Part XIII

■ ET lentous.
That the propriety of Prudence, is to dif- pole all accidents and a or pleafure, is nioff manifeh. As we value Me¬ dicine, notfor the Science it felf, but for Healthy and the Ait of Iteering, not for its Ingenuity , but ufe in Navigation ^ fo Prudence, the Art of living, would, never be defired, if it were no^ thing efficacious in life ,• but being fo, it. is defi¬ red, as the Alt, by which Pleafure is fought and obtained.
For Prudence, or C if you like the vvord bet¬ ter) Wifdom, alone it is, which not only pro¬ vides that nothing happen which may afflid* the Botfy, but likewife above all , expels fadnefs from the mind, not permitting us to be. daunted with fear ,• Under which Governefs we may live in tranquility, e.ktinguijhing the ardor of all de- fires. For delires are inlatiable , they fubvert not only lingle Perfons, but Families, many times a whole Cornmonwea'th. From Delires arife Hatreds, DilTentions, Difeords, Seditions, Wars ^ neither do thefe only revel abroad, or with blind fury aflaulc others only, but likewife, Ihutupin the breaft, they difagree and quarrel with one another, which muO: neceffarily make life ex¬ ceeding bitter. Only the prudent and wife per- fon, cutting off all vanity and error, content with the limits of nature, can live without dif content, and without fear.
Now feeing Life is difturbed by error and ig norance, and that itds Prudence alone w' ich refeues us from the violence of Luflh a t. 1 ears, teacheth us temperately to fufiain the i.-.judes of Fortune, and Ihcweth us all the ways that lead to quiet and tranquillity , Why Ihouid we ftick to affirm, that Prudence is expctible in order to pleafure , and Imprudence to be ihunned for troubl.e’s fake ?
That we fay, a Prudent Perfon temperately fuftains the injuries of Fortune , the reafbn is, that he forefees them, if not. in particular, at leaft in the general ,• Neither, if any thing hap¬ pen contrary to his expedltations or defigns, is be troubled, for that he knpweth it not to be with¬ in, tbercach of human' induftry, fagacity, or povver, either to forefee, or to prevent , that nothing ativerfc or troublefome happen. He jirdgeth it better to be, whih well ordered rca fon (as far as human frailty will admit, ) unfor-* tufiite, than with iireonficleration fortunate; and thinks Jioching mpie handfonte than if Foftune bring about a thing fairly and profperoufly, that was not undertaken without judgment and de¬ liberation.
but indeed, a wife man orders fo hi.mfelf, that cutting off vain delires, he contraCfs himfelf within necellaries, w'hicharefofew and fmall, as hg'rdly any F6fturiS''£^!rf7fatch' them from him. Thus, fince none, or very little fortune can in- tervese to a wife man, he may fay to her, I have feized on thee, ( Fortune, ) and intercepted thee, fo as thou canff not come at me.
Concerning the cutting off all Delires', wc ftiall fpeak hereafter. Now forafmuch as prudence may be confidercdj either as it governs our- . felvcs, or a Houfe, or a Family, or a City, ora Commonwealth, and fo is dilUngui/hed into Pri- ’/ate, Domcliick-, Ci-vil^ let us , fay fomthing u-nen ea.Gh.
CHAP. IX.
Private Trudence.
I
PRivate Prudence confffieth almoff wholly in thisjthat a man underftand his own Genius^ and undertake nothing whereto his nature is averfe, that he deliberately pre-examin the Rate in which he is to fpend his whole life, and to which he muff fo accommodate all the atffionsol life, as that, as much as poffible, he may live in indolence and tranquility.
For he ought to have the end or fcopeof life fixe, and ^onftantly fet before his eyes, and confult vvuh right reafon, according to all evi¬ dence, whereby we ufe to weigh whatfoever we think or determine. For unlefs this be done, all will be full of indifereet temerity and confufion, and our, defigns and enterprizes will be overta¬ ken by too late repentance.
Belides, if upon every emergent occa fion, you re?er not each of your actions both to. this kihd of fcope, and to that end of nature which you propofed to. yourfelf in deffgning it, but turn afide to purfue or flic fome other thing, the adions of you life will not correfpond to your own words. For example, you extol tranquili¬ ty in words, but in adlions difeover yourfelf bu- fis and obnoxious to trouble.
