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
hath knowledge also of the voyce Therfore he that speaketh vnryghtuouse thynges caÌ„ not be hyd 3. Reg. 2. g Mat. 6. a Hebre. 4 â— neither may he escape the Iugement of reprofe And why Inquisicion shall be made for the thoughtes of the vngodly the reporte of his wordes shal come vnto god so that his wickednesse shal be punished For the eare of gelousy heareth al thynges and the noyse of the grudgynges shal not be hyd Therfore beware of murmurynge which is nothynge worthe and refrayne your tongue from slauÌ„der Luk. 12. â— For here is no worde so darke and secret that it shal go for nought and the mouth that speakethe lyes slayth the soule O seke not your owne deathe in the errour of your lif destroie not your selues thorow the wordes of your own haÌ„des Deu. 4. c For God hath not made death neyther hath he pleasure in the destruccioÌ„ of the liuinge For he created all thinges that they myght haue theyr beyng yee al the people of the earthe hathe he made that they shuld haue helth that there shulde be no destruccion in theim and that the kyngdome of Hell shulde not be vpon earth for ryghtuousnesse is euerlastyng and immortall but vnrighteousnes bringeth death Neuerthelesse the vngodli cal her vnto them bothe with wordes workes whyle they thynke to haue a frende of her they come to nought for the vngodly that are confederat with her take her parte are worthy of death ¶ The ymagynacions and desyres of the wycked and theyr counsell agaynste the faythefull Capi. ii FOr the vngodly talke ymagyne thus amonge theÌ„ selues but not ryght the time of our lyfe is but shorte and tedyouse Iob. 7. a Mat. 22. b 1 Cor. 15. d and when a man is ones gone he hath no more ioie nor pleasure neyther knowe we anye man that tourneth agayne from death for we are borne of nought we shall be hereafter as thoughe we had neuer ben e For oure breath is a smoke in oure nostrels the wordes as a sparke to moue our hert As for our bodye it shal be verye ashes that are quenched and our soule shall vanishe as the softe ayre Our life shal passe awaye as the trace of a cloude come to naught as the myste that is driuen awaye wyth the beames of the Sunne and put down wyth the heate therof Oure name also shal be forgotten by lytle and litle no man shall haue oure workes in remembraunce For our tyme is a very shadowe that passethe awaye after oure ende 2. pa. 30. c Esa 22. b and .16 c Sapi. 5. b there is no retournynge for it is fast sealed so that no man commeth agayne Come on therfore let vs enioie the pleasures that be present let vs sene vse the creature lyke as in youth We wyl fyl our selues with good wine oyntmente there shal no floure of the tyme go by vs. We wyll crowne our selues with roses afore they be withered Ther shal be no fayer medowe but our lust shal go thorow it Let euery one of you be partaker of our voluptuosnes Let vs leaue some token of our pleasure in euery place for that is our porcion elles get we nothyng Let vs oppresse the poore ryghtuous let vs not spare the wydow nor olde man let vs not regarde the heedes that are graye for age Let the law of vnryghtuousnes be our auctorytie for the thyng that is feble is nothing worth Therfore let vs defraude the ryghtuous why he is not for oure profyte yee he is cleane contrary to our doynges He checked vs for offendynge agaynst the lawe and slaundereth vs as transgressours of all nurtoure He maketh his boost to haue the knowledge of god Iohn 7. a Esay 7. a yee he calleth him self Gods sonne He is the bewraier of our thoughtes It greueth vs also to loke vpoÌ„ him for hys lyfe is not lyke other mennes his waies are of an other fassion He countethe vs but vayne persons he withdraweth him selfe from our wayes as from filthines he commendeth greatli the latter ende of the Iuste maketh his booste that God is his father Let vs se then yf hys wordes be trewe let vs ê“ue what shal come vpon him so shall we knowe what ende he shall haue For yf he be the true sonne of God he wyl receyue him and delyuer him frome the handes of his enemyes Let vs examen him with despiteful rebuke and tormentynge Psal 2â— a Mat. 27. e Iere. 11. d that we maye knowe his dignitie and proue his pacience Let vs condempne him with the mooste shamefull death for lyke as he hath spoken so shal he be rewarded Suche thynges do the vngodly ymagyn and go astraye for theyr owne wickednesse hath blynded them As for the misteryes of God they vnderstande theÌ„ not they neyther hope for the reward of ryghtuousnesse nor regarde the worship that holy soules shall haue Gene. 2. a. Gene. 3. a Ioh. 2. d For God created man to be vndestroyed yee after the ymage of his own likenes made he hym Neuerthelesse thorowe enuye of the deuel came deathe vnto the worlde and they that holde of his syde do as he doth ¶ The conseruacyon and assuraunce of the ryghtuouse The rewarde of the faythâ—â—ll Capi. iii. BVt the soules of the ryghtuouse are in the hande of God Deut. 32. a Sapi. 5. a. Hebre. 11 â— and the payne of deathe shall not touche theÌ„ In the sight of the vnwyse they appeare to dye and they re ende is taken for very destruccyon The waye of the rightuous is iudged to be vtter destruccyon but they are in rest And though they suffer payne before meÌ„ Rom. 8. c. 1. Cor. 5. a 1. Petri. 1 c yet is theyr hope ful of immortalitie They are punished but in fewe thinges neuerthelesse in many thinges shal they be well rewarded For God proueth them findeth them mete for him selfe yee as the golde in the fornace doth he trye theym and receyueth them as a brente offeringe and when the tyme commeth they shal be loked vpon Mat. 13. e 1. Cor 15. e Mat. 19. c 1. Cor. 6. a. The ryghtuous shall shine as the sparkes that ren thorow the red bushe They shal iudge the nacyons and haue dominion ouer the people and theyr lord shal raygne for euer They that put theyr truste in him shal vnderstande the truthe and such as be faythful wyll agre vnto hym in loue for his chosen shall haue gyftes and peace Ma. 25. d But the vngodli shal be punisshed accordyng to theyr own ymagynacions for they haue despised the ryghtuous and forsaken the Lorde Whoso despiseth wysdom and nurtoure he is vnhappye and as for the hope of such it is but vaine theyr labours vnfrutful and workes vnprofytable Theyr wyues are vndiscret and theyr chyldren moost vngodly Theyr creature is cursed Blessed is rather the baren vndefiled whyche hath not
she whome I call vnto the chyldren of men doo I lyft vp my voyce Take hede vnto knowledge O ye ygnoraunt be wyse in herte O ye fooles Geue eare for I wyll speake of great matters and open my lyppes to tel thinges that be ryght For my throte shal be talkyng of thy truth and my lyppes abhorre vngodlynesse All the wordes of my mouth are ryghtuous there is no frowardnes nor falsheed therin They are playne to suche as wyll vnderstande and ryght to them that fynde knowledge Receyue my doctrine and not syluer and my knowledge more then fyne gold For Pro. 3. b wysdome is more worthe then precyous stones ye al thinges that thou canst desyre may not be cōpared vnto it I wysdome haue my dwellynge wyth knowledge and prudēt councel is myne owne The feare of the lord abhorreth wyckednesse pryde disdayne and the euell waye and a mouth that speaketh wycked thynges I vtterly abhorre I can geue councell and be a guyde I haue vnderstāding I haue strengthe Deut. 17. d Sapi. 6. a Thorowe me Kynges reygne thorowe me Prynces make iust lawes Thorowe me do Prynces beare rule and all Iudges of the earth execute iudgemente I am louyng vnto those that loue me and Luke 11. b they that seke me early shal fynd me Ryches and honoure are wyth me yee excellent goodes and ryghtuousnes My frute is better then golde and precyous stone myne encrease more worth then fyne syluer I wyl guyde the in the way of ryghtuousnes and in the strete of iudgement That I maye sende prosperite to those that loue me and to encrease theyr treasure ✿ Sapi. 9. b. The lorde hym selfe had me in possessyon in the begynnynge of hys wayes or euer he begā his workes aforetyme Eccl. 24. ◠I haue bene ordeyned frome euerlastynge and from the begynnyng or euer the earth was made When I was borne there were