the Fruits of Wifdom. r 49 The firft, of wifdom's gifts reprefented as S s ss M. in her right hand, whereby is fignified its VI'..+ being principal in its kind, and preferable to other temporal advantages, is, length of days. Life muff be allowed more valuable than any of the various enjoyments of this world, becaufe it importeth the capacity, and is the foundation of them all. Death puts an end to all our pleafures, gains, and honours ; the rich and the poor, the great and the fmall, lie down together in the filent grave; and with enjoyment, the diffolution of life concludes our hopes and projeäs ; yob xvii. f. M' days are pall, my purges are broken of; even the thoughts of my heart. And ver. 15. And where is now my hope ? as for nay hope, who (hall fee it? So that if there be any thing here worthy of our efteem and our choice, any advantage which we would defire to continue poffeffed of, or any Change for the better to be expe4ed, length of days is to be valued in the firft place. I would not be underftood to raife the value of life fo, that we fhould be exceflïvely fond of it, than which nothing can be more dangerous to integrity, and even to happiness, for it often betrayeth men into . he moil unwor- thy aäions, and layeth a foundation for the greateft miferies they can fuller, in the per - L 3 petual
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