Cedars of Lebanon The Pillars but of siluer and the bed-steed of golde the Tester or Canopie but of purple the couerlet wrought vvith the curious and painefull needle-worke of the maydes of IERVSALEM but this celestiall resting place of my GOD is not made with hands not of anie corruptible metall but is full of incomprehensible light shining euermore vvith the glorious presence of GOD. And as the outward state so the maiesty of his person is aboue all comparison Come forth O ye daughters of Sion lay aside all priuate and earthly affections looke vpon king SALOMON as hee sits solemnlie crovvned in the daie of his greatest royaltie and triumph and compare his highest pompe vvith the diuine magnificence of my Sauiour in that daie vvhen his blessed marriage shall bee fully perfited aboue to the eternall reioycing of himselfe and his Church and see vvhether there bee any proportion betwixt them CHAP. IIII. CHRIST OH how faire thou art and comely my deer Spouse how inwardely faire with the giftes of my Spirit how faire outwardly in thy comely administration and gouernmēt thy spirituall eyes of vnderstanding and iudgement are full of puritie chastitie simplicitie not wantonly cast forth but modestly shining amidst thy locks all thy gratious profession and all thy appendances and ornaments of expedient ceremonies are so comely to behold as it is to see a flock of well-sed goates grasing vpon the fruitfull hils of Gilead Those that chew and prepare the heauenly food for thy soule are both of gratious simplicitie and of sweete accordance one with another hauing all one heart and one tongue and both themselues are sanctified purged from their vncleannesses and are fruitfull in their holy labours vnto others so that their doctrine is neuer in vaine but is still answered with plentifull increase of soules added to the Church Thy speech especially in the mouth of thy teachers is both gratious in it selfe and such as administers grace to the hearers full of zeale and feruent charitie full of grauitie and discretion and that part of thy countenance which thou wilt haue seene tho dimly and sparingly is full of holy modesty and bashfulnesse so blushing that it seemeth like the colour of a broken peece of pomgranate Those who by their holy authority sustaine thy gouernment which are as some straight and strong neck to beare vp the head are like vnto Dauids hie tower of defence furnished with a rich armory which affords infinite wayes of safe protection and infinite monumēts of victory Thy two testaments which are thy two ful faire breasts whereby thou nursest all thy faithfull children are as two twinnes of Kiddes twinnes for their excellent and perfect agreement one with another in all resemblances of Kiddes that are daintily fed among the sweete flowers for the pleasant nourishment which they yeeld to all that sucke thereof Vntill the day of my gratious appearance shall shine foorth and vntill all these shadowes of ignorance infidelitie afflictions be vtterly and suddenly dispersed O my spouse I will retire my selfe in regard of my bodily presence into my delightfull and glorious rest of heauen Thou art exceeding beautifull O my Church in all the parts of thee for all thy sinnes are done away and thine iniquitie is couered and loe I present thee to my father without spot or wrinkle or any such deformitie And now O thou which I professe to haue married to my selfe in trueth and righteousnesse thou shalt be gathered to me from all parts of the world not onely from the confines of Iudea where I planted and found thee but from the remotest and most sauage places of the nations out of the company of infidels of cruell bloody persecutors who like Lyons and Leopards haue tyrannized ouer thee mercilessely torn thee in pieces Thou hast vtterly rauisht me from my selfe O my sister and spouse for so thou art both ioyned to me in that spirituall vnion and coheire with mee of the same inheritance and glory thou hast quite rauisht my heart with thy loue euen one cast of one of thine eyes of faith and one of the ornaments of thy sanctification where with thou art decked by my spirit haue thus stricken mee with loue how much more when I shall haue a full sight of thee and all thy graces shall I bee affected towards thee O how excellent how precious howe delectable are those loues of thine O my sister my spouse how farre surpassing all earthlie delicates and the sauour of those diuine vertues wherwith thou art indued more pleasing to my sent then all the perfumes in the world The gratious speeches that proceede from thee are as so many droppes of the honie-combe that fall from thy lippes and whether thou exhort or confesse or pray or comfort thy words are both sweete and nourishing and the sauour of thy good workes and outward conuersation is to mee as the