thinges endure yf it were not thy wyll Or howe coulde any thing be preserued excepte it were called of the But thou sparest all for all are thine O Lorde thou louer of soules ¶ The mercye of God towarde synners the workes of God are vnreprouable God gyueth leysure to repente vs. Capi. xii O Lorde howe gracyous swete is thy spyrite in all thynges Therfore chasteneste thou them mesurabli that go wronge and warnest theÌ„ concerninge the thinges wherin they offende thou speaketh vnto theÌ„ o Lorde and exhortest theÌ„ to leaue theyr wickednes and put theyr truste in the. As for those olde inhabyters of thy holy lande thou myghtest not away with them Deut. 9. â— 12. d. 18. b for they coÌ„mytted abhomynable workes agaynst the as wytchecrafte sorcery ydolatrye they slewe theyr own childreÌ„ without mercye they eate vp mens bowels and deuoured the bloode yee bycause of such abhomynacyons misbyleues offeringes thou shewest the fathers of the desolate soules by the haÌ„des of our forefathers that the lande which thou louest aboue all other might be a dwelling for the children of God Neuerthelesse thou sparedst them also as men and sendeste the forerunners of thyne host euen hornettes to destroie out by litle lytle Not that thou waste vnable to subdue the vngodly vnto the rightuous in batell or with cruell beastes or with one roughe worde to destroy theim together But thy mynde was to dryue them out by lytle and lytle Exo. 23. d Deut. 7. d geuing them tyme and place to amend knowyng wel that it was an vnrightuous nacyon and wicked of nature that theyr thoughte myght neuer be altered for it was a cursed sede from the begynnynge feared no maÌ„ yet hast thou pardoned theyr sinnes For who wyll saye vnto the why hast thou done that Or who wyll stand agaynst thy iugemeÌ„t Or who wyl come before thy face an auenger of vnryghtuous men Or who will blame the yf the people perish whome thou haue made For there is none other God but thou 1. Pe. 5. a that carest for all thinges that thou mayst declare how that thi iudgemeÌ„t is not vnright ther dare neyther king ne tiraunt in thy sight requyre accomptes of theim whoÌ„e thou hast destroied Iob. 9. a For so much theÌ„ as thou art rightuous thy selfe thou orderest all thinges rightuously and punyshest euen hym that haue not deserued to be punysshed and takest hym for a straunger and an alyaunt in the laÌ„de of thy power For thy power is the beginniÌ„g of rightuousnes bicause thou art Lorde of all thynges therfore art thou gracious vnto all When men thinke the not to be of a ful streÌ„gth thou declarest thy power and boldli deliuerest thou them ouer that knowe the not But thou Lord of power iudgest quietly and orderest vp with greate worship for thou maist do as thou wilt By such workes now hast thou taught thy people that a man also shuld be iust and louyng and haste made the chyldren to be of a good hope for eueÌ„ whan thou iudgest thou geuest rowme to amende from sinnes For in so muche as thou haste punished and with suche diligence delyuered the enemyes of thy seruauntes which wer worthye to dye wherthorow thou gauest them â—yme and place of amendement that they myght turne froÌ„ theyr wickednes with how great diligence then punishest thou thine owne children vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne and made couenauntes of good promises so wher as thou doest but chasten vs thou punyshest oure enemyes dyuers wayes to the entente that when we punish we shuld remember thy goodnes and wheÌ„ we our selues are punyshed to put our trust in thy mercy Wherfore where as men haue liued ignorauntly and vnryghtuously thou haste punyshed theÌ„ sore Sapi. 11. c Roma 1. c euen thorowe the same thinges that they worshypped for they went astraye very longe in the waye of erroure and helde the beastes whiche euen they re enemyes dispysed for Goddes liuyng as chyldren of no vnderstandynge Therfore haste thou sent a scorneful punyshment amonge them as amonge the chyldren of ignoraunce As for suche as wolde not be refourmed by those scornes and rebukes they felt the worthi punishment of God For the thynges that they suffered they bare them vnpacieÌ„tly beynge not content in them but vnwilling And wheÌ„ they perished by the same thynges that they toke for goddes thei knowledged theÌ„ that there was but one trewe God whom afore they wolde not know therfore came the