24B Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. VIII. 



it were not unlawful to expound them according to a natural fence 5 

 the fame liberty we may take in the FoUticl{s, 



^M/(*uEN- An Example of a Portion of the Dodrine concem- 

 filcdil*afl- ing Difperfed Occafions , from fome 



;;f"^'^"- ? arables of Solomon, 



Piov.xv, 



Prov.xvii; 



THE PARABLE. 



1. Afoft Anfwer afpeafeth Wrath, 



THE EXPLICATION. 



If the wrath of a Prince or of a great Perfon be kindled againft thee, 

 and it be now thy turn to (peak,Sob»tofi gives in precept two points; 

 one is, that an aKjiiper he made j the other ^ thatthe fame be foft : The 

 Firft contains three precepts 5 Firji that you beware of a fad:, attdfnl- 

 len filence : for that either charges the fault wholly upon your felf , 

 as if you had nothing to fay for your felfj or clofely appeacheth 

 your Mafter of fome injufticCjas if his ears were not open to a juft De- 

 fence. Secondly that y oh beware of delaying and putting off a Bufineft, and 

 that you crave not a longer day to give in your defence: for this 

 procraftination, either insinuates the fame prejudice the former did, 

 (which is that yourLord andMafter is led away with too much paffion 

 and partiality) and plainly betrays, that you are in divifing fome cun- 

 ning and counterfeit Apology 5feeing you have no prelent anfwer rea- 

 dy. Wherefore it is ever the beft courfe to (ay fomething inftantly 

 in your own defence, according as the occafion of the prefent bufinefi 

 Ihall adminifter. Thirdly that by all means. an anfwer be made 5 an anfwer 

 (I fay) not a meer confeffion or a meer (ubmiffion, but yet not with- 

 out fome fprinklings of an Apology and excufe let fall here and there; 

 nor is it fafe to bear your felfotherwifcjUnlefs you have to deal with 

 very generous and noble dilpofitions ; which are very rare. It fol- 

 lows in thefecond place, that the anfwer made be foft and temperate ; 

 and not harfti and peremptory. 



THE PARABLE. 



II. A wife Servant fhall have command over a re^ 

 froachful Son^ and f jail divide the Inheritance 



amono the brethren. 



The 



