A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2. God is essentially wise, and so only wise: do not understand God to be wise as if wisdom had made him wise, as it happeneth among the creatures, in them wisdom is a separable quality, distinct from their Essence: now Gods Wisdom is Himself, and Himself is his Wisdom, the perfections of the creature, are like the gilding which may be laid on upon vessels of wood or stone, the matter is one thing, and the varnish or ornament is another; but the perfections of God are like a vessel made of pure beaten gold, where the matter and the splendour, or adorning, is the same.

2. God is essentially wise, and so only wise: do not understand God to be wise as if wisdom had made him wise, as it happeneth among the creatures, in them wisdom is a separable quality, distinct from their Essence: now Gods Wisdom is Himself, and Himself is his Wisdom, the perfections of the creature, are like the gilding which may be layed on upon vessels of wood or stone, the matter is one thing, and the varnish or ornament is another; but the perfections of God are like a vessel made of pure beaten gold, where the matter and the splendor, or adorning, is the same.

3. God is infinitely wise, and so only wise, as the Candle giveth no light when the sun shineth, our wisdom is bounded within narrow limits, and extendeth but to a few things, but Gods to all things; we count them fools that can only manage petty matters, buy and sell, and keep out of harms way; such fools are all creatures to God, whose wisdom is unlimited and incomprehensible; they that can manage a small Common-wealth with Advice▪ and Council, are cried up for wise men; but now God manageth the affairs of the whole world, both visible and invisible; he careth for all things, from the Ant to the Angels, nothing so small as to escape his knowledge, nothing so great as to burden his mind, the sun doth with the same easiness shine upon the whole world, as upon one field: so doth God manage the government of the whole world ⟨p. 561⟩as of one person or creature: our wisdom is gotten by learning, but who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, Isa 40. 17. our wisdom is bettered by experience, therefore old men are most prudent; but Gods wisdom is uncapable of increase, as being in an infinite fullness; we are often deceived; men of the greatest sagacity and cunning, fail in their plots and enterprises, and so their wisdom is turned into folly; but 'tis not so with God, His Council shall stand,