SEE WHAT BAD COUNSELS CAN DO 

Justice must be the counselor's greatest virtue. Injustice fails him miserably. It is narrated that when the people of Israel, after the death of Solomon, had asked his son Rehoboam to free their neck from their cruel yoke, and to lighten the harshness of his father's rule, he, despising the counsel of the old men and following the suggestion of the young men, gave the following answer: He would add a burden to the yoke of his father, and change their lighter toils for harder. 

Angered by this answer, the people said: "We have no portion in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse. Return to your tents, O Israel. For we will not have this man for a prince or a leader over us." 

So, forsaken and deserted by the people, he could keep with him scarce two of the ten tribes for David's sake. 

St. Ambrose, Duties of the Clergy, Chapter XVIII

(11-23-02)