Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.3

confadered under the Notion of Wifdom. i r Bard, confider her ways, and be wife. And, S E R M, on the contrary, diligence is preffed as true I. wifdom. It is plain too, that the wifdom Solomon teacheth comprehends the right go- vernment of the tongue, which other infpi. red writers reprefent as an eminent branch of religion, directing us when to be filent, and when to fpeak ; but efpecially he di- re&eth us to keep the heart, refiraining fu- rious paffions, preferving equanimity and compofure of fpirit, and exercifing humility and meeknefs. But I need not infift on particulars ; every one muft be convinced that folly is, accord- ing to the judgment of Solomon, the cha- rafter of every vice ; and vvifdom, of every virtue ; and that his intention is to fet moral good and evil in that light, that we may chufe the one, and refufe the other. If any are inclined to become his difciples, and to form their lives by his inftrutions, there is nothing they muft be fo careful to preferve as their integrity, and with the utmoft cau- tion they muft avoid every fin ; to accom- plifh which ends is the invaluable benefit he propofeth by the wifdom he bath taught. When vice, of any fort, hath the greateft outward advantages on its fade, when mul- titudes

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