IX . Wisedom begets a sound , healthfull and harmonious complexion of the Soul , disposing us with judgment to distinguish , and with pleasure to relish savoury and wholsome things , but to nauseate and reject such as are ingratefull and noxious to us ; thereby capacifying us to enjoy pleasantly and innocently all those good things the Divine Goodness hath provided for , and consigned to us : whence to the Soul proceeds all that comfort , joy and vigour , which results to the Body from a good constitution , and perfect health .

X. Wisedom acquaints us with our selves , our own temper and constitution , our propensions and passions , our habitudes and capacities ; a thing not onely of mighty advantage , but of infinite pleasure and content to us . No man in the world less knows a fool then himself ; nay , he is more then ignorant , for he constantly errs in the point , taking himself for , and demeaning himself as toward another , a better , a wiser and abler man then he is . He hath wonderfull conceits of his own qualities and faculties ; he affects commendations incompetent to him ; he soars at employment surpassing his ability to manage . No Comedy can represent a mistake more odde , and ridiculous , then his : for he wanders , and stares , and hunts after , but never can find nor discern himself ; but always encounters with a false shadow in stead thereof , which he passionately huggs and admires . But a Wise man , by constant observation , and impartial reflexion upon himself , grows very familiar with himself : he perceives his own inclinations , which if bad , he strives to alter and correct ; if good , he cherishes and corroborates them : he apprehends the matters he is fitting for , and capable to manage , neither too mean and unworthy of him , nor too high and difficult for him ; and those applying his care to , he transacts easily , chearfully , and successfully . So being neither puft up with vain and over-weening opinion , nor dejected with heartless diffidence of himself ; neither admiring , nor despising ; neither irksomely hating , nor fondly loving himself ; he continues in good humour , maintains a sure friendship and fair correspondence with himself , and rejoyces in the retirement and private conversation with his own thoughts : whence flows a pleasure and satisfaction unexpressible .

XI . Wisedom procures and preserves a constant favour and fair respect of men , purchases a good name , and upholds reputation in the world : which things are naturally desirable , commodious for life , encouragements to good , and preventive of many inconveniences . The composed frame of mind , uniform and comely demeanour , compliant and inoffensive conversation , fair and punctual dealing , considerate motions and dextrous addresses of Wise men , naturally beget esteem and affection in those that observe them . Neither then these things is there any thing more commendable to humane regard . As symmetry and harmony to the animal senses , so delectable is an even temper of Soul and orderly tenour of actions to rational apprehensions . Folly is freakish and humorous , impertinent and obstreperous , inconstant and inconsistent , peevish and exceptious ; and consequently fastidious to society , and productive of aversation and disrespect . But the Wise man is stable in his ways , consonant to himself , suting his actions to his words , and those to his principles , and all to the rule of right reason ; so that you may know where to find him , and how to deal with him , and may easily please him , which makes his acquaintance acceptable , and his person valuable : beside that real worth of it self commands respect , and extorts veneration from men , and usually prosperity waits upon his well-advised attempts , which exceedingly adorn , and advance the credit of the undertaker : however , if he fail sometime , his usual deportment salves his repute , and easily makes it credible it was no fault of his , but of his fortune . If a fool prosper , the honour is attributed to propitious chance ; if he miscarry , to his own ill management : but the entire glory of happy undertakings crowns the head of Wisedom ; while the disgrace of unlucky events falls otherwhere . His light , like that of the Sun , cannot totally be eclipsed ; it may be dimmed , but never extinguished , and always maintains a day , though over-clouded with misfortune . Who less esteems the famous African Captain for being overthrown in that last fatal battel , wherein he is said to have shewn the best skill , and yet endured the worst of success ? Who contemns Cato , and other the grave Citizens of Rome , for embracing the just , but improsperous Cause of the Commonwealth ? A Wise man's circumstances may vary and fluctuate like the flouds about a rock ; but he persists immovably the same , and his reputation unshaken : for he can always render a good accompt of his actions , and by reasonable apology elude the assaults of reproach .

