SFI3M RSVIII.7 A LOVELY CARRIAGE, &C, 457 at something indeed, and bave honest designs in his head, but is ever changing the means to attain them, and pur- sues nothing with that steadiness that prudence requires, or that the necessity of human affairs demands of every man that would be wise and happy. Such men may be pitied as weak and silly, but they are seldom esteemed, or Much beloved in the world, while prudence is so much wanting. There is no necessity that I should cite special parts of the word of God, to encourage us to seek this most amiable quality, since the recommendations of true wis- dom, both human and divine, are scattered up and (Iowa through all the sacred writings: And the Spirit of-God has given us one or two books, on purpose to teach u$ prudence; these are Ecclesiastes and the Proverbs ofSo- lomon. . Nor can I propose any better direction to gain, Universal wisdom, than to read the book 'of Proverbs often with diligence and humble prayer. II. Moderation is another lovelyquality. It teaches us to maintain a medium between those wild extremes, into which human nature is ready to run upon everyoc- casion. When a warm and imprudent talker adorns some common character with excessive praises, and carries it up to the stars, the moderate man puts in a cautious word, and thinks it is sufficient to raise it half so high. Or when he hears a vast and unreasonable load of accu- -sation and infamy thrown upon some lesser mistakes is life, the moderate man puts in a soft word of excuse, lightens the burden of reproach, and relieves the good name of the sufferer from being pressed to death. When he sees oppression and violence practised amongst his neighbours, the justice of his soul directs him to take the part of the injured person, and his own moderation and goodness incline him to do it in such a manner, as may calm and suppress the resentment of the oppressed, and soften and melt the oppressor into compliance with the rules of justice. Thus he reconciles them both, with- ont giving offence to either. When any sect of christians seem to be carried away with the furious torrent of some prevailing notions, or some unnecessary practices, some special superstition, or a contentious spirit, the moderate man tries to chew 3
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