The counsels of wisdom: or, a collection of the maxims of Solomon. Most necessary for a man wisely to behave himself. With reflections on those maxims. Rendred into English by T.D.

REFLECTION.

TO choak the sentiment of ill words, that one gives you, or of wrong that one does you in business, have you often in your mind this undoubted truth.

That of all sorts of injustice, the two greatest are, First, That God should be offender, the second, That we should take ill other mens offending us, and that we should take the liberty to resent them, and complain of them.

When you have a difference with any body, you goe and relate the business, and ask of your friends, if it be not true, that you have wrong, and that you ought to revenge it: you have so much right on your side: you do and say so well; that each one confesses it & answers you that 'tis true.

But to the end that you might better know the truth, tell them the whole; relate

to them ingenuously, what your Conscience knowes, touching the most enormous sins, and shamefull ingratitudes that you have committed against God; and there shall no body say, but that you merit infinitely more evil, and more contempt then you have as yet received.

During quarrells and suits at Law, the question is, to know if you ought to destroy a Man, whom God makes use of, to punish in you great sins, and to punish them by so small an evill as that is, which you pretend that one doth you. Be you the Iudge; exa∣mine and decide the question your self.