Humane prudence, or, The art by which a man may raise himself and fortune to grandeur by A.B.

SECT. 18.

VVHen You come upon the Stage of Action, as it's your Duty, so it will be your Glory, to deal just∣ly with all Persons.

Clear and round Dealing is the Honour of Man's Nature: Hate no∣thing

but what is dishonest: Fear nothing but what is ignoble, and love nothing but what is just and honourable.

To stoop to any sordid low acti∣on, is to imitate the Kite, which flieth high in the Air, yet vouch∣safes to condescend to Carrion upon the Ground.

Do Injury to none, for by so do∣ing you do but teach others to in∣jure you.

Innocency will be your best Guard, and your Integrity will be a Coat of Mail unto you.

It's less difficult and more safe, to keep the way of Honesty and Ju∣stice, than to turn away from it; yet commonly our Passions lead us into By-paths.

And be assured, He that in any one Affair relinquisheth Honesty, banisheth all Shame in succeeding Actions; and certainly no Vice covereth a Man with so much

Shame, as to be found false or un∣just.

Whatsoever I act, I endeavour to do it, as if it were my last act; and therefore I do it with Care and Integrity; I think on no longer Life, than that which is now pre∣sent. I forget all that is past, and for the future (with a humble sub∣mission) I refer my self to provi∣dence: What others shall say or think of me, or shall act against me, I do not so much as trouble my Thoughts with it. I fear no∣thing, I desire nothing, I admire nothing: Yet I do even reverence my self, when I have done a Just and Vertuous Action: But to in∣rich my self by any sordid means, I dare not; for in so doing, I dis∣trust Providence, and be come an Atheist.

Keep touch in lesser Matters, not to deceive in greater, but the better to dispose your self to per∣form

things of Weight and mo∣ment: A Promise is a just Debt, which you must take care to pay, for Honour and Honesty are the Se∣curity.

Borrow before you have need, and pay before the time you pro∣mised; it will gain you Credit: Breaking your Faith may gain you Riches, but never get you Glory.

It was well said by Monsieur D' Georgius a French Captain, who having burnt many of the Churches of the Spaniards in Florida, and being asked, Why he did so? Told them, That they which had no Faith, needed no Churches.

Before you act, it's Prudence so∣berly to consider; for after Action you cannot recede without disho∣nour: Take the Advice of some Prudent Friend; for he who will be his own Councellour, shall be sure to have a Fool for his Client.

Resolutions are the Moulds wherein Actions are cast; if they be taken with over-much haste or too mueh affection, seldom do they receive good success.

When you have fully resolved what course to take in any Action, you must not after repent, or fear any difficulty; for such things will lessen the Gallantry of your Mind.

And although some Difficulties do happen to arise, yet you must believe that every other Course would have been accompanied with the same or greater Impedi∣ments; yet many times it's more Prudence to follow the Direction of a present good Fortune, than the first Resolutions.

In the Conduct of Affairs, you may shew a Brave Spirit in going on, but your Wisdom will most appear in securing your retreat, and how to come off; for there is such incertainty in all Humane Af∣fairs,

that that Course to me seem∣eth best, which hath most passages out of it.

Therefore it was well observed by one, that the Turks, who made an Expedition into Persia, and be∣cause of the Streight Jaws of the Mountains of Armenia, the Ba∣shaws consulted which way they should get in; one that heard the Debate, said, Here is much ado how we shall get in, but I hear no body take care how we shall get out.