neyther depthes nor sprynges of water Before the foundacyons of the mountaynes were layde yee before all hylles was I borne The earthe and all that is vpon the erth was not yet made no not the groūd it selfe Sapi. 9. b For when he made the heauens I was presente when he set vp the depthes in order when he hanged the cloudes aboue when he fastened the sprynges of the depe When he shut the see wythyn Gene. 1. a. Iob 2.6 a and .38 a Psalmus 104. certeyn boundes that the waters shuld not go ouer theyr markes When he layde the foundacyons of the earth I was with hym orderynge all thinges delitinge daily and reioysinge alwaye before him As for the rounde compasse of thys worlde I make it ioyfull for my delite is to be amonge the chyldren of men Therfore herken vnto me O ye childrē blessed are they that kepe my wayes O geue eare vnto nourture be wyse and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watchynge dayly at my gates and gyuynge attendaunce at the poostes of my doores For who so findeth me findeth life and shall optayne fauoure of the Lorde But who so offendeth agaynst me hurteth hys owne soule And all they that hate me are the sowers of death ¶ Wysdome moueth all men to embrace her The propertie of a whore Capi. ix WYsdome hathe buylded her selfe an house and hewē out seuen pyllers she hath killed her vitayles powred out her wyne and prepared her table She hath sent fourth her maydens to crye vpon the hyghest place of the Cytie Who so is ignoraunte let hym come hyther And to the vnwyse she sayde O come on your waye eat my breade and drinke my wyne which I haue poured out for you Forsake ygnoraunce and ye shall lyue and se that ye go in the waye of vnderstandynge Who so reprouethe a scornefull personne getteth him selfe dishonoure and he that rebuketh the vngodly stayneth hym selfe Reproue not a scorner leest he owe the euell wyll but rebuke a wyse man he wyll loue the. Gyue a discrete man but an occasyon and he wylbe the wyser teache a rightuous man and he wyll increase in knowledge Iob. 28. d. Psa 111. b Pro. i. a The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of wysdome and the knowledge of holy thynges is vnderstandyng Eccle. 1. c For thorow me thy dayes shal be prolonged the yeares of thy lyfe shal be many Yf thou be wyse thy wysdome shall doo thy selfe good but yf thou thynkest scorne thereof It shall be thyne owne harme A folyshe retchlesse woman ful of wordes and suche a one as hath no knoweledge sitteth at the dore of her house in the hye places of the Citie to cal such as go by that walke streighte in theyr wayes Who so is ignoraunt sayth she lette hym come hither and to the vnwyse she sayth stollen waters are swete and the bred that is priuely eaten hath a good tast And he doth not considre that they are but dead whyche be there and that her gestes are in the depe of hell For he that wyll be ioyned vnto her shall go downe to hel but he that auoidethe frome her shal be saued ¶ In this Chapiter and in all that folowe vnto the thyrtie the wyse man exhorteth by dyuers Sentences whiche he calleth Parables to folowe vertues and flee vyces And shewethe also what profet commeth of wysdome and what hynderaunce procedeth of folyshnes ¶ Prouerbes of Saloman Capi. x. A Wyse Pro 1◠c sonne makethe a glad father but an vndiscret sonne is an heuines vnto his mother Pro. 11. a Eccle. 5. b Tresures that are wickedly gottē profyt nothinge but rightuousnesse delyuereth from death Psa 34. b The Lorde wyll not let the soule of the ryghtuouse suffer hunger but he putteth the vngodly from his desyre An ydle hande maketh poore but a quycke labourynge hāde maketh riche Who so regardethe lesynges fedeth the wynde and dothe but folowe byrdes that haue taken theyr flyght Who so gathereth in Sommer is wise but he that is slougishe in haruest bryngeth hym selfe to confusion Blessynges are vpon the heade of the ryghtuous and the mouth of the name of the vngodly kepeth myschefe in secrete Psa 112. a The memoryall of the Iuste shall haue a good reporte but the name of the vngodly shall stynke A wyse man wyll receaue warnynge but a foole wyll soner be smytten in the face Psa 23. a He that leadeth an innocente lyfe walketh sureli but who so goth a wrong waye shal be knowen Eccl. 27. d He that wynketh with his eye will do some harme but he that hath a folish mouth shal be beaten The mouthe of a ryghtuouse man is a vaine of life but the mouth of the vngodly kepeth myschefe in secrete Euell wyll steareth vp stryfe 1. Pet. 4. b and .1 Cor 13. b but loue couereth the multitude of sinnes In the lippes of him that hathe vnderstandynge a man shall fynde wysdome but the rod belōgeth to the backe of the
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
wysely opteynethe good and psalm 2. b blessed is he that putteth his trust in the Lorde Who so hathe a wise vnderstandinge shal be called to coūsell and he that can speake fayre shall haue the more learnynge Vnderstandinge is a well of lyfe vnto him that hathe it as for the chasteninge of fooles it is but foolishnes A wyse herte ordreth his mouth wisly and amēdeth the doctrine in his lippes Fayre wordes are an hony combe a refreshynge of the mynde and helthe of the bones Pro. 14. b Deu. 12. a. Esa 50. b. There is a way that men thinke to be righte but the ende therof leadeth vnto deathe A troublous soule disquyeteth her selfe for her owne mouthe hath broughte her therto An vngodly personne stereth vp euell in his lippes he is as whote burninge fyre A frowarde body causeth strife and he that is a blab of his tonge maketh deuysyon amonge Prynces A wicked man begileth his neyghbour and ledeth him in the waye that is not good He that winketh with his eies imagyneth myschefe and he that biteth his lippes wyll do some harme Age is a crowne of worshyppe yf it be founde in the waye of ryghtuousnes A pacient man is better then one strōge and he that can rule hym selfe is more worth then he that wynneth a cytie The lottes are caste into the lappe but the orderynge therof standeth all in the Lorde Capi xvii BEtter is a drye morsell wyth quietnes thē a ful house many far catell with stryfe Eccle. 10. d A discrete seruaunte shall haue more rule then the sonnes that haue no wysdome and shall haue like heritage with the brethren Like as siluer is tryed in the fyre Sapi. 3. a 1. pe 1. b. and golde in the fornace euen so dothe the Lorde proue the hertes A wycked body holdeth muche of false lyppes and a froward personne geueth eare to a disceytfull tonge Who so laugheth the poore to scorne Pro. 14. d Iob. 31. c. blasphemeth his Maker and he that is glad of an other mans hurte shal not be vnpunyshed Chylders children are a worshippe vnto the elders and the fathers are the honoure of the chyldren An eloquent speache becommeth not a foole a dissēblyng mouth also besemeth not a prynce Liberalyte is a precious stone vnto him that hath it for where so euer he becommeth he prospereth Who so couereth an other mannes offence seketh loue but he that discloseth the faute settethe the Prynce agaynste hym selfe One reprofe onely doth more good to hym that hath vnderstandynge then an hundreth strypes vnto a foole 1. Reg. 120 A sedicious persone seketh myschefe and therfore is a cruel messaunger sēt agaynst hym It were better to come agaynste a she Bere robbed of her whelyes thē against a foole * trustynge in hys foolyshenes Rom 12. b 1. Tes 5. b Who so rewardeth euell for good the plage shal not depart frō his house He that soweth discorde and stryfe is lyke one that dyggeth vp a water broke but an open enemie is lyke the water that breaketh out and renneth abrode The Lord hateth aswell hym that iustifieth the vngodly as him that cōdemneth the innocent What helpeth it to geue a foole treasure in his hande where as he hathe no mynde to bye wysdome Who so buyldeth his house to hye seketh destrucciō and he that refuseth to learne shall fal into myschefe He is a frende that alwaye louethe Pro. 1. a in aduersite a mā shal know who is his brother Pro. 9. a Who so promyseth by the hande and is suertye for his neyghboure he is a foole He that deliteth in synne loueth strife who so setteth his dore to hye seketh after a fall Who so hath a frowarde hart opteyneth no good and he that hath an ouertwharte tonge shall fall into myschefe An vnwyse body bryngeth him self in to sorow the father of a fole can haue no ioye Pro. 12 d. and. 15. b Eccle. 