of Temporal Po fellions. 329 fle/h, direaly oppofite to fimplicfty and godly S E x M. fincerity, is (hewn in fhrewd contrivances, XII. however difhoneft, for carrying on the pro- pofed ends; which was the cafe of the un- juft Reward in the parable. In a word, the charaaers of wife or foolifh are given to men, according as they do or do not exercife their reafon in finding out means for accomplifhing their ends, and according to the degree of their diligence or negligence in ufing them: He is efteemed a wife man, who is always attentive to his true intereft, and letteth no opportunity flip for promoting it ; who is provident for the future, and upon a careful forefight of dangers which may befal him, taketh timely precautions againft them ; who not only mindeth the bufinefs now in hand, but looketh to the remoter iffues of things as far as human prudence can reach, that in all events he may be fafe ; and if one pro - je& he bath formed mifcarrieth, another may fucceed ; who poftponeth trifles or matters of little confequence, and doth not fpend his time idly in amufements, but is chiefly fo- licitous about his main concern, which he often revolveth in his deliberate and ferious thoughts, laying hold on every occafion for fecüring and advancing it. This
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