Prudence: An Economy of Life

Prudence

Hear the words of prudence, give heed unto her counsels, and store them in thine heart; her maxims are universal, and all the virtues lean upon her; she is the guide and mistress of human life.

Put a bridle on thy tongue; set a guard before thy lips, lest the words of thine own mouth destroy thy peace.


Let him that scoffeth at the lame take care he halt not himself; whosoever speaketh of another's failings with pleasure shall hear of his own with bitterness of heart.


Of much speaking cometh repentance, but in silence is safety.


A talkative man is a nuisance to society, the ear is sick of his babbling, the torrent of his words overwhelmeth conversation.


Boast not of thyself, for it shall bring contempt upon thee; neither deride another, for it is dangerous.


A bitter jest is the poison of friendship, and he that cannot restrain his tongue shall have trouble.


Furnish thyself with the proper accommodations belonging to thy condition; yet spend not to the utmost of what thou canst afford, that the providence of thy youth may be a comfort in thine old age.


Let thine own business engage thine attention; leave the care of the state to the governors thereof.


Let not thy recreations be expensive lest the pain of purchasing them exceed the pleasure thou hast in their enjoyment.


Neither let prosperity put out the eyes of circumspection, nor abundance cut off the hands of frugality; he that too much indulgeth in the superfluities of life shall live to lament the want of its necessaries.


From the experience of others do thou learn wisdom; and from their feelings correct thine own faults.


Trust no man before thou hast tried him; yet mistrust not without reason, for it is uncharitable.


But when thou hast proved a man to be honest, lock him up in thine heart as a treasure, regard him as a jewel of inestimable price.


Refuse the favours of a mercenary man: they will be a snare unto thee; thou shalt never be quit of the obligation.


Use not today what tomorrow may want; neither leave that to hazard which foresight may provide for, or care prevent.
Yet expect not even from prudence infallible success: for man knoweth not what the night may bring forth.


The fool is not always unfortunate, nor the wise man always successful; yet never had a fool thorough enjoyment; never was a wise man wholly unhappy.

The Duties of Man

The Duties of Man:




Attention!



Bow down your heads into the dust, O ye inhabitants of the earth! Be silent and with reverence receive these instructions from on high.



Wheresoever the sun doth shine, wheresoever the wind doth blow, wheresoever there is an ear to hear, and a mind to conceive — there let the precepts of life be made known, let the maxims of truth be honoured and obeyed.



God:


All things proceed from God. His power is unbounded. His wisdom is for eternity, and His goodness endureth for ever.


He sitteth on His throne in the centre of the universe and the breath of His mouth giveth life to the world.




He toucheth the stars with His finger, and they run their course rejoicing.


On the wings of the wind He walketh abroad, and performeth His will through all the regions of unlimited space.




Order and grace and beauty spring from His hand.




The voice of wisdom speaketh in all His works; but the mortal understanding comprehendeth it not.




The shadow of mortal knowledge passeth over the brain of man as a dream; he seeth as in the dark; he reasoneth, and is deceived.


But the wisdom of God is as the Light of Heaven; it requireth not reason; His mind is the fountain of truth.




Justice and mercy wait before His throne; benevolence and love enlighten his countenance for ever.


Who is like unto God in glory? Who in power shall contend with the Almighty? Hath He any equal in wisdom? Can any in goodness be compared unto Him? There is none other before Him!




He it is, O man, who hath created thee; thy present station on earth was fixed by His laws; the powers of thy mind are the gifts of His Goodness, the wonders of thy frame are the work of His hand; thy Soul is His Soul, thy consciousness is His consciousness.


Hear then His voice, for it is gracious; and he that obeyeth shall establish his mind in Peace Profound; and bring everlasting growth to the Soul that resideth within his body, state after state, on this earth.




Therefore, with these instructions,


Unto thee I grant the Economy of Life.

Temperance: An Economy of Life:

Temperance:

The nearest approach thou canst make to happiness is to enjoy from Heaven understanding and health.

These blessings if thou possessest and wouldst preserve to old age, avoid the allurements of Voluptuousness, and fly from her temptations.
When she spreadeth her delicacies on the board, when her wine sparkleth in the cup, when she smileth upon thee and persuadeth thee to be joyful and happy — then is the hour of danger, and let reason stand firmly on her guard.


For if thou hearkenest unto the words of the Adversary, thou art deceived and betrayed.
The joy which she promiseth changeth to madness, and her enjoyments lead on to diseases and death.


Look round her board, cast thine eyes upon her guests and observe those who have been allured by her smiles, who have listened to her temptations.


Are they not meagre? Are they not sickly? Are they not spiritless?


Their short hours of jollity and riot are followed by tedious days of pain and dejection. She hath debauched and palled their appetites, and they have now no relish for her nicest dainties; her votaries are become her victims as the just and natural consequence which God hath ordained, in the constitution of things, for the punishment of those who abuse His gifts.
But who is she that with graceful steps, and with a lively air, trippeth over yonder plain?