XII . Wisedom instructs us to examin , compare , and rightly to value the objects that court our affections , and challenge our care ; and thereby regulates our passions , and moderates our endeavours , which begets a pleasant serenity and peaceable tranquillity of mind . For when , being deluded with false shews , & relying upon ill-grounded presumptions , we highly esteem , passionately affect , and eagerly pursue things of little worth in themselves , or concernment to us , as we unhandsomely prostitute our affections , and prodigally miss-spend our time , and vainly lose our labour ; so the event not answering our expectation , our minds thereby are confounded , disturb'd , and distempered . But when , guided by right reason , we conceive great esteem of , and zealously are enamoured with , and vigorously strive to attain things of excellent worth , and weighty consequence ; the conscience of having well placed our affections , and well employed our pains , and the experience of fruits corresponding to our hopes , ravish our mind with unexpressible content . And so it is ; Present appearance and vulgar conceit ordinarily impose upon our fancies , disguising things with a deceitfull varnish , and representing those that are vainest with the greatest advantage ; whilst the noblest objects , being of a more subtile and spiritual nature , like fairest Jewels enclosed in a homely box , avoid the notice of gross sense , and pass undiscerned by us . But the light of Wisedom , as it unmasks specious imposture , and bereavesit of its false colours ; so it penetrates into the retirements of true Excellency , and reveals its genuine lustre . For example , Corporeal Pleasure , which so powerfully allures and enchants us , Wisedom declares that it is but a present , momentany and transient satisfaction of brutish sense , dimming the light , sullying the beauty , impairing the vigour , and restraining the activity of the mind ; diverting it from better operations , and indisposing it to enjoy purer delights ; leaving no comfortable relish or gladsome memory behind it , but often followed with bitterness , regret and disgrace . That the Profit the World so greedily gapes after is but a possession of trifles , not valuable in themselves , nor rendering the Masters of them so ; accidentally obtained , and promiscuously enjoyed by all sorts , but commonly by the worst of men ; difficultly acquired , and easily lost ; however , to be used but for a very short time , and then to be resigned into uncertain hands . That the Honour men so dote upon is , ordinarily , but the difference of a few petty circumstances , a peculiar name or title , a determinate place , a distinguishing ensign ; things of onely imaginary excellence , derived from chance , and conferring no advantage , except from some little influence they have upon the arbitrary opinion and fickle humour of the people ; complacence in which is vain , and reliance upon it dangerous . That Power and dominion , which men so impatiently struggle for , are but necessary evils introduced to restrain the bad tempers of men ; most evil to them that enjoy them ; requiring tedious attendance , distracting care , and vexatious toil ; attended with frequent disappointment , opprobrious censure , and dangerous envy ; having such reall burthens , and slavish encumbrances , sweetned onely by superficial pomps , strained obsequiousness , some petty privileges , and exemptions scarce worth the mentioning . That Wit and parts , of which men make such ostentation , are but natural endowments , commendable onely in order to use , apt to engender pride and vanity , and hugely dangerous if abused or misemployed . What should I mention Beauty , that fading toy ; or bodily Strength and activity , qualities so palpably inconsiderable ? Upon these and such like flattering objects , so adored by vulgar opinion , Wisedom exercising severe and impartial judgment , and perceiving in them no intrinsick excellence , no solid content springing from them , no perfection thence accruing to the mind , no high reward allotted to them , no security to the future condition , or other durable advantages proceeding from them ; it concludes they deserve not any high opinion of the mind , nor any vehement passion of the Soul , nor any laborious care to be employed on them , and moderates our affections toward them : it frees us from anxious desire of them ; from being transported with excessive joy in the acquisition of them ; from being overwhelmed with disconsolate sorrow at the missing of them , or parting with them ; from repining and envying at those who have better success then our selves in the procuring them ; from immoderate toil in getting , and care in preserving them : and so delivering us from all these unquiet anxieties of thought , tumultuous perturbations of passion , and tedious vexations of body , it maintains our minds in a chearfull calm , quiet indifferency , and comfortable liberty . On the other side , things of real worth and high concernment , that produce great satisfaction to the mind , and are mainly conducible to our happiness , such as are a right understanding and strong sense of our obligations to Almighty God , and relations to men , a sound temper and complexion of mind , a vertuous disposition , a capacity to discharge the duties of our places , a due qualification to enjoy the happiness of the other World ; these and such like things , by discovering their nature , and the effects resulting from them , it engages us highly to esteem , ardently to affect , and industriously to pursue ; so preventing the inconveniences that follow the want of them , and conveying the benefits arising from the possession of them .

