The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the…The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the…

In the fourth place: Another is, Wisdom and Prudence,that is a main, and a necessary thing too, in those that are to govern; and in those that have to do in the Common-wealth: for (as I told you) it is like a man in a ship in the midst of a storm: how unhappy, and miserable is that ship that hath an unskilful Pilot in the midst of a storm: and therefore 'tis said of Moses, that he did lead them with the skilfulness of his hands; there was a great deal of prudence and wisdom requisite in it, to be able to think ⟨p. 14⟩thoughts of good for the public, to be able to know which is the best way to do good to the public: these are mighty things. And therefore you see how David was afraid of an Ahithophel, he thought that a wise man would do him more hurt, then all the men in the world: They must be men, that can lay hold of all occasions, that are able to overcome difficulties, and able to compose them; able to heal breaches: it is true indeed, it is many times the fate of wise men, and those that are most prudent, to be less accepted with the people; because they are circumspect, and cautelous, and wary in what they do: whereas, papulus favet fervidis, the people they favour those that are violent: and they had rather have faelicia ex casu, then bona ex consilio, they had rather have happy things, by mere chance if it fall out by a bold venture: then to have good things slowly by a way of counsel and prudence: yet for all that wisdom is necessary: no man will bring a little light into a great room: and a little wisdom ought not to be brought into the office, that requires all the parts, and all the powers of a man.

In the fourth place: Another is, Wisedome and Prudence,that is a maine, and a necessary thing too, in those that are to governe; and in those that have to doe in the Common-wealth: for (as I told you) it is like a man in a ship in the midst of a storme: how unhappy, and miserable is that ship that hath an unskilfull Pilot in the midst of a storme: and therefore 'tis said of Moses, that he did leade them with the skilfulnesse of his hands; there was a great deale of prudence and wisedome requisite in it, to be able to thinke ⟨p. 14⟩thoughts of good for the publique, to be able to know which is the best way to doe good to the publique: these are mighty things. And therefore you see how David was afraid of an Achitophel, he thought that a wise man would doe him more hurt, then all the men in the world: They must be men, that can lay hold of all occasions, that are able to overcome difficulties, and able to compose them; able to heale breaches: it is true indeed, it is many times the fate of wise men, and those that are most prudent, to be lesse accepted with the people; because they are circumspect, and cautelous, and wary in what they doe: whereas, papulus favet fervidis, the people they favour those that are violent: and they had rather have faelicia ex casu, then bona ex consilio, they had rather have happy things, by meere chance if it fall out by a bold venture: then to have good things slowly by a way of counsell and prudence: yet for all that wisedome is necessary: no man will bring a little light into a great roome: and a little wisedome ought not to be brought into the office, that requires all the parts, and all the powers of a man.