ende of theyr dampnacion vpon them All thynges be vayne excepte the knowledge of God Ydolatryes and Ydolles are mocked Capi. xiii Roma 1. c Vaine philosophers VAyne are al men whyche haue not the knowledge of God as were they that out of the good thynges whyche are sene knewe not hym that of hym selfe is euerlastynge Neyther toke they so much regarde of the workes that are made as to knowe who was the craftesman of them but some toke the fyre some the wynde or ayer some the course of the sterres some the water some toke sun and moone or the lightes of heuen which rule the yarthe for Goddes But though they had such pleasure in theyr beutye that they thought them to haue bene goddes yet shulde they haue knowen how much more fayrer he is that mad them for the maker of beutye hathe ordeyned al these thinges Or if thei merueled at the power and workes of them they shuld haue perceyued therby that he which made these thynges is myghtyer then they For by the greatnes beutye of the creature the maker therof may playnly be knowen NotwithstaÌ„dyng they are the lesse to be blamed that sought God wolde haue him fouÌ„de and â—et missed and why for in as much as they went about in his workes and sought after them it is a token that they regarded and helde muche of his workes that are sene howebeit they are not holly to be excused For yf theyr vnderstanding knowlege was so great that they coulde discerne the worlde and the creatures Roma 1. c why dyd they not rather fynde out the Lord therof He mocketh the ydolaters But vnhappy are they and amonge the deade is theyr hope that call them Goddes whych are but the workes of meÌ„s handes golde syluer and the thinge that is founde out by cunnyng the symilitude of beastes or any vayne stone that hathe bene made by hand of olde Or as wheÌ„ a carpenter cutteth down a tree out of the wode and pareth of the barke of it cunnynlye and so with the one parte maketh a vessel to be vsed and dressed meate with the residue As for the other parte that is left which is profytable for nothing for it is a croked pece of wood and ful of knobbes he carueth it diligentli thorow his vanitie and accordyng to the knowledge of hys cunnyng ymages he gyueth it some proporcyon facyoneth it after the similitude of a maÌ„ or maketh it like some
truly there is scarcenesse Ryches are as a crowne vnto the wyse but the ignoraunce of foles is very foolyshnes A faythful wytnes delyuereth soules but a lyer disceyueth them The feare of the lorde is a strong holde and his chyldrē are vnder a suer defence The feare of the lorde is a well of lyfe to auoyde the snares of death The increase and prosperite of the comens is the kynges honoure but the decaye of the people is the confusion of the Prynce He that is pacyent hath moch vnderstandyng but he that is sone displeased prouoketh foolyshnes A mery hert is the lyfe of the bodye but rancoure consumeth awaye the bones Pro. 17. a Mat. 25. d He that dothe a poore man wronge blasphemeth his maker but who so hath pyte of the pore doth honoure vnto god The vngodly is afrayed of euery parel but the rightuous hath a good hope euē in death Wysdome resteth in the herte of hym that hath vnderstandynge he shal be knowne among them that are vnlerned Pro. 11. b Ryghtuousnes settethe vp the people but wyckednes bringeth folke to destruction A discrete seruaunt is a pleasur vnto the Kyng but one that is not honest prouoked hym vnto wrath Capi. xv A Pro. 25. c. Soft answere putteth downe displeasure but froward wordes prouoke vnto anger The tonge of suche as be wyse vsethe knowlege a ryght as for a folysh mouth it blabbeth out nothyng but foolyshnes The eyes of the Lorde loke on euerye place both vpon the good and bad A wholsome tonge is a tree of lyfe but he that abusethe it hathe a broken mynde A foole despyseth hys fathers correccyon but he that taketh hede whē he is reproued shall haue the moare vnderstandynge Where ryghtuousnesse is plentyfull there is very greate power but the imaginacyon of the vngodly shall be rooted out The house of the ryghtuouse is full of ryches but the encrease of the vngodly is nye destruccyon A wise mouth poureth out knowledge but the herte of the folyshe doth not so Pro. 21. d. Ecclesi 34. c. Esaie 66 a. The Lorde abhorreth the sacryfyce of the vngodly but the prayer of the ryghtuous is acceptable vnto hym The waye of the vngodly is an abhominacion vnto the Lorde but who so foloweth ryghtuousnes hym he loueth He that forsaketh the ryght waye shal be sore punyshed and who so hateth correccyon shall dye Hel and perdicyon are knowen vnto the Lorde howe much more then the hertes of men Sapi. 2. c. A scorneful bodye loueth not one that rebuketh hym neyther wyll he cōe vnto the wyse A mery herte maketh a cherefull countenaunce Pro. 12. d. and .17 d. Eccle. 