30. a Eccle 2 c and. 8. a A mery hart maketh a lusty age but a sorowful mynde dryeth vp the bones The vngodly taketh gyftes out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgemēt Wysdome shynethe in the face of hym that hath vnderstandynge but the eyes of toles wandre thorowe out all landes Pro. 19. b. An vndiscrete sonne is a grefe vnto his father and an heuynes vnto his mother To punyshe an innocent and to smyte the Princes that geue true iudgemēt at bothe euell 1. Ioh. 1. b. and .3 a He is wyse and discrete that tempereth his wordes and he is a man of vnderstandynge that maketh moch of hys Spirite Ioh. 13. a. Yee a very foole whē he holdeth his tonge is counted wyse to haue vnderstanding when he shutteth his lyppes Capi. xviii WHo so hath pleasure to so we discorde pycketh a quarell in euery thynge A fole hathe no delyte in vnderstandyng but only in those thynges where in his herte reioyseth When the vngodly cōmeth thē commeth also disdayne so ther foloweth shame and dishonoure The wordes of a mans mouth are like depe waters the well of wysdome is lyke a ful streame Pro. 24. c. It is not good to regard the person of the vngodly or to put backe the rightuous in iudgement A fooles lyppes are euer brawlynge his mouth prouoketh vnto battayle A fooles mouth is his owne destruccyon and hys lyppes are a snare for hys owne sowle The wordes of a sclaunderer ar very woūdes and go thorow vnto thein most partes of the bodye * Feare casteth downe hym that is slouthful and the soules of such as liue in voluptuousnes shall honger Who so is sloughtful and slacke in his labour is the brother of hym that is a waster The name of the Lorde is a stronge castel the Rightuous flieth vnto it and shal be saued But the ryche mannes goodes are hys stronge holde yea he taketh them for an hye wall rounde aboute hym After pryde commeth destruccyon and honour after lowlynes Eccle 11. b He that geueth sentence in a matter before he heare it is a foole and worthy to be confounded A good stomake dryueth away a mans disease but whē the sprite is vexed who maye byde it A wyse hart laboureth for knowledge and a prudēt eare seketh vnderstanding Liberalyte bryngeth a man to honoure and worshyppe and setteth hym among greate men The ryghteous accuseth hym self first of all yf hys neyghboure come he shal fynde hym The lot pacifyeth the varyaunce and parteth the myghtie a sunder A brother that is greued wyth sinne is more worth then a very strong castell they that hold together are lyke the bar of a palace A mans belly shal be satysfyed wyth the fruyte of his owne mouth and with the increse of his lyppes shall he be fylled Death and lyfe are in the instrumēt of the tonge and they that loue it shal enioye the fruyte therof Pro. 24. c. Who so
one only subtyll curteous discret quycke vndefiled playne swete louyng the thyng that is good sharpe which forbiddeth not to do well gentle kynde stedfast suer free hauynge al vertues circunspecte in al thinges receyuyng al spyrites of vnderstandynge beyng cleane and sharpe For wysdome is nymbler then al nymble thinges she goeth thorowe and attayneth to all thinges because of her clennes For she is the breth of the power of God and a pure cleane expressynge of the clerenes of almyghty God Hebre. 1. a Therfore cā no vndefyled thing come vnto her for she is the brightnes of the euerlastynge lyght the vndefyled myrrour of the maiestye of God and the ymage of his goodnesse And for so much as she is one she may do all thynges and beynge stedfaste her selfe she renueth al and amonge the people conueyeth she her selfe into the holy Soule She maketh Goddes frēdes and Prophetes for God loueth no man but him in whom wisdom dwelleth For she is more beutiful then the Sunne and gyueth more lyght thē the starres and the daye is not to be compared vnto her for vpon the daye commeth nyght But wickednesse cannot ouercome wysdome and foolyshenes maye not be with her ¶ The effectes of wysedome Capi. viii WYsedome reachethe frome one ende vnto an other myghtely and louinglye dothe she order all thynges I haue loued her and laboured for her euen fro my youth vp I dyd my diligēce to mary my selfe with her suche loue had I vnto her beutie Who so hath the company of God commendeth her nobilitie yee the Lorde of al thynges him selfe loue her For she is the scolemastresse of the nurtour of God and the choser out of hys workes Yf a mā wold desire riches in this lyfe what is richer then wysdom that worketh al thynges thou wylt say vnderstandyng worketh What is it amonge al thinges that worketh more then wysdome Yf a man loue vertue and ryghtuousnesse let hym laboure for wysdome for she hathe great vertues And why she teacheth sobernes and prudence rightuousnes and strength which are such thinges as men cā haue nothing more profitable in their lyfe Yf a man desyre much knowledge she can tel the thinges that are past and discerne thynges for to come she knowethe the subtilities of wordes cā expoūd darke sentences She can tell of tokens woūderous thinges or euer they come to passe and the ende of al tymes and ages So I purposed after thys maner I wil take her vnto my company and commen louingly with her no doubte she shall gyue me good counsell and speake comfortably vnto me in my carfulnes gref For her sake shal I be well and honestly taken amonge the comens Lordes of the counsel Though I be yong yet shal I haue sharpe vnderstandyng so that I shal be meruelous in the sight of greate men and the faces of Princes shal wonder at me When I holde my tonge they shal abyde my leisure whē I speake thei shal loke vpō me Iob. 26. c. yf I talke much they shal laye theyr hādes vpon theyr mouth Moreouer by the meanes of her I shal obtayne immortalyte and leaue behinde me an euerlastynge memoryall amonge them that come after me I shall set the people in order and the nacyons shal be subdued vnto me Horrible tiraunte shal be afrayed when they do but hear of me amonge the multitude I shall be counted good and myghtye in batayle When I come home I shall fynde rest with her for her company hath no bitternesse and her felowshippe hath no tediousnes but myrth and ioye Nowe when I consydered these thynges by my selfe and pondred thē in my herte howe that to be ioyned vnto wysdome is immortalytye and greate pleasure to haue her frendshyp howe that in the workes of her handes are infinite ryches howe that who so kepeth cōpany with her shal be wise and that he which talketh with her shal cōe to honoure I wente about sekyng to get her vnto me For I was a childe of a rype wytte and had a good vnderstandynge But whē I grew to more vnderstandyng I came to an vndefyled bodye Neuertheles when I perceyued that I coulde not kepe my selfe chaste Iacob 1. b Chastitie excepte god gaue it me and that was a poynte of wysdome also to knowe whose gyfte it was I stept vnto the Lorde and besought hym and with my hole harte I sayd after this maner A Prayer of Salomon to obtayne wysdome Capi. ix O God of my fathers and Lorde of mercye thou that haste made all thynges with thy worde 3. Reg. 3. d Gene. 1. c and ordeyned man thorow thy wysdō that he shuld haue domynyon ouer the creature which thou hast made that he shuld order the worlde accordyng to equitie and ryghtuousnes and execute iugement with a true hert gyue me wysdome which is euer about thy seate Psa 115 b and put me not out from among thy chyldren for I thy seruaunt and sonne of thy handmayden am a feble personne of a shorte tyme and to yong to the vnderstandyng of Iugemēt and thy lawes And though a man be neuer so perfecte amonge the chyldren of men 1. Pa 29. b yet yf thy wysdom be not with him he shal be nothynge regarded But thou hast chosen me to be a kyng vnto thy people and the Iudge of thy sonnes daughters Exo. 25. d Actu 7. f Hebre. 8. b thou hast cōmaunded me to buylde a Temple vpon thy holy mount and an aulter in the cytie wherin thou dwellest a lykenesse of thy holy Tabernacle which thou hast prepared from the begynnyng and thy wisdō with the which knoweth thy workes which also was with the Prou. 8. c Iohn 1. a whē thou madest the worlde and knew what was exceptable in thy syght and righte in thy commaundementes O sende her out of the holy heuens and from the trone of thy maiestye that she maye be with me and laboure wyth me that I maye knowe what is acceptable in thy sight For she knoweth vnderstādeth al thynges and she shall leade me soberli in my workes and preserue me in her power So shal my workes be acceptable and thē shal I gouerne thy people ryghtuously and be worthy to syt in my fathers seate Esa 40. b Rom. 11. d 1. Cor. 1. b. For what man is he that maye knowe the councell of God Or who can thinke what the wyl of god is For the thoughtes of mortal men ar myserable and our forecastes ar but vncertayne And why a mortall and corruptyble bodye 1. Cor. 5. a is heuy vnto the soule and the earthly mansion kepeth down the vnderstandyng that museth vpon many thynges Very hardly can we discerne the thinges that are vpon earthe and greate laboure haue we or we can fynde the thynges which are before our eyes Who wil thē seke out the grounde of the thynges that are done in heuen Oh Lorde who can haue knowlege of thy
