Of Righteousness. How Wisdome, Justice, and Right Reason are shut up in its Nature. What GOD doth, and what we acquire, by the Exercise of this Vertue.

RIGHTEOUSNESS and Wisdome are neer allyed. For to be Just towards all Objects is to render them their spiritual Due, their Due Esteem. It is Wisdome, because thereby we attain our End, and enjoy their Excellency. It is Right Reason, because to value all Things just as they are, rendering to them neither more nor less then they deserve, is to do Right to our selves and them, it is a Vertue, because by force thereof we attain our Happiness.

For the better understanding of this Vertue we must Know that there is a Righteousness of Apprehension, a Righteousness of Esteem, a Righteousness of Choise, and a Righteousness of Action. Righteousness of Thought is that Habit by Vertue of which we think aright; forming and framing within our selves aright Apprehensions of all Objects whatsoever. This, tho it be the First and smallest Part of Righteousness, is of Great importance; because no man can use that aright, the Nature of which he does not apprehend. He that mistakes his Hand for his Meat, will rise hungry from Table. He that mistakes a Fiddle for an Axe, will neither cut Wood well, nor make good Musick. The Misapprehension of Great and Transcendent Objects, whether visible or Spiritual, is not perhaps so Gross, but more pernicious and Destructive. He that apprehends GOD to be a Tyrant, can neither honour GOD, nor Love him, nor enjoy him. He that takes Vertues to be vices, and apprehends all the Actions of Religion unpleasant will loath and avoid them. He, that conceits Nothing in the World to be his own but this low Cottage and course diet, will think it needless to praise his Maker, and will deny himself to be happy in those narrow and Mean enjoyments. He that thinks all the Wealth is shut up in a Trunk of Gold, will little regard the Magnificence of the Heavens, the Light of the Sun, or the Beauty of the Universe.

RIGHTEOUSNESS in esteem is that Habit, by Vertue of which we value all things according as their Worth and Merit requires. It presupposes a right Apprehension of their Goodness, a clear Knowledge of all their excellencies.