workes of wyckednesse The talking of him that feareth god is nothing but wisdom as for a foole he chaungeth as the Moone Yf thou be among the vndiscrete kepe thy worde to a conuenyent tyme but among such as be wise speake on hardely The talking of fooles is abhominacion and theyr sporte is voluptuousnes and misnurtoure Eccl. 22. b Muche swearynge maketh the heare to stande vp and to stryue with such stoppeth the eares The stryfe of the proude is bloodshedyng and theyr blaspheminge is heuy to heare Eccl. 19. b and .22 d. Who so discouerethe secretes leaseth his credence fyndeth no frende after his wyl Loue thy freÌ„de and binde thi self in faithfulnes with him but if thou bewraiest his secrets thou shalt not get him agayne For lyke as the man is that destroyeth his enemy so is he also that dealeth falslye in the freÌ„dship of his neyghbour Like as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande cannot take her again Euen so thou yf thou geue ouer thy freÌ„de thou canst not get hym againe Yee thou canst not come by him for he is to far of He is vnto the as a Roo escaped out of the snare for his soul is wouÌ„ded As for wouÌ„des they may be bounde vp againe an euell worde may be reconcyled but who so bewraieth the secretes of a freÌ„d there is no more hope to be had vnto him He that wynketh with the eyes Pro. 10. b ymagineth some euel and no man shall take him froÌ„ it WheÌ„ thou art present he shal hyely coÌ„mende and prayse thy wordes but at the last he shal turne his tayle and slaunder thy saieng Many thinges haue I hated but nothing so euel for the lord hymself also abhorreth such a one Exod 21. b who so casteth a stone on hye it shal fal vpon hys owne hed and he that smyteth with gyle wouÌ„deth himself Who so dyggeth a pit shal fal therin he that laieth a stone in his neyghbours way shal stomble theron he that laieth a snare for an other shal be takeÌ„ in it himself Hâ—ste 7. b Psal 7. b Pro. 26. c Eccl. 10. a Who so geueth a wycked noysome counsel it shall come vpon hymselfe he shal not know froÌ„ whence The proude blaspheme and are scorneful but vengeauÌ„ce lurketh for them as a lyoÌ„ They that reioyce at the fal of the ryghtuous shal be takeÌ„ in the snare anguysh of hert shal comsume theÌ„ before they dye Anger rygorousnes ar two abhominable thinges the vngodly hath theÌ„ both vpon him We ought not to desyre vengeaunce but to forgeue the offence Of the vices of the tonge of the daungers therof Capi. xxviii HE Deut. 32 c Rom. 12. c that seketh vengeaunce shall fynde vengeaunce of the Lorde which shal surely kepe him his sinnes Math. 5. b 6. b. 18. b Forgeue thy neyghbour the hurt that he hath done the and so shal the sinnes be forgeuen the also wheÌ„ thou prayest A maÌ„ that beareth hatred against an other howe dare he desire forgeuenes of God He that sheweth no mercy to a maÌ„ which is like him self how dare he aske forgeuenes of his synnes Yf he that is but flesh beareth hatred and kepeth it who wil in treate for his sinnes remember the ende and let enmyte passe which seketh death destruccion and abyde thou in the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes Remember the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t so shalte thou not be rygoruse ouer thy neighbour Thynke vpoÌ„ the couenauÌ„t of the hyest and forgeue thy neighbours ignorauÌ„ce Eccle. 8. a Beware of strife thou shalt make thy synnes fewer For an angrye man kyndeleth variauÌ„ce the vngodly disquieteth frendes putteth dyscorde among them that be at peace Pro. 26. c The more woode there is the more vehement is the fyre the myghtier that meÌ„ be the greater is the wrath and the longer the stryfe endureth the more it burneth An hastye braulyng kyndeleth a fyre and an hasty stryfe shedeth blode A tong also that bereth false wytnes bryngeth deathe Yf thou blow the sparke it shal burn Yf thou spyt vpon it it shal go forth both these out of the mouth Eccle. 