Christians may need the wisdom of the serpent, as well as the innocence of the dove. A Christian in his journey is often puzzled with various paths, and intricate meanders. O, how much worth is a spirit of understanding, whereby we may choose the good, and refuse the bad, and keep the straight road to heaven? Hence the apostle prays for his Philippians, that their love might abound more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment, that they might approve things that are excellent. Phil. i. 9, 10. The means to keep us from erring about [adtápopa] things indifferent, is to have a solid apprehension concerning those [rà diapéρovτa] things that are excellent, or differenced from others, as the word imports; that is, those things that tend to sincerity and innocency of life; therefore, he adds, "that ye may be sincere, and without offence till the day of Christ." That is the best policy which helps on piety; a spirit of discerning is useful to exact walking; an enlightened conscience helps the soul to be without offence. No man can walk circumspectly, but "he that hath his eyes in his head." * He that walks in darkness with a blind eye knows not whither he goeth. The eye of the mind is the light and guide of the will and affections, and if that be blind, those blind faculties fall into the ditch of error, terror, apostacy, and misery. The Christian's eyes must be full of light. We cannot have too much knowledge if it be sanctified. In one act of religion, a Christian is to look many ways, inwards, at his principle,-upwards, to the pleasing of God, forwards, at the reward,-downwards at the profit of men, &c. There are many eyes upon us, and our eyes must be upon many; some long to see our well-doing, others watch for our halting. We had need get wisdom to carry ourselves usefully towards the good, and wisely towards those that are without. There Eph. v. 15. Eccl. ii. 14. is great necessity for true solid knowledge, to discern our own duty and exercise charity, to mind our own business, and yet to do good offices to saints and sinners, and to keep within our place and station. We shall find some difficulty so to carry ourselves as not to give offence carelessly, or to take offence causelessly. We should learn to see with our own eyes, and not be led by multitudes, either wise, or learned, or godly. Oh, what a blessed thing it is to be wise unto that which is good and simple concerning evil ! * With how much more ease may a Christian go through his Christian course with, than without, a solid knowledge! for "wisdom is profitable to direct ;"† yea, it strengtheneth the wise more than weapons of war; therefore, it "excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness ” || Practical wisdom is infinitely beyond speculative ; hence, saith Solomon, "the wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way."-Prov. xiv. 8. This treasure of directing graces is practical; it helps the tongue to answer discreetly, the feet to walk properly, the hands to work completely, to spend no time or pains in bye-ways, and it also concerns a man's self; it doth not range abroad, and forget home. The greatest politician is a very fool when he cannot order his own affairs with discretion. He that is not wise for himself is not wise at all. God will accept, and men will praise that man that doth well to himself. Paul prays for the saints at Colosse, “that they might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Col. i. 9. For what end? For what end? Why, not to talk, but to walk worthy of the Lord.-Col. i. 10. § That is the only valuable knowledge which ends in holy practice. * Rom. xvi. 19. † Eccl. x. 10. Eccl. ix. 18. || Eccl. ii. 13. § Quicunque ad hunc scopum non dirigunt studia sua, fieri potest ut multum sudent ac laborent, sed nihil quam vagantur per ambages, nullo profectu.-Calv. in loc. Soul-profiting is the end of spiritual understanding; they that aim not at this end, and by their studies are not furthered in this work, may have the repute of learned men, but will never pass for judicious Christians. Oh, sirs, take much pains to lay up those graces that may direct you. Certainly there is a vast difference betwixt a Christian of a solid judgment, and another of a weak head, though both sincere; the one knows duty and lawful liberty, the other's conscience is wofully perplexed with nice and needless scruples, which render him a burden to himself, and offence to others, and expose him to a world of temptations. An unsettled soul, that yet is well-meaning, but ignorant, forms a theatre upon which Satan and seducers do act dreadful tragedies. It is unstable souls that wrest and pervert the Scriptures, that are only constant in