made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest SERM. part of the dust of the world. These are general characters and properties of the rules and principles of Wisdom, relating to the moral conduct of men. And it should be observed, that Wisdom with her principles contains the rules, and maxims of all right conduct, with diffuafives from every evil thing. Particularly, Wif dom includes these feveral things: VI. 1.) The fear of God, the first principle, and the most important branch of religion : which is much spoken of, and greatly recommended in this book of Proverbs, and in the book of Ecclefiaftes, another work of the Wife Man, containing obfervations upon human affairs, and upon the divine providence and government of this world. The fear of Prov. the Lord, fays he, is the begining of wisdom. ix. 10. And the knowledge of the Holy is understand- Prov. xiv. ing. The fear of the Lord is ftrong confidence. 26. Let not thy heart envy finners: but be thou xxiii. 17. in the fear of the Lord all the day long.... Fear God, and keep his commandments: for Eccl. xii. this is the whole of man: the fum and sub- 13, ftance of his duty, and his main interest and 1 concern. 2.) Wif 2.) Wisdom, with it's principles and maxims, includes the rules and laws of fobriety and moderation for all earthly things. The knowledge of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. And you know very well, that there are in this book many earneft diffuafives from all manner of exceffe and intemperance, and every thing contrarie to purity. Ambition, vain conceit, immoderate love of pleasure and riches, haughtineffe of speech and countenance, floth and idleneffe, are here alfo condemned and expofed. And humility, modeftie, diligence, and a teachable and inquifitive temper, are frequently recommended. 3.) Wisdom includes righteousnesse and equity toward other men. So this book begins: The proverbs of Solomon:... to know wisdom and inftruction, to perceive the inftruction of Wisdom, juftice and equity. At the 20. verfe of this chapter: I lead in the midst of the way of righteousnesse, in the midst of the paths of judgement. And in the xxi chapter is that excellent remark: To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to the Lord, than Sacrifice. 4.) Be VI. 4.) Befide all these things, wisdom in- SERM. cludes prudence, or a becoming regard, and difcreet concern for our own interefts. So Solomon in this chapter, drawing the character of Wisdom, introduces her faying: ver. 12. I Wisdom dwell with prudence. I find out knowledge of witty inventions. Many are the prudential directions and cautions, which are inferted in this collection of wife and judicious maxims and obfervations. And the importance and the advantage of prudence are often fhewn. It is faid: The fimple believeth every Pr. xiv. word: but the prudent looketh well to his going, Agreeably to which the Pfalmift obferves: A Pf. cxii. 5. good man will guide his affairs with discretion: or, as in the margin of our Bibles, with judgement, which is the fame thing. 15. 5.) Wisdom includes the laws of civil government, tending to the good order, peace and prosperity of large bodies and focieties of men. Thus it is exprefsly faid in this chapter: Ver. 14. Counfel is mine, and found wisdom. I am under- 15. ftanding. I have ftrength. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree juftice. By me Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth. SERM. VI. This is Wifdom. It contains the principles of beauty, order and proportion in the things of nature, and all the branches of good conduct in men: particularly, the fear of God, or a serious and awful, yet delightful and chearful respect for the divine being, and fincere gratitude for all his benefits: Sobriety, or the government of ourselves, and a juft moderation of our affections for fenfible things: Juftice, judgement and equity toward others: Difcretion in the management of our own affairs: and the juft and equitable laws of civil government. III. We fhould now confider, what is to be understood by loving wisdom, and seeking it. And hereby nothing more is meant, than a defire to be wife, and endeavours to attain to wisdom. To love wisdom is to esteem and prife it to be perfuaded, that it's principles and rules must be right: and to be defirous to know and be acquainted with them, and the reasons of them: together with a fincere purpose, and firm resolution of mind, to walk by them, and make them the rule of our action. VI. action. Such will use the means of emprove- SERM. ment. The thoughts of fuch will be much about this matter. They will hearken to inftruction, and attend to their teachers. They will be inquifitive, and observe, and lay up, and meditate upon what they have heard. They will not be averfe to counfel, or even reproof. This is seeking wisdom. Such are very likely to fucceed in their pursuit, and to obtain their wishes and defires. IV. Which brings us to the next point, Three things may be reckoned to be implied in this encouragement. Such shall attain to the knowledge of the principles of wisdom. They fhall become wise, and act wifely and virtuously. They will have all the advantages, which are annexed to the knowledge and observation of wife counfels and maxims. 1. They who love wisdom, and seek it, will attain to the knowledge of it's rules and |