beaste streketh it ouer with redde and paynteth it loke what foule spot is in it he casteth som colour vpon it Then maketh he a cōuenyent Tabernacle for it setteth it in the wall and maketh it fast with yron prouiding so for it leest it happē to fal for it is wel knowen that it can not helpe it self And why it is but an ymage and must of necessitie be helped Then goeth he offreth of his gooddes vnto it for his children and for hys wyf he seketh helpe at it he asketh coūsel at it he is not ashamed to speake vnto it that hath no Soule for helth he maketh his peticion vnto hym that is sicke for life he praieth vnto him that is deed he calleth vpō him for helpe that is not able to helpe him selfe and to sende him a good iurney he prayeth hym that may not go And in all the thynges that he taketh in hande whether it be to obteyne any thyng or to worke he prayeth vnto hym that can do no maner of good The detestacion and abhominacion of ymages A curse of them and of hym that maketh thē The euels that come of Ydolatrye Capi. xiiii AGayne an other man purposynge to saile beginnynge to take hys iurney thorow the ragīg see calleth for helpe vnto a stocke that is far weker thē the tree that beareth him For as for it couetuousnes of money hath founde it out and the craftesman made it with his cunnynge But thy prouidence o father gouerneth al thynges from the beginning for thou hast made awaye in the see and a suer path in the midst of the waues declaryng therby that thou hast power to helpe in all thynges yee thoughe a man wente to the see without shyppe Neuerthelesse that the workes of thy wysdom shulde not be vayne thou hast caused an arke to be made therfore do men cōmit theyr lyues vnto a small pece of woode passynge ouer the see in a shyppe Gene. 6. ◠and are saued For in the olde time also whē the proud gyaūtes peryshed Gen. ◠◠he in whom the hope was lefte to encrease the world went into the ship which was gouerned thorow thy hande and so lefte sede behynde him vnto the worlde Psalmus 114. b and 134. c Bar. 6. d Psal 7. a For happy is the tre wher thorow righteousnes cōmeth but cursed is the ymage of wood that is made with handes yee both it and he that made it He bycause he made it and it bycause it was called god wher as it is but a fraile thyng For the vngodly and his vngodlines are both like abhominable vnto god Euen so the worke and he that made it also shall be punished together Therfore shall ther a plage come vpon the ymages of the hethē for out of the creature of god they are become an abhominacion a temtacyon vnto the soules of men a snare for the fete of the vnwise And why the sekyng out of ymages is the beginnyng of horedom and the bringyng vp of them is the destruccion of life For they were not from the begynnyng nether shal they cōtinue for euer The welthi idelnes of mē hath found them out vpon erth therfore shall they come shortly to an ende When a father mourned for his sonne that was taken away from him he made him an ymage in al the hast of his deed sunne and so began to worship hym as a God which was but a deed man and ordeined his seruauntes to offer vnto him Thus by proces of time and thorow lōg custome this errour was kept as a lawe and tirauntes compelled men by violēce to honour ymages As for those that were so farre of that men myght not worship them presētly theyr pictur was brought from far lyke the ymage of a king whō they wold honoure to the entent that with great diligence they might worship hym which was farre of as thoughe he hade ben present Agayne the synguler cunning of the craftsman gaue the ignoraunt also a great occasion to worship ymages For the workeman willing to do him a pleasur that set him a worke laboured with al his cunninge to make the ymage of the best facion And so thorow the beute of the worke the cōmen people was deceiued in so much that they toke hym nowe for a god which a litle afore was but honoured as a man And this was the errour of mans life when men eyther for to serue they re owne affeccyon or to do some pleasur vnto Kinges ascribed vnto stones and stockes the name of God which ought to be geuen vnto no man Moreouer this was not ynough for thē that they erred in the knowledge of God but where as they liued in the great warres of ignoraunce those manye great plages called they peax For either thei slew theyr own children and offered them and dyd sacrifice in the nyght seasō Deut. 18. b Iere. 8. a and. 19. a or els helde vnresonable watches so that they kept neyther lyfe nor mariage cleane but eyther one slewe an other to death malyciously or els greued his neyghbour with aduoutrie And thus were al thynges mixt together blode māslaughter thefte dissimulacion corrupcion vnfaithfulnes sedicion periurye disquietinge of good men vnthankfulnes defyling of soules chaūgyng of byrth vnstedfastnes of mariage mysorder of aduoutrie and vnclennes And why the honouryng of abhomynable ymages is the cause the begynninge and ende of all euell For they that worship ydols Ymage worshyppers either they are mad whē they are mery or prophecye lyes or lyue vngodly or els lyghtly forswere thē selues for in so much as theyr truste is in the ydols which haue nether soule nor vnderstandyng thoughe they swere falsly yet they thinke it shal not hurte them Therfore commeth a great plage vpon them and that worthely for they haue an euel opinion of God geuyng hede vnto ydols sweringe vniustly to disceiue and despysynge ryghtuousnes for theyr sweringe is no vertue but a plage of them that synne and goeth euer with the offence of the vngodlye The voyce of the faythfull praysynge the mercye of god for whose graces sake they serue not Ydols Capi. xv BVt thou o our God art swete longe sufferinge true in mercy orderest thou al thynges Though we syn yet ar we thyne for we know thy strength Yf we syn not then ar we suer that thou regardest vs. For to knowe the perfect ryghtuousnes Yee to knowe thy ryghtuousnes power is the roote of immortalitie As for the thynge that men haue foūd out thorow theyr euel scyence it hath not disceyued vs as the painting of the picture vnprofytable labour and carued ymage with diuers coulours whose syght entyseth the ignoraunte so that he honourethe loueth the picture of a deed ymage that hath no soule Neuertheles thei that loue such euel thynges are worthye of death they that trust in them they that make them they that loue thē and they that honour thē The
