THe several Actings of men when formed , proceed from one of these two Principles ; either from Divine Wisdome , or Humane Prudence , and sometimes from both : Now when Divine Wisdome doth act singly , and alone , it oftentimes ( by the Prudentiall ) is judged weaknes or folly , but the conclusion is alwayes in Honour , Peace , and Safety : Humane Prudence , when it relateth simply to the Actor , and not to the prejudice of another , is of great use to the owner ; as when to eat , when to drink , to worke , to sleep , to wake , to buy , to sell , to marry , or give in marriage : in any of these , or the like , it is an ornament of great price , when rightly mannaged : But when it layes about it to compasse designes for it selfe , that tendeth to the hurt of another , it proveth most pernicious and destructive unto the Actor , to whom it promiseth great honour , and full content●● : As by these following examples on your right hand , doth manifestly appeare .

●●e lascivious Courtier doth laugh at the sillie chastity of Joseph , ( as he accounts it ) to re●●●se such a favour from his Mistresse as he did , but being only acted by Divine Wisdome , conclusion be a sufficient ground for us to beware how we trespass upon divine Justice .

MOses had little reason to slight such an Inheritance as the Crown of Egypt , for a reversion of Honour , amongst poor Captive Bondmen .

DAniel might very prudently have shut his Windowes , and so have saved himselfe from the Lyons Denne .

MOrdecai might have allowed Haman his Negative Voice in State businesse , and cut him a Congee with a bended Knee , rather then expose himselfe , and the Nation to a Halter .

●Hidrach , Meshack , and Abednego , might have clawed the King by the Elbow , and have told him that he was Supream Head and Governour , over all Persons , and all Causes , might by his Prerogative frame them any Religion to worship God by ; and not have expo-themselves to the fury of the Furnace .

NEhemiah might have Voted as the Courtiers did , and needed not to have lookt thinne upon the matter , because his Bretheren were not fully delivered from their thraldom , ●●r being in favour with the King , he might easily have gotten twenty hundred pounds a yeare 〈◇〉 Him , and His Heires for ever , and suffered the Poor Commons to shift for themselves .

ONe President more , but of a different kind , that in this acted by Humane Prudence , and is proper to be rancked in the other Page ; but that his Motto is , Neverthelesse his heart is upright in all things , save in the matter of Uriah : DAVID , when he had commit●… folly with Vriah's wife , to cover his basenes , began to act prudentially ; and therefore sent Vriah to come to Court , where he is kindly entertained , and made much of ; and seeing his ●… ary March will not prevaile with him to be a Cloake to the Design in hand , it is likely that ●… od Liquor will enliven his Spirits to be Cornuted : But seeing this will not take ; Prudence● rcheth forth unto bloud , and Uriah is slain : Now David acts to some purpose : A great ●… urning is celebrated for worthy Vriah ; and because his lame Soldiers should not beg in the ●… ts , nor the Widowes of the slain Commanders wait at the Parliament dore for reliefe ; ●… s sent for and made his wife : And that his great love unto Vriah might more clearly ap●… see , how he that formerly had slain a Beare , and a Lyon , is worse then either , unto the ●… nites , who it is probable had Artickled with Joab for the surrender of the City upon 〈…〉 yet because they had slain in Battel , a valliant Captain whom he so dearely loved , they ●… e of unheard of cruelty in cold blood . Now see what followes : The next newes we of , Amnon his son , defileth Tamar his sister ; Absolom his darling son , murthers his bro●… Amnon : A spirit of Stupidity possessed David , so that Justice is neglected , and having ●… g Guard thought himselfe secure : Absolom hath gotten the Throne : When restored , ●… k in Battell that Abishai must sucour him : His Bed was turned into a quagmire ; the ●… n his Bones made him roare ; his moysture was like the Drought in Summer , and being ●… ty yeares old must have a Virgin to keep him warm : A dear bought Bargain . No ●… n will by Humane Prudence be advised to shunne shame at so deare a rate ; for had ●… ure mercies of God extended unto David , and kept him , he might have perished , as

WHen King Saul was dethroned by Samuel , and David his Son in law was exalted , he might have had honourable quarter from him during his life ; for David thought it honour enough to be his Armour-bearer , and take Orders from him : But when the women in their Songs gave David their prayses ten for one , then Saul beginnes to Act prudentially : Nothing will satisfy blood-thirsty Saul , but the life of David , though sometime his integrity did force from him an abundance of hipocriticall teares : but note his conclusion .

A Chitophel was in his Generation never accounted of as a Fool , or a Thin-Pate , but t is said of him , that his Councels were so infallible , as the Oracles of God ; and therefore sayes David , Except thou go back , and destroy the good councel of Achitophei we cannot be safe : And you may see , had it been followed , how dangerous it was . Now this man , so infallibly wise , and also a professor formerly of Godliness , as David witnesseth , We took sweet councel together in the House of God , we eat bread as familiar friends , that thou sh●uldest lift up the Heel against me , is intolerable : That this man , so quallifyed , should by Humane Prudence put in for a share in so horrid a Treachery , and forget so good a Master , in giving such dangerous councell , and taking up such bloody resolutions against the person of his Lord ; were it recorded in prophane history , would hardly be beleeved ; but behold his Figure : he had so much honesty left him , as to save the Hangman a labour .

HAman came short of no man in his time , but the King only : He wanted neither power , wealth , favour , nor councel , to accomplish his designes , and compleat his Honour but only to supple the Sinewes of Mordecaies stiffe knees , which would not bend before him : He now consults with his Councel how to quit himselfe of the whole Rabble of those Agitating Jewes : marke well the end of his Tragedy .

LAud , we well remember was on his Mountain so strong , that he was in his thoughts unmoveable ; and up make himselfe sure , sent the Dr●●●mer to Tyburn ; but before the flesh was off his Bones , himselfe had a receipt from the same Chirurgion .

UNmoveable Strafford , who wanted nothing to secure greatnes , but goodnes , was unexpectedly thrown off his mountain , notwithstanding his Martiall power over the lives of men that stood in his way .

THese few examples I have drawn forth before your view ( honourable Statesmen ) And if you thinke it Wisdome to trade in Humane Prudence , to the prejudice of others , the best pennieworth that you can expect in this Market , you may find in David ; and if you like it , much good do you : but unlesse with him you water your Couch with Teares , your portion is in this Page . For here stands the Case : when men have formed an Action , that will not hold weight at the Beame of Justice ; Divine Wisdome being the Judge , if the action relate unto the prejudice of another , Divine Vengeance sendeth its Warrant unto Divine Justice , to Attach the person Delinquent , and no Baile to be taken , but an Eye for an Eye , a Tooth for a Tooth , and he that sheddeth mans blood by colour of Law , as did Ahab by the councell of Jezabel , and Laud in our dayes , shall surely speed as they did : And say not in your selves wee see their errours and will shunne them , by standing on their shoulders , ( so you may now their Heads are off ) and we will accomplish our designes we have projected : Be not deceived ye great Ones , whom God beholds , God is not mocked , look what you sow in the Furrowes of Iniquity , you shall be sure to reap in the Crop of Vanity : But if you Plow by the Rule of Divine Wisdome and Justice , you shall reap Honour and Peace that is immortall , immutable , and glorious : Therefore cease to do evil , learn to do well , seek judgment , relieve the oppressed , judge the fatherlesse , , plead for the Widow , set the Prisoner free , and then you shall not have cause to feare the face of man , or dread the mallice of your adversaries .