The Modern Statesman, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Of Prudence.
THis vertue is called by the Greeks foreign, from the mind, whoſe chief ornament it is: By the Latines Prudentia, quaſi providentia à providendo, it foreſeeing what is to be avoided, what to be choſen, as moſt appoſit for the welbeing of our ſelves and others, it being alſo its ſpecial employment to provide for the future, and we are only to look upon it in its politick capacity, as it is reduced under Moral Philoſophy: for though it may be accounted an intellectual vertue in regard of its ſubject and efficient cauſe, as having its dependancy on the underſtanding and judgement: yet in reſpect of its object and end it becomes alſo moral, as which leads not only to contemplative but practical felicity, and beholds civil good as its moſt lovely object.
And indeed prudence is foreign the Maſter Workman, the principal Agent in the raiſing and compoſing of the noble frame of vertue, foreign: For as this directs, ſo do the vertues, and vertuous men act: This draws the lines of Election, in whoſe rectitude the main force of vertue lies; this ſquares and contrives by deliberation, making the timbers fit, and the whole ſtructure decent and uſefull: yea ſo neceſſary an ingredient is it in morality, that Ariſtotle and with him all the Moralists have concluded,
Firſt, That a man cannot be vertuous, unleſs he be prudent; foreign: For vertue is not only an habit conſonant to, but joined with right reaſon.
Secondly, That a man cannot be prudent, unleſs he be vertuous: for he muſt have a right end in all his actions, which is inconſiſtent with crooked manners. Qualis vita, finis ita, may be well enough apply'd here; beſides, vice perverts the judgement, foreign, and like a cheating Tradeſ-man ſhews colors by a falſe light. It is therefore affirmed on all hands, foreign, That by prudence and vertue, every work is made abſolute, Vertue ſetting up a right end, and prudence making choice of apt means to bring us to that end.
Prudence thus comming within our verge, let us inquire what it is: And firſt we find Cicero in l. …. de invent. thus telling us, That Prudence is an exact knowledge of what is both good and evill, Prudentia eſt rerum bonarum, malarum, utrarumque peritia. And Lipſius makes it, notitia rerum eventuumque, et judicium in iis rectum, An ability in knowing, and judging a right of things and events. Aristotle defines it, l. 6. eth. c. 5. foreign, An habit conjoined with right reaſon, converſant and operative in thoſe things which bring good or evil unto man.
And now having viewed its eſſence, let us a little conſider its operation, and we find its employment to conſiſt in a ſolid deliberation of thoſe things which are good and profitable, not particularly onelyonly to health & ſtrength, but which generally conduce to a vertuous and happy life, lib. 6. ethic. e. 5. and this not by deliberating of the general precepts, and lawes of living, which are certainly defined, but by conſulting how to ſquare each ſingle act by the ſtreight rule of vertue; for in the variety of circumstances upon which the rectitude or pravity of action depends conſiſts the obſcurity, and in this conſultation is ſolely requiſite: And now counſel being taken, prudence decrees that good is to be choſen before evil, the greater good before the leſſer, and the leſſer evil before the greater; yet this onelyonly in malo tristi, non turpi; for the prudent man alwaies ſhuns the leaſt baſeneſs; therefore the Philoſopher tells us that there are ſome things which are to be abhorr'd above torments, or death it ſelf; thus Pericles being intreated by a friend to give a falſe teſtimony, returned this anſwer, foreign, I'm only to help my friends in ſuch things as offend not the Gods; and the French Hiſtory affords a memorable example of this in the Prince of Conde, who being trecherouſly ſurpriſed by Charles the 9th. and word ſent him that he muſt chooſe either to go to Maſs, to dy, or to be perpetually impriſoned, nobly anſwered, For the firſt, by Gods aſſiſtance, I will never do it, for the other two let the King do as he pleaſe, yet I doubt not but God by his Fatherly providence will turn all to the best: He refuſes the crime, neither would be chooſe the puniſhment, leſt he might ſeem to diſavow his own innocency: Whereas David, convinced of his guilt in numbering the people, by chooſing the Peſtilence, before Sword or Famine, as a more mild and fatherly puniſhment, acted the part of a prudent man, 2 Sam. 24.