Works of Joseph Hall, Character 1 – Character 2
CHARACTER OF THE WISE MAN.
THere is nothing that hee deſires not to know, but moſt and firſt himſelfe; and not ſo much his owne ſtrength, as his weakneſſes; neither is his knowledge reduced to diſcourſe, but practice. Hee is a skilfull Logician, not by nature ſo much as vſe; his working minde doth nothing all his time but make ſyllogiſmes, and draw out concluſions; eueryevery thing that hee ſees and heares, ſerues for one of the premiſſes: with theſe hee cares firſt to informe himſelfe, then to direct others. Both his eies are neuer at once from home, but one keepes houſe while the other roues abroad for intelligence. In materiall and weightie points he abides not his minde ſuſpended in vncertainties; but hates doubting, where hee may, where he ſhould be reſolute: and firſt he makes ſure worke for his ſoule; accounting it no ſafetie to bee vnſetled in the fore-knowledge of his finall eſtate. The beſt is firſt regarded; and vaine is that regard which endeth not in ſecuritie. EueryEvery care hath his iuſt order; neither is there any one either neglected or miſplaced. Hee is ſeldome ouerſeene with credulitie; for knowing the falſeneſſe of the world, hee hath learn'd to truſt himſelfe alwaies; others ſo farre, as hee may not bee dammaged by their diſappointment. He ſeekes his quietneſſe in ſecrecie, and is wont both to hide himſelfe in retiredneſſe, and his tongue in himſelfe. He loues to be gheſſed at, not knowne; and to ſee the world vnſeene; and when he is forced into the light, ſhewes by his actions that his obſcuritie was neither from affectation nor weakneſſe. His purpoſes are neither ſo variable as may argue inconſtancie; nor obſtinately vnchangeable, but framed according to his after-wits, or the ſtrength of new occaſions. He is both an apt ſcholler and an excellent maſter; for both eueryevery thing he ſees informes him, and his minde enriched with plentifull obſeruation, can giuegive the beſt precepts. His free diſcourſe runs backe to the ages paſt, and recouers euents out of memorie, and then preuenteth Time in flying forward to future things; and comparing one with the other, can giuegive a verdict well-neere propheticall: wherein his coniectures are better than anothers iudgements. His paſſions are ſo many good ſeruants, which ſtand in a diligent attendance ready to be commanded by reaſon, by Religion; and if at any time forgetting their duty, they be miſcarried to rebell, he can firſt conceale their mutinie; then ſuppreſſe it. In all his iuſt and worthy deſignes, hee is neuer at a loſſe, but hath ſo proiected all his courſes, that a ſecond begins where the firſt failed; and fetcheth ſtrength from that which ſucceeded not. There be wrongs which he will not ſee; neither doth he alwaies looke that way which he meaneth; nor take notice of his ſecret ſmarts, when they come from great ones. In good turnes, he loues not to owe more than he muſt; in euill, to owe and not pay. Iuſt cenſures he deſerues not, for he liues without the compaſſe of an aduerſarie; vniuſt he contemneth, and had rather ſuffer falſe infamie to die alone, than lay hands vponupon it in an open violence. He confineth himſelfe in the circle of his owne affaires, and liſts not to thruſt his finger into a needleſſe fire. Hee ſtands like a center vnmoued, while the circumference of his eſtate is drawne aboue, beneath, about him. Finally, his wit hath coſt him much; and he can both keepe, and value, and imploy it. He is his owne Lawyer; the treaſurie of knowledge, the oracle of counſell; blinde in no mans cauſe, beſt-ſighted in his owne.
Of an Honeſt man.
HE lookes not to what hee might doe, but what hee ſhould. Iuſtice is his firſt guide, the ſecond law of his actions, is expedience. Hee had rather complaine than offend, and hates ſinne more for the indignitie of it, than the danger: his ſimple vprightneſſe workes in him that confidence, which oft times wrongs him, and giues aduantage to the ſubtill, when he rather pitties their faithleſneſſe, than repents of his credulitie: hee hath but one heart, and that lies open to ſight; and were it not for diſcretion, hee neuer thinkes ought whereof he would auoid a witneſſe: his word is his parchment, and his yea, his oath, which hee will not violate for feare, or for loſſe. The miſ-haps of following euents, may cauſe him to blame his prouidence, can neuer cauſe him to eat his promiſe: neither ſaith he, This I ſaw not; but, This I ſaid. When hee is made his friends Executor, he defrayes debts, payes legacies, and ſcorneth to gaine by Orphans, or to ranſacke graues; and therefore will be true to a dead friend, becauſe he ſees him not. All his dealings are ſquare, and aboue the boord: he bewraies the fault of what he ſells, and reſtores the ouerſeene gaine of a falſe reckoning. He eſteemes a bribe venomous, though it come guilded ouer with the colour of gratuitie. His cheekes are neuer ſtained with the bluſhes of recantation; neither doth his tongue falter, to make good a lie with the ſecret gloſes of double or reſerued ſenſes; and when his name is traduced, his innocencie beares him out with courage: then, loe, hee goes on the plaine way of truth, and will either triumph in his integritie, or ſuffer with it. His conſcience ouer-rules his prouidence; ſo as in all things good or ill, he reſpects the nature of the actions, nor the ſequell. If he ſee what he muſt doe, let God ſee what ſhall follow. He neuer loadeth himſelfe with burdens aboue his ſtrength, beyond his will; and once bound, what he can he will doe; neither doth he will but what he can doe. His eare is the Sanctuarie of his abſent friends name, of his preſent friends ſecret: neither of them can miſ-carry in his truſt. Hee remembers the wrongs of his youth, and repaies them with that vſurie which he himſelfe would not take. Hee would rather want, than borrow, and begge, than not to pay: his faire conditions are without diſſembling; and he loues actions aboue words. Finally, he hates falſhood worſe than death: he is a faithfull client of truth; no mans enemie; and it is a queſtion, Whether more another mans friend or his owne; and if there were no heauen, yet he would be vertuous.