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SERM. croaching upon them, or derogating from X. them; or from the honour and good offices they justly claim, according to the laws of humanity, justice, and charity. This disposition and behaviour directly oppofite to that of the fcorner, as it will entitle us to the favour of God, and the approbation of all good men, for before honour is humility, and pride goeth before a fall; and our Saviour telleth us, Luke xviii. 14. Every one that exalteth himself shall be abafed, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted, fo it will preferve an inward equanimity and felf-fatisfaction, free from those tempefts and furious tumults of mind to which the pride and paffions of men always expose them, and is the fureft way to grow in every valuable quality, and particularly, to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, 2 Pet. iii, 18.

SER

SERMON XI.

Attending public INSTRUCTION, and other inftrumental DUTIES, recommended.

PROVERBS VIII. 34.

Blessed is the man that beareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the pofts of my doors.

I

Have endeavoured in fome difcourfes, SERM. from several paffages in this book, to lay XI. before you the neceffary qualifications for our attainining true wisdom or religious virtue, and set against them the greatest hinderances, which must be removed; particuly infifting on the prevailing love of wisdom, diligence in the use of all proper means for acquiring it, a dispaffionate temper of mind, and humility. It is certain that our vehement irregular affections and paffions do most unhappily obftruct our growth in grace and faving knowledge, and nothing more than pride and affectation. I might have

enlarged

SER M. enlarged on other particular Vices which the XI. author hath hinted in his Proverbs, as obftructions to wifdom, fuch as cowardice, or an undue fear of men, lafciviousness, intemperance, covetoufnefs, and wrath, which do all of them darken the mind, marr its progrefs in any kind of valuable knowledge, weaken its force and expofe it a prey to temptations; but fome of these have been occafionally touched upon, and fuch general rules of felf-government laid down, as, if duly applied, might be a defence to us against them all.

What I intend at this time, is, to recommend the careful ufe of those folemn means, which God hath graciously instituteď for our attaining to religious wisdom; and I think the text giveth a juft occafion for it: Solomon reprefenteth wisdom as a divine perfon, making a public appearance in the world, fetting up a court, or rather a school, fending out her minifters, inviting men, even. the most rude and ignorant, to become her difciples, by which they may hope for great advantage. I know not what can be more: naturally understood by all this, than the gracious defign God. hath formed and executed for recovering men from their ignorance, corruption, and mifery, and bringing

them

them into the way of virtue and happiness, SER M. by an express revelation and positive inftitu- XI. tions, which he hath published to them with all neceffary folemnity. However amiable and excellent wifdom may appear to confiderate minds, in her moft fimple and natural form, and whatever force there may be apprehended in reafon to overcome prejudices against the things which are pure, and juft, and true, and honeft, and virtuous; yet mankind were become fo degenerate, fo univerfally depraved, even dead in trefpales and fins, that to reclaim them there needed, and we ought to efteem it an invaluable advantage, and a very great favour that there is granted, a fpecial interpofition of heaven, a plain and direct call from God by a pofitive law, with encouragements beyond what human understanding could devise, and affiftance above the mere force of nature. The divine revelation hath indeed appeared in different forms, and the last is the moft perfect, I mean the gofpel, Heb. i. 1, 2. God who at Jundry times, and in divers manners, Spake in times paft unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in thefe laft days Spoken unto us by his Son. And we may be fure the most compleat system, with the greatest advantages of every fort, the most powerful

fanction

SERM. fanction to enforce it, the clearest inftruction, XI. and the pureft manner of administration,

as well as the most convincing evidence of its truth and divine authority, were worthy of fuch a meffenger.

But I will confider the open appearance of wifdom and the public plan of her doctrines and rules, abftractly from what is peculiar in any difpenfation. The refpect which is due from men, is, to hear, and the text pronounceth them bleffed who do fo. Their duty is farther thus expreffed, watching daily at the gates of wisdom, and waiting at the posts of her doors. As the gates and avenues to the houses of the great are filled with retainers, as fervants, fubjects, vaffals, and other dependants (according to the various diftinctions of men in higher or lower ftations) who are continually thronging thither to pay their homage, and to present their petitions; and as scholars intent upon learning, diligently attend public lectures, and all other means of teaching, fo we ought to make our court to wisdom, and be most solicitous to embrace every opportunity of admiffion into her favour. It will be no difficulty to understand the particulars which are reprefented by this allufion, that is, the inftrumental duties of re

ligion,

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