Chapter III.—Forewarned is Forearmed.

“And let it not be said, Is it not, then, proper to present comforts and admonitions to those who are in any bad case?  To this I answer, that if, indeed, any one is able, let him present them; but if not, let him bide his time.  For I know⁹¹⁹⁹¹⁹    Eccles. iii. 1. that all things have their proper season.  Wherefore it is proper to ply men with words which strengthen the soul in anticipation of evil; so that, if at any time any evil comes upon them, the mind, being forearmed with the right argument, may be able to bear up under that which befalls it:  for then the mind knows in the crisis of the struggle to have recourse to him who succoured it by good counsel.