All Bus’ness that is necessary to be done should be done Betimes: And
there’s as little Trouble of doing it In Season too, as Out of Season:
Neither is it Effectually done at all, but in the Proper Time of Doing
it: So that ’tis Good Discretion, and Good Advice, to provide against
Danger beforehand; for he that’s always Ready can never be taken with a
_Why not_.
’Tis a piece of Good Councel, in All the Affairs of Humane Life, to
take care of Securing our Selves that we may be not either Betray’d, or
Surpriz’d: But as it is Wisdom to keep our Selves upon a Guard; so it
is Matter of Good Manners also, and Respect; neither to do, nor to say
any thing, that may Import a Jealousie or a Distrust. All the Duties of
Government and Society; Nay, all Offices, Civil and Religious, where
Prudence, Conscience, or Common Faith are concern’d, have their Proper
Seasons. ’Tis too late to hinder Mischief when the Opportunity is once
past, and therefore the Timing of Things is a Main Point in the Dispatch
of All Affairs. There can be no Safe, or Sure Peace, where People are
not always in Readiness for War; for the Common Well-being of Mankind,
does not so much Depend upon the Faith of Men, and of Governments, as
upon the Temporary and Contingent Occasions of Breaking the Peace with
Advantage. ’Tis not Publique Justice Alone, that can Uphold a Government,
without the Aid of Policy and Councel. Men do Naturally Indulge Those
Opinions and Practices, that favour their Pretensions: and ’tis too much
to Superadd Powerful Temptations to do Wrong, to the Force of Vicious
Inclinations to do it. The _Boar_’s Whetting his Teeth, was only an Act
of Necessary _Precaution_, for fear of the Worst: And the _Porcupine_ did
Wisely too, in keeping himself upon his Guard when the Enemy was in View.