He underffands the bounds preferibed by Na¬ ture, to thofe who enter thecourfe of life, who difeerns howeafily procurable that is which is neceffary to life, or what is fufficient to remove any thing that afflids the body with indigence. Thereby he kn«^vs fo well to order the whole feries of life, as never to need fuch things or bu- flnefsasare contentious, and confequently full ’- of hazard and danger.
Hence it is, that a wife man is not much afraid of poverty, it hapning feldom, that any man wants the things neceffary to life. Yet if thofe ffiould chance to be wan ting, and he not have mo¬ ney to procure them,hQ» will not betake himfelf to beg, as the Cynkk^ but* rather apply hirnfelf to inftruct fome perfons in learning : thus taking an employment not misbecoming Wifdom, and at the fame time fupplying himfelf with neceffa- ries from thofe who' have full eftates.
Whil ft we are obliged to this or the like employment • ‘ If neceffaries fail us, and our bu- ‘ linefs be, to entertain daily occurrences with a ‘ fettled courage, we muff have recourfe to Wif- efucam,
‘ dorn or Philoiophy for relief. To an ill Coun- ‘ fellor we refign the ordering of the things that concern us, if, what is neceffary to nature, we ‘ meafure/ and provide without Philofophy.
Mt therefore imports a Philofopher to be*
' flow time in looking after thefe things, until ‘ by diligent care he hath furnifhed himfelf with ^ them. But as long as he hath fo m'uch of thefe,
' as that he can fpend of them, yet retain per- ‘ fed: confidence, he is not to apply himfelf to ^ acqujfition of wealth and provifions.
, Thus is Rbilofophy to be our Guide in thefe ‘ things,. , by which w^elhallfoon perceive, what a Yer.cue, and how great a Good it is, to require ** only what isfiniple, light, and very fmall ,*be- ^ caufe what is moft fweetand free from trou- ‘ bie in all a man’s life, depends upon our being
* con-
ART
XIIL
ET ICU \US.
‘contented with the ieafi-. Bur, by thofa impe- ‘ dirncnts which a follicitous acquificionof things
* draws upon us, being quickly difcover’d, either ‘ by the pains and toil of the Body, or by the ‘difficulty of their procurement, or by theit ‘ drawing the mind away from the moft advan- ‘ tageous fpeculations, (which we ought ever- ‘more highly to eftcem,jor by fome other caufe ;
* we fhall clearly find, that it is altogether fruit- ‘ lefs, and not ofcountervalue with the troubles
* which follow it.
I advifed, that every maaffiould examine his own genius, and advife with hirnfelf, that he may apply himfelf to that which is proper for him, becaufe otherwife, nothing can be more miferable, and more at a diftance with tranquility, than to be engaged in a courfe of life, for which nature hath rendred thee unfit.
For neither is an adive life to be undertaken
^13
repent, you can
y/hich, Ihould you afterwards never retire*
1 fay, voluntarily ,• for fome circumftance of life may exadl:, that, though unwilling, you mar¬ ry and beget children 3 as if your condition be fuch, as that it requires you to ferve your Coun¬ try herein. For whereas fome pretend propa¬ gation of the fpecies, to which we are in a man¬ ner oblig'd, certainly there is no danger, that there fiiould be wanting Inch ns will marry and procreate 3 fo that foJiiefew- wife men may be allowed to abftain from this employment.
But if fome cafe, cr certain counfel, or necef- fity, enforce you to ma'ry, you rnufi fo difpotib your wife, as that jhe may be loving to you, and a partner in your cates. You muft take fuel; care for your children, as is ptutly prescribed by Nature, vvliich infiigates us to love them ap foon as born, ^'common alfo to iheep, wolves.
by an una "" ‘ ’ TO- ' which advifeth fo to bring them up, as they may
be obedient to the Laws of their Country, and defirous themfelves may become wife.
.Neither is this qare to be t’aken for our own children only,; but iikewife for the children of our fjiends, efpeciilly if they .are our Pupils, there being nothing more befeeming- hiendihip, thfeoi be a Guardian m the foom of a parent to d7erfe,whom;Ourdeceafed friend entirely loved.
adive perlon. To one, relHs quiet, andadioa; labour 3 to the other, reft is labour, and adtionsj quiet. A timerous and foft perfon muft avoid, the military life 3 a bold and impatient, the eafie 3 for one cannot brook War, nor the other Peace. The fame it is in all the relt. So that nothing can be more fafe, than to undertake chat courie only which thou canft run through, without any relusftance or repugnance of nature. •
I ffiall only add tins, Thar every man, as far ashes in his power, to the end the ftate of life which he choofeth maybe the more fecure and quiet, ought to choofe it mean, neither very eminent, no - very abjeil. For it behoves him to live in a Civil fociery, netcher as a Lion, nor as a Gr.at, left, reftvpijlir.g the one, he be caft out 3 the other, caugh. in a fnare.
