Chap. IX - Of Wisdom

Summary

Wisdom is seated in the Will, it attaineth the best of all possible Ends by the best of all possible Means.

KNOWLEDGE, how excellent soever it may be conceived, is without Wisdome like skill without Practice; which whether it be in Musick, or Painting, or in any other Art, as Government, Navigation, Preaching, Judicature, is altogether vain and fruitless, if it be not reduced into Act and Exercise. For Wisdome is that Excellent Habit of the Soul by which we chuse the most Excellent End of all those which may be Known, and actually prosecute it, by the best Means that are conducive thereunto.

TO Know the best of all possible Ends and not to embrace it, is the greatest folly in the World. To chuse and embrace it, without Endeavouring after it, is a folly contending with the other for Eminence. To chuse any means less then the best in Order thereunto, is a new piece of folly, even then when we pursue what Wisdom requires. For no less than the best of all possible Means is requisite to the Acquisition of the best of all possible Ends. And by all this we discern, that Wisdome is not a meer Speculation of Excellent Things, but a Practical Habit, by Vertue of which we actually atchieve and compleat our Happiness. For it is impossible for the best of Means (when they are well used) to fail; we may grow remiss, and suspend our Endeavor, which is another Kind of folly, and so be diverted from the best of all possible Means by some strong Temptation, or cease from using them through our own Inconstancy, or yield to some Light and easie Allurement, or be discouraged by some terrible Danger, and thus may abandon the Best of all Ends, but without some such folly it can never be lost.

POSSIBILITIES are innumerable, so that nothing less than infinite Wisdome can find out that which is absolutely the Best. But when the best of all possible Ends is by infinite Wisdome found out, it is an Easie thing for Wisdome, to discover that End to the Knowledge of others, to whom it is able to communicate it self by way of Gift and Participation.