[ 1376] Every Man to be wise for himself, as well as for others.
AS Shell-fishes which breed pearls for others to wear, but are sick of them themselves; As a Mercury Statue, which shews the way to others, but stands still it self; Or as a Whetstone which sharpeneth the knife, but is blunt it self. Thus many Men like Plutarch's Lamiae,* 1.1 have eyes for abroad, but are blind at home, are wise for others, but not for themselves: If thou be wise, (saith Solomon) be wise for thy self: It is not enough for a Man to do good to others, though he could to all, if he remain an Enemy to himself;* 1.2 He must be like a Cynamon-Tree, which lets not out all its sap into leaves and fruit which will fall off, but keeps the prin∣cipall part of its fragrancy for the bark which stayes on; like a Tree planted by the water side,* 1.3 which though it let out much sap to the remoter boughs, yet is specially carefull of the root that that be not left dry: And to speak truth, What profit would it be to a Man, if he could heal and help all the sick Men in the World, and be incurably sick himself? If he could get all the Men on the Earth, all the Angels in Heaven to be his Friends, and have still God for his Ene∣my? If he could save others, and then lose his own Soul; to be like the Ship, Acts 27. broken to pieces it self, though it helped others to the shore? Or like those that built the Ark for Noah,* 1.4 and were drowned themselves; this is to have the cares of Martha upon him on the behalf of others, and never mind that one thing of Mary, the care of his own Salvation.