SERMON XXVI

ADVANTAGES OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE

WORLD

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

TH

ROMANS i. 22.

HERE is no one project to which the whole race of mankind is so universally a bubble, as to that of being thought Wise; and the affectation of it is so visible, in men of all complexions, that you every day see some one or other so very solicitous to establish the character, as not to allow himself leisure to do the things which fairly win it ; expending more art and stratagem to appear so in the eyes of the world, than what would suffice to make him so in truth.

It is owing to the force of this desire, that you see in general, there is no injury touches a man so sensibly, as an insult upon his parts and capacity: tell a man of other defects, that he wants learning, industry, or application,

he will hear your reproof with patience. Nay you may go further: take him in

a proper season, you may tax his morals, you may tell him he is irregular in his conduct, passionate or revengeful in his nature, loose in his principles;

de

liver it with the gentleness of a friend, possibly he'll not only bear with you, but, if ingenuous, he will thank you for your lecture, and promise a reformation;

hint, tuals,

-but

hint but a defect in his intellectouch but that sore place,

from that moment you are look'd upon as an enemy sent to torment him before his time, and in return may reckon upon his resentment and ill-will for ever: so that in general you will find it safer to tell a man he is a knave than a fool, and stand a better chance of being forgiven, for proving he has been wanting in a point of common honesty, than a point of common-sense.

Strange souls that we are! as if to live well was not the greatest argument of Wisdom; and, as if what reflected upon our morals, did not most of all reflect upon our understandings!

This, however, is a reflection we make a

shift to overlook in the heat of this pursuit; and though we all covet this great character of Wisdom, there is scarce any point wherein we betray more folly than in our judgments concerning it; rarely bringing this precious ore either to the test or the balance; and though 'tis of the last consequence not to be deceived in it, we generally take it upon trust, seldom suspect the quality, but never the quantity of what has fallen to our lot. So that however inconsistent a man shall be in his opinions of this, and what absurd measures soever he takes in consequence of it, in the conduct of his life, he still speaks comfort to his soul; and like Solomon, when he had least pretence for it, in the midst of his nonsense will cry out and say, That all my wisdom remaineth with me.

Where then is wisdom to be found? and where is the place of understanding?

The politicians of this world, professing themselves wise, admit of no other claims of wisdom but the knowledge of men and business, the understanding the interests of the intrigues of courts

states,

the finding out the passions and weaknesses of foreign ministers

and turning them

and all events to their country's glory and advantage.

Not so the little man of this world, who thinks the main point of wisdom is to take care of himself; to be wise in his gener

ation;

to make use of the opportunity

whilst he has it, of raising a fortune, and heraldising a name. Far wide is the speculative and studious man (whose office is in the clouds) from such little ideas:

Wisdom dwells with him in finding out the secrets of nature; sounding the depths of arts and sciences; measuring the heavens; telling the number of the stars, and calling them all by their names: so that when in our busiest imaginations we have built and unbuilt again God's stories in the heavens,

and

fancy we have found out the point whereon to fix the foundations of the earth; and in the language of the book of Job, have searched out the corner-stone thereof, we think our titles to wisdom built upon the same basis with those of our knowledge, and that they will continue for ever.

The mistake of these pretenders is shown at large by the Apostle, in the chapter from which the text is taken, Professing themselves