264 Of the Advancement of Learning. ■ Lie.VIIL 



for he that is confcious to himfelf of proficiency in his indea vours, 

 applauds himfelf inwardly, and holds his peace, but on the con- 

 trary, he that is guilty to himfelf of hunting after vain glory , talks 

 many things, and reports wonders to others. 



THE PARABLE. 



proy. XXVII. XXIX. Oj^eu Ke]^rebenJionu Better than fecret Af 



feBion, 



THE EX?LICATIO% 



THe Parable reprehend* the foft nature of Friends, which will not 

 ufe the priviledge of friendfhipj in admooiOiing their Friends 

 with freedom and confidence, as well of their errors as of their dan- 

 gers. ForvphatJ})allldo^ (will foch a tender hearted friend fay) 

 orvphichvpayPjollItHrnmy felf^ tlove him as dearly as any wan can 

 do'-) and if any misfortitne Jliould befall him., I could vpilling impawn 

 iHy own ferfon for his redetuption ; but I k»ow his difpojition, if I deal 

 friely tpith him^ I fiall offend him, at kali maks him fad, and yet do 

 no good j and I pall fooner ejlrange him from my friendpip, than re- 

 claim him, or withdraw him jrom thofe courfes, which hehathfixt and 

 refolved upon in his mind. Such a friend as this, Solomon here repre- 

 hends, as weak and worth.lels , and that a man may reap more profit 

 from a manifeft Enemy, than frorafuchan effeminate Friend: for he 

 may perchance hear that by way of reproach from an Enemy, which 

 through too much indulgence was but faintly whifper'd by a friend.- 



THE PARABLE. 



XXX. A wife mantsmaryofhis ways , a cunning 

 Fool feeJ^s evafiom, 



THE EXPLICATION. 



T Here he two forts of w'lCdom-^ the one true and found, the other' 

 counterfeit andfalfe, which Solomon doubts not to entitle by 

 the name of Folly. He that applies himfelf to the former, talies 

 heed to his way and footing, forC'feeing dangers, andfludying remedies 5 

 w/?//g the ajjijiance of good men, muniting himfelf againti the invafiont 

 of the wicked 5 wary in his entrance and engagement upon a bujinefr^ 

 ■not unprepard of a retreat,and how to come offj attent upon advantagety 

 couragious againji encounters j with infinite other circumBancet, which 

 refpe& the government of his ways and aHions. But that other kind 

 wifdom is altogether made up of fallacies u>id cunning devices, and 

 wholly relies upon circumventing of others, and caliins, them according 

 to the form oj their own mould. This wifdom the Parable deferved- 

 ly rejefts, not only as U'icl^d, but alfo as fooliJI}. torfirji it is not 

 in the number of tho(e things, v\'hich are in our own power 3 nor.is 



it 



