-- CHAPTER VII: Their folly also appears in the ill choice which they make of things
greatness; look which way the great ones, the rulers do go, look what opinions they hold, what judgment they are of, or what courses they take, the same they therefore approve. And as they judge of men thus, so also of their own performances. They think for the length, and breadth, and bulk of their duties to have them accepted: Isa. 1:11,
'To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.' When they imagined by reason of the number of their sacrifices to be favourably received, to what purpose (says God) is your multitude of sacrifices?
(5.) Things that are in appearance and show like each other, though in worth and virtue differing, a fool cannot distinguish. Brass and gold, because both glister, and look of the same colour, both are alike to him. And thus is it with unregenerate men, who taking common grace for saving grace, because there is a likeness, civility and good nature for the holy divine nature, checks of conscience for the combat of flesh and spirit, judge that they are well enough as long as they find these things in themselves.
CHAPTER VII:
Their folly also appears in the ill choice which they make of things We are next to consider men's folly as discovering itself in the choice of things. They are very earnest and eager in the pursuit of what is of little or no importance, but neglect that which is the main and greatest concern.
1. They choose to do unnecessary things in the first place, and neglect those which are most necessary, and put them off to the last. Is not this the part of a fool? If a man should go to London to get a pardon,
or about some great suit at law, and should in the first place spend the most or chiefest of all his time in seeing the lions at the Tower, the tombs in Westminster Abbey, or the streets and buildings of the city, or in visiting friends, and put the other off to the last, would he not be a fool? Christ, who was wisdom itself, judged it folly in Martha to be busy about many things, and to neglect the main, that one thing necessary. It is not necessary to be rich, or learned, or great, though we have cause to bless God if we obtain them; but God's favour, and Christ, and grace are absolutely necessary; therefore, says Christ,
'first seek the kingdom of God:' Mat. 6:33, 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 'So he, as Wisdom, directs us.
2. He is a fool who chooseth to commit his happiness to uncertainties, rather than the greatest certainty which he might have.
How foolish is that man, who makes a bankrupt a feoffee in trust for all his estate, who can give him no security, but is likely to break and run away, when he might have good security for all? Thus do all unregenerate men, who trust in uncertain riches, in their credit and preferments here, as their happiness: 1 Tim. 6:17, 'Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.' What is the counsel which the apostle kindly gives as, that we should not trust in uncertain riches, which have wings, and are like to fly away to-morrow, but in the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy? There is a double opposition, riches are not all-sufficient, but God is he who gives all things, and that richly. Or if they were sufficient, yet they are uncertain; but God is the living God.
This accordingly is a motive made of establishing a sure covenant:
Isa. 55:3, 'Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.' I will (says God) make an everlasting covenant with thee, even the sure mercies of David, which will never fail thee, as all other things will, which have wings, and will leave thee in the lurch.
3. He who provides not for all conditions, and all times which he is to run through, will be found to be a fool in the end, and he to be the only wise man who doth so. Therefore Christ called the rich man fool, because he thought indeed whilst he lived he should do well enough, having goods for many years; but suppose thou diest this night (says Christ) what a mistaken, disappointed fool wilt thou be?
Then he is proved a fool indeed: Luke 12:19, 20, 'And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?' And so to the same purpose is Jer.
17:9, 10, 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.' However a deceitful heart may flatter him, and make him presume that he is happy in a present prosperous state of things, yet when God comes to try him, and to make a change in his condition, he will prove him to be a poor deluded fool. But he is called a wise man, who makes provisions against all events. Thus, that steward is said to have done wisely, who made himself friends, that when his master should turn him out of doors, might receive him: Luke 16:8, 'And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.' He did wisely (says
Christ) in his generation. And I say to you, make you friends here of God, and Christ, and the saints; spend thy strength, money, credit, and all for them; that when you fail they may receive you, that you may be welcome to heaven when you are turned out here: ver. 9,
'And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.' That when you are turned out of house, and home, you may have still a refuge, come what will, and can come; that when the tower of your earthly greatness, and the magazine of your riches is taken, you may have God as a strong tower to run to, and be safe: Prov. 18:10, 'The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.' Thus a regenerate man is truly
wise, who provides a refuge, which will serve him at all times, and in all estates, and so he can never be miserable. Though all things be overturned, he will still fall on his feet, whenas another man ventures his all in a false and deceitful bottom.
4. He who hath not the wit to choose a small present inconvenience to avoid a greater for time to come, is a fool; and he who can suffer a small one, thereby to prevent a greater, is a wise man: 2 Tim. 2:3, 7,
'Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.' Endure hardship here a while (says he), labour a while, and sow, expecting reward afterward; and because wisdom only enableth to do this, therefore he adds, The Lord give thee understanding. This course Moses took, who chose to suffer rather than sin: Heb. 11:24–
26, 'By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.' But wicked men who love sin, who regard iniquity in their hearts, choose iniquity rather than affliction: Job 36:21, 'Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.' He shrinks at a scoff rather than at being damned, and can be content, and suffer himself to be jeered out of heaven, and hissed out of paradise.
5. He who in his bargains exchangeth away precious things for trifles is a fool, and indeed you use to call such fools' bargains, and a fool and a child are easily cheated. Well, thus do men sell their time, which is their money given them to purchase eternity, and they sell it for things unsatisfying, they sell themselves for nought: Isa. 52:3,
'For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money.' They sell their right in heaven for a mess of pottage, as Esau did: Heb. 12:16, 'Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.' And they sell themselves, as Ahab, to work wickedness. The pleasures of sin are their wages, and they are