30. c but an vnquiet mynde maketh it heuy The herte of hym that hath vnderstandynge doth seke after knowledge but the mouth of fooles is fed with foolishnes All the dayes of the poore are miserable but a quyet herte is as a continuall feaste Psalmus 26. b. 1. Ti. 6. b. Better is a lytle with the feare of the Lorde thē greate treasure with sorowe Better is a messe of pottage with loue then a fat oxe with euell wyll Pro. 15. a. An angrye man steareth vp stryfe but he that is pacyent stilleth discorde The waye of a sloughfull man is as it were hedged with thornes but the waie of the ryghtuous is well clensed Pro. 10. a. A wyse sonne maketh a glad father but an vndiscrete body shameth his mother A foole reioyseth in foolyshe thinges but a wise man loketh well to his owne goynges Vnaduysed thoughtes shall come to naughte but where as men are that can geue counsell there is stedfastnesse A ioyfull thynge is it when a man geueth a conuenyent answere And very plesaunte is a worde spoken in due season The waye of life leadeth vnto heuen that a mā shulde be ware of hell beneth The Lorde wil breake downe the house of the proude but he shall make faste the borders of the wyddowe The Lorde abhorreth the ymaginacyons of the wicked but pure wordes are plesaunt vnto hym The couetous man roteth vp his owne house but who so hateth rewardes shal lyue * Thorowe mercye and fayth are sinnes pourged and thorowe the feare of the Lorde dothe euery one eschue euell A righteouse man museth in his minde howe to do good but the mouth of the vngodly bringeth forth euell thynges The Lorde is farre from the vngodly but he hereth the prayer of the righteous Lyke as the clerenes of the eyes reioyseth the herte so doth a good name fede the bones The eare that harkeneth of the reformacyon of lyfe shall dwell amonge the wyse He that refuseth to be refourmed despyseth his owne soule but he that submytteth hym selfe to correccyon is wise The feare of the Lorde is the righte science of wisdome and lowlinesse goeth before honoure Capytulo xvi A Man maye well purpose a thyng in hys hert but the answer of the tonge commeth of the lorde Pro. 21. a. Psal 33. b A man thynketh all hys wayes to be cleane but it is the Lorde that Iudgeth the myndes psal 37 a. Commyt thy workes vnto the lorde and loke what thou deuisest it shal prospere The Lorde doth all thynges for hys owne sake yee and when he kepeth the vngodly for the daye of wrath The Lorde abhorteth all such as be of a proude hert there may nether strength nor power escape * The begynnyng of a good lyfe is to do ryghtuousnes for that is more accepted vnto God then to offer vp sacrifices Wyth louyng mercy and faythfulnes synnes be forgeuē and who so feareth the Lorde eschueth euell When a mans wayes please the Lorde he maketh his verye enemyes to be hys frendes Better is it to haue a lytle thing wyth ryghtuousnes then great rentes wrong fully gotten pro. 19. c A man deuyseth a waye in his herte but it is the Lorde that ordereth his goynges When the Prophecye is in the lyppes of the kynge his mouth shal not go wronge in iudgement Pro 11. a and .20 b. A true measure and a true balaunce are the Lordes he maketh al weyghtes It is a greate abhomynacion whē kynges are wicked for a kynges seate shuld he holden vp wyth ryghtuousnes Ryghtuous lyppes are pleasaunt vnto Kynges and he that speaketh the truth shal be beloued The kynges despleasure is a messāger of deth but a wyse man wyl pacify him The chereful continaunce of the king is lyfe and his louynge fauoure is as the euenynge dewe proue 3. a To haue wysdome in possessyon is better then to haue golde and to get vnderstandyng is more worth thē to haue syluer The path of the rightuous is to eschue euyl who so loketh wel to hys waye kepeth his owne soule Presumptuousnes goeth before destruccyon and after a proude stomake ther foloweth a fall Better is it to be of humble mind with the lowly thē to deuid the spoiles with the proude He that handleth a matter
