17. And now since it appears that the means that lead to our end, the great highway to happiness, are no other than the commandments of God, it appears with equal clearness, that the one business of every prudent Christian is, to pay a due obedience to all these commandments. This is our wisdom, and indeed the only wise thing we can do, not to indulge our own fancies, not to fulfil our own will, or to follow the devices and desires of our own hearts, but to apply ourselves to the law of God, to lay hold of those _paths of life_ which he hath described to us. By doing this, we shall give a better proof of our wisdom, than by all the fine-wrought plots, and cunning intrigues of worldly policy, or by the most acute reasonings of philosophy, or deepest treasures of learning. These things cast indeed a dazzling light, and make a figure in the world: but after all, the wisdom of man is, to attain to his end, and consequently to find and use the true means of attaining it. And since the commandments of God are those true means, _to keep and do them is our wisdom and understanding_, or, as _Job_ expresses it: _Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding_. 18. It is not only wisdom, but our wisdom, the wisdom of _man_, the wisdom that belongs to his _nature_, as being made for happiness; that belongs to the present _state_ and _condition_ of his nature, as having capacities to qualify himself fully for this; whereas his faculties will carry him but a very little way in speculative knowledge: it is the wisdom that belongs to his present _circumstances_ in this world, which is wholly in order to the other, and is no farther considerable than it is a preparation for eternity; and after this I need not say, it is the wisdom that belongs to his _interest_, nothing being more evident, than that it is every man’s greatest interest to be everlastingly happy. Upon all which considerations it appears, that the study and practice of God’s commandments, the devoting himself to his service, and to the obedience of all his laws, is the true and proper wisdom of man, in which alone he is concerned to employ and improve himself, and to which all his other learning, knowledge and business, all he thinks, says, or does, is to be referred. CHAPTER II. _How far |Christian Prudence| is concerned in the manner of keeping |God|’s commandments_.