upon her shall remain se

cure.

Eci 15, 4-6 She shall exalt him among

Pv 8, 11

W 7, 14

W 8, 5

W 8, 18

Pu 24, 3-4

She maketh the friends of W7, 27 God and Prophets.

Wisdom conducted the W 10, 10 his neighbours, And in the just through the right ways, midst of the Church she and showed him the Kingshall open his mouth;-She dom of God, and gave him shall heap upon him a trea- the knowledge of the holy sure of joy and gladness, and things, made him honourable shall cause him to inherit an in his labours, and accomeverlasting name. plished his labours.

77.- —WISDOM GIVES PROSPERITY.

Wisdom is better than all cious and most beautiful
the most precious things: wealth.

and whatsoever may be de- Receive ye discipline as a Eci 51, 36
sired cannot be compared to great sum of money, and
possess abundance of gold by

it.

She is an infinite treasure her. to men.

If riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, which maketh all things?

Inexhaustible riches is in the works of her hands.

With Me are riches and Pv 8, 18,21 glory, glorious riches and justice, that I may enrich them that love Me, and may fill their treasures.

Knowledge is a fountain of Pv 16, 22 life to him that possesseth it.

By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it The wise in heart shall be Pv 16, 21 shall be strengthened.-By called prudent: and he that instruction the store-rooms is sweet in words shall atshall be filled with all pre- tain to greater things.

78.-MISERY OF HIM WHO DESPISES WISDOM.

W3, 11-13 He that rejecteth wisdom fore upon her is perfect un-
and discipline is unhappy; and derstanding: and he that
their hope is vain, and their watcheth for her shall quick-
labours without fruit, and ly be secure ;-For she goeth
their works unprofitable.-about seeking such as are
Their wives are foolish and worthy of her, and she show-
their children wicked; their eth herself to them cheerfully
offspring is cursed.
in the ways, and meeteth

W9,6

If one be perfect among them with all providence. the children of men, yet if They to whom she shall Ecl 1, 15 Thy wisdom be not with show herself love her by the him, he shall be nothing re- sight and by the knowledge of her great works.

garded. 6, 15-17 He that awaketh early to

Wisdom shall perish from Is 29, 14

seek her shall not labour: their wise men, and the un-
for he shall find her sitting derstanding of their prudent
at his door. To think there- men shall be hid.

Jb 5, 13-14 He catcheth the wise in dom in them.

1 C 3, 19

their craftiness, and disap- Professing themselves to Ro 1,22-23
pointeth the counsel of the be wise they became fools.-
wicked. They shall meet And they changed the glory
with darkness in the day, of the Incorruptible God in-
and grope at noonday as in to the likeness of the image
the night.
of a corruptible man.

The wisdom of this world. Thy wisdom and know- Is 47, 10 is foolishness with God; for it ledge, this hath deceived is written: I will catch the thee. And thou hast said in wise in their own craftiness. thy heart: I am, and besides Eci 21, 15 There is a wisdom that me there is no other. aboundeth in evils. Beware lest any man The wise men are con- cheat you by philosophy and founded, they are dismayed vain deceit, according to the and taken for they have tradition of men, according cast away the word of the to the elements of the world, Lord, and there is no wis- and not according to Christ.

Je 8, 9

Eci 9, 17

79.-BLISS OF HIM WHO SEEKS WISDOM.

CI 2, 8

The words of the wise are the discipline he hath learned, heard in silence, more than and shall glory in the law of the cry of a prince among the Covenant of the Lord. fools. The multitude of the wise W 6, 28

Eci 37, 26 A wise man instructeth is the welfare of the whole his own people, and the world: and a wise king is fruits of his understanding the upholding of the peoare faithful.

Eci 39, 8

9, 11

ple.

If it should please the Learning to the prudent is Eci 21,24 Great Lord, He will fill him an ornament of gold, and with the Spirit of under- like a bracelet upon his right standing:-And he will pour arm. forth the words of his wis

Blessed is the man whom Ps 93, 12

dom as showers, and in his Thou shalt instruct, O Lord:
prayer he will confess to the and shalt teach him out of
Lord. He shall show forth Thy Law.

80. THE WISE AND FOOLISH MAN CONTRASTED.

Eci 15, 7-8 Foolish men shall not ob-| The wisdom of a discreet Pv 14, 8 tain her, and wise men shall man is to understand his meet her; foolish men shall way: and the imprudence of

not see her, for she is far fools erreth.

from pride and deceit.-Ly- Folly is joy to the fool: Pu 15, 21 ing men shall not be mind- and the wise man maketh

ful of her but men that straight his steps.

speak truth shall be found The prudent man saw the Pv 22, 3 with her, and shall advance, evil, and hid himself: the

even till they come to the simple passed on, and suf

sight of God.

fered loss.

14

Ecl 2, 13- I saw that wisdom excel-death: but the wisdom of
led folly as much as light the spirit is life and peace.-
differeth from darkness. Because the wisdom of the
The eyes of a wise man are flesh is an enemy to God:
in his head: the fool walketh for it is not subject to the
in darkness.
law of God, neither can it

Ro 8, 6-7

Dt 32, 29

Pv8, 4-5,

The wisdom of the flesh is be.

81.-EXHORTATIONS TO WISDOM.

O that they would be wise thy friend:- That she may
and would understand, and keep thee from the woman
would provide for their last that is not thine, and from
end!
the stranger who sweeteneth

O ye men, to you I call, her words. 10-11 and My voice is to the sons Get wisdom, because it is Pv 16, 16 of men.-O little ones, un- better than gold and purderstand subtlety; and ye chase prudence, for it is more unwise, take notice.-Receive precious than silver.

