CHAPTER V. 467 . wait longer, and with earnest request seek human and divine advice before we fully determine our judgment, and our prac- tice ; according to the old Roman sentence, Quod statuendum est sernel, deliberandum est diu. We should be long in considering what we must determine once for all. SECT. IV. Principles and Rules of Judgment in Matters of human Prudence. THE great design of prudence, as distinct from morality and religion, is to determine and manage every affair with de- cency and to the best advantage. That is decent which is agree- able to our state, condition or circumstances, whether it be in behaviour, discourse, or action. That is advantageous, which attains the most and best purposes, and avoids the most and greatest inconveniences. As there is infinite variety in the circumstances of persons, things, actions, times and places, so we must be furnished with such general rules as are accomodable to all this variety by a wise judgment and discretion : for what is an act of consummate pru- dence in some times, places and circumstances would be consum- mate folly is others. Now these rules may be ranged in the following manner : 1. Our regard to persons or things should be governed by the degrees of concernment we have with them, the relation we have to them, or the expectation we have from them. These, should be the measures by which we should proportion our dili- gence and application in any thing that relates to them. 2. We should always consider whether the thing we pursue be attainable; whether it be worthy our pursuit ; whether it be worthy of the degree of pursuit; whether it be worthy of the means used, in order to attain it. This rule is necessary botti in matters of knowledge, and matters of practice. 3. When the advantages and disadvantages, conveniences and inconveniences of any action are balanced together, we must finally determine on that side which has the superior weight; and the sooner in things which are necessarily and speedily to be done or determined. 4. If advantages and disadvantages in their'own nature are equal, then those which are most certain or likely as to the event, Ahould turn the scale of our judgment, and determine our practice. 5. Where the improbabilities of success or advantage are greater than the probabilities, it is not prudence to act or ven- ture, if the action may be attended with danger or loss equal to the proposed gain. It is proper to enquire whether this be not the case in almost all lotteries ; for they that hold stakes will ter -. tainly secure part to themselves ; and only the remainder being ag2
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