XIII . Wisedom distinguishes the circumstances , limits the measures , determines the modes , appoints the fit seasons of action ; so preserving decorum and order , the parent of peace , and preventing confusion , the mother of iniquity , strife and disquiet . 'T is in the business of humane life as in a building : a due proportion of bigness , a fit situation of place , a correspondency of shape , and sutableness of colour , is to be observed between the parts thereof : a defect in any of which requisites , though the materials hap to be choice and excellent , makes the whole fabrick deformed and ugly to judicious apprehension . The best actions , if they swell , and exceed their due measure , if they be unskilfully misplaced , if in uncouth manner performed , they lose their quality , and turn both to the disgrace and disadvantage of life . 'T is commendable to pray ; but they that would always be performing that duty , by their absurd devotion procured to themselves the title of Hereticks : and they that will stand praying in places of publick concourse , deserved our Saviour's reprehensions : and those men who , against the custom and ordinary use , would needs pray with their faces covered , you know S. Paul insinuates of them , that they were fond and contentious persons . Friendly admonition is very laudable , and of rare use ; but being upon all occasions immoderately used , or in publick society so as to encroach upon modesty , or endammage reputation ; or when the person admonished is otherwise employed , and attent upon his business ; or being delivered in an imperiously-insulting way , or in harsh and opprobrious language ; it becomes unsavoury and odious , and both in shew and effect resembles a froward malicious exceptiousness . 'T were infinite to compute in how many instances want of due order , measure and manner , do spoil and incommodate action . 'T is Wisedom that applies remedy to these mischiefs . Things must be compared to , and arbitrated by , her standard , or else they will contain something of monstrous enormity ; either strutting in unwieldy bulk , or sinking in defective scantness . If she do not fashion and model circumstances , they will sit ugly on the things that wear them ; if she do not temper the colours , and describe the lineaments , the draught of practice will be but rude and imperfect , and little resemble the true patterns of duty : but if she interpose , and perform her part , all things will appear conformable , neat and delicate .

XIV . Wisedom discovers our relations , duties and concernments , in respect of men , with the natural grounds of them ; thereby both qualifying and inclining us to the discharge of them : whence exceeding convenience , pleasure and content ensues . By it we understand we are parts and members of the great Body , the Universe ; and are therefore concerned in the good management of it , and are thereby obliged to procure its order and peace , and by no irregular undertaking to disturb or discompose it ; which makes us honest and peaceable men : that we proceed from the same primitive stock , are children of the same father , and partake of the same bloud with all men ; are endowed with like faculties of mind , passions of Soul , shape of body , and sense of things : that we have equally implanted in our original constitution inclinations to love , pity , gratitude , sociableness , quiet , joy , reputation : that we have an indispensable need and impatient desire of company , of assistence , comfort , and relief : that therefore it is according to the design of nature , and agreeable to reason , that to those , to whom our natural condition by so many bands of cognation , similitude , and mutual necessitude , hath knit and conjoyned us , we should bear a kind respect and tender affection ; should chearfully concurre in undergoing the common burthens ; should heartily wish and industriously promote their good , assist them in accomplishing their reasonable desires , thankfully requite the courtesies received from them , congratulate and rejoyce with them in their prosperity , comfort them in their distresses , and , as we are able , relieve them ; however , tenderly compassionate their disappointments , miseries and sorrows . This renders us kind and courteous neighbours ; sweet and gratefull companions . It represents unto us the dreadfull effects and insupportable mischiefs arising from breach of faith , contravening the obligations of solemn pacts , infringing publick laws , deviating from the received rules of equity , violating promises , and interrupting good correspondence among men : by which considerations it engages us to be good citizens , obedient subjects , just dealers , and faithfull friends . It minds us of the blindness , impotence and levity , the proneness to mistake , and misbehaviour that humane nature necessarily is subject to ; deserving rather our commiseration , then anger or hatred , which prompts us to bear the infirmities of our brethren , to be gentle in censure , to be insensible of petty affronts , to pardon injuries , to be patient , exorable , and reconcilable to those that give us greatest cause of offence . It teaches us , the good may , but the evil of our neighbour can in no wise advantage us ; that from the suffering of any man , simply considered , no benefit can accrue , nor natural satisfaction arise to us ; and that therefore 't is a vain , base , brutish and unreasonable thing , for any cause whatsoever , to desire or delight in the grief , pain or misery of our neighbour , to hate or envy him , or insult over him , or devise mischief to him , or prosecute revenge upon him ; which makes us civil , noble and placable enemies , or rather no enemies at all . So that Wisedom is in effect the genuine parent of all moral and political vertue , justice and honesty ; as Solomon says in her person , I lead in the way of righteousness , and in the midst of Prov. 8. 20. the paths of judgment . And how sweet these are in the practice , how comfortable in the consequences , the testimony of continual experience and the unanimous consent of all wise men sufficiently declare . But farther ,

