For there are hyd yet greater thynges then these be as for vs we haue sene but few of his workes For the lorde hath made all thinges and geuen wysedome to suche as feare god ¶ The prayse of certayne holy men Henoche Noâ— Abraham Isaac and Iacob Capi. xliiii LETTE vs commende the noble famous men and the generacion of oure fore elders and Fathers Many more glorious actes hath the lord done and shewed his great power euer sence the beginning The noble famous men raigned in their Kyngdomes and bare excelleÌ„t rule In their wisedome vnderstandyng they folowed the councel shewed in the Prophecies ⊢ Exo. xviii c They led the folke thorowe the Councel and wisdome of the Scribes of the people wise sentences are founde in their instruccyon They sought the swetenesse and melodye of Musicke and brought forth the pleasaunt songes in Scripture They were ryche also and coulde comforte pacifie those that dwelt with them All these were very noble and honourable men in theyr generacions as were well reported of in their times These haue lefte a name behynd them so that their prayse shall alway be spoken of Afterwarde there were some whose remembraunce is gone ‡ gene vii d. They came to naught and perished as though they hadde neuer ben became as thoughe they had neuer be borne yee theyr chyldren also with them Neuerthelesse these are louynge meÌ„ whose rightuousnesse shall neuer be forgotten but continue by their posteritie Their chyldrenne are an holy good heritage Their sede endured fast in the couenaunte For theyr sakes shall theyr chyldreÌ„ and sede continue for euer and theyr prayse shall neuer be put downe Their bodies are buried in Peace but their name lyueth for euermore The people can speake of theyr wisedomme and the congregation can talke of their praise ⊣ Ec. 49. 6. gene v. 6. Enoche walked righte and acceptably before the lorde Therefore was he translated for an ensample of amendement vnto the Generacions ★ gene vi s and .7.8 Noe was a stedfaste and Ryghtuousman and in the tyme of wroth he became a reconcilinge Therefore was he lefte a remenante vnto the earthe wheÌ„ the floude came An euerlastinge couenaunt was made with him that al flesh shulde ★ gene ix c perish no more with the water Abraham was a ⊣ gene xvii a great father of many people in glorye was there none lyke vnto hym He kepte the lawe of the Hyest and came into a couenauÌ„t with him He sette the couenaunt in his flesh and when he ★ gene xxii a was proued he was founde faithful Therfore swore god vnto him with an othe that he wold blesse al people in his sede that he wolde multiplye and increase him as the dust of the erth and exalte his sede as the Starres yee and that his sede shulde haue the possessyon and enheritaunce of the lande froÌ„ see to see and from the riuer vnto the borders of the worlde ⊣ gene xxvi a Wyth Isaac dyd he stablyshe the same couenaunte for Abraham hys fathers sake yee that gracious blessynge and health of all men and couenauÌ„t did he stablyshe with Isaac and made it to rest vpon the heade of Iacob He knew him ‡ ge xxviii c. 29.30 in that he prospered hym so wel and richely and gaue hym an heritage and sundred his porcyon by it selfe ⊣ Iosue xviii an xix parted it amonge the twelue Tribes Mercyfull men broughte he out of him whiche founde fauoure in the syght of all fleshe ¶ The prayse of Moyses Aaron and Phynches Capi xlv MOSES ‡ Exo. ix a Actes 7. c. beloued of God and men whose remembraunce is in Hye praise hym that the Lorde made lyke in the glorye of the Saintes and magnified him so that the enemies stode in awe of him thorow his wordes he dyd great wonders He made hym great in the syght of kinges gaue him CommaundemeÌ„t before his people and shewed him his glorious power ⊣ Nu. 12. a. He stablyshed hym with faithfulnesse and mekenesse and those hym out of all meÌ„ For he hearde his voice and led hym in the darke cloude ‡ Exo. xix d. and there he gaue hym the coÌ„maundementes yee the law of lyfe and wisdom that he might teach Iacob his couenaunt and Israell his lawes He chose Aaron his brother also out of the tribe of Leuy exalted hym made him suche lyke ⊣ Exo. xxviii An euerlastynge couenaunt made with him and gaue hym the preesthode in the people He made him glorious in bewtyfull araye clothed him with the garmente of honour He put perfect ioye vpon hym and gyrded hym with strength He decte hym with syde clothes a tunicle with an ouerbodye cote also a gyrdle Rounde about made he hym belles of golde and that many ‡ Exo. xxviii that when he went in the sound myght he heard that they might make a noise in the Sanctuarye and geue the people warnyng The holy garmente was wrought and broderd with golde yelowe â—ilke and purple And in the brestlappe there was a goodly work wherin was fastened lighte and perfectnesse ¶ Vpon the same also there was a worke fastned and set with costly precious stones all bounde with golde Exo. iiii and this he brought in his ministracion The stones were fastened for a remembraunce after the nomber of the twelue Tribes of Israel Vpon his miter there was a plate of puer golde a grauen ymage of holynesse a famous and noble worke garnished and pleasaunt to loke vpon Before him were there seene no suche fayer ornamentes and these it behoueoÌ„ him alwaye to vse