The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

So necessary is fore-knowledge in the common affairs of men, that without it the actions of the world would be but mad tumultuary confusion: What would you think of that mans understanding, or how would you value the employments of his life, that looked no further in all his actions, than the present hour, and saw no more than the things in hand? What would you call him that so spends the day, as one that knoweth not there will be any night: and so past the night, as one that looked not for that day? that knew not in the Spring there would be an Harvest, or in the Summer, that there would be any Winter: or in Youth, that there would be Age or Death? The silly brutes that have no fore-knowledge, are furnished with an instinct that supplieth the want of it, and also have the help of mans fore-knowledge, or else their kind would be soon extinct. The Bees labour in Summer, as if they foresaw the Winters need. And can that man be wise, that foreseeth not his everlasting state? Indeed he that knoweth not what is to come, hath no true knowledge of what is present: For the worth and use of present things, is only in their respect to things eternal: And there is no means, where there is no end. What wisdom then remains in Unbelievers, when all their lives […] mis-employed, because they know not the end of life? and when all their actions are utterly debased, by the baseness of […] brutish ends, to which they serve and are referred. […] is truly wise or honourable, that is done for small and […] things. To draw a curious picture of a ⟨p. 41⟩shadow, or elegantly write the history of a dream, may be an ingenuous kind of foolery; but the end will not allow it the name of Wisdom: And such are all the actions of the world (though called Heroic, Valiant and Honourable) that aim at transitory trifles, and tend not to the everlasting end. A bird can neatly build her nest, but is not therefore counted Wise. How contrary is the judgement of the world to Christs? When the same description that he giveth of a fool, is it that worldlings give of a wise and happy man, Luke 12.20, 21. [One that layeth up riches for himself, and is not rich towards God.] Will you persuade us that the man is wise, that can climb a little higher than his neighbours, that he may have the greater fall? That is attended in his way to Hell with greater pomp and state than others?

So necessary is fore-knowledge in the common affairs of men, that without it the actions of the world would be but mad tumultuary confusion: What would you think of that mans understanding, or how would you value the imployments of his life, that lookt no further in all his actions, than the present hour, and saw no more than the things in hand? What would you call him that so spends the day, as one that knoweth not there will be any night: and so past the night, as one that looked not for that day? that knew not in the Spring there would be an Harvest, or in the Summer, that there would be any Winter: or in Youth, that there would be Age or Death? The silly brutes that have no fore-knowledge, are furnished with an instinct that supplieth the want of it, and also have the help of mans fore-knowledge, or else their kind would be soon extinct. The Bees labour in Summer, as if they foresaw the Winters need. And can that man be wise, that foreseeth not his everlasting state? Indeed he that knoweth not what is to come, hath no true knowledge of what is present: For the worth and use of present things, is only in their respect to things eternal: And there is no means, where there is no end. What wisdom then remains in Unbelievers, when all their lives mis-imployed, because they know not the end of life? and when all their actions are utterly debased, by the baseness of brutish ends, to which they serve and are referred. is truly wise or honourable, that is done for small and things. To draw a curious picture of a