The ieoperdes of chastnes are to be eschued An olde frende is to be prefarred before a newe The glory and riches of synners Ryghtuous mē shulde be bydden to geste Laboure is the chefe thynge in a worke man and wysedome in a Prynce Capi. ix BE not gelouse ouer the wyfe of thy bosome that she shew not some shreed poynte of wycked doctryne vpon the Geue not the power of thy lyfe vnto a woman lest she come in thy strengthe so thou be confounded Loke not vpon a womā that is desirous of many mē lest thou fal into her snares Vse not the company of a woman that is a plaier daūser and heare her not leste thou peryshe thorow her entisyng Behold not a mayden that thou be not hurt in her bewtye Cast not thy mynde vnto harlottes in any Prou. 5. a. maner of thing lest thou destroy both thy selfe thine herytage Go not about gasing in euery lane of the citie neyther wander thou abrod in the stretes therof Turne awaye thy face frō a bewtiful woman and loke not vpon the fairenes of other Math. 5. c Many a man hath perished thorow the bewtye of women for thorowe it the desyre is kindled as it were a fyre Gen. 34. a 2. Reg. 11. a Iudit 10. and .11.12 An aduouterous woman shal be troden vnder fote as myre of euery one that goeth by the waye Many a man wounderyng at the bewtye of a straunge woman hath bene cast out for her wordes kīdle as a fyre Sit not with an other mans wife by any meanes lye not with her vpō the bedde make no wordes with her at the wine lest thyne hert consent vnto her and so thou with thy blode fal into destruccion Forsake not an olde frend * Olde frendes for the newe shall not be like him A newe frende is new wyne let him be olde and thou shalt drinke him with plesure Desyre not the honour ryches of a synner for thou knowest not what destruccyon is for to come vpon him Delyte not thou in the thing that the vngodly haue plesure in being suer that the vngodly shall not be accepted vntil theyr graue Kepe the from the man that hath power to slaye so nedest thou not to be afrayd of death And yf thou cōmest vnto hym make no faut lest he happē to take away thy lyfe Remember that thou goest in the mydst of snares and vpon the bulwarkes of the citie Eccl. 8 a c .37 a b. Beware of thy neighbour as nygh as thou cāst medle with suche as be wise and haue vnderstādyng Let iust men be thy geftes let thy myrth be in the feare of god let the remembraūce of god be in thy mynde and let al thy talkynge be in the commaundemētes of the highest Deut. 6. b. and .11 c 3. Reg. ◠b In the hādes of craftesmen shal the workes be cōmended so shal the princes of the people in the wisdom of theyr talking A man full of wordes is perylous in his cite he that is temerarious paste shame in his talking is to be abhorred ¶ Of Kinges and Iudges Pyrde and couetousnes are to be abhorred Labour is praysed Capi. x. A Wyse iudge wyll order hys people with dyscrecyon kynges Pro. 29. b. and where a man of vnderstandynge beareth rule there goeth it well As the iuge of the people is him selfe euē so are his officers and loke what maner of man the ruler of the citie is suche are they that dwel ther in also An vnwise destroieth his people but where they that be in auctorytie are men of vnderstanding 3. Re. 12. a ther the cyte prospereth The power of the earth is in the hande of God and when his tyme is he shall set a profytable ruler vpon it in the hand of god is the power of man vpon the scrybes shall he laye his honour Remember no wronge of thy neyghboure medle thou with no vnryghtuous workes Leuit. 19. c Pride is hateful before god and mā and all wyckednes of the hethen is to be abhorred Bycause of vnryghtuous deling wrōg Iere. 17. a Dani. 4. c blasphemies diuers disceyt a realme shal be translated from one people to an other There is nothyng worse thē a couetuous mā Whi art thou proud o thou earth and ashes There is not a more wicked thynge then to loue money And why such one hath his soule to sel iet is he but filthy daunge whil he liueth And though the phisicion shew hys helpe neuer so longe yet in cōclusion it goeth after this maner to day a kyng to morowe deed For when a mā dyeth he is the heyer of serpentes bestes and wormes The beginning of mans pryde is to fal away from god and why his hert is gone frō his maker for pryde is the oryginall of all syn Who so taketh holde therof shall be filled with cursinges at the last it shal ouerthrow him Therfore hath the lorde brought the cōgregacions of the wycked to dishonoure and destroied thē vnto the ende God hathe destroyed the seates of proude Princes and lette vp the meke in theyr steade God hath withered the rotes of the proude hethen Sapi. 6. b Luke 1. d 14. b. 18. b. Gene. 19. a plāted the lowly amonge them God hath ouerthrowē the landes of the hethen and destroied them out of the ground He hath caused them to wyther away he hath brought thē to naught and made the memoryal of them to cease frō out of the earth God hathe destroyed the name of the proude and lefte the name of the humble of minde Pride was not made for man neither wrothfulnes for mens chyldren the sede of man that feareth God shall be brough to honour but the sede whych trāsgresseth the commaundementes of the Lorde shal be shamed He that is the ruler among brethren is holden in honour amonge them and he regardeth such as feare the lorde The glorye of the ryche of the honourable and of the poore is the feare of God Despise not thou the Iust poore man and magnifye not the ryche vngodly Great is the Iudge and myghtye in honour yet is ther none greter then he that feareth god Pro. 17. a 1. Re. 12. b Vnto the seruant that is discrete shal the free do seruyce He that is wyse wel nurtured wil not gruge whē he is refourmed and an ignoraūt bodye shal not come to honour Be not proude to do thy worke dispayer not in the tyme of aduersite Better is he that laboureth and hath plētuousnes of al thynges thē he that is gorgyous and wanteth breed My sonne kepe thy soule in mekenes and gyue her her due honour Who shall iustify hym that sinneth against himself who wyl honour him that dishonoureth his own lyfe The poore is honoured for his faythfulnes truth but the riche is had in reputacion bicause of his goodes He that ordereth him self honestly in
yet shal he vndermine yt. he shal shake his hed clap his handes ouer the for very gladnes whyl he maketh many wordes he shall disgyse his countenauÌ„ce ¶ The companyes of the proude and of the ryche are to be eschued â–ª The loue of God Lyke do company with theyr lyke Capi. xiii WHO SO TOUCHETH pytch shal be fylled with all and he that is familyer with the proud shall cloth him self with pryde He taketh a burthen vpon him that accompanieth a more honorable man then hym selfe T erfore kepe no familyarytie with one that is ryther then thy selfe Howe agree the ketell the pot together for yf the one be smytten agaynst the other it shall be broken The ryche dealeth vnryghtuously and threteneth withal but the poore beyng oppressed wrongfully delt withal suffreth scarcenes and geueth fayer wordes yf thou be for his profyte he vseth the but yf thou haue nothynge he shall forsake the. As long as thou hast any thinge of thine owne he shal be a good felowe wyth the yee he shall make the a bare man and not be sorye for the yf he haue nede of the he shall defraude the with a preuy mock shall he put the in an hope and geue the all good wordes and saye what wantest then Thus shall he shame the in his maet vntyl he haue supte the cleane vp twyse or thryse and at the laste shal he laugh the to scorn Afterward when he seith that thou hast nothynge he shall forsake the shake his head at the. Submyt thy selfe vnto God â–ª and wayte vpon his hande Beware that thou be not dysceyued and broughte downe in thy simplenesse Be not to humble in thy wysdome leest when thou arte brought lowe thou be dysceyued thorow folyshnesse yf thou be called of a myghtye man absent thy selfe so shall he call the to him the moore ofte Prease not thou vnto him that thou be not shut out but go not thou far of leest he forget the. Withdrawe not thy selfe from his speache but beleue not his many wordes Forwith muche comunicacion shal he tempte the and wyth a preuy mocke shall he question the of thy secretes The vnmercyfull mynde of his shall marke thy wordes he shall not spare to do the hurte and to put the in prison Be ware and take good hede to thy selfe for thou walkest in parel of thy ouerthrowyng Nowe when thou hearest his wordes make the as though thou werst in a dreme and wake vp Loue god all thy lyfe longe and cal vpon him in thy nede Euery beeste loueth his lyke euen so let euery man loue his neighbour Al flesh wyll resort to their lyke and euery man wyll kepe companye with suche as he is him selfe But as the wulfe agreeth with the lambe so doth the vngodlye with