CHAP. X.
Domefiick Trndeuce.
DOmeftick Prudence being either conjugal and paternal, or dominative and poffiefTory ;3 we fhali, in the firft, only confider that which arifeth from what hath been faid, concerning the Inftitutibn of life.
If you find, that you cannot, without much trouble, liveiingle,* that you can patiently bear •with a crofs wife, and difobedient children ; that you will not fo much as vex, to behold your chil¬ dren crying before you 3 that you ffiall not be perplexed and diftraded with various-follicitudes, how to provide all things requifite to a married life
and hai'h. left Orphans needing procedtion.
For the ocher kind^ as having flaves and fer- vants under us, polfellion, tliough neceffary, yet for the moft pare not very pleafant, ) a wife man muft take order;, they grow not infolenc and froward, that he may behave himfelf mild¬ ly ( as far as is fitting, )• towards them, and chaftife the difobedient, remembring they arc linen, with a kind of unwiilingnefs, being ever ready to forgive, efpecially if they are diligent, not of an ill difpofition- And not only this, but ifhe find any inclined to learning, f fuch as we had, particularly /Vlus^ ) let him delight to further them, call them Friends, and ftudy Philofophy with them.
As to his Eftate, he muft take care ofit, and provide for the future, but fo, as without cove- toufnefs, and the delire of growing rich, of which hereafter. A wife man muft not negledl hise- ftate; becaufe it is his livelihood 3 left, if that be confumed, and he want the neceifaries of life, .his ftudy of Philofophy be hindrcd,vyhilft he either gains by labour what might with little or no pains have been preferved 3 or begs,.. and by importu¬ nity extorts from another, w hat every one wrtli iistie endeavour might provide for. himfelf 3 or, gowing old, .fall lick, and die in want, whioa not a little hinders the tranquijity of tl.e mind. Bclides the things neceftary to the ufes of fice,
how to prevent all inconveniences, and the like: In this cafe, to marry a wife, and to beget children, for whoni you may provide with a | there may be others, which, according to the conjugal and fatherly prudence, is lawful. But condition of the perfon, place, time, muft be unlefs you know yourfclf to be fuch, you iee,- efteenied neoelTary^ .and thoiefpie.lipt tolpetjeg-
by Marriage and ilTue, how much you hinder the happinefs of your life. True tranquility.
Prelume you may, of havir\g a loving wife, dutiful children, cares neither gieat nor many 3 is the provillon of cQi n but you can only prefume it, there is not any Ihoulcs with corn, arc to God will warrant the fuccefs of your prei'unj^pti *1 thofe, who adorn them with riclv- fuj-inture. I Since therefore the cafe is. hazardous, jt Is I rejoyce exceedingly, t.hat latpiy in a l]ti
Ifcifted. But our cfiiefeft cafe mpft be for. things requifite, to the prevention of natutal indigence, without wifich,. nature heifeJf would fyffer 3 fuch
Thoie who fioj e; their be, commended above
on
no wifdom voluntarily to undergo tiie venture.) when many rperifued in: 0hr;i City by Famine, and throw yourfclf into a condition, out o-f/ wa* were able'tcrfuftainfomauy.good ft ien^s with
food
IC U%US.
Fart
food of B one by cale,
CHAP. XI.
Jans, ) which we deltnbured y y ^ ^ approve
not : what the people approve:! know not. That Metroderus and 1 lived private. How tar was it from doing us harm, when among the large enjoyed in narrow gardens, and in obicure Mc- //Ye, Grtecc was fo far from knowing us, that luc
lad fcarcc ever heard of us.
Ifaid, unlefs fomething intervene as to the Common wealth : Becaufe, if the Common¬ wealth lliould fummonand really need our affift- ance 'we fhould be inhuman, where we might benefit many',not to do it ; Injurious ajfo to our- felves • for unlefs’ the Common wealth^be lafey we cannot be what we molt defiie,
A • '« ife man therefore doth not like lome,who, proteding wifdom, have, through exceffiveprid© fo great an opinion of their own judgment iti civil government, that they think they could e- qualize Lycur^es -’.nd Solov,
Burifhebe defired to make Laws, and^ to preferibe a form of government, and the offices of M.agiftrates, he will not refufe it^j knowing that they, who firft madelavvs and ordinances, and conftituted Government and Magiftracy in Gi* ties, fetled life in a feenre and quiet conffition; For if that be taken away, we lhali live like Bealts,
n r«V>0#.C
Civil Prudence.
