_A_. A faculty of reasoning justly and truly, in searching after such truths as relate to my happiness. Which faculty is the gift of God, capable of being improved by experience and instruction into wisdom. _Q_. What is wisdom? _A_. The knowledge of what will be best for us on all occasions and the best ways of attaining it. _Q_. Is any man wise at all times and in all things? _A_. No: but some are much more frequently wise than others. _Q_. What do you mean by the necessaries of life? _A_. Having wholesome food and drink wherewith to satisfy hunger and thirst, clothing, and a place of habitation fit to secure against the inclemencies of the weather. _Q_. What do you mean by the conveniences of life? _A_. Such a plenty * * * * * * * * * * _Query_.—Whether it is worth a rational man's while to forego the pleasure arising from the present luxury of the age in eating and drinking and artful cookery, studying to gratify the appetite, for the sake of enjoying a healthy old age, a sound mind and a sound body, which are the advantages reasonably to be expected from a more simple and temperate diet? Whether those meats and drinks are not the best that contain everything in their natural tastes, nor have any thing added by art so pleasing as to induce us to eat or drink when we are not athirst or hungry, or after thirst and hunger are satisfied; water, for instance, for drink, and bread, or the like, for meat? Is there any difference between knowledge and prudence? If there is any, which of the two is most eligible? Is it justifiable to put private men to death for the sake of the public safety or tranquillity, who have committed no crime? As in case of the plague to stop infection, or as in the case of the Welshmen here executed. If the sovereign power attempts to deprive a subject of his right, (or, what is the same thing, of what he thinks his right,) is it justifiable in him to resist if he is able? What general conduct of life is most suitable for men in such circumstances as most of the members of the Junto are? or of the many schemes of living which are in our power to pursue, which will be most probably conducive to our happiness? Which is the best to make a friend of, a wise and good man that is poor, or a rich man that is neither wise nor good? Which of the two is the greatest loss to a country, if they both die? Which of the two is happiest in life? Does it not, in a general way, require great study and intense application for a poor man to become rich and powerful, if he would do it without the forfeiture of his honesty? Does it not require as much pains, study and application, to become truly wise and strictly good and virtuous, as to become rich? Can a man of common capacity pursue both views with success at the same time? If not, which of the two is it best for him to make his whole application to?