But men have natural wisdom you will say. It is true, but they have it from Christ, All the 1light that ever was in the world, even in those which knew not Christ, it came all from him. As Joh. 1. 5. The light shined in darkness, that is, in the dark places of the world, and not only in Goshen, even since the beginning of the world, and the darkness comprehended it not, and in that sense it is he who enlighteneth every man that: comes into the World. But put the case you could find out right counsels, or you had a man like Achitopel, whose counsel was as the Oracles of God, and who were able to direct you, yet to take this counsel is not ⟨p. 125⟩in your own power, it must be given you. That which Solomon saith of the fool, He hath a price in his hand, but he hath no heart, may be said of good counsel, there is oftentimes a price put into our hands, as was into Absalom's, and Rehoboam's hands, but we are not able of our selves to take it: therefore saith the Apostle to Timothy, 2 Tim. 2. 7. having 2counselled him what to do, Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. As if he should say, I have given thee good counsel: but there must be another counsellor, therefore I beseech the Lord to give thee understanding, to open thine eyes, to see the rectitude of this counsel, and enable thee to apply it, and take it. Nemo per se sapit, no man by himself is able to counsel himself, there must be both a secret light, and eyes within to direct us. Many times we refuse the best, and pitch upon the worst, Jer. 10. 23. The way of man is not in himself, it is not in man to direct his ways, as if he had said, it is true, for the most part, men pitch well enough upon the journeys end, and aim at happiness; but how to direct their steps, and to attain that end, it is not in them, therefore Lord I beseech thee (says he) to guide us and direct us for the best. It is every mans case, his ways are not in his own power, he is not able to see what is best and worst, and to choose the right way, and if he could in the general, yet we had need of continual guidance in the several particular passages of our lives. We are at a stand at every turning we come at, and like a man in a wilderness know not which way to go, except ⟨p. 126⟩we have a guide at every step, Dan. 5. 23.
But men have naturall wisdome you will say. It is true, but they have it from Christ, All the 1light that ever was in the world, even in those which knew not Christ, it came all from him. As Ioh. 1. 5. The light shined in darknesse, that is, in the darke places of the world, and not onely in Goshen, even since the beginning of the world, and the darkenesse comprehended it not, and in that sense it is he who enlighteneth every man that: comes into the World. But put the case you could find out right counsells, or you had a man like Achitopel, whose counsell was as the Oracles of God, and who were able to direct you, yet to take this counsell is not ⟨p. 125⟩in your owne power, it must be given you. That which Salomon saith of the foole, He hath a price in his hand, but he hath no heart, may be said of good counsell, there is oftentimes a price put into our hands, as was into Absolon's, and Rehoboam's hands, but we are not able of our selves to take it: therfore saith the Apostle to Timothy, 2 Tim. 2. 7. having 2counselled him what to doe, Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. As if he should say, I have given thee good counsell: but there must be another counsellor, therefore I beseech the Lord to give thee understanding, to open thine eyes, to see the rectitude of this counsell, and enable thee to apply it, and take it. Nemo per se sapit, no man by himselfe is able to counsell himselfe, there must be both a secret light, and eyes within to direct us. Many times wee refuse the best, and pitch upon the worst, Ier. 10. 23. The way of man is not in himselfe, it is not in man to direct his wayes, as if he had said, it is true, for the most part, men pitch wel enough upon the journies end, and aime at happinesse; but how to direct their steps, and to attaine that end, it is not in them, therefore Lord I beseech thee (sayes he) to guide us and direct us for the best. It is every mans case, his wayes are not in his owne power, hee is not able to see what is best and worst, and to choose the right way, and if hee could in the generall, yet we had need of continuall guidance in the severall particular passages of our lives. We are at a stand at every turning we come at, and like a man in a wildernesse know not which way to goe, except ⟨p. 126⟩
- 1Object. Answ. Natural wisdom from Christ.Object. Answ. Naturall wisdome from Christ.
- 22 Tim. 2. 7.