4. Reg. 1. c. Kynges herte is in the hande of the Lorde lyke as are the riuers of water he may turne it whither soeuer he wyll Euerye man thynketh hys owne waye to be ryght but the Lorde iudgeth the hertes Miche 6 b To do ryghtuousnes and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lorde then Sacrifice A presumptuouse looke a proude stomake and the lanterne of the vngodli is synne The deuices of one that is diligente bryng plentuousnes but he that is vnaduysed commeth vnto pouerte Who so hoordeth vp ryches with the disceytfulnes of his tonge he is a foole and lyke vnto thē that seke they re owne deathe The robberies of the vngodly shal be they re owne destrucciō for they will not do the thinge that is right The wayes of the froward are straūg but Titum 1. c the workes of hym that is cleane are right Pro. 25. d. It is better to dwell in a corner vnder the house toppe thē with a brauling woman in a wyde house The soule of the vngodly wisheth euel and hath no pytie vpon his neighbour Pro. 19. d When the scornefull is punyshed the ignoraunt take the better hede and when a wyse man is warned he wyll receyue the more vnderstandyng The ryghtuous wysely consydereth the house of the vngodly and he seeth that God ouerthroweth the vngodli for they re owne wyckednesse Ma. 18. d. Who so stoppeth his eare at the cryenge of the poore he shall crye hym selfe and not be herde A preuy rewarde pacifieth displeasure and a gyfte in the bosome stilleth furyousnesse The iuste deliteth in doinge the thing that is right but the workers of wickednes abhorre the same The man that wandreth out of the way of wisdome shal remayne in the congregacyon of the deed Pro. 23. c. He that hathe pleasure in bankettes shal be a poore man Who so delyteth in wyne and delycates shall not be ryche The vngodly shal be geuen for the rightuous and the wicked for the Iuste Eccle. 25. c It is better to dwell in a wildernesse thē with a chidynge and an angrye woman In a wise mans house there is greate tresure plentuousnes but a folishe bodye spendeth vp all Who so foloweth rightuousnesse mercye findeth both life ryghtuousnes and honoure A wyse man wynneth the Citie of the mightie and as for the strength that they trust in he bringeth it downe Pro. 12. b. Who so kepeth hys mouthe and hys tongue the same kepeth his owne Soule from troubles He that is proude and presumptuous is called a scorneful mā which in wrath dare worke malicyously The voluptuousnesse of the slouthful is his owne deathe for his handes wil not laboure He coueteth and desyreth all the daye longe but the Ryghtuouse is alwaye geuynge and kepeth nothyng backe The sacrifice of the vngodli is abhominacion howe moche more when they offer the thinge that is gotten with wickednes Pro. 19. a. A false witnesse shall perishe but he that will be cōtent to heare shall alway haue power to speake hym selfe An vngodly man goeth forthe rashely but the iust refourmeth his owne way Esaie 1. b. and .4.6 b There is no wisdō there is no vnderstandynge there is no councell againste the Lorde Psalmus 33. c. The horse is prepared agaynste the day of battayle but the Lorde geueth the vyctory Capi. xxii A Ecclasi 41 b. Ecclesia 7. a. Good name is more worthe thē great riches louing fauoure is better thē siluer golde The riche and poore mette together the Lorde is the maker of them all A wise man seeth the plage and hydeth him selfe but the foolyshe go on stil and are punyshed The ende of lowlynes and the feare of God is ryches honour prosperytie and helthe Thornes and snares are in the waie of the frowarde but he that doth kepe his soule wyll flee from suche Teache a chylde in his youthe what waye he shulde go for he shall not leaue it when he is olde The ryche ruleth the poore and the borower is seruaunt to the lender He that soweth wyckednes shal reape sorowe and the rodde of his crueltie shall peryshe Eccle. 