290 The Wifdom of Religion. Vol. 1, Philofopher ; namely, a progrefs of Caufes in Infinitum, and without End ; that this was the Caufe of that, and a third thing of that, and fo -on without end, which amounts to jolt nothing ; and finally refolves an infinite Number of Ef- fe&s into no firft Caufe ; than which nothing can be more unskilful and bung - ling, and lefs worthy of a Philofopher. But this I do not intend at prefentto * Videinfi(t upon, having treated largely on the fame Subjeû'upon another * Occafion. 5,,,f1,,A I (hall therefore proceed in the vet. Pß,& Second Place, to confider theWifdom of Religion. The fear of the Lord is Wif- rredtytr>edßm, fo faith the Pfalmiff; it is trueWifdom indeed, it is the beginning of Wif- stx bo., dom, Caput Sapientie, theTop and Perfeâion of all Wifdom. Here true Wif- dom begins, and upon this Foundation it is railed and carried on to Perfe&ion; and f (ball in my following Difcourfe endeavour to make out thefe two things. Firft, That true Wifdom begins and is founded in Religion, in the fear of God, and in the keeping ofhis Commandments. Secondly, That this is the Perfe&ionof Wifdom; there is no Wifdomwithout this, nor beyond it. Firfi, True Wifdombegins and is founded in Religion, and the Fear ofGod, and Regard to his Laws. This is the firft Principle of Wifdom, and the Foun- dation upon which the wholeDefign of our Happinefs is to bebuilt. This is in the firft Place tobe fuppofed, and to be taken into Confederation in all the De- figns and A&ions of Men : This is to govern our whole Life, and to have a main Influence upon all the Affairs and Concernments of it. As the firft Princi- ple of Humane Society, and that which is to run thro' the whole frame of it, is the PublickGood ; this was always to be taken into Confideration and togive Law to all Laws and Conftitutions about it : So Religion is the firft Principle of Humane Wifdom, by which all our A&ions are to be condu&ed and govern'd and all Wifdomwhichdoes not begin here, and lay Religion for its Foundation, is prepofterous, and begins at the wrong end ; and is juft as if in the formingof Humane Society, every one in the fettlement of the Conftitution, and the fra- ming of Laws, fhould have an Eye to his own private and particular Advantage, without regard to the PublickGood, which is the great End of Society, and the Rule and Meafure ofGovernment and Laws, and in the lalt Iffue and Refult of Things, the onlyway to procure the fetled Welfare, and to fecure the lofting Interefts of particular Perfons, fo far as that is confaftent with the Publick Good. And it would be a very prepofterous Policy to go about to found Humane Society upon any other Terms, ,and would certainly end in Mifchief and Confufion. And fuch is all the Wifdom ofMen, in relation to their trueHappinefs, which does not begin with Religion, and lay its Foundation there ; which does not take into Confideration God and his Providence, and a Future State of Rewards and Pnnifhments after this Life. All Wifdomwhich does not proceed upon a Suppofitionof the Truth and Reality of thefe Principles, will certainlyend in Shame and Difappointment, in Mifery and Ruin; becaufe it builds a Houfe up- on the Sand, which when it comes to be try'd by ftrefs of Weather, and affault- ed by violent Storms, will undoubtedly fall, and the Fallof it will be great. And this Error everyMan commits, whopurfues Happinefs by following his own Inclination, and gratifying his irregular Delires, without any Confederation of God, and of the Reftraint which his Laws have laid upon us, not for his own Pleafure, but for our Good. For when all Things are duly confidefd, and all Accounts caft up, it will appear upon a juft Calculationof Things, that all the Refiraints which the Laws of God layupon Men, are highly reafonable, and greatly for their Benefit and Advantage, and do not abridge us ofany true Plea- flue or Happ%efs ; but are wife and merciful Provifons of Heaven, to prevent our Harm andMifchief ; fo that we are not wife, if we a& without regard to God, and his Laws, and are not willing to be govern'd by him, who loves us better than we do our felves, and truly defignsour Happinefs, and commands us nothing but what direly tends to it. For the Laws of God are not Arbitrary Conth VIM
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