Pv 9, 4-6

My instruction, and not Give ear, My son, and take Eci 6, 24-
money; choose knowledge wise counsel, and cast not 25, 30-32
rather than gold.-For wis-away My advice.-Put thy
dom is better than all the feet into her fetters, and thy
most precious things: and neck into her chains :-Then
whatsoever may be desired shall her fetters be a strong
cannot be compared to it. defence for thee, and a firm

Whosoever is a little one, foundation, and her chain a
let him come to Me. And robe of glory :-For in her is
to the unwise she said: the beauty of life, and her
Come, eat My bread, and bands are a healthful bind-
drink the wine which I have ing. Thou shalt put her on
mingled for you. - Forsake as a robe of glory, and thou
childishness, and live, and shalt set her upon thee as a
walk by the ways of pru- crown of joy.
dence.

Buy truth, and do not sell Pv 23, 23 Eci 51, 31- Draw near to Me, ye un- wisdom, and instruction, and

34

Pv 7,4-5

learned, and gather your- understanding.

selves together into the house You were heretofore dark-
of discipline. - Why are ye ness, but now light in the
slow? and what do you say Lord. Walk ye as children of
of these things? your souls the Light.

Ep 5,8

are exceeding thirsty. I Study wisdom, My son, Pv 27, 11
have opened My mouth, and and make My heart joyful,
have spoken: buy her for that thou mayst give an
yourselves without silver,- answer to him that reproach-
And submit your neck to the eth.

27

yoke, and let your soul Come over to Me, all ye Eci 24,26-
receive discipline: for she is that desire Me, and be filled
near at hand to be found. with My fruits: - For My
Say to Wisdom: Thou art Spirit is sweet above honey
my sister and call Prudence and the honeycomb.

W9,4

W9, 10

P$ 5, 9

82. CRIES OF THE SOUL SEEKING WISDOM.

O Lord, give me Wisdom, rejoice that it may fear Thy
that sitteth by Thy Throne, Name.

and cast me not off from Lead me in the Eternal Ps 138, 24
among Thy children.
Way.

11

and Eci 23, 1

6

Send Wisdom out of Thy Cause me to hear Thy Ps 142, 8Holy Heaven, and from the mercy in the morning: for Throne of Thy Majesty, that in Thee have I hoped. Make She may be with me, and the way known to me wheremay labour with me, that I in I should walk: for I have may know what is acceptable lifted up my soul to Thee.with Thee. Deliver me from my enemies, W9,17-19 Who shall know Thy O Lord, to Thee have I fled: thought, O Lord, except -Teach me to do Thy will, Thou give Wisdom, and send for Thou art my God. Thy Thy Holy Spirit from above: Good Spirit shall lead me -And so the ways of them into the right Land:-For Thy that are upon earth may be Name's sake, O Lord, Thou corrected, and men may wilt quicken me in Thy justice. learn the things that please O Lord, Father, Thee?-For by Wisdom they Sovereign Ruler of my life, were healed, whosoever have leave me not to the counsel pleased Thee, O Lord, from of my lips, nor suffer me to the beginning. fall by them.-Who will set Conduct me, O Lord, in scourges over my thoughts Thy justice because of my and the discipline of Wisdom enemies: direct my way in over my heart, that they Thy sight. spare not in their ignorances, Show, O Lord, Thy ways and that their sins may not to me, and teach me Thy appear:-Lest my ignorance paths. increase, and my offences Direct me in Thy Truth, be multiplied, and my sins and teach me: for Thou art abound, and I fall before my God my Saviour, and on adversaries, and my enemy Thee I have waited all the rejoice over me?-O Lord, day. Father, and God of my life, O Lord, make me know leave me not to their devices. my end, and what is the-Give me not haughtiness number of my days, that I of my eyes, and turn away may know what is wanting from me all coveting.-Take from me greediness, and let Send forth Thy Light and not the lusts of the flesh take Thy Truth. They have con- hold of me, and give me not ducted me and brought me over to a shameless unto Thy Holy Hill and into foolish mind.

Ps 24, 4

Ps 24, 5

Ps 38,5

Ps 42, 3

P85, 11

to me.

Thy Tabernacle.

Conduct me, O Lord, in

and

Draw me: we will run after Ca 1, 3
Thee.

Thy way, and I will walk in If I have erred, teach Thou J6 34, 32
Thy Truth: let my heart me.

PART IV.

PRUDENCE AND ITS CONTRARY VICES.

WE now treat of the Cardinal Virtues, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance, to which all the other Moral Virtues are reducible. S. Thomas shows that four wounds were inflicted on the soul by the sin of our first parents, viz. (1) ignorance in the reason, (2) malice in the will, (3) infirmity in the irascible, and (4) concupiscence in the concupiscible appetites. These four wounds, which are the root of all sins, are removed by the four Cardinal Virtues. Thus, (1) Prudence enables the reason to perceive what, in the particular circumstances, is most conformed to Right Reason; (2) Justice disposes the will to act fairly, and to render to every one his due; (3) Fortitude enables the irascible appetite to steer a middle course between excessive fear and rashness; (4) Temperance balances the concupiscible appetite between the immoderate pursuit of pleasure and insensibility with respect to pleasure.

All the Moral Virtues have as their aim conformity to right reason, but "it belongs to Prudence to decide in what way, and by what means, man may in his conduct attain the golden mean of reason."† Hence Prudence is the measure and rule of the other Moral Virtues.

*Sum. Theol. p.s. q. 85. a. 3.

+Ibid. sec. sec. q. 47. a. 7.