smell of the woode of Lebanon to the sense of man My sister my spouse is as a garden or orchard full of all varietie of the heauenly trees flowers of grace not lying carelesly open either to the loue of strāgers or to the rage of enemies which like the wild Bore out of the wood might root vp destroy her choise plants but safely hedged and walled about by my protection and reserued for my delight alone she is a spring and Well of wholesome waters from whom flowe foorth the pure streames of my word but both inclosed and sealed vp partly that shee may the better by this closenesse preserue her owne naturall taste and vigor from the corruptions of the world and partly that she may not be defiled mudded by the profane feete of the wicked Thou art an orchard yea a paradise whose plants which are thy faithfull children that grow vp in thee are as pomgranate trees the apples whereof are esteemed for the largenesse colour and taste aboue all other or if I would feede my other senses the plentifull fruites of thy holie obedience which thou yieldest vnto mee are for their smell as some composition of Cipresse Spikenard Saffron sweete Cane Cinamon Incense Myrrhe Aloes and whatsoeuer else may bee deuised vnto the most perfect sent Thou art so a spring in my garden that the streames which are deriued from thee water all the gardens of my particular congregations all the world ouer thou art that fountaine from whose pure head issue all those liuing waters which who-so drinketh shall neuer thirst againe euen such cleare currents as flow from the hill of Libanus which like vnto another Iordan water all the Israel of God The Church IF I be a garden as thou saist O my Sauiour then arise O all ye Souerain winds of the spirit of God and breath vpon this garden of my soule that the sweet odours of these my plants may both be increased and may also bee dispersed afarre and
like a raging raine that leaueth no food yea lesse then oppression He that despiseth his neighbour is both a sinner and destitute of vnderstanding or lastly of equals therin quiet peaceable demeanure not striuing with others causelesse not to begin coÌ„entions for The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters therefore ere it bee meddled with hee leaueth off and being prouoked debateth the matter with his neighbor And as he goes not forth hastily to strife so much lesse doth hee take part in impertinent quarrells He that passeth by and meddleth vvith the strife that belonges not to him is as one that takes a dog by the care and one of the sixe things that God hates is he that rayseth vp contentions among neighbours Secondly mutuall commerce and interchange of commodities without which is no liuing The abundance of the earth is ouer all and the King consists by the field that is tilled The husbandman therefore must till his land that hee may bee satisfied with bread for much increase commeth by the streÌ„gth of the Oxe and moreouer he must sell corn that blessings may be vpoÌ„ him which if he withdrawe the people shall curse him so that the slothfull man vvhose field is ouergrowen with thornes and nettles is but an ill member And againe the Merchant must bring his wares from farre and each so trade with other that both may liue They prepare bread for laughter wine comforts the liuing but siluer answereth to all Fâ—r lesse publicke society it required due reseruation of proprietie not to remoue the ancient boundes which his fathers haue made not to enter into the field of the fatherless for he that redeemeth theÌ„ is mighty not to increase his riches by vsury and interest not to hasten ouer-much to be rich for such one knoweth not that pouerty shall come vpon him that an heritage hastily gotten in the beginning in the ende thereof shall not bee blessed and that in the meane time The man that is greedie of gaine troubleth his own house 2. Truth of friendship A man that hath friendes ought to showe himselfe friendly for a friend is neerer then a brother Thy owne friend therefore and thy fathers friend forget thou not for whether hee reprooue thee The woundes of a louer are faithfull or whether hee aduise As Oyntment and Perfuiâ—â—e reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnesse of a mans friend by hearty counsell or whether he exhort Iron sharpens iron so doth a man sharpen the face of his friend and all this not in the time of prosperity onely as commonly Riches gather manie friends and the poore is separated from his neighbour but contrarily A true friend loueth at all times a brother is born for aduersitie in all estates therfore as the face in the water answers to face so the hart of man to man who yet may not bee too much pressed Withdrawe thy foot from thy neighbors house least he be wearie of thee and hate thee neither enter into thy brothers house