ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



the sand of the sea. 77 2 For the sand of the sea encompasses 

 the extremities of the whole earth; so his wisdom compre 

 hended all things, both human and divine. And in those 

 aphorisms are found many excellent civil precepts and ad 

 monitions, besides things of a more theological nature, flow 

 ing from the depth and innermost bosom of wisdom, and 

 running out into a most spacious field of variety. And as 

 we place the doctrine of various occasions among the desid 

 erata of the sciences, we will here dwell upon it a little, and 

 lay down an example thereof, in the way of explaining some 

 of these aphorisms or proverbs of Solomon. 



A SPECIMEN OF THE DOCTRINE OF VARIOUS OCCASIONS IN 



THE COMMON BUSINESS OF LIFE, BY WAY OF 



APHORISM AND EXPLANATION 



APHORISM I. A soft answer appeases anger 3 



If the anger of a prince or superior be kindled against 

 you, and it be now your turn to speak, Solomon directs, 1, 

 that an answer be made; and, 2, that it be soft. The first 

 rule contains three precepts; viz., 1, to guard against a mel 

 ancholy and stubborn silence, for this either turns the fault 

 wholly upon you, as if you could make no answer, or 

 secretly impeaches your superior, as if his ears were not 

 open to a just defence. 2. To beware of delaying the 

 thing, and requiring a longer day for your defence; which 

 either accuses your superior of passion, or signifies that you 

 are preparing some artificial turn or color. So that it is 

 always best directly to say something for the present, in 

 your own excuse, as the occasion requires. And, 3. To 

 make a real answer, an answer, not a mere confession or 

 bare submission, but a mixture of apology and excuse. For 

 it is unsafe to do otherwise, unless with very generous and 

 noble spirits, which are extremely rare. Then follows the 

 second rule, that the answer be mild and soft, not stiff and 

 irritating. 



8 III. Kings iv. 27. 3 Prov. xv. 1 



