2. “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” Such is the blindness of self-love, that men can find no fault in themselves; but imagine all that they contrive and doe to be free from blame: which, when the Lord examines, who searches into the very intentions of men’s hearts, is found to be very defective, if not vicious.
3. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” When thou undertakest anything, implore the Divine blessing; and committing the success of it to God’s providence, leave it to Him to give what issue to it He pleases: which is the surest way to have thy honest designs accomplished.
7. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” The best to have our enemies reconciled unto us is for us first to be reconciled unto God: for such is the reverence men bear to virtue, and such is the love which the Lord hath to virtuous persons, that when all their designs and actions are such as He approves: He inclines even those that were their foes to become their friends.
9. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” The mind of man designs an end, and contrives what means to use, and reckons perhaps what success they will have: but the Lord determines what the event shall be, and orders his motions perhaps to such an issue as never came into his thoughts.
11. “A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are His work.” And it is worthy of His care, that there be no corruption in private, no more than in publick justice; for it also is of divine institution; the great Lord of all requiring just and equal dealings in all our commerce one with another; which He hath ordained should be managed with scrupulous integrity, in the smallest as well as in the greatest matters.
16. “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” But after all is done, to get so much wisedom as to know the difference between good and evil, and to understand how to behave a man’s self upon all occasions; is, beyond all expression, better and more to be chosen than the greatest treasures of gold and silver, which either the favor of princes can give, or his own industry acquire.
S. Patrick (1683)