300 ADVANCEMENT OP LEARNING. [bOOK VIII. 



extant upon any particular business), though it regarded 

 chiefly the giving advice upon that present occasion, yet 

 contains many particular axioms of politics, which were not 

 only of temporary use, but prescribe a certain permanent 

 rule for popular elections. But in this kind, there is nothing 

 any way comparable to the aphorisms of Solomon, of whom 

 the Scripture bears testimony, that " his heart was as the 

 sand of the sea."^ For the sand of the sea encompasses the 

 extremities of the whole earth ; so his wisdom comprehended 

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

 are found many excellent civil precepts and admonitions, be- 

 sides things of a more theological nature, flomng from the 

 depth and innermost bosom of wisdom, and running out into 

 a most spacious field of variety. And as we place the doc- 

 trine of various occasions among the desiderata 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 OP VARIOUS OCCASIONS IN THE COMMON 

 BUSINESS OF LIFE, BY WAY OP APHORISM AND EXPLANATION. 



Aphorism I. — A soft ansvjer appeases imger.^ 

 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 

 melancholy 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 colour. 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 mix- 

 ture of apology and excuse. For it is unsafe to do otherwise, 

 unless with very generous and noble spirits, which are ex- 

 tremely rare. Then follows the second rule, that the answer 

 be mild and soft, not stiff and irritating. 



»» 3 Kings iv. 27. •= Pror. »▼. I. 



