The imputation that Religion is a foolish bar- gain, because they who are religious hazard The character of the persons charged with the guilt of this sin § III. 154 The impious and dangerous folly of Profaneness, which by some is miscalled Wit . § II. 177 Religion not to be thought the worse of, because some are so bold as to despise and de Reason and Wit should be applied in the service and to the glory of God, who hath bestowed these gifts on men 183 THE WISDOM OF BEING RELIGIOUS. CHAP. I. INTRODUCTION. JOB, in the twenty-eighth chapter, discourseth of the secrets of Nature, and the unsearchable perfections of the works of God. And the result of his discourse is this: That a perfect knowledge of Nature is nowhere to be found but in the Author of it; no less wisdom and understanding than that which made the world, and contrived this vast and regular frame of nature, can thoroughly understand the philosophy of it, and comprehend so vast a design: But yet B there is a knowledge which is very pro per to man, and lies level to human understanding; and that is, the Knowledge of our Creator and of the duty we owe to him; the Wisdom of pleasing God, by doing what he commands, and avoiding what he forbids: This knowledge and wisdom may be attained by man, and is sufficient to make him happy. "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." 1 These words consist of two propositions, which are not distinct in sense, but one and the same thing variously expressed; for wisdom and understanding are synonymous words here; and though sometimes they have different notions, yet in the poetical books of Scripture they are most frequently used 1 The authorities for passages thus numbered are given at the end. as words equivalent, and do both of them indifferently signify either a speculative knowledge of things, or a practical skill about them, according to the exigency of the matter or thing spoken of. And so likewise "the fear of the Lord," and " departure from evil," are phrases of a very near sense, and like importance; and therefore we find them several times put together in Scripture: "Fear the Lord, and depart from evil :" "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." So that they differ only as cause and effect, which, by a metonymy usual in all sorts of authors, are frequently put one for another. Now, "to fear the Lord," and "to depart from evil," are phrases which the Scripture useth in a very great latitude, to express to us the sum of Religion, and the whole of our duty. And because the large usage of these phrases is to be the foundation of the following |