31. d He that hathe a louynge eye shall be blessed for he geueth of his breade vnto the poore Who so geueth rewardes shall opteyne vyctorye honoure but he taketh awaye the soule of such as receyue them Cast out the scorneful man so shal stryfe go out with him yee variaunce sclaunder shall cease Who so deliteth to be of a clene herte and of gracyous lyppes the Kynge shall be his frende The eyes of the Lorde preserue knowledge but as for the wordes of the despytefull he bringeth thē to naught The slouthfull body saythe there is a Lyon without I myghte be slayne in the strete Pro. 23. c The mouth of an harlotte is a depe pytte wherin he falleth that the lord is angrye wyth all Foolyshnes stycketh in the herte of the lande and the rodde of correccyon shall dryue it awaye from hym Who so doth a pore man wrong to increase his own ryches and geueth vnto the ryche at the last commeth to pouertye hym selfe My sonne bow downe thyn eare and herken vnto the wordes of wysdom applye thy minde vnto my doctryne for thou shalt be excellent yf thou kepe it in thin hart and practyse it in thy mouth that thou mayst put thy trust in the lorde I haue shewed the this daye the thing that thou knowest Haue not I warned the very oft with councell learning that I myghte shewe the truth and that thou with the verite myghtest answere them that send vnto the Se that thou robbe not the poore because he is weke and oppresse not the symple in iudgement for the Lord him selfe wyl defende their cause and do vyolēce vnto them that haue vsed violence Make no frend shyppe with an angrye wylfull man and kepe no cōpany with the furious lest thou learne his wayes and receyue hurt in thy soule Prou. 6. a and .11 b. and .27 c Be not thou one of them that bynde theyr hand vpon promise and art sureti for dette for yf thou hast nothynge to paye they shall take awaye thy bed from vnder the. Pro. 23. b Deu. 27. c Thou shalte not remoue the lande marcke which thy fore elders haue set Seest thou not that they which be dylygent in theyr busines stand before kinges and not among the symple people Capi. xxiii WHen thou syttest at the table to eate wyth a Lord order thy selfe manerly wyth the thynges that are set before the. Measure thyne appetyte and yf thou wylt rule thyne owne selfe be not ouer gredy of his meate for meate begileth disceyuethe Take not ouer greate trauayle and labour to be rych beware of such purpose Eccl. 27. a Iere. 17. b ◠Ti 6. b Why wylt thou set thyne eye vpon the thing which sodēly vanisheth away For ryches make them selues wynges and take theyr
but the rote of the ryghtuous bryngeth forth frute The wycked falleth into the snare thorow the malyce of his owne mouth but the iust shall escape out of parell Euery man shall enioye good accordynge to the frute of his mouth and after the workes of his handes shal he be rewarded Loke what a fole taketh in hande he thinketh it wel done but he that is wise wyll be counselled A fole vttereth his wrath in al the hast but a discrete man forgeueth wronge A iuste man wyll tell the truthe and shew the thing that is ryght but a false wytnes disceaueth A sclaunderous person prycketh lyke a swearde but a wise mannes tongue is wholsome A true mouthe is euer constaunt but a dissemblynge tongue is soone chaunged They that ymagyn euyl in their mynd wil disceyue but the couÌ„cellers of peace shall haue ioye folowynge them There shal no mysfortune happen vnto the iust but the vngodly are ful of euyl The Lord abhorreth disceytful lyppes but they that labour for truth Prou. 9. d pleaseth hym He that hath vnderstandyng dothe hyde wysdome but an vndiscrete herte telleth out his foolyshnes A dilygent hande shall beare rule but the ydle shal be vnder trybute Pro. 15. b and .17 d. Eccle. â—0 c Heuynes dyscorageth the herte of man but a good worde maketh it glade agayne The ryghtuous is lyberall vnto his neyghboure but the way of the vngodly wyll disceyue them selues A dysceytfull man shall not fynde the thynge that he hunteth for but 2. Ti vi b Hebr. 13. a he that is contente wyth that he hathe is more worth then golde In the waye of ryghtuousnes there is lyfe and in the same waye there is no deathe Capi. xiii A Wyse sonne wyll herken vnto his fathers warnynge but he that is scornefull wyll not here when he is reproued A good man shal enioye the frut of his mouth but he that hath a frowarde mynde shal be spoyled He that kepeth his mouth kepeth his lyfe but who so speaketh vnaduised findeth harme The slougarde wolde fayne haue and cannot get his desyre but the soule of the dilygent shall haue plenty A ryghtuouse man abhorreth lyes but the vngodli shameth both other and himselfe Ryghtuousnes kepeth the innocent in the way but vngodlines doth ouerthrowe the synner Psa 37 b and .112 a. Pro. 11. c Some men are ryche