The Connecticut Observer, And New York Congregationalist

Communicated.

True Prudence. No. 3.

Another characteristic of true prudence is
SEASONABLE PREPARATION FOR CHANGES.

" The prudent man foreseeth the evil and
hideth himself." He makes ready for the
vicissitudes of things. Though a bright sun
shines out upon him when commencing a
journey, he will take with him means of defence
against both wet and cold. If about
adventuring upon the sea, auspicious skies
and favoring winds will not delude him. He
will possess himself of what will be demanded,
should storms beat, and thunders roll, and
ocean wake to rage. In health he will lay
by those resources and accommodations
which sickness, if it befall him, will require.
Though success is largely given him in times
of general prosperity, yet he will not, like
others, become inflated with success and
plunge deep in adventurous speculation. If
contracts are to be made, pledges given, he
will weigh every word that he utters; so
that he may be able, come what reverses
may, to fulfil every obligation. And why
should he not thus prepare himself? Even
irrational nature persuades to such a course.
The Greek fabulist elegantly adverts to this,
when, representing the ant, of which the
grasshopper in autumn asked food, as replying,
'You have piped all summer, now
dance!' Inspired wisdom, too, directs our
attention to "things that are little upon the
earth, but exceeding wise:-The ants are a
people not strong, yet they prepare their
meat in the summer; the conies are but a
feeble folk, yet make they their houses in
the rocks."

The man truly prudent learns
such lessons especially from God's book, and
applies them with peculiar carefulness in
respect of his spiritual concerns. He obeys
the injunction, "Labor not for the meat that
perisheth;" "Lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven where neither moths nor rust
will corrupt, nor thieves break through and
steal ;" "be ready, for in such an hour as ye
think not the Son of man cometh." Such a
man, as others, death may indeed surprise;
but him it will not find, like them, unprepared.
However suddenly he may by death
be unclothed of his body, he will not be
found naked.'" He will be clothed upon—the
frail and broken tabernacle in which he
groaned being burdened, will then be exchanged
for his house that is from heaven.

R. M. CHIPMAN.