LAftlv, £.5 to Civil prudence w4 muft like- wife repeat what we infinuated concerni g
fhe choice of a courfe of life. _
Th‘=‘V who are naturally ambitious, defirous of honour, adlivc withal,and fit to manage pub- lick affairs ; as alfo they, whom the quality of their birth, or fortune, and opportunity invite by an eafic acceflion to publick governmenti thole men may decline quiet, and comply with their own nature, by addidting themfelves to publick government, and an adive life. ^ ooficion is fuch, that a quiet life gives them trou- ble and moieftation, whilft they obtain not what
lJutthey, vvho either are naturally inclinedto quiet,
thev wno eitner are nacui cjiiy ‘-I - — . — -
orI?avefupprefsdambiri<>nandvar.«v^
quiet, or nave ...... - - - - .
the DOwer ofreafon ; or, having made tryalhere of, have efcaped, as out of a ftorm or took warning by many eminent precedents;thele vvill iuftly conceive, that quiet is much the belt tor them, and that it is no: convenient to exchange it for an active life, umefs by chance lome ac cident intervene 'n the Common wealth, requi¬ ring their induttry. Whence we conclude that a wife man mult not involve himlelf in publick affairs, unlefs upon Ibme intervening, nfceiiity.
What elfe ? Since he in purfuing quiet, rnay far more eafiiy and fffely attain to that end, which the ambitious aim at by dangers and by labours.
For to fpeak of their fcope, there never want^ ed fome, who, to procure fecurity ofmen,Cac ^cording to the condition ofSoyeraignty arid Rule, by which they commonly think it gained, ) have afeaed to excel in honour, and to become il- luftrious,tiunking that by this means to attain a fe- cure and quiet ellate. But if their life be fecure and quiet, they have acquired the chief good of nature: if hot fecure and quiet (as in^deedic can hardly be, ) then have they Joft it, becaufe they lought that which isconvenienttO' nature in
Dominion. _
Bur the wife mans fcope being the lame, lecu* rity and tranquility of life, by how much nearer a way doth he arrive at that end, when flying the troubles of civil life;, he direaiy and immediate¬ ly fettles himieif in a moft profound quiet, as in a ftill calm Haven ? Happy indeed who knows, The chief good and a bleffed life eonfifts not in Soy^aignt.y or power, not in numerous wealth or plenty, but in indolence, compofure ofaltciai. on, ctnd luch a difpoficion of mind, as, circum- feribing all things by the boundaries of nature, makes him, in being content with little, obtain that which they, who rule over many, and pol- fefs great Treafurcs, defpair ever to arrive at, Truly, if it be fit to fpeak of myfelf, I efteera ;-t a- eieat happihefs that I was n«ver engaged in
u every uiaii - . the next he meets with. And if he be called to the fupearo power to govern the Commonwealth 5]?®
aws and form of Government already eft^lilh- ed,he ffiall not refufe ; knowing that though the thing itfelf is for the moft part full of h^ard,yet a wife man may have fuch regard to all mings, and fuch a provident care of all, as that .ittle ot fortune, as I faid before, fliall intervene to himi but the greateft things, and fuch as are of molt concernnlent be managed by his advice and con- dud. He will firft take care, that the weaker fort of men, difeharging their duty towards the more powerful, be neither op^effed by them, nor permitted to want thofe neeeffariesoflife wh^c- with the others abound ; it being the end ot e- very Society and Common wealth, that- by mu- tual affiftance the lives of all be fafe,and as happy
as TS poffible. . . -r. . a
Daftly, if hebefummoned hy his Prince, ana
fome occafion require, that he ferve him either with his advice or help, neither lhall he remle this, knowing that as it is, not only more ho¬ nourable, but more pleafant to give than to re¬ ceive a benefit : it is as the moft honourable, fo the moft pleafant thing to oblige a who confers fo many obligations on others. Hi¬ therto of Prudence.
CHAP. XII.
Of T ’.wferance in general
X.T Ext follows Temperance, the firft part, as
Nwefaid, ofhonefty, and which feems to contain the greateft ftare of what i^onelt ana decent. For it being the office of Temperance