CHAP. II.J SELF-KNOWLEDGE KECESSAM* 32j 



And St. James excellently observed of mankind, that " he 

 who views his face in a glass, instantly forgets his Icatures."* 

 Whence we had need be often looking. And this also holds 

 in politics. But there is a difference in glasses, — the divine 

 one, wherein we are to behold oui-selves, is the Word of God ; 

 but the political glass is no other than the state of things 

 and times wherein we live. A man, therefore, must make a 

 thorough examination, not partially like a self-lover, into his 

 own faculties, powers, and abilities, and again into his defects, 

 inabilities, and obstacles, summing up the account, so as to 

 make the latter constantly appear greater, and the former 

 rather less than they are. And upon such an examination 

 the following particulars may come to be considered. 



Let the tirst particular be, how far a man's manners and 

 temper suit with the times ; for if they agree in all respects, 

 he may act more freely and at large, and follow the bent of 

 his genius ; but if there be any contrariety, then he must walk 

 more cautiously and covertly in the whole scene of his life, 

 and appear less in public, as Tiberius did, who, being con- 

 scious that his temper suited not with the age, never fre- 

 quented the public shows, and for the last twelve years of 

 liis life came not to the senate ; whereas Augustus lived con- 

 tinually in open sight.^ 



Let the second consideration be, how a man can relish the 

 professions or kinds of life in use and repute, out of which 

 lie is to make a choice, so that if his profession be not already 

 entered upon, he may take that which is most suitable to his 

 genius ; but if he be already got into a kind of life for which 

 he is unfit, that he may, upon the first opportunity, quit it 

 and take to another, — as Valentine Borgia did, who, being 

 educated by his father for the priesthood, afterwards re- 

 nounced, followed his own inclination, and appeared in a 

 military character. 



Let a third consideration be, how a man stands compared 

 with his equals and rivals, who may also probably be his 

 competitors in his fortune, and let him hold that course of 

 life in which there is the greatest want of eminent men, and 

 wherein it is most likely that himself may rise the highest, 



« Ep. i. 23, 24. 



' The expression of Tacitu* ia, **alifl Tiberio morum via." Ar.nals^ 