thoughe they haue nothyng agayn some men are pore hauynge great ryches Wyth goodes euerye man delyuerethe his lyfe and the poore wyll not be reproued The lyght of the ryghtuouse maketh ioyfull but Pro. 24. c the candle of the vngodlye shal be put out Among the proude there is euer strife but among those that do al thinges with aduysement there in wysdome Hastely gotteÌ„ goodes are soone spent but they that be gathered together with the hande shall increase Longe taryeng for a thyng that is dyfferred greueth the hert but when the desyre commeth it is a tree of lyfe Who so despysethe anye thynge shal be hurte for the same but he that feareth the commaundementes shall haue the rewarde A desceytful son shall haue no good but a dyscrete seruaunt shall do full wel and hys waye shall prospere The law is a well of lyfe vnto the wise that it may kepe him from the snares of deathe Good vnderstandynge geueth fauoure but harde is the waye of the despisers A wyse man doth all thynges with discrecyoÌ„ but a foole will declare his foly An vngodly messanger falleth into mischefe but a faythfull Ambassatoure is wholsome He that thynketh scorne to be refourmed commeth to pouerte and shame but who so regardeth correccyon shall coÌ„e to honoure When a desyre is brought to passe it delyteth the soule but fooles counte it abhominacyon to departe from euell He that goeth in the company of wise men shal be wyse but who so is a companyon of fooles shal be hurte Mischefe foloweth vpon synners but the righteous shall haue a good reward He that is vertuous leaueth an enherytaunce vnto hys chylders chyldren Iob. 27. c. the ryches of the synner is layd vp for the iuste There is plentuousnes of fode in the feldes of the poore Eccle. 30 a. Hebre. 3. b. but some gather with out discrecyon Psalmes 34. b. He that spareth the rodde hateth his sonne but who so loueth hym holdeth him euer in nurtoure * The ryghtuous eateth and is satisfyed but the belly of the vngodlye hath neuer ynoughe Capi. xiiii WYse womeÌ„ vpholde theyr house but a folyshe wyfe plucketh it downe He that walketh in the right path of the Lorde feareth hym but he that turneth hym selfe awaye from hys wayes dispyseth hym In the mouth of the foolyshe is the bostinge of pryde but the lyppes of the wyse wylbe ware of suche Where no oxen are there the crybbe is emptye but where the oxen laboure there is muche fruyte A faythfull witnesse wil not dissemble but a false recorde wyll make a lye A scorneful body seketh wisdome fyndeth it not but Pro. 8. a. knowledge is easy to coÌ„e by vnto him that will vnderstaÌ„d Se that thou medle not with a foole in whome thou perceyuest to be no knoweledge The wisdome of him that hath vnderstandinge is to take hede vnto his waie but the folishnes of the vnwise disceiueth Fooles make but a sporte of sinne but there is fauourable loue amonge the rightuouse The herte of hym that hath vnderstandyng wyl nether dispayre for any sorow nor be to presumptuous for any sodayne ioye The house of the vngodly shal be ouerthrowen but the Tabernacle of the rightuouse shall floryshe Pro. 16. c Deut. 12 a Esa 55. b. Ther is a way whiche some men thynke to be ryghte but the ende therof leadeth vnto death The hart is sorowful euen in laughter and the ende of myrth is heuynes An vnfaythfull personne shal be fylled with his owne wayes but a good man shall lyue of his frutes An ignoraunte body beleueth all thynges but who so hath vnderstandyng loketh well to his goynges * A disceytfull sonne shall haue no good but a discret seruaunt shall do full well and his waye shall prospere A wyse man feareth and departeth froÌ„ euel but a fole goeth on presumptuously An vnpacient man dealeth folyshly but he that is wel aduised doth other waies The ignoraunt haue folyshnes in possessyon but the wyse are crowned wyth knowledge The euell shal bow them selues before the good and the vngodly shal wayte at the doores of the ryghtuouse The poore is hated euen of hys own neyghboures but the ryche hathe many frendes Who so despyseth his neighbour doth a mysse but Psa 41. d blessed is he that hath pytye of the poore * He that putteth his trust in the lorde loueth to be mercyfull They that imagyn wickednes shal be disapoynted but they that muse vppon good thynges vnto such shal happeÌ„ mercye and faythfulnes Dylygent labour bryngeth ryches but wher many vayne wordes ar