in the daie of thy calamitie nor againe too forward in profering kindnesse to his owne losse A man destitute of vnderstanding toucheth the hand and becommeth suretie for his neighbour If therefore thou art become surety for thy neighbour much more if thou haue strikeÌ„ hands with the straÌ„ger thou art snared with the wordes of thine owne mouth thou art euen taken with the words of thine owne mouth Doe this now my sonne seeing thou art comne into the hand of thy neighbour not hauing taken a pledge for thy suretiship goe and humble thy selfe and solicit thy friends Giue no sleepe to thine eyes nor sluÌ„ber to thine ey lids Deliuer thy self as a Doe from the hand of the hunter as a bird from the hand of the fowler take it for a sure rule He that hateth suretiship is sure SALOMONS OECONOMICKS or Gouernment of the FAMILY 1. HVSBAND WIFE 2 PARENT CHILDE 3. MASTER SERVANT Anno Domini 1609. SALOMONS OECONOMICKS Or FAMILY §. 1. The head of the Family in whome is required Wisedome Stayednesse Thrift THe man is the head and guide of the family Jn whom wisdome is good with an inheritance for Through wisedome an house is builded and established which directs him to doe all things in due order first to prepare his worke without and then after to builde his house and there-with stayednes For as a bird that wandreth froÌ„ her neast so is a man that wandreth from his owne place and which is the chief stay of his estate thriftiness for He that troubleth his owne house by excesse shall inherit the winde and the foole shal be seruant to the wise in hart for which purpose he shall finde that The house of the righteous shall haue much treasure while the reuenues of the wicked is but trouble or if not much yet Better is a little with the feare of the Lord then great treasure and trouble therewith Howsoeuer therefore let him bee content with his estate Let the lambes be sufficient for his cloathing and let the goates bee the price of his fielde Let the milke of his goates bee sufficient for his foode for the food of his family and the sustenance of his maydes and if hee haue much reuenue let him looke for much expence For When goods increase they are increased that eat them and what good commeth to the owners therof but the beholding therof vvith their eyes THE HVSBAND §. 2. Who must beare himself wisely chastly quietly and cheerefully HE that findeth a vvise findeth a good thing and receiueth fauour of the Lord Who must therefore behaue himselfe 1. wisely as the guide of her youth as the heade to which shee is a crowne 2. chastely Drink the water of thy owne Cistern and the riuers out of the midst of thine owne Well The matrimoniall loue must be pure and cleare not muddy and troubled Let thy fountaines flowe forth and the riuers of waters in the Streets the sweet comfortable fruits of blessed marriage in plentifull issue But let them bee thine alone and not the strangers with thee This loue abides no partners for this vvere to giue thine honour vnto others and thy strength to the cruell so should the stranger be filled with thy strength and as the substance will be with the affections thy laboures should bee in the house of a stranger and thou shalt mourne which is the best successe heereof at thine ende vvhen thou hast consumed besides thy goods thy flesh and thy body and say How haue I hated instruction and mine heart despised correctioÌ„ I was almost plunged into all euill of sinne and torments and that which is most
shamefull in the midst of the assembly in the face of the world Let therfore that thy owne fountaine be blessed and reioice with the wise of thy youth Let her be as the louing Hinde and pleasant Roe let her breasts satisfie thee at all times and erre thou in her loue continually For why shouldst thou delight my sonne in a strange woman or whether in affection or acte embrace the bosome of a stranger For the vvayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and hee pondereth all his pathes and if thy godlesnesse regarde not that yet for thy owne sake Desire not her beautie in thy heart neyther let her take thee with her eie-lids for because of the whorish woman a man is brought to a morsell of bread yea to the very huskes and more then that a VVoman will hunt for the precious life of a man Thou sayest thou canst escape this actuall defilement Can a man take fire in his bosome and his cloathes not bee burnt Or can a man goe vpon coales and his feete not bee burnt So hee that goeth in to his Neighbours Wife shall not bee innocent vvhosoeuer toucheth her This Sinne is farre more odious then thefte For men doo not despise a Thiefe when hee steales to satisfie his soule because hee is hungrie But if hee be found hee shall restore seauen folde or he shall giue all the substance of his house and it is accepted But hee that commits