21. c The sclaunderer double tonged is cursed for manye one that be freÌ„des setteth he at variauÌ„ce The third tong hath disquieted many one dryuen them from one land to an other Strong cities of the riche hath it broken downe and ouerthroweÌ„ the houses of great meÌ„ the strength of the peple hath it brought downe and bene the decaye of mighty nacions The third tonge hath cast out many an honest woman and robbed theÌ„ of theyr labours Who so harkeneth vnto suche shal neuer fynde rest neuer dwel safely The stroke of the rod maketh yedders but the stroke of the tong smytteth the bones in sunder Ther be many that haue peryshed with the sweard but many mo thorow the tonge Well is him that is kept from an euel tonge coÌ„meth not in the anger therof which draweth not the yoke of such as be not bounde in the bandes of it For the yoke therof is of yron the hande of it of stele The death therof is a very euel death hell were better for one theÌ„ such a toÌ„ge But the fyre of it may not oppresse them that feare god the flame therof maye not burne theÌ„ Suche as forsake the Lorde shall fall therin it shall burne them and no man shal be able to quench it It shal fal vpoÌ„ them as a Lyon and deuoure them as a leoparde Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes why doest thou not rather make doers barres for thy mouth Thou weyest thy golde siluer why dost thou not weye thy wordes also vpoÌ„ the balaunce Beware that thou slyde not in thy tonge so fall before thine ennemyes that laye wayte for the thy fall be incurable euen vnto deathe ¶ Howe we oughte to lende our money and do almes Of a faythful man aunswerynge for hys frende Of lyberalytie and hospitalitie Capi. xxix WHo so wyll shewe mercy Deut. 15. a Luce. 6. d. let him leÌ„de vnto his neighbour he that is able let him kepe the commaundement Lend vnto thy neighbour in tyme of his nede paye thou thy neyboure agayn in due season Kepe thy worde and deale faithfully with him and thou shalt alwaye fynde the thinge that is necessarye for ye. There haue bene many that wheÌ„ a thynge was lent them rekened it to be founde made theÌ„ trauayle laboure that had helped them Whyle they receyue any thing they kisse the haÌ„des of suche as geue theÌ„ for theyr neyghbours good they humble theyr voyce But wheÌ„ they shuld pay agayne they kepe it backe geue euell wordes and make many excuses by reason of the tyme though he be able yet geueth he scarse the halfe agayne rekeneth the other to be founde And yf he with holde not his money yet hath he an enemye of
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
knowen the synful bed she shal haue fruyte in the rewarde of the hooly Soules And blessed is the gelded which with his hādes hath wrought no vnrightuousnes nor imagined wicked thinges against God Esa 5 6. b For vnto him shall be gyuen the speciall gyfte of faythe and the most acceptable porcyon in the temple of God For gloryous is the fruyte of good laboure and the rote of wisdome shal neuer fade awaye As for the childrē of aduouterers they shall come to an ende the sede of an vnryghtuous bed shal be roted out And thoughe they liue lōge yet shal they be nothynge regarded theyr laste age shal be without honoure Yf they dye hastely they haue no hope neyther shall they be spoken to in the daye of knowledge For horryble is the deathe and ende of the vnrightuouse ¶ Of the chast generacyon of the faythfull and of theyr felicitie Of the death of the rightuous and of the condempnacyon of the vnfaythfull Capi. iiii O Howe fayer is a chaste generacion with vertue The memorial therof is imortall for it is knowen with good men When it is presente men take example thereat and yf it go awaye yet they desyre it It is alwaye crowned holden in honour wynneth the rewarde of the vndefiled batayle But the multitude of vngodly chyldren is vnprofitable Iere. 17. b Mala. 1. a Mat. 7. c. and the thynges that are planted with horedome shall take no depe rote nor laye any faste foundacion Thoughe they be grene in the braunches for a tyme yet shall they be shaken with the wynde for they stande not faste and thorow the vehemence of the wynd they shal be roted out For the vnperfect braūcesse shal be broken theyr fruyte shall be vnprofytable and sower to eat yee mete for nothynge And why all the chyldren that are borne of the wycked must beare recorde of the wyckednes agaynst theyr fathers and mothers whē they be asked But though the ryghtuous be ouertakē with death Age. yet shall he be in rest Age is an honourable thynge Neuerthelesse it standeth not onely in the length of tyme nor the multytude of yeres but a mans wysdom is the graye heer and an vndefyled lyfe is the olde age He pleaseth god and was beloued of hym so that where as he liued among sinners he translated him Hebre 