the ryghteous ii Cori. vi c What felowshyp shuld an holy man haue with a dog How can the ryche and the poore agre together The wylbe Asse is the Lyons praye in the wyldernes euen so are poore men the meate of the ryche Lyke as the proude maye not awaye wyth lowlynes euen so do the ryche abhorre the poore â–ª yf a ryche man fall hys frendes set hym vp agayne but when the poore fallethe his aquayntaunce forsake hym â–ª yf a ryche man fall into an errour he hath manye helpers he speaketh proude workes and yet men iustifye hym But if a poore man go wroÌ„ge he is punished yee though he speake wysely yet can it haue no place When the ryche man speaketh euery bodye holdeth his tonge and loke what he sayth they prayse it vnto the cloudes But yf the pore man speke they saye What felowe is this And yf he do amysse they shall destroye hym Rychesse are good vnto hym that hath no syn in his conscience and pouerte is a wycked thynge in the mouth of the vngodly The herte of man chaungeth his countenauÌ„ce whether it be in good or euell A cherefull countenaunce is a token of a good herte for elles it is an harde thynge to knowe the thought ¶ The ofâ—ence of the tong 〈◊〉 is but a vayne thynge Happye is he that contynueth in wisdome Cap. xiiii BLessed is the man Eccle. 16. c and .xxv. c Iacob â— a that hath not fallen with the worde of his mouth And is not pricked with the conscyense of syn Happie is he that hath no heuynes in his mynd and is not fallen from his hope It becommeth not a couetous man and a nygarde to be rych and what shulde a nygarde do with golde He that with all his carefulnesse heapeth together vnryghtuously gathereth for other folkes and an other man shall make good chere with his goodes He that is wycked vnto hym selfe howe shuld he be good vnto other men how can such one haue any plesur of his goodes There is nothing worse then when one disfauoureth him selfe and this is a rewarde of his wickednes yf he do any good he doth it not knowyng therof and agaynst his wyl at the last he declareth his vngracyousnes A nigard hath a wicked eye he turneth awaye his face Pro. 17. c. Eccle. â— despiseth his owne soule A couetous maÌ„s eye hath neuer ynoughe in the porcyon of wickednes vntyl the tyme that he wyther a waye haue lost his owne soule A wycked eye spareth brede and there is scarcenes vpon his table My sonne do good to thy selfe of that thou hast geue the lorde his due offringes RemeÌ„ber that death taryeth not how that the couenaunt of the graue is shewed vnto therfor the couenauÌ„t of this worlde shâ—l die the death Eccle. 4. Tobi. 4. b Luke 16. b Do good vnto thy frende before thou dye and according to thy habilyte reach out thyne hand and geue vnto the poore Be not disapoynted of the good daye let not the porcyon of the good day ouerpasse the. Shalt thou not leaue thy trauayles and labours vnto other men In the deuidyng of the heritage geue and take and sanctifie thy soule Worke thou râ—ghtuousnesse before thy death for in the hel there is no meate to fynde ¶ Al fleshe shall fade awaye lyke grasse Esaie 1â— â— i. Pe. i. d. Iacob i. b and lyke a florishyng leafe in a grene tre Some grow some areca downe ne euen so is the generacyon of fleshe and blood one commited to an ende an other is borne All transitorye thynges shall fayle at the last and the workes therof shal go withall Euery chosen worke shall be iustifyed and he that medleth withall shall haue honour therin Blessed is the man that stepeth hym in wysdome and exercyseth hym selfe in vnderstandynge and with discrecyon shal he thinke vpon the foreknowledge of God Whiche considereth the wayes of wysdome in his herte hathe vnderstandynge in her secretes goth after her as one that seketh her out continueth in her wayes He loketh in at her wyndowes and harekeneth at her dores He taketh his rest besyde her house
sentences and iugemeÌ„tes Folow not thy lustes but turne the from thyne owne wyll For if thou geuest thy soule her owne desyres it shall make thyne enemyes to laugh the to scorne Take not thy pleasur in great voluptuousnesse medle not to muche withal Make not to great chere of the thing that thou hast wun by auauÌ„tage leest thou fall into pouerte haue nothinge in thy purse ¶ wyne and whoredome brynge men to pouerte In thy wordes must thou vse dyscrecion The differaunce of the wysdome of God and man wherby thou mayst knowe what is in a man Correction must be vesd without anger Capi xix A Labouryng man that is geuen vnto dronkennesse shal not be rych and he that maketh not much of small thynges shall fal by lytle lytle ⊣ Wyne and wemen gene 19. â— i. i. Re. xi a make wyse men rennagates put men of vnderstaÌ„ding to reprofe he that accompanyeth aduouterers shall become a wycked man Mothes wormes shal haue him to herytage ye he shal be set vp to a greter example and his soule shal be roted out of the noÌ„ber iosu 22. c. He that is hasty to geue credence is light minded and doth againe hym self Who so reioyseth iÌ„ wickednes shall be punished he that hateth to be refourmed his lyfe shal be shortened he that abhorreth babling of wordes quencheth wyckednes He that offeÌ„deth against his own soule shal repeÌ„t it and he that reioiseth in wickednes shal be punished Rehearse not a wycked and churlysh word twyse and thou shalt not be hindered Shew thy secretes nether to freÌ„d nor fo yf thou hast offendid tel it not out For he shal herkeÌ„ vnto the marke the and when he findeth oportunite he shal hate the and so shall he be alway aboute the yf thou hast hearde a word against thy neighbour Ecle 21. d and .17 c. let it be deede with in the be suer thou shalt haue no harm therby A sole trauaileth with a worde like as a woman that is pained with bering of a chyld Levi. xix d mat 17. b. Like as an arow shot in a dogges thygh so is a word in a foles hert Tell thy frend his faut least he be ignoraunt saye I haue not done it or yf he haue spoken thâ—t he do it no more Reproue thy neighbour that he kepe hys tonge yf he haue spoken that he saye it no more Tel thy neyghbour his faut for ofttymes an offence in made geue not credeÌ„ce to euery word A maÌ„ falleth somtyme with his tonge but not with his wyll For Eccle. 14. a and xâ—v a Iame. â— b what is he that hath not offended â— his tonge Geue thy neybour warnyng before thou threaten him geue place vnto the law of the lord The feare of god is al wisdom he that is a right wyse maÌ„ kepeth the law As for the doctryne of wyckednes it is no wysdom the prudence of siners is no good vnderstandynge it is but wickednes abhominâ—cion a blasphemyng of wysdome A symple man of small vnderstandinge that feareth God is better then one that hath much wysedom transgresseth the lawe of the hiest A craftye suttell man can be wise but he is vnrightuous and with giftes he wresteth the open manifest law A wicked man can behaue him selfe humbly and can douke with his heade and yet is he but a disceyuer wtin He hideth his face ‡ mat vi and disguiseth it because he shulde not be knoweÌ„ he preueÌ„teth ye. And though he be so weak that he can do the no harme yet when he may find oportunite he shal do some euel A man may be knowen by his face and one that hath vnderstanding may be perceiued by the loke of his countenaunce A mans garment laughter Eccle. 31. â— and goynge declare what he is ¶ Of correction and repentaunce of the gyft of the wyse man and of the sole of lyinge Cap. xx SOme man Eccle. 31. d reproueth his neyghbour oft tymes but not in due season Agayne some man holdeth his tonge he is wise discret It is much better to geue warning to reproue theÌ„ to beare euyl wyl for he that knowlegeth hym selfe openly shall be preserued froÌ„ hurt and destruccion Like as wheÌ„ a gelded man thorowe desyre lust defyleth a mayden euen so is it with hym that vseth violence and vnrightuous in the lawe O how good a thynge is it a man that is reproued to shew opeÌ„ly his repeÌ„taunce for so shalt thou escape wylful syn Some maÌ„ kepeth scileÌ„ce is found wyse but he that is not a shamed what he sayth is hateful Some maÌ„ holdeth his tonge Eccle iii. a. Eccle. 