u6o Contemplations. L1a.XVH. with doubts; There were nothingbutdifcomfort and difquietneffe in doubts if A it were not for the hopeofrefolution: Iris not fafe tofufferdoubts to dwel too t~ng upon the heart1 there may be good ufe ofthem as paffengers,dangerous as inmates: Happy areweifwe can finde a S•um•n to remove them. Fame as it is alwayes a blab,fo ofi·tim<S a lyer. The wife Princelfe found caufe to dillruft fo uncertain an informer:whole reports are lli!l either doubtful,or fabulous· and like windes, or llreamrs, increafe in pdling : Ifvery great things were nor f~ kenofS•I•m•n,fame lhould have wronged him; and ifbut jull rumours were fptead of hiswi!dome, there needed much credulity to beleeve the~. This great Q,eene would not fuffer her felfe to be led by the cares ; but comes 10 perfon to examine the truth of foraioe relations. How much more unfafe is it in the moll important bulindfes ofout foules,to trull the opinions and reportS of others~ Thofe cares asd B eyes ate ~1 bellowed that doe not ferve to choofeand judge for their owners. When w~ co':'e to a rich treafure, we need not be bidden to carry a1vay 1vhat we are able. This w1fe Lady as {hecame far for koowlcdge,fo finding the plentyofthis veine, fue would not depart without her full load: there was nothing wherein fue would leave her fdfe uofatisfied:lhe knew that the could not every daymeet with a SAIDIIm•;and therefore lhe makes her bell ule offo learneda mall<r: Now !he emp· ties her heart of all her doubtS! and fils it with inllruttion. It is not good negletliog the opportunities of furnilhing our fouleswith profitable, wirh faving knowledge, There is much wifdome in moving a qudlioo well, though there be more in afioi. ling it: What ufc doe we make of S•l'"''"' Teacher, iffitting at the feeteofChrill we leave our heartS dther ignorant, or perplexed~ C Asil the mand ofthis wealthy Q;eenc had been to buy wifdome,1became with her Camels laden with gold, and precious fiones, aud rich odours : Though tci a mighty King {he will not come to fchoole empty-handed: If{became to fetch an innluable trcafure, lhe findes it reafon to give thankes unto him that kept it. As he is afoolethat bath a price in his hand to gerwifdome, and wants an heart: So is he unthankfull that bath an heart toget wifdome, & bath no price in his hand; A price notcountervailabktowhat hefeekes, but retributory to him of whom he feekes. How lhamcfull is it to come alwayes with clofe bands to them that teachus the great mylleries of falvation ~ E>Cpetlation is no better then akinde enemy to good deferrs : We leefcthofe ob· jetls which we over-look. Many had been admired ifthey had not been over·much D befriended by fame; who now in oar judgement are call as much below their raoke, as they were fore.imagined above it. This difadvaorage had wife S•lmm• with this llranger; whom rumour hadbid to look for incredible excellencies; yetfo wonder· fullwere the graces of S•l•m•n,that they oycrcame the bighcft espe61atioo, and the liberalleft beliefc : So as when!hefaw the architecture ofhis buildings, the provifi. onsofhis tab!es,thcorderof his atrendanrs,the rdigioa of his facrifices, lhecoofelfed both her unjull incredulity in not belteving the report of his wifdome, and the injuri<ofreport,in underllandingir.l6tltwtanll the words tiO I &Amt,•ndltfine eyes h•tl June it, Andlot the Dnth•lfi w.u nil tDidme. Her eyes were more fureinformers then hercares. She did not fo much heare as feeS •l•m•ns wifdome in thefe real! dli:Cls. His anfwers did nor fo much demonllrateit,as his prudent governemenr. There arc E fome whofe fpeeches are witty, whiles their cariage is weakc; whofe deeds are in· congruities, whiles their words are Apothegms. Iris nor worth the name ofwife. dome that may be be3td ooely, and not feene: Good difcourfe is but the froth of wifdome; the pure and fo!id fubllance of it is in well framed atlions; ifwe know thefe things, happy are weifwe doe them. • And ifthis great perfon admired the wifdome, and buildings, the domellicke order ofS•l•m•n,and chidely his llately afceot intotbeHoufeofthe Lord;ho1v lhould our foules be taken up with wonder at thee, 0 thou truefoo of D•11id, and Princeof everlalling peace,who r~ceivedlltJ,e fpirir not by meafure? who hall b~iltt!Us glorious houfe, not mademth haods,even the heaven ofheavens! whofe tnlimte providence bath fweetly di.fpoCed ofall the family ofthy creatures, both in heaven and earth,
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