ON HOSEA X1V. -VERSE 9. 277 the lion, is of all others the greatest wisdom. It is wisdom to deliver a city, Ecc. ix. 15. much more to deliver a soul, Prov. xi. 30. Angelical, seraphical knowledge without this is all worth nothing, 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2. Therefore we should learn to show ourselves wise indeed by attendance on God's word. If the most glorious creatures for wisdom and knowledge that ever God made, the blessed angels, were employed in publishing the law of God, Acts vii. 53. Gal. iii. 19. and did with great admiration look into the mysteries of the gospel, and stoop down with their faces to- wards the mercy -seat, 1 Pet. i. 12. Eph. iii. 10. Exod. xxxvii. 9. it cannot but be also our chief wis- dom to hide the word in our hearts, and to make it our companion and counsellor, as David did, Psa. cxix. 24. We esteem him the wisest man who fol- loweth the best and safest counsel, and that which will most preserve and promote his interest, hii honour, and his conscience. Herein was Reho- boam's weakness, that by passionate and rash counsels he suffered his honour to be stained, his interest to be weakened, and his conscience to be defiled with resolutions of violence and injustice Now there is no counsel equal to that of God's word. It enlight- eneth the eyes, it maketh wise the simple, Psa. xix. 7, 8. It is able to make a man wise for himself, and unto salvation, which no other counsel can do, 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. There is no case that can be put, though of ever so great intricacy and perplexity, no doubt so difficult, no temptation so knotty and involved, no condition whereinto a man can be brought so despe- rate, no employment so dark and uncouth, no service so arduous, or full of discouragements, in all which, so far as respecteth conscience and salvation, there are 24
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