inconstancy, "and are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine." Alas, these receive a new impression by every sermon or company, and as quickly abandon, as they speedily close with a new notion, so that you cannot tell where to find them; but now, a sober, solid, welltaught Christian hath fixed the staff, and you may know where to find him, and he knows where to find his own principles; he moves always upon the solid axle-tree of Scripture truths and duties; by the light of revelation, he can ordinarily find his way through the dark mists of error, and by the hand of the Spirit he is. conducted along the often obscure entry and narrow passage of duty, to rest and satisfaction. Hence, it is said, that a "spiritual man judgeth all things,"† that is, which are doubtful, and is by this stock of directing graces assisted to behave himself wisely in a perfect way.Psalm ci. 2. 2. Treasure up subjecting graces, that may help you • 2 Pet. iii. 16. Jam. i. 8. Eph. iv. 14. + 1 Cor. ii. 15. to bear God's will, and freely to submit to his disposal; such as patience, humility, self-denial, weanedness from the world, heavenly-mindedness, and that rare jewel of Christian contentment in all conditions. Oh, what a happy soul is that to which nothing can come amiss, which is furnished for every storm! Paul was a brave scholar in this suffering school, he had "learned, in all estates to be content."-Phil. iv. 11, 12. It is a hard task, and long trade, but what cannot grace undertake and overcome, through the help of assisting grace? The truth is, a treasured Christian may say, with David, "My foot standeth in an even place.” * Come what can come, a good man will light upon his feet, and stand upright, and not wrench his foot by turning aside into crooked ways; as he lies square to every command of God, so he doth righteousness at all times. Wicked men's design is to push away the feet of the godly from their standing in holy paths and outward comforts; therefore, must they "make strait paths for their feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way," Heb. xii. 13. that is, get a principle of health and rectitude in opposition to that wayward and wandering disposition of heart, which is naturally in all men, that you may not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, but hasten with a right foot in a straight course to the goal of glory. Grace strengthens the nerves of the soul, and helps against halting. With courage and holy resolution the feet of the saints are shod, that they may walk steadily in slippery places. "The whole armour of God," even the precious stock of Christian graces will fortify the believing soul against the sharpest encounters; above all, preparative for sufferings, there is nothing doth so bow the spirit to bear burdens, subject so much the heart to the Lord's plea * Psal. xxvi. 12. + Job. xxx. 12. * sure, help the soul to wait his time, and secure from danger, as the heart-quieting grace of faith. This is the way to strength and safety. A believing soul is fit for any condition, and will live by his faith when all things fail; nothing can daunt him, all things are easy. "He is," saith an ancient, † "invincible in labours, strong for dangers, rigid against pleasures, hardened against the alluring baits of the world." Oh, the excellency and necessity of faith, courage, and a Christian magnanimity! A believing soul moves in a higher orbit than other saints, as one saith," and leads up the van of the militia of heaven." Faith sets the soul as an impregnable rock in the midst of the sea, and breaks the waves of men's malicious threats and hot revenge, so that it can say, as David, " in God have I put my trust, I will not fear what flesh, what man can do unto me."-Psalm lvi. 4, 11. Amongst other subjecting graces be sure you lay up a good treasure of that incomparable grace of meekness, which captivates the understanding to the obedience of faith, and moderates the will to a due submission to the Lord's disposal, and silenceth the lips against all murmuring expostulations. This precious grace takes all well that God doth, and doth not rage against the instruments; it yieldeth active or passive obedience to superiors with cheerfulness, though it dares uot yield up its judgment to the guidance of any mortal man, or church on earth; yet, it meekly lies under the censures and punishments of men, t committing all to him that judgeth righteously," as Christ did.-1 Pet. ii. 23. These and such * Psal. cxxv. 1 Prov. xviii. 10. 66 + Invictus ad labores, fortis ad pericula, rigidus adversus voluptates, durus adversus illecebras.—Ambr. See Meekness largely discussed in Dr. Hammond's Pract. Catech. p. 107-118. |