The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Sixthly, Herein the wisdom of the world is made foolishness, because it doth not only work a vain deceitful work▪ but also a destructive one to its self; so that all the wisdom they have, is only to destroy themselves. Thus like fools they run their swords in their own bowels. How often doth David speak this of his wise and potent enemies? Their feet were taken in their own snares, and they were fallen into the pit they digged for others. Was not all Pharaohs wisdom but to ruin himself and his Kingdom? The Jews that thought to be so wise in crucifying Christ, thereby to prevent the Roman Caesar, yet for a reward, had the Roman enemy come and utterly destroy them. Thus as they work a spiders web in regard of the unprofitableness of them, so they are said to hatch cockatrice eggs, because of the hurtful poisonous nature of them, even to the owners.

Sixthly, Herein the wisdome of the world is made foolishnesse, because it doth not only work a vain deceitfull work▪ but also a destructive one to its self; so that all the wisdome they have, is only to destroy themselves. Thus like fools they runne their swords in their own bowels. How often doth David speak this of his wise and potent enemies? Their feet were taken in their own snares, and they were fallen into the pit they digged for others. Was not all Pharaohs wisdome but to ruine himself and his Kingdome? The Jews that thought to be so wise in crucifying Christ, thereby to prevent the Romane Caesar, yet for a reward, had the Romane enemy come and utterly destroy them. Thus as they work a spiders web in regard of the unprofitablenesse of them, so they are said to hatch cockatrice egges, because of the hurtfull poisonous nature of them, even to the owners.

Seventhly, The wisdom of the world becometh foolishness, because God many times infatuateth and blasteth the parts and abilities of the wise men of the world. He takes away their understanding from them. That as we read of Nebuchadnezzar, God bereaved him of his wisdom and judgment, so that he became like a beast, and lived with beasts; so he doth either in whole or in part pervert and darken the thoughts and counsels of wise men. Hence he is said by the Prophet, to pour a Spirit of giddiness upon them, and to make the Diviner's mad,