The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

But so hath the Apostasy, and sin of man, blinded and befooled him, that he is at a loss about nothing more, then what is the chief good. And though S. Augustine reduce Varro's 288.¹ differing Sects about it to 12. that's enough to prove (but daily experience doth it more convincingly, and sadly) a real, though most unjust competition. Therefore a sinner can never be blessed, without choosing his blessedness; and therein, it highly concern's him to choose aright; and that a Spirit of Wisdom, and Counsel guide his choice. While Man had not as yet fallen to deliberate whether he should adhere to God, or no; was a gradual declension, the very inchoation of his fall; but having fallen; necessity makes that a virtue, which was a wick•n•s• before. There's no returning to God, without considering our ways. The so much altered state of the case, quite alters the nature of the things. It was a consulting to do evil, before; now, to do go•d. And hence also choosing the Lord to be our God, ²becomes a necessary duty. Which is to make choice of this very blessedness, that consists in the knowledge, likeness, and enjoyment of him. And now, in as much as this blessedness is not fully attained by the longing soul, till time expire, and its eternity commence; here's a great discovery of that Wisdom which guides this happy choice. There is great wisdom in prospection; ⟨p. 236⟩in taking care of the future; and at how much the further distance, one can provide; so much the greater reputation of wisdom it justly acquired to him; Yea, we seem to place the sum of practical wisdom, in this one thing, while we agree to call it providence, under the contracted name of prudence. ³The wise man makes it at least an evidence, or part of wisdom, when he tells us the prudent foreseeth, &c. The righteous man so far excels in this faculty; as that his eye looks through all the periods of time; and penetrates into eternity, recommends to the Soul a blessedness of that same stamp, and alloy; that will endure, and last for ever. It will not content him to be happy for an hour, or for any Space, that can have an end; after which it shall be possible to him, to look back, and recount with himself how happy he was once. Nor is he much solicitous, what his present state be; if he can but find he is upon safe terms, as to his future, and eternal state.