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CHAP. IX.
Of ciuill and worldly wisedome, and how farre foorth to be em∣braced, and in what respects to be contemned.
ANd so much concerning diuine and spirituall wisedome: Ciuill and morall wisedome is a common gift of Gods spirit bestowed on man, whereby the vnderstanding being in∣lightened, hee is able to iudge and discerne, what is truth, and what falsehood, what good, and what euill in humane and worldly affaires, that being hereby gui∣ded and directed, hee may wisely and discreetly manage all his words and actions, especially in those businesses which more properly respect his place and calling. And this wise∣dome is in it owne nature good, as being the gift of God, bestowed vpon mankinde, to a good end, namely that hee may the better be inabled to performe all duties of his place and calling. And howsoeuer it is not to be esteemed in com∣parison of diuine and spirituall wisedome, yet if wee com∣pare it with any worldly and temporall gifts of God, the highest place of excellencie is due vnto it: whereof it is that Salomon being put to his choice what hee would haue of God, asketh this wisedome, that thereby he might be fitted for his kingly calling, and enabled to performe the duties of gouernment; the which his wish was approued of God, and according to his desire this wisedome was granted vnto him. But being considered as it is in vs, it is neither abso∣lutely good or bad, but according to the vse, good to those that vse it well, and euill vnto those who abuse it vnto euill. Now in respect of the vse, ciuil policie and wisedom is good, lawfull and laudable, when it is vsed with these cautions: first, when it is ioyned with meeknes and humilitie. Second∣ly, when it is tempered and moderated with Christian sim∣plicitie and sinceritie, so as wee may say with the Apostle, Our reioycing is this, the testimonie of our conscience, that in simplicitie and godly purenes, and not in fleshly wisedome, we haue