Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

74 That worldly mi fdome and policie is to be contemned. cies, either forprouifion ofchofe things they defre, or for their preferuation from dangers, morethen in God himfelf, who is our onely preferuer and proteéior; contrarie tothe Ptou.3.6, perfwafon ofthe Wife inan,who exhorteth vs to truf in the Lord with allour hearts, and not lean two our owne noi fdome. 4 Sec? And thus haue I'hewed, how and in what refpeéis this ci- worldly wife_ uill wifdome and policie is to be accounted warrantable and dome We be good, and how it is to be efleemed euill and vnlawfull : in contemned, fall which refpeéi weare not to let ourhearts on it, but to con. efteemeeG rt temne and hate, fhunand auoid it : which that wemay doe, not let theft reafons moue vs : firfi,becaufe this worldly and car - nail wifdome is not good, nor ofany worth and excellencie, but euill, bafe and contemptible : and fecondly, becaufe it bringeth vino vs no true good or profit, but hurt and difad- uantage.That there is in it no worth or excellencie,it appea. reth, becaufe God efieemeth it not : for whereas he refer- ueth his chicle jewels, and gifts ofvalue, onely for his owne feruants and children, he belloweth this ciuill and morali wifdome, as a common gift both vpon the godly and the reprobate, as appeareth in the example ofeflchitophel, who though he were defperately wicked,as we may plainly fee in that curled counfell which he gaue to e.4bfolon, yet had re- ceiued from God fuels a large meafure of this gift ofciuill wifdome, that he was not only thought meet to be a chicle z.Saut.tó.:3. counfeller to Dauid, but the counfell which he Fame in theft daies, moat efleemed at if one had asked counfaileat the oracle of god: fo was all the counfell of u4chitophel both with Dauid and with e fbfelon. And the like might be faidofmany others, which for breuitie Iouerpaffe. Againe, that the Lord efiee- tneth and regardeth not,thefe great Pol i titians who are wife Iob 37.4. in their owne conceits, Elihu plainly faith it, and Gods dea- ling with them as plainly proueth it ; for being to gather vn- tohimfelfeafeleéi multitude, whereofto make his Church, and feruants of his owne familie, whom he will fanéiificin this life, and faue, glorifie and crowne with eternall happi. neffe in the life to come;he pa'feth by thefegreat Politicians, and vouchfafeth not to call many ofthefe wife men after the r.Cor.r z6 flefh, as the Apofile affi rmeth, but leaning themto enioy their