2 Religion and Virtue; S E R"M, fort feem to be the firft twenty-four chap I. ters, and of the latter, the remaining part of the book, under this title, chap. xxv. r. Th fe are alfo proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah copied out. But though the writing is of this unconneaed kind, yet one may plainly fee a general defign in it,. which the author keepeth always in his view ; that is, to reclaim the fimple from their folly, by giving them a juft notion, and a true tate of real wifdom ; and to. furnifh men in general with fuch inftruc- tions, fuch excellent rules of life, as might be profitable to direst their whole behaviour. Thus he beginneth, fetting forth the wri- ter's chief aim, and by its excellence be- fpeaking the attention of the reader. The proverbs of Solomon the fon of David king of Ifrael; to know wifdom and inffrution ; to perceive words of underflanding ; to receive the infirubtions of wifdom, juflice, and judg- ment, and equity ; to give fubtilty to the Fmple to the young man knowledge and dif- cretion. Befides a great many fcattered hints, in almoft every chapter, which fet the counfels of the excellent moralift in the amiable light of wifdom, underftanding, and difcretion, he fometimes, as in the 3d, 4 the
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