ßóv The .r r"oyld zdly, Here is the thing, wherein they are compared, and that is, as to their Wifdom and Prudence. 3dly,. The Objeâ of this Prudence, which is not the fame in both ; as if the Senfe were, that the Children of this World are wifer than the Children of Light as to the things of this world ;- but here are two feveral Objet`,ts intended, about which the prudence of thefe two forts of Perfons is refpedlively exercifed ; the concernmenrs of this World and the other. And our Saviour's meaning is, that the Children of this World are wifer in their Generation ; that is, in their way, viz.' as to the Interefls and Concernments of this World, than the Children of Light are in theirs, viz. as to the Interefts and Concernments of the other World. 4thly, Here is a decifion of the matter, and which of them it is that excels in point of Prudence, in their way ; and our Saviour gives it to the Children of this world ; they are wife,- in their Generation, than the Children ofLight. Now this Propofition is not to be taken in the utmoft ftri tnefs and rigour ; as if it were univerfally true, and without any exception , as if no Man had ever been fo Wife and Provident for his Soul, and the Concernments of another world, as worldly Men are for the Intrefts and Concernments of this Life. For their are fome that are Fools at large, and imprudent in their whole Conduc`k and management, both as to the Affairs of this world, and the other; who are intoo ftriét a fenfe, the Children ofthis world. They mind nothing but this world, and yet are grofly imprudent,even in their profecution of their temporal Interefts. They negleéf and forego all other worldly Advantages, for the fake ofa little fenfual Pleafure; and then they lofe and deftroy that too, by an over-hot and eager purfuit ofit, and turn it at láR into Gall and Wormwood. And their are others, (as St. Paul for inftance) who, I doubt not, have been as prudent and zealous, and induftrious of the promoting of Religion, and the Salvation ofthem- felves and others, as any man can be about the Affairs of this prefent Life; and I hope there are force fuch in every Age, but God knows they are very few, and their Wifdom and Indultry is feldom fo equal, and confiant, and uniform, as that of the Men ofthis World ; So that we are ro underftand this Saying of our Saviour's with the fame Al-. lowance as we generally do all Moral and Proverbial Speeches, that they are true for the molt part, and the Infeances and Exceptions to the contrary are very rare. It is feldom feen, that Good Men are fo wife for the Concernments of their Souls, and of Religion, as many Wordly Men are for their Worldly Interefls. In fpeaking to this Propofition, I !hall do thefe three things. Fir/l, Confirm and illuftrate the Truth of it, by confidering the feveral Parts and Properties ofWifdom. Secondly. Give force probable account of this, by confidering what Advantages the Children ofthis world have above the Children of Light. Thirdly, I (hall draw Tome Inferences from the whole, by way ofApplica- tion. Firfl, I !hall endeavour to confirm and illuftrate the Truth ofthis, byconfi- dering the feveral parts and properties of Wifdom. Now this is Wifdom, to mind and regard our chief end, and by all means to promote it ; and this regard to our chiefEnd doth exprels it felf chiefly in thefe particulars ; in our being firmly fix'd and refolved upon it ; in chufing the fitteft Means for the ccmpaffng and accompiifhing ofit ; in a diligent ufè Of thofe Means ; in an invincible Con_. ftancy and Prefeverance in the profecution of it ; and in making all things to fub- mit and to hoop to ir. Thefe are the principal parts and properties of Wifdom; and I (hall !hew that in all thefe the Children ofthisWorld do ufually exceltheCbildrerd ofLight. rfl. They are ufually more firmly fix'd and refolved upon their End. What- ever they fet up for their End, Riches, or Honours, or Pleafures,they are fix'd up-. on it, and Ready in the Profecutionof it. If they fet up fot Riches or Honour, they negledt and defpife Pleafùre, if it crofs eitherof thofeEnds. And this fix'd Re- folution of the End is the great fpring of Aétion, and that which infpires Men with
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