XV. The principal advantage of Wisedom is , its acquainting us with the Nature and reason of true Religion , and affording convictive arguments to persuade to the Practice of it ; which is accompanied with the purest delight , and attended with the most solid content imaginable . I say , the Nature of Religion , wherein it consists , and what it requires ; the mistake of which produceth daily so many mischiefs and inconveniences in the world , and exposes so good a name to so much reproach . It sheweth it consisteth not in fair professions and glorious pretences , but in real practice ; not in a pertinacious adherence to any Sect or party , but in a sincere love of goodness , and dislike of naughtiness , where-ever discovering it self ; not in vain ostentations and flourishes of outward performance , but in an inward good complexion of mind , exerting it self in works of true Devotion and Charity ; not in a nice orthodoxie , or politick subjection of our judgments to the peremptory dictates of men , but in a sincere love of Truth , in a hearty approbation of and compliance with the Doctrines fundamentally good , and necessary to be believed ; not in harsh censuring and virulently inveighing against others , but in carefull amending our own ways ; not in a peevish crosness and obstinate repugnancy to received laws and customs , but in a quiet and peaceable submission to the express Laws of God , and lawfull commands of man ; not in a furious zeal for or against trivial circumstances , but in a conscionable practising the substantial parts of Religion ; not in a frequent talking or contentious disputing about it , but in a ready observance of the unquestionable rules and prescripts of it . In a word , that Religion consists in nothing else but doing what becomes our relation to God , in a conformity or similitude to his Nature , and in a willing obedience to his holy Will : to which by potent incentives it allures and persuades us ; by representing to us his transcendentlyglorious Attributes , conspicuously displayed in the frame , order and government of the World ; that wonderfull Power , which erected this great and goodly fabrick ; that incomprehensible Wisedom , which preserves it in a constant harmony ; that immense Goodness , which hath so carefully provided for the various necessities , delights and comforts of its innumerable inhabitants . I say , by representing those infinitely-glorious Perfections , it engages us with highest respect to esteem , reverence and honour him . Also , by minding us of our manifold obligations to him , our receiving being , life , reason , sense , all the faculties , powers , excellencies , privileges and commodities of our natures from him ; of his tender Care and loving Providence continually supporting and protecting us ; of his liberal Beneficence , patient Indulgence , and earnest desire of our good and happiness by manifold expressions evidently manifested toward us ; it inflames us with ardent love , and obliges us to officious gratitude toward him . Also , by declaring the necessary and irreconcilable contrariety of his Nature to all impurity and perverseness , his peerless Majesty , his irresistible Power , and his all-seeing Knowledge , it begets an awfull dread and a devout fear of him . By discovering him from his infinite Benignity willing , and from his unlimited Power onely able to supply our needs , relieve us in distresses , protect us from dangers , and confer any valuable benefit upon us , it engenders Faith , and encourages us to rely upon him . By revealing to us his supereminent Sovereignty , uncontrollable Dominion , and unquestionable Authority over us ; together with the admirable excellency , wisedom and equity of his Laws , so just and reasonable in themselves , so suitable to our nature , so conducible to our good , so easie and practicable , so sweet and comfortable ; it powerfully inclines , and by a gentle force as it were constrains us to obedience . By such efficacious inducements Wisedom urges us to all duties of Religion , and withall surely directs us ( as I before said ) wherein it consists ; teaching us to have right and worthy apprehensions of the Divine nature , to which our Devotion ( if true and good ) must be suited and conformed : and so it frees us , as from irreligion and profane neglect of God , so from fond superstitions , the sources of so much evil to mankind . For he that wisely hath considered the Wisedom , Goodness and Power of God , cannot imagine God can with a regardless eye overlook his presumptuous contempts of his Laws , or endure him to proceed in an outrageous defiance of Heaven , to continue hurting himself , or injuring his neighbour ; nor can admit unreasonable terrours , or entertain suspicious conceits of God , as of an imperious Master , or implacable Tyrant over him , exacting impossible performances from , or delighting in the fatal miseries of his Creatures ; nor can suppose him pleased with hypocritical shews , and greatly taken with superficial courtships of ceremonious address ; or that he can in any wise favour our fiery zeals , fierce passions , or unjust partialities about matter of opinion and ceremony ; or can doe otherwise then detest all factious , harsh , uncharitable and revengefull proceedings , of what nature , or upon what ground soever ; or that he can be so inconsistent with himself , as to approve any thing but what is like himself , that is , Righteousness , Sincerity , and Beneficence .