let thy dwelling be in Iacob, and take thine inheritance in Israel, and root thy selfe among my chosen. And lastly by the Author this spirituall wisdome is distinguished, from that worldly and carnall wisdome, which is inspired by the wicked spirit, the subtile world and our owne corrupt flesh.
Now this diuine and spirituall wisdome doth consist in our knowledge of God, and of his will, and in a holy obe∣dience thereunto, in the whole course of our liues; for it is partly speculatiue and in contemplation, and partly practicall and in operation: the former is vsually called spirituall wis∣dome, whereby out of Gods word we know generally what is truth, and what is falsehood, what is good, and what is e∣uill; and answerablie in our iudgements approue and chuse the one, and condemne and refuse the other: the latter is cal∣led spiritual prudence, whereby we are able to bring the for∣mer into vse vpon euery speciall occasion, putting difference betweene truth and falsehood, good and euill, chusing the one and refusing the other, according to those diuers cir∣cumstances, of persons, times, places, meanes and ends. So that the former is exercised in things generall and necessary, shewing what is lawfull, and what vnlawfull in it selfe; the other in things speciall and contingent, shewing what is fit and conuenient, and what vnfit and inconuenient in respect of circumstāces: which difference the Apostle maketh, where speaking of things indifferent, he saith, that all things were lawfull vnto him, but not all things profitable or expedient.
Spirituall wisdome therefore consisteth in the knowledge of God, and his will, ioyned with a practicall and holy vse thereof in our liues and conuersations; for without this the other is but an idle speculation, which deserueth not the name of wisdome or Christian prudence, the which is opera∣tiue, causing a man to make vse of that he knoweth, accor∣ding to that, Iam. 3. 13. Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge among you? let him shew by good conuersation his workes, in meekenes and wisdome. To which purpose one saith, that the chiefe wisdome is a commendable life, and a pure mind before God, by which the pure are ioyned with the pure, and the ho∣ly associated with the holy. And another saith, that that is wis∣dome