32. c because he hath not the vnderstaÌ„ding of the laguage some maÌ„ kepeth scylence wayting a conuenient tyme â–ª A wyse man wyl holde his toÌ„ge tyl he se oportunitie but a wanton vndiscret body shall regarde no tyme. He that vseth many wordes shal hurt his owne soule he that taketh auctorite vpon him vnryghtously shal be hated some maÌ„ hath oft tymes prosperite in wicked thinges Againe some man getteth much hath harme losse There is some gift that is nothing worth Againe there is some gyfte who se rewarde is double Some man getteth a fall for beyng to proude and some coÌ„meth to worshyp froÌ„ low estate Some man byeth muche for a litle pryce and must paye for it seuen folde Eccl. 18. â— A wyse man with his workes maketh hym self to be loued but the fauours of fooles shal be poured out The gyft of the vnwise shal do the no good for his eyes are seuen folde ★ HeÌ„ shall gyue lytle say he gaue much he openeth his mouth cryeth out as it were one that crieth out wynd To day he lendeth to morow asketh he agayne and suche a man is to be hated The fole saith I haue no freÌ„d I haue no thanke for al my good dedes ye eueÌ„ they that eat my bread speak no good of me O how oft of how many shal he be laughed to scorne He taketh a more perelous fal by such wordes theÌ„ yf he fell vpon the grounde euen so shal the falles of wicked meÌ„ come hastly In the mouth of him that is vntaught are many vncoÌ„uenient and vnmere wordes A wyse sentence shal not be alowed at the mouth of the fole for he speaketh it not in due seasoÌ„ Some man sinneth not be cause he hath not wherwithal in hys reast he shal be stynged Some man ther is that destroieth his owne soule with shame for an vnwyse bodyes sake destroieth he it and wâ—th acceptyng of persoÌ„s shal he vndo hym self Some man promiseth his frend a gyft for very shame and getteth an enemy of him for naught A ly is a wicked shame in a man yet shal it be euer in the mouth of the vnwise A thefe is better then
great misfortune by the reason of gold haue found theyr destruccion before thē It is a tree of fallyng vnto them that offer it vp al such as be folysh fal therin Blessed is the ryche which is found without blemish and hath not gone after gold nor hoped in money and treasures Where is there suche a one and we shall cōmende him cal him blessed for great thīges doth he amonge his people Whoso is tried and found perfect in such thynges shal be cōmended and praised Who might offēde and hath not offēded Who coulde do euell hath not done it Therfore shall his good be stablyshed and the whole congregacion shal declare his almesses Yf thou syt at a great mans table open not thy mouth wid vpō it make not many wordes Remember that an euel eye is a shrew What thyng created is worse thē a wicked eye therfore wepeth it before euerye mans face Laye not thyn hande vpō euery thīg that thy eye seythe stryue not with him in the dish Mat. 7. ◠Ponder by thy selfe what thy neyghbour wolde fayne haue be discrete in eueri point Eate the thing that is set before the manerly as it becōmeth a man and eate not to much lest thou be abhorred Leaue thou of firste of al because of nurtour lest thou be he whom no man maye satisfye which maye turne to thy decaye When thou syttest among many men reach not thyn hande fyrste of all Eccl. 37. d O how wel contēt is a wyseman with a lytle wine so that in slepe thou shalte not be sicke therof nor fele any pain A swet wholsome slepe shall such a one haue fele no inwarde grefe He riseth vp by times in the mornynge and is wel at ease in him self But an vnsaciable eater slepeth vnquietly and hath ache payne of the body Yf thou feleste that thou haste eaten to much arise go thy waie cast it of thy stomake and take thy rest it shall ease the so that thou shalt bringe no sicknes vnto thy bodye My sonne heare me despyse me not at the last thou shalt finde as I haue tolde ye. Rom. 12. c In all thy worckes be dylygent and quycke so shal there no sicknes happen vnto the. Pro. 22. a Who so is liberall in dealinge out his meate manye mē shal blesse him praise hym with theyr lippes and the same is a suer tokē of his loue and faythfulnesse But he that is vnfaythful in meat the whole citie shal cōplayne of him and that is a suer experience of his infydelytie wickednes Ephe. 5. d Iudi. 13. a Be not thou a wine bibber for wine hath destroyed many a man The fyre proued the harde yron euē so doth wyne proue that hertes of the proude when they be dronkē 〈◊〉 31. a 〈◊〉 4 c Wyne soberly dronken quickeneth the life of man Yf thou drinke it mesurably thou shalt be temperate What lyfe is it that maye continue without wine What taketh awaye the life euē death Wyne was made from the beginning to make mē glad and not for drōkennes Wine mesurablye dronkē is a reioisyng of the soule body A mesurable drink is helth to soule and bodye But yf it be dronkē with excesse it maketh bitternes sorow vnto the minde Drōkennes filleth the mynde of the foolish with shame and ruyne minished the strength maketh woundes Eccl. 20 a Rebuke not thy neyghbour at the wine despise him not in his myrth Geue him no despiteful wordes prease not vpon him with contrary saienges ¶ Of the discrecyon and prayse of the preacher and of the hearer Of the feare fayth confidēce of God Capi. xxxii YF thou be made a ruler Deu. 17 d Rom. 12. b pryde not thy self therin but be thou as one of the people Take diligent care for them and loke well therto when thou hast done al thy dewte syt the downe that thou maist be mery with them receiue a crowne of honour Talke wisely honestli for wisdom becōmeth the right wel Hynder not musicke Speake not where there is no audiēce Eccle. 3. a Eccl. 20 a and poure not forth wisdome out of tyme at an importunyte Like as the Carbuncle stone shyneth that is set in golde so doth a songe garnishe the wyne feast and as the Smaragde that is set in golde so is the swetnes of Musicke by the myrth of wyne Geue eare and be still for thy good behauour thou shalt be loued Thou yonge man speake that becōmeth the and that is profitable yet scarse whē thou art twise asked Cōprehende much with fewe wordes In many thynge be as one that is ignoraunte geue eare holde thy tonge withall Yf thou be amonge men of hier auctoryte desyre not to compare thy selfe vnto thē whē an elder speaketh make not manye wordes therin Before the thunder goeth lightenyng before nurtor shamefastnes goeth loue and fauour Stāde vp by tymes be not the last but gete the home soone and ther take thy pastyme and do what thou wilt so that thou do no euel defie no man But for all thinges geue thankes vnto hym that hath made the and replenished the with his goodes Who so feareth the lorde wyl receyue his doctryne they that get thē to hym by tymes shall fynde grace He that seketh the lawe shal be fylled withall As for him that is but fained he wyl be offēded therat They that feare the lorde shall finde the iudgemēt theyr righteousnes shal be kyndled as a light An vngodly mā will not be refourmed but cā helpe him selfe with the example of other in his purpose A mā of vnderstāding despiseth no good councel but a wilde proude body hath no feare Yee euen whē he hath delt rashly with an other man but his owne doinges shal be his rebuke My sonne do nothinge without aduisement so shal it not repent the after the dede Go not in the waye where thou mayste fall nor where thou maist stomble againste the stone Geue not thy selfe into a laboryous slyppery waye beware of thine owne childrē take hede of them that be of thine owne housholde In all thy workes put thy trust in god frō thy whole hert for that is the kepinge of the cōmaūdementes Who so beleueth Gods worke taketh hede to the cōmaūdementes and he that putteth his trust in the lorde shall wante nothing ¶ The delyueraunce of hym that feareth god The aunswere of the wyse The lytle discresion of a fole Man is in the hand of god as the earth is in the hande of the potter ▪ we ought not to dispose our selues to become subiect to other Capi. xxxiii THere shal no euel happen vnto him that feareth god but whē he is in temptaciō the Lorde shall delyuer hym and kepe him from euell A wyse man hateth not the lawe but an ypocrite is as a shippe in ragyng water
