[M2.66L]                                                              [M2.66]								66
                                                                      			OF PRUDENCE
                                                                      
The man that wandereth out of the Way of Understanding shall          Next to Reserve may be noted the Proverbic views of Prudence
remain in the congregation of the Dead 21. 16                         	1.	Prudence opposed to deceit "The wisdom of the prudent is
With these various passages respecting real wisdom                    		to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit"
Compare 1st Cor.                                                      		14. 8 i.e. it is the part of a wise man to succeed by
                                                                      		full comprehension of his own Way;  not by hiding it from
                                                                      		others.
                                                                      		On the other hand, by not exposing himself to the deceit
                                                                      		of others: "The simple believeth every word, but
                                                                      		the prudent man looketh well to his going" 14, 15
                                                                      	2.	Prudence is half in the Heart and temper;  "The wise
                                                                      		in heart shall be called prudent, and the sweetness
                                                                      		of the lips increaseth learning"  16, 21. and compare also
                                                                      		the 23rd verse. "The hearts of the wise teacheth his
                                                                      		mouth and addeth learning to his lips", and again
                                                                      		"the heart of the prudent getteth knowledge:  and the ear
                                                                      		of the wise seeketh knowledge"  so 18, 15 so "the heart
                                                                      		of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge, 15, 14
                                                                      		Yet in these cases I am not sure if it be meant that the
                                                                      		moral affections have so much influence on the head -
                                                                      		or the almost equally important truth that it is by his
                                                                      		hearty love and delight in  knowledge and not by
                                                                      		mere labour that the wise man attains it

[Version 0.05: May 2008]