The Excellency of Weldon. 49 And, laftly, the things of this world, S E x M. which rival wifdom in our efteem, have II. many inconveniences attending the acquifi- tion and the ufe of them, which do not affect this invaluable pofïef icon ; they mutt be peculiar and exclufive, enjoyed with dif- tinftion, and as the engroffed property of the poffeffor, and they perifh in our ufing them ; but for wifdom, let a man labour ever fo much in acquiring it, he doth it not to the prejudice of any other, no one bath the lefs for his attainments, and it encreafeth rather than is diminifhed, by the ufe and enjoyment of it. The proper application to be made of this doctrine, is, that which is frequently recommended in this book, that we fhould hear the counfels of wifdom, as we are ex- horted in the text ; that we should make it our choice, and ufe our utmoft endeavours to attain it. Prov. iv. 7. Lllìfdom is the principal thing, therefore get wifdom; and with all thy getting, get underflanding. Cer- tainly the juft inference from the excellency of any thing is, that we fhould ufe our ut- moft diligence to be poffeffed of it, and ef- pecially fio_ce the excellence appeareth fo plainly upon the leaft reflection ; and every VOL. III. IW one
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