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True WISDOM Described, &c.
Section 1.
MEn no more differ from beasts, plants, stones, in shape, speech, reason, then some men dif∣fer from others in brain, in heart, in life: Whence the very heath••n Poets usually and most fitly compare some men to stones, for their hardness and ••nsensibleness; others to plants, that only fill their veins; a third sort to beasts, that please their senses too; a fourth to evil Angels, that only sin, and cause others to sin; a fifth to good Angels, that are still in motion, always serving God, and doing good, yet ever rest.
Besides, experience teaches, that mens judgements and cen∣sures are as various as their pallats: for what one admires, a∣nother slights, as is evident by our Saviors auditors, of which some admired, others censured, a third sort wept, a fourth scoft, a fifth trembled, a sixth blasphemed when they heard him. And how should it be otherwise? when the greater part are as deeply in love with vice and errour, as the rest are with vertue and truth; when mens conditions and consti∣tutions vary as much as their faces; as the holy Ghost inti∣mates, in comparing several men, to almost every several creature in the Vniverse. Nor is the Epicure more like a Swine, the Lustful person a Goat▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••udulent man a Fox, the Backbiter a barking Dog, 〈…〉〈…〉 an Asp, the Op∣pressor a Wolf, the Persecutor 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Church-robber a Wild Bore, the Seducer a Serpent, yea a Devil, the Traytor a Viper, &c. 2 Tim. 4. 17. Luk. 13. 32. Phil. 3. 2. Psal. 22. 12, 13, 16, 20, 21. & 74. 13, 14, 19. & 80. 13. Mat. 23. 33. Dan. 7. 4, 5, 6. &c. Zeph. 3. 3, 4, &c. Cant. 2. 15, 17. &c. then every of them is unlike another.
Amidst so much variety, I have chosen to acquaint you how one man differs from, and excels another in know∣ledge and wisdom; and to prove that to be wise indeed, is the portion but of a few, even in our Goshen, where is so much means of Light and Grace.