October 31 — On the Four Cardinal Virtues

Consider, first, that there are four moral virtues, which are called cardinal because they are, as it were, hinges, up(m which the whole life of a Christian must constantly move, if he would be good for any thing. These are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance; which, the wise man tells us, (Wis. viii. 7,) are all taught by divine wisdom, and are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life. All other moral virtues have a necessary dependence on these four: they all fall to the ground without them. Every virtue must be prudent and discreet in all it takes in hand, otherwise it degenerates into vice; every virtue must he just, by rendering, on all occasions, what is due to God, to ourselves, and to our neighbours. Every virtue must be stout and valiant, firm and constant, in adhering to what is right, and opposing what is wrong. And every virtue must be sober and temperate, lest it exceed the bounds of due moderation, prescribed by right reason and religion. But O what treasures c f virtues do they possess, that have acquired these four principal ones! These will effectually arm them against aU vices.

Consider, secondly, that Christian prudence is a virtue which teaches us, in all things, what is good and what is evil; what is right and what is wrong; and what ought to be done, and what ought to be left undone, in all the occurrences of life. It is a virtue that directs all our words and actions in such a manner, as that we neither decline out of the way or offend ourselves, nor give occasion to others to offend; but, ever setting before our eyes our great business and last end, make always a proper choice of the means that are to bring us to this great end, and apply them accordingly. It is a virtue that directs all other virtues, conducting them all by the royal middle way of our great King, that they may not go aside by excess or defect, either to the right hand or to the left. The offices of this great virtue are to design and consult well, to judge right, and to direct wt U the execution of what has been rightly concerted and judged to be proper. In all which it is helped, indeed, by the remembrance of things past, by the understanng of things present, by the fore casting of things to come, by reasoning, attention, caution, and circumspection; but all this with dependance on divine grace, and not on one’s own industry; and with a continual application to our Lord, by frequent and fervent prayer, for his light and assistance, without which our prudence will avail us nothing.

Consider, thirdly, the offices of the other three cardinal virtues and the excellence of them. Justice renders to every one his due, and wrongs no one. It teaches to restrain every thought, every desire, every act of the will, every judgment, every word, every action, and every omission too, that any ways tends to injure one’s neighbour, or that does not rightly square with that great principle of morality, Do as thou wouldst he done by. And with regard to God, (who has the most undoubted right, by all manner of titles, to our whole being, and to all our service,) it obliges us, before all things, to dedicate our whole hearts and souls to him by worship and love, liheii fortitude arms the soul with invincible courage in her warfare against her spiritual enemies, and gives her strength and constancy to enable her to overcome all fear or dread of any of those evils which she may be exposed to in her mortal pilgrimage, for doing her duty; and resolution to suffer every thing rather than to sin. Lastly, perance restrains all immoderation in eating or drinking, with all other excesses pf pur passioqs or Iqsts, and all that any ways carries us put of the dqe bounds prescribed either by right reason and the law of naturd, or by the precepts of God, or of them that have their authority from him, in the employments or functions of aqy pf pur senses, whether etefior or nterior. See, my VOL. TI. 17 BoUl, how admirable are all these virtues. O, there is not a da/» there is scarce an hour of thy mortal life, in which thou dost ndi Bland in need of them all.

Conclude to esteem and desire, love and seek, all these Messed virtues. O, spare no pains to acquire them; they are richly worth all thy labour. But ever remember whose gifts they are, and that they must come to thee by fervent prayer. All thy labour, without this, will be labour in vain.