He regrets that this part of a true learning has not been collected hitherto into writing, to the great derogation of learning, and the professors of learning; for from this proceeds the popular opinion which has passed into an adage, that there is no great concurrence between wisdom and learning. The deficiency here is well nigh total he says: 'but for the wisdom of business, wherein man's life is most conversant, there be no books of it, except some few scattered advertisements, that have no proportion to the _magnitude of the subject_. For if books were written of this, as of the other, I doubt not but _learned men_ with _mean experience_ would far excel men of _long experience without learning_, and _outshoot them with their own bow_. Neither need it be thought that this knowledge is too variable to fall under precept,' he says; and he mentions the fact, that in old Rome, so renowned for practical ability, in its wisest and saddest times, there were professors of this learning, that were known for GENERAL WISE MEN, who used to walk at certain hours in the place, and give _advice_ to private citizens, who came to consult with them of the _marriage_ of _a daughter_, for instance, or the _employing_ of _a son_, or of _an accusation_, or of a _purchase or bargain_, and _every other occasion incident to man's life_. There is a pretty scheme laid out truly. Have _we_ any general wise man, or ghost of one, who walks up and down at certain hours and gives advice on such topics? However that may be, this philosopher does not despair of such a science. 'So,' he says, commenting on that Roman custom, 'there is a wisdom of council and advice, even in private cases, arising out of a universal _insight into the affairs_ of _the world_, which is _used_ indeed upon _particular cases propounded_, but is gathered by general _observation_ of _cases_ of _like nature_.' And fortifying himself with the example of Solomon, after collecting a string of texts from the Sacred Proverbs, he adds, 'though they are capable, of course, of a more divine interpretation, taking them as instructions for life, they might have received large discourse, if he would have _broken them_ and _illustrated them_, by deducements and examples. Nor was this in use with the Hebrews only, but it is generally to be found in the wisdom of the more ancient times, that as men found out any observation that they thought was _good for life_, they would gather it, and express it in _parable_, or _aphorism_, or _fable_.'