262 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. VIII. 



THE PARABLE. 



P10V.XXV. XXV. Ajtiflman falling before the mcJ^d, zV a 

 troubled fountain^ and a cor rnpedff ring, 



THE EXPLICATION. 



'T'He Parable gives it in Precept, that States and Republic's faujl 

 above all things bervare of an unjufi and infamous fentence , in 

 any caufe of grave importance^ and exemplar in the face of the world '^ 

 fpecially where the guilty is not quitted^ but the innocent is condemned. 

 For Injuries ravaging among private Perfons , do indeed trouble^ 

 and pollute the waters of Jujiice, yet as in the fmaller fireams 5 but 

 itnjuji Jndgements^ fuch as we have fpoken of, from which examples 

 are derived, infeft and diftain the very Fountains ofjujiice ; for 

 when the Courts of Jujiice fide with Injiijiice, the ftate of things is 

 turned, as into a publick. Robbery^ and it manifcftly comes to pals, 

 ut Botfto Hcmini fit Lupus. 



THE PARABLE 



, XXVI. Mah^nofriendfloif with any angry man-^nor 

 wa\ tboH with a furious man. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



BY how much the more devoutly the Laws ofFriendOiip amongft 

 good men, are to be kept and obferved, by fo much the more 

 it ftandsus upon to ufe all Caution, even at firftin a prudent ele- 

 ftion of Friends. In li'e manner the difpofltion and humours of 

 Friends, fo far as concerns our pcrfonal intereji, Jbonld by all means 

 be difpenfid rvithall : but when they imfofe a necejfity upon us, what qua- 

 lity of perfons we mufi put <?«, and fufluin •-, it is a very hard cafe, and 

 an unreafonable condition of Friendp/p. Wherefore according to So- 

 lomon's Precept, it principally conduceth to Peace, and Safety in the 

 courfe of this world , that we intermingle not our afairs with 

 Cholerick natures, and fuch as eafily provoke and undertake Quar- 

 rels and Debates ; for fuch kind of Friends will daily efpoufe us 

 to FaAions and Contentions j that we muft of neccffity be forced 

 to break off all terms of Friendlhip 5 or elfe be wanting to our 

 own perfonal fafety. 



THE 



Prov.xxt I 