The rose blusheth in her cheeks, the sweetness of the morning breatheth from her lips; joy, tempered with innocence and modesty, sparkleth in her eyes, and from the cheerfulness of her heart she singeth as she walketh.


Her name is Health: she is the daughter of Exercise who begot her on Temperance; their sons inhabit the mountains that stretch over the northern regions of San Ton Hoe.


They are brave, active, and lively, and partake of all the beauties and virtues of their sister.

Vigour stringeth their nerves, strength dwelleth in their bones, and labour is their delight all the day long.


The employments of their father excite their appetites, and the repasts of their mother refresh them.


To combat the passions is their delight; to conquer evil habits, their glory.


Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure; their repose is short, but sound and undisturbed.


Their blood is pure, their minds are serene, and the physician findeth not the way to their habitations.


But safety dwelleth not with the sons of men, neither is security found within their gates.
Behold them exposed to new dangers from without, while a traitor lurketh within to betray them.


Their health, their strength, their beauty, their activity, have raised desire in the bosom of lascivious Love.


She standeth in her bower, she courteth their regard, she spreadeth her temptations.


Her limbs are soft and delicate, her attire is loose and inviting, wantonness speaketh in her eyes, and on her bosom sits Temptation. She beckoneth them with her finger, she wooeth them with her looks, and by the smoothness of her tongue she endeavoureth to deceive.


Ah! Fly from her allurements, stop thine ears to her enchanting words. If thou meetest the languishing of her eyes, if thou hearest the softness of her voice, if she casteth her arms about thee, she bindeth thee in chains for ever.


Shame followeth, and disease, and want, and care, and repentance.


Enfeebled by dalliance, with luxury pampered, and softened by sloth, strength shall forsake thy limbs and health thy constitution. Thy days shall be few and those inglorious; thy griefs shall be many, yet meet with no compassion.

Fortitude: An Economy of Life: :

57:22] Al-Ḥadīd-الْحَدِيْد
"No calamity occurs in the earth or in your lives but it is in a Book (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz, the station of Allah’s pre-eternal knowledge,) before We make it happen. Surely, this (all-encompassing and perfect knowledge) is very easy for Allah, "
[The Glorious Quran]


Fortitude:

Perils, and misfortunes, and want, and pain, and injury, are the more or less certain lot of every man that cometh into the world.

It behoveth thee, therefore, O child of calamity! early to fortify thy mind with courage and patience, that thou mayest support, with a becoming resolution, thine allotted portion of human evil.


As a camel beareth labour, and heat, and hunger, and thirst, through deserts of sand, and fainteth not; so the fortitude of man shall sustain him through all perils.


A noble spirit disdaineth the malice of fortune; his greatness of Soul is not to be cast down.
He hath not suffered his happiness to depend on her smiles, and therefore with her frowns he shall not be dismayed.


As a rock of the seashore he standeth firm, and the dashing of the waves disturbeth him not.
He raiseth his head like a tower on a hill, and the arrows of fortune drop at his feet.


In the instant of danger, the courage of his heart sustaineth him, and the steadiness of his mind beareth him out.


He meeteth the evils of life as a man that goeth forth into battle and returneth with victory in his hand.


Under the pressure of misfortunes his calmness alleviates their weight, and his constancy shall surmount them.


But the dastardly spirit of a timorous man betrayeth him to shame.


By shrinking under poverty, he stoopeth down to meanness; and by tamely bearing insults he inviteth injuries.


As a reed is shaken with the breath of the air, so the shadow of evil maketh him tremble.


In the hour of danger, he is embarrassed and confounded; in the day of misfortune he sinketh, and despair overwhelmeth his Soul.

Charity and Pity - An Economy of Life

[57:18] Al-Ḥadīd-الْحَدِيْد
"Surely, both the men and the women who give charity and those who lend a goodly loan to Allah, the (reward of charity) will be increased for them manifold, and there will be most honourable reward for them. "
[The Glorious Qur'an]


As blossoms and flowers are strewed upon earth by the hand of spring, as the kindness of summer produceth in perfection the bounties of harvests, so the smiles of pity shed blessings on the children of misfortune.

He who pitieth another recommendeth himself; but he who is without compassion deserveth it not.


The butcher relenteth not at the bleating of the lamb, neither is the heart of the cruel moved with distress.


But the tears of the compassionate are sweeter than dew-drops falling from roses on the bosom of spring.


Shut not thine ear therefore against the cries of the poor, neither harden thine heart against the calamities of the innocent.


When the fatherless call upon thee, when the widow's heart is sunk and she imploreth thine assistance with tears of sorrow: O pity her affliction and extend thine hand to those who have none to help them.


When thou seest the naked wanderer of the streets, shivering with cold and destitute of habitation, let bounty open thine heart, let the wings of charity shelter him from death, that thine own Soul may live.


Whilst the poor man groaneth on the bed of sickness, whilst the unfortunate languish in the horrors of a dungeon, or the hoary head of age lifts up a feeble eye to thee for pity: O how canst thou riot in superfluous enjoyments, regardless of their wants, unfeeling of their woes?