g82 Of COMMUNION With difturbtince arifeth from irregularity; nne man breaking in upon the rights, ufages, interefts, relations of another, fets this world at variance. The fum and aim of all wifdom below, is to caufe all things to move in their proper fphere, whereby it wouldbe impoffible there (houid be anymore in- terfering, than is in the celeftial orbs, notwithftanding all their divers and various motions ; to keep all to their own alottments, within the eompafs of the lines that are fallen unto them, is the fpecial end of this wifdom. Nowit will be a very eafy task to demonftrate, that all civil prudence, whatever (a) (befides the vexationof its attainment, and lofs being attain- ed) is no way able to compafs this end. The prefent condition of affairs throughout the world, as alfo that of former ages, will abundantly teftify it, but I (hall further difcover the vanity of it for this end, in force few öbfervations ; and the firfl is, (r.) That through the righteous judgment of God lopping off the top flowers of the pride of men, it frequently comes to pafs, that thofe who are furnifhed with the greateft abilities in this kind, do lay them out to a direét contrary end, unto that, which is their proper natural tendency and aim. From whom, for the muff part, are all the commotions in the world ; the breaking up of bounds, fetting the whole frame of nature on fire; is it not from fúch menas thefe? Were not men fo wife, the worldperhaps would he more quiet, when the end of wifdom is to keep it in quietnefs. This ferns to be a curfe that God bath fpread upon the wifdom of the world in the muff in whom it is, that it (hall be employed in direht oppo- . fition to its proper end. (2.) That God bath made this a confiant path towards the advance- ment of his own glory; even to leven the wifdom, and the counfels of the wifeft of the fons ofmen, with folly and madnefs, that they (hall in the depth of their policy (b) advife things for the compaffingof the ends they do propofe, as unfuitable as any thing that could proceed out of the mouth of a child or a fool, and as direetly tending to their own difappoint- suent and ruin as anything that could be invented againft theta. H de- Pays the wifdom of the wife, andbrings to nothing the under/landing of the prudent, a Cor. i. 19. This he largely defcribes, Ifa. xix. I r, 12, 13, 14. drunkennefs and ftaggering is the blue of all their wifdom, and that upon this account, the Lord gives them the fpirit ofgiddinefs. So alfo job. v. 12, 13, 14. They meet with darknefs in the day time, (e) when all things Teem clear about them, and a man would wonder how men fhould suifs their way, then will Godmake it darknefs to fuck as theft, fo Pfal. xxxiii. so. Hence God as it were fets them at work, and undertakes their difap- pointment, Ifa. viii. 9, io. Go about your counfels, faith the Lord, and I will take order that it (hall come to nought. And Pfal. ii. 3, 4. When men are deep at their plots and contrivances, God is faid to have them in derifian; to laugh them to form; feeing the poor worms induftrioufly work- ing out their ruin. Never was this made more clear, than in the days wherein we live ; fcarcely have any wife men been brought to deftru&ion, but it hatli evidently been thro' their own folly, neither hath the wifelt counfel of molt been one jot better than madnefs. (e.) That this wifdom which (hould tend to univerfal quietnefs, hath almoft conftantly given univerfal difquietnefs unto themfelves, in whom it hath been snuff eminent. In much wifdom is much grief, Eder i. 18. (11 '0 211,9 i<taaxgds ieSeeí eenv w', e i vrar3a% nannjar, á xa5' ï tawr, r Yì iNr davdas r5Ova,v, xevexctO' ddonees, seto, Loup. ex NecoJerae. () ña< ft t - pere, non quad ante pedes modo eft, virier<, fed edam dia quo forum Suter, p,offpicere, Tern. Addh. (r) Ifa. xxix, e4, 47, ro. Jerem. adix-7, Obad. viii. And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=