112 An Expojition of the Epiftle --------------~----~ ~ Some have thought that in I Cor, r. 30. Chrifr is faid to be made, in this fenfe, Serm. XI. wtjdom to us, as particularly intending the Grace of Graces, namely the principle ~of Faith; (now it is certain it is a diltinCl: thing from Sanfftjicatioll and Jujilficatimt, as there the Apofile ufeth it,) And that it is made thus difrinCl: from the other, and fet, firfr becaufe thereby we .are enabkd to take in all the Spiritual Truths of the Gofpel, fo as to have a man's Soul faved, Chrifi is made wJfdom to us; when the Soul is humbled, emptied of jt fclf, and wh<n a man comes to himfelf, his eyes are enlightned to behold, and he is made wife to lay hold upon that offer of Mercy made to us in the Lord Jefus Chrifr. But we mull: not exclude that Objeffive wtfdom, that is, all that wifdom which God in the Doctrine of the Gofpel contrived and prepared, which is called, The wifdom of God i11 a myjlery; with which the Apofrle ia that Chapter had out· faced the Greeks that were fo for Wifdom, that incomparifon of which all the Wifdom in this world, Civil, moral, natura!, (he fays) is foolifhnefs and comes to nought, and which the Doctrine of Chrifr utterly out-lhined. And fo I judge that in that place I Cor. I. 30. both this inherent Spiritual Wifdom in us, and 06je8ive w1jdom, which is in our Chrifr, as revealed in the Gofpel are meant. Now if you ask, which of the two are meant here; whether wifdom taken for the Doctrine of the Gofpel, or for the gi!i: of God, working Faith in the heart? I Anfwer you, (as I have faid ) it is taken for the gift of wtjdom wrought in a man'sSoul, whereby he applies all the 'fruths of the Gofpel, and Wifdom of the Gofpel to himfelf. For, Firfr, So it i• taken plainly in the I 7th verfe, where he calls it the Spirit of wzfdom and revelation, by the Hob Ghofl working wifdom in a man, and then revealing to that new eye of wzfdom, Spiritual Truths. Then Secondly, It is taken rather for t~e gifi of wifdom befrowed upon us, than for the do8ri1le of wzfdom revealed m the Gofpel, becaufe that follows in the gth verfe, Having made known to us the myflery of his wit/; therein the Dochine of Wi(dom is revealed. Therefore when he fpeaks of wifdom and pru– dmce in this 8th verfe, he meaneth a heart made wife and prudent, the work of wifdomin a man's Soul. And then again Thirdly, There is this Reafon, why it is meant of the gift of wifdom and of Faith wrought in us, by that parallel place, (and indeed almofl: parallel Epi(lJe,) Coloff.r .g. where the Apofile prays, that they may 6e filled with theknow!edge of his wilt in altwifdom mtd jpiritttal Ullderjlandiug; and that word Spiritual ttndrrflmJding puts it out of doubt, that the knowledge of Spirituals within us is meant. And then that it is particularly meant Faith, a Fourth reafon for that is this That when the Apofrle comes to dilate this General Head of the.work of God: thus here. exprelfed by Wifdom,f!!c•. inherent in us, intodiverfeparticular works wrought m them, (whtch he clothmver.Il,12,IJ.) both to Jrw and Gentile, he enumerates and in!lanceth in their 6tluvi11g on Chrifr ; In whom (faith he) we havr obtaittedan inheriianct, (namely the Je'iils,)whofirfl truf/ed i11 Chrijf. The like faith the uth verfe: then coming to the Gentiles, bz whot» (faith he) y at{o truf/ed, after thatye heard the word of Truth, the Gojprt ofyottr falva– tio11. So that his fcope is to lay open the grace of Faith and Spiritual know– ledge. Now,Brethren, To lhew you howWifdom and Pr~tdmcedo differ, that is the Second thing I mufr make good; for here are two things mentioned, Hr hath a6otmdtdtowardtu i1l ltifdom aiJdi11Prudmce. To open this, I fhall difference them unto you by their Objects, You know there are two forts of things revealed; tile fir(\ are Credmda, as we <all them, things to be believed, all Evangelical Truths, the Myfreries of Salvation, the Revelation of God's Free grace,and of Chrifr,and ofall he bath done and is made to us. Secondly, There are Agenda, things to be done and pradifed by us, that firictnefs and holinefs of heart and life, which tkey that do believe are to take up. Tntothefe two is the whole Will of God divided ; ir confifu either in thmgs to be believed byus, or in things to be done byus. It is that divifton the Apofrle ·makes r Tim.r.rg. Holding Faith and a good Co1i(cimce: by Faith, he means the Doctrine of Faith; all things that are deltl'ertd to us to believe, we are to held.-
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