The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Sermon

AN ARTILLERY-SERMON.

Wisdom is better than Weapons of War—

THE story, whether real or fictitious, which gives rise to this observation, may be considered as a specimen of the temper and conduct of mankind under similar circumstances.

THE supreme governor has put mankind into different situations in this world; as the potter hath power over the clay to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor, so he to make one being of greater, and another p. 6of less capacity, and to place one under greater, and another under less advantages of improvement. And as it is necessary to their well-being that mankind should be formed into different societies, the same sovereignty is displayed towards them in that situation; hence one society has more wealth and greater strength than another. There was a little city and few men within it, and there came a great king against it. The superiority of this great king, no doubt lay in numbers and wealth, which are the sinews of martial power.

AMBITION and avarice too often arise from the circumstances of the powerful and great; the same persons under different circumstances will act a very different part: The aspiring views of men bear some proportion to their fortunes; and the possession of much produces an ardent thirst for more. How strongly soever this speaks the imperfection of man, and the insufficiency of worldly good to the happiness for which the human mind was formed, facts abundantly support the verity of it. Nor is it improbable, that such views led this great king p. 7against this little city; for tho' small, compared to his kingdom, yet the conquest might, in his sordid mind, be a desired augmentation of wealth, and extent of dominion.

THE most sanguine attempts, and big with probability of success may prove abortive: The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. As the human mind is finite, and therefore incapable to take in every circumstance that may attend the execution of a plan, seemingly laid with the greatest probability of success, so one incident unforeseen may terminate the whole in disappointment. So terminated the designs of this great king, against this little city. A poor man within the walls, too obscure to be noticed by this great general, by his wisdom delivered it from his rapacious jaws.

p. 7THE estimation of wisdom is to be made from the mind, directing the conduct, and not from outward circumstances. The mind in its own nature, is superior to matter, as it is capable of noble exertions, and great improvements; and in proportion to the ideas, and justness of sentiment it acquires, p. 8determining a corresponding conduct, it is less or more worthy: There is therefore no absolute connection between outward circumstances, and mental nobility: The Poor may be wise, and the Rich foolish, for riches are not always to men of understanding.

BUT yet mankind in general, such is their imperfection, are apt to estimate the real character by outward circumstances: The false glare of secular grandeur presses so hard upon the feeble sight of the inattentive, as to lead into deception in judging of themselves and others. Riches make men self-sufficient, and produce in others a servile dependence on their sovereign dictates. Wealth is the standard of wisdom, as well as the source of happiness, in the opinion of the unthinking. The idea of poverty and folly are closely connected, and outward circumstances are the criterion of a man's real worth. And this is the foible not of a few, but of the greater part of mankind; to the opulent they are attentive and obsequious, but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

p. 9THE services of the truly patriotic are rewarded according to the popular false view of things: The meritorious, in this depraved state, are not certain of equal reward: Envy and ambition, by artifice and cunning, may wrest from the hands of the people, the laurels designed for their heads, who have done many worthy deeds for their country; and all they have done—be repaid with base ingratitude, and cruel neglect. No man remembred that same poor man, whose wisdom delivered the city.

THERE are, notwithstanding, great advantages arising from wisdom; it yields a homefelt satisfaction, and may be the great security of the person endued with it: And it is also of great utility to society. Tho' this may not be so perceptible when things glide on smoothly, yet a time of trial will make it conspicuous. In such a time, wisdom will be found to be superior to folly surrounded with wealth and aided by martial power; and this is agreable to the observation in the text: Wisdom is better than weapons of war; which is a reflection arising from the foregoing story.

p. 10WHETHER Solomon in this observation leads us to conceive of different kinds of wisdom, according to the different objects about which it is conversant, or to distinguish between wisdom political, and religious, may admit of some dispute. And whether the wisdom by which the poor man delivered the city, in degree, fell short of, or came up to, that wisdom which in other parts of his writings forms the religious character, is unnoticed. But if wisdom, in the reflection, should be supposed by some to intend the former, and to exclude the latter; I shall beg leave, in this discourse to consider it as including both.

AND accordingly, by divine help, shall endeavour to show,

I. THAT war is to be expected, in the present state of mankind.

II. THAT to provide weapons for defence, is necessary and fit. But,

III. THAT wisdom is still a higher qualification for defence, and will answer the purpose better than weapons without it.

p. 11I. IN the present state of mankind, war is to be expected.

THE depravity of human nature is the ground and reason of such expectation. God indeed made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions; are warped off from their original constitution, and the whole world lies in wickedness.