hande Agge ii c. and .ii. a. So was Iesus also the Sunne of Iosedec these men in their tymes buylded the house and set vp the Sanctuary of the Lorde agayne 2. Esd i a. 2. Es 7. a. whiche was prepared for an euerlastynge worshyppe ¶ And Nehemyas is alwaye to be commended which set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe made the portes and barres againe and buylded our houses of the newe ‡ But vpon earthe is there no maÌ„ created lyke Enoche for he was taken vp from the earthe gene v. c. Eccl. 44. c. Heb. xii a gene xli f 42. a. 45. e. And Ioseph whiche was Lorde of his brethrenne and the vpholder of his people his bones were couered and kepte Seth and Sem were in greate honoure amoÌ„ge the people and so was Adam aboue all the beastes when he was created ¶ Of Symon the Sonne of Oniah Capi. l. SIMON â— Mac. 3.4 the Sonne of Onyas the hie Preest whiche in his lyfe sette vp the house againe and in his dayes made faste the Temple The heighte of the Temple also was fouÌ„ded of him the double buyldynge and the hye walles of the Temple In his daies the welles of water flowed out were exceadinge full as the see He toke care for his people and deliuered them from destruccion He kepte his Citie and made it stronge that it shulde not be beseged He dwelt in honour and worship amonge his people and enlarged the entraunce of the house and the courte He gaue lyght as the mornynge Starre in the myddest of the Cloudes and as the Mone when it is full He shyned as the Sunne in the Temple of God He is as bryghte as the raine bowe in the fayer cloudes and florisheth as floures and Roses in the spring of the yeare and as lylyes by the riuers of water Lyke as the braunches vpon the mount Libanus in the time of Sommer as a fyre and in sence that is kyndled Lyke as an whole ornament of puer golde set with all maner of precyous stones and as an Olyue tree that is frutefull as a Cypres tre which groweth vp an hie When he putte on the garment of honoure and was clothed with all bewtie WheÌ„ he went to the holy Aulter to garnyshe the coueringe of the Sanctuarye when he toke the porcions out of the prestes hand he him self stode by the herth of the aulter and his brethrenne rounde aboute in order As the braunches of Cedre tree vpon the mount Libanus so stode they rounde aboute him And as the braunches of the Olyue tre so stode all the sonnes of Aaron in the glorye and the Oblations of the Lorde in their handes before all the Congregation of Israell And that he myght sufficiently perfourme his seruyce vpon the aulter and garnyshe the offrynge of the Hyest GOD he stretched oute his hande and toke of the drynk offrynge and poured in of the wyne so he poured vpoÌ„ the bottome of the Aulter a good smell vnto the hyest Prynce Then beganne the sonnes of Aaron to singe and to blow with trompettes and to make a greate noyse for a remembraunce and prayse vnto the Lorde Then were al the people afraide and fel downe to the earthe vpon their faces to worshyppe the Lorde their God and to geue thankes to the Almyghtye GOD They songe goodly also with their voices so that there was a pleasaunt noise in the greate house of the lorde And the people in their praier be sought the Lorde the hyest that he wolde be mercyfull tyll the honoure of the Lorde were perfourmed Thus ended they theyr ministracyon and seruyce Then wente he downe and stretched out his handes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israell that they shuld geue prayse and thankes out of their lyppes vnto the Lord and to reioyse in his name He beganne yet once also to pray that he myght openly shew the thankes geuynge before the Hieste namely thus O geue prayse and thanckes ye al vnto the lord our god which hath euer done noble and great thinges whiche hath increased our dayes from our mothers wombe and dealt with vs accordynge to his mercye that he wyll geue vs the ioyfulnes of hert and peace for oure tyme in Israell Whiche fayth fully kepeth hys mercy for vs euermore and alwaye delyuereth vs in due season There be two maner or people that I abhorre from my herte as for the third whom I hate it is no people They that syt vpon the mountayne of Samaria the Philystynes and the folysh people that dwell in Sichimis I Iesus the sonne of Syrach Eleazarus of Ierusalem haue tokenned vp these informacions and documentes of wysdomme and vnderstandynge in this boke and poured out the wisedome of my herte Blessed is he that exercyseth hym selfe therein who so taketh suche to herte shal be wyse for euer yf he do these thinges he shal be stronge in all For the lyght of the lord leadeth hym ¶ The prayse of Iesus the sonne of Syrach Capi li. I WILL thanke the O Lorde and Kynge and prayse the O God my Sauiour I wyll yelde prayse vnto thy name for thou arte my Defender and helper and haste preserued my bodye from destruccion from the snare of trayterous tongues and from the lyppes that are occupied with lyes Thou hast bene my helper from soch as stode vppe agaynste me and haste delyuered me after the multytude of thy mercye and for thy holye names sake Thou haste delyuered me frome the roarynge of them that prepared theÌ„ selues to deuoure me out of the handes of suche as soughte after my life from the multitude of them that troubled me went about to sette fire vpon me on euery syde so that I am not brente in the myddest of the fyre From the depe of hell from an vncleane tonge from lieng wordes from the wycked Kyng from an vnryghtuous tonge My soule shall prayse the Lorde vnto deathe for my lyfe drewe nye vnto hell dounwarde They compased me rounde aboute on euery syde and there was no man to helpe I loked aboute me yf there were any man that wolde socoure me but there was none Then thought I vpon thy mercye O LORDE and vpon thy Actes that thou haste done euer of olde namely that thou delyuerest suche as putte their truste in the and ryddest theym oute of the handes of the Heathen Thus lyfte I vp my prayer from the earth and prayde for deliueraunce from death I called vpon the LORDE the Father of my Lorde that he wolde not leaue me without helpe in the daye of my trouble and in the tyme of the proude I wyll prayse thy name continually yelding honour and thanckes vnto it and so my prayer was hearde Thou sauedst me from destruccion and delyueredest me frome the vnrightuous tyme. Therfore wyll I acknowledge prayse the and magnifie thy name O LORDE When I was yet but yong or euer I went astraye I desired wysdom openly in my prayer I came therefore before the Temple and sought her vnto the laste Then florished she vnto me as a grape that is soone rype My hert reâ—oysed in her then wente my foote the ryght way ye from youth vp sought I after her I bowed downe myne eare receiued her I founde me moch wysdome and prospered greatly in her Therfore wyl I ascribe the glory vnto hym that geueth me wisdom for I am aduised to do therafter I wyll be gelouse to cleane vnto the thynge that is good so shall I not be coÌ„founded My soule dath wrestled with her and I haue bene diligent to be occupyed in her I lyfte vp myne handes on hye then was my soule lyghtened thorowe wysdom that I knoledged my folyshnes I ordered my soule after her she and I were one hert from the begynnyng and I founde her in clennesse And therfore shall I not be forsaken My hert longed after her and I gat a good treasure Thorowe her the lorde hath geuen me a newe tonge wherwith I wyll prayse him Eccl. lv a. O come vnto me ye vnlearned and dwell in the house of wysdomme withdrawe not your selues from her but talke and commen of these thinges for youre Soules are very thirstye I opened my mouth and spake O come and by wysedome without monye bowe downe your necke vnder her yocke and youre soule shall receyue wysedome She is harde at hande and is contente to be founde Beholde with youre eyes Eccl. vi â— how that I haue had but lytle labour and yet haue found moche reste O receyue wysedome and ye shall haue plentuousnesse of syluer and golde in possession Lette your mynde reioyse in his mercye and be not ashamed of his prayse Worke hys worke by tymes and he shall geue you youre rewarde in due tyme. ¶ Here endeth the boke of Iesus the sonne of Syrache which is called in Latyn ECCLESIASTIcus FINIS huius libri ⧠Imprynted at London in Paules churcheyarde at the sygne of the Kinges armes by Wylliam Bonham