adultery with a woman is mad he that would destroy his owne soule let him doe it For he shall finde a wounde and dishonour and his reproache shall neuer bee put avvaie Neither is the daunger lesse then the shame For ielousie is the rage of a man therefore the wronged husband will not spare in the day of vengeance Hee cannot beare the sight of any raunsome neither will he consent to remit it tho thou multiplie thy giftes And tho Stollen waters be sweet and hid bread be pleasant to our corrupt taste yet the adulterer knowes not that the dead are there and that her guests are in the deepes of hell that her house tendeth to death And howsoeuer her lips drop as an hony-combe and her mouth is more soft then oyle yet the end of her is bitter as wormewood sharpe as a two edged sword her feete goe downe to death and her steps take hold of hell yea The mouth of the strange woman is a deepe pit and hee with whom the Lord is angry shall fall into it 3. Quietly and louingly for Betteris a dinner of green herbs where loue is then a stalled oxe and hatred therewith Yea Better is a dry morsell if peace be with it then an house full of sacrifices with strife And if he find sometime cause of blame The discretion of a man differreth his anger and his glory is to passe by an offence and onely He that couereth a transgression seeketh loue Reioyce with thy wife whom thou hast loued all the dayes of the life of thy vanitie which God hath giuen thee vnder the Sunne For this is thy portion in this life and in the trauels wherein thou labourest vnder the Sunne THE WIFE §. 3. She must be 1. Faithfull to her husband Not wanton 2. Obedient 3. Discreet 4. Prouident and hous-wife-like A Vertuous Wife is the Crowne of her husband Who shall finde such a one for her price is farre aboue the pearles Shee is true to her husbands bedde such as the heart of her husband may trust to as knowing that she is tied to him by the couenant of God not wanton and vnchaste such one as I once saw from the window of my house I looked through my window saw among the fooles considered among the children a yong man wanting wit who passed through the streete by her corner and went toward her house in the twi-light in the euening when the night began to bee blacke and darke so as hee thought himselfe vnseene and behold there met him the same he sought for a woman with an harlots fashion and close in heart as open in her habite She is babbling and peruerse whose feete contrary to the manner of all modest wiues which onely attaine honour cannot abide in her house but are ouer gadding Now shee is without the gates now in the streetes and lyeth in wayte in euery corner or at the least sitteth at the doore of her house on a seat in the hie places of the city so she not staying to be solicited caught him by the necke and kissed him and with an impudent face said vnto him I haue the flesh of peace offrings both good cheere and religion pretended this day haue I paid my vowes therefore I came foorth on purpose to meete thee that I might earnestly seeke thy face of all others and now how happy am J that J haue found thee I haue decked my bedde with ornaments with curtaines and strings of Egypt I haue perfumed my bedde with myrrhe aloes and cinnamon that wee may lie sweet Come goe let vs take our fill of loues vntill the morning let vs take our pleasure in dalliance feare nothing For my husband is not at home hee is gone a iourney farre off neither needest thou to doubt his returne for he hath taken with him a bagge of siluer and will come home at his set day sooner hee cannot this shee said what followed By the abundance of the sweetnesse of her speech shee caused him to yeeld and with the flatterie of her lippes she intised him and straight wayes hee followes her as an oxe goeth to the slaughter and as a foole to the stockes for correction till a dart strike through his liuer the seate of his lust or as a birde hasteneth to the snare and knoweth not that it is against his owne life thus shee doeth and when her husband returnes shee wipeth her mouth and saith I haue not committed iniquitie 2. She is duetifull and obedient by a soft answere appeasing wrath not hatefull for whom a whole world is mooued not stubborne not quarellous for the contentions and brawlings of a wife are like a continuall dropping in the day of raine a discomfort to the husband a rotting to the house So It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top then with a contentious woman in a wide house And tho for society Two bee better then one yet It is better to dwell alone in the wildernesse then with a contentious and angry woman For herein as his griefe cannot be auoyded so his shame cannot bee conceiued For Hee that hideth her hideth the winde and she is as oyle in his right hand that vttereth it selfe