23 fire, did neuer truely delire to haue any. And hee that dotti purpofeneuer to bee better, will prefently grow to bee worfe, and Lail ofall proue to bee fluke naught. Confolation for fuch as bee ofthe mending hand, though, they haue defeEts and imperfe6tions, and bee drawee aide, fometimes with lulls, and corruptions : yet if they Rill get. groundof there enimies,and forne addition comedaily to their vnderftanding and defines by euery Sermon and other good, exercife, let them beleeue the teflimonie of the holy Ghofl, they bee in the number of thewife and righteous. erfe, i®, The beginning ofwifedome is thefeare ofthe Lcsd; and the knowledge of .holir men is vnderflanding. Haling fo much commended Wifedome and fo earncf ly. perfwaded men unto it,he fhheweth now wherein it cloth con- tiff, that inenmight not bedeceiued by the counterfait colour ofit, difcriding it. Firm, by the matter, that is, true pietie and religion, called. commonly in the word thefeareofGod,becaufe it is an efi'cn- tiall part thereof and this is not a cafe contingent, as though . vvifedome and piede might fometimes concurre in one perfon and fometimes bee di{feuered : but necefrary and perpetual],, the one beingalwayes the beginningofthe other. Secondly, by the manner, that it is not the knowledgeof . naturali things that is in Philofophers : nor theknowledgeof ciu ll affaires that is in Politicians : nor the hiforicall andarti ficiatl knowledge ofpoints of Religion that is in hypocrites: but the miflicall know ledge of themiflerics of£aluation,which the fpitit of God loth reucale to the hearts. of Chriflians. z. Cor.z.IO I I. on, 1.. Noman canbe truely wife before he be vnfainedly religi- ligiuusmen ens. . Salomon had experience both of heauenly wifcdomeand cly arewilt. humane wifedome, of the thewof the one, and foundnefre of cle,I z.r3, the other, and thus doth hee declare his iudgement : Let vs feare god and keepe his comet usndements, for this is the whale wan, nothingbut this canmake a man to be a man,without. which
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