Chapter 4

Prudence in What We Do

We must not be easy in giving credit to every word and suggestion, but carefully and leisurely weigh the matter according to God.
Alas! such is our weakness, that we often more readily believe and speak of another that which is evil than that which is good.
But perfect men do not easily give credit to every report, because they know man's weakness, which is very prone to evil and very subject to fail in words.
2. It is great wisdom not to be rash in our doings; nor to maintain too obstinately our own opinion:
Nor should we believe every man's word; nor presently tell others the things which we have heard or believed.
Consult with a wise and conscientious man - TOBIAS IV. 19 ; and seek rather to be instructed by one who is better than to follow thine own inventions.
A good life makes a man wise according to God, and expert in many things. The more humble a man is in himself, and more subject to God, the more wise will he be in all things and the more at peace.