11. d Yee sodenly was he taken away to the entent that wickednes shulde not alter his vnderstandyng and that ypocrysye shuld not begyle his soule For the crafty bewytching of lyes make good thinges darke the vnstedfastnes also and wickednes of voluptuous desyre turne asyde the vnderstandynge of the symple Though he was soone deed yet fulfylled he much time For his soule pleased god therfore hasted he to take him away frō amonge the wycked This the people see and vnderstande it not they laye not vp suche thynges in theyr hertes how that the louyng fauoure and mercy of god is vpon his Saynctes and that he hath respecte vnto his chosen Thus the ryghtuous that is deed condempneth the vngodly which ar lyuyng the youth that is soone brought to an ende the longe lyfe of the vnryghtuous For they se the ende of the wyse but they vnderstand not what god hath deuised for him and wherfore the Lorde hathe taken him awaye And why they se hym and despyse hym therfore shall god also laughe them to scorne Psal 2. So that they them selues shal dye hereafter but withoute honoure yee in shame amonge the deade for euermore For without anye voyce shall he hurste those that be put vp and remoue theym from the foundacions so that they shall be layde wast vnto the hyest They shall mourne and theyr memoriall shal perish So they beynge afrayde shall remember theyr synnes and theyr own wyckednes shall bewraye them ¶ The constauntnesse of the ryghteous before theyr persecuters The hope of the vnfaythful is vndurable and vayur The blessednes and fortunatenes of the sayntes and godly Capi. v. THen shall the ryghtuouse stande in greate stedfastnes Mat. 19 c agaynste suche as haue delte extremely with them and taken awaye theyr laboures When they se it they shall be vexed wyth horryble feare and shall wonder at the hastynesse of the sodayne healthe gronynge for a verye destresse of mynde and shal say within themselues hauing inwarde sorowe and mournyng for veri anguyshe of mynde These are they whom we somtyme had in derision Sapi. 3. a and iested vpon We foles thought theyr life very madnes and theyr ende to be without honoure But lo howe they ar counted among the chyldrē of god and their porcyon is amonge the Saynctes Therfore we haue erred frō the way of truth the lyght of ryghtuousnes hath not shyned vnto vs and the sunne of vnderstandynge rose not vp vpon vs. We haue we ryed our selues in the way of wickednes destruccyon Tedious wayes haue we gone but the waye of the Lord we haue not knowen What good hath our pryde done vnto vs Or what profyte hath the pompe of rychesse brought vs All those thynges are passed away lyke a shadow and as a messenger renuyng before 1. Pa. 30. c Sapi. 2. b Pro 30. b as a ship that passeth ouer the waues of water which whē it is gone by the trace therof cannot be founde neyther the path of it in the floudes Or as a byrde that flyethe thorow the ayre and no man can se any token where she is flowen but only heareth the noyce of her wynges beatyng the lyght wynd partyng the ayer thorow the vehemence of her flyghte and flyethe on shakynge her wynges where as afterward no token of her waye can be found Or lyke as when an arrowe is shot at a marke it parteth the ayre which immediatly cōmeth together againe so that a man can not knowe where it wente thorowe Euen so we in like maner as soone as we were borne begane immediatly to drawe to our ende and haue shewed no token of vertue but ar consumed in oure owne wyckednes Suche wordes shall they that haue sinned speake in the hel Iob. 8. a for the hope of the vngodly is lyke a drye thystell floure or dust that is blowen away with the wynd lyke as thyn scomme that is scattered abrode with the storme Psal ◠b Pro. 10. d and 11. a Iacob 1. b like as the smoke which is dispersed here and there wyth the wynde and as the remembraunce of a starunger that taryeth for a daye and then departeth Psa 39. a But the ryghtuous shal lyue foreuermore theyr rewarde also is with the lord theyr remembraūce with the hyghest Therfore shall they receyue a glorious kyngdōe a beutyful crowne of the Lordes hande for with his righte hande shall he couer them ✿ Ephe. 6. b and with his owne arme shall he defende them his gelousy also shall take harnesse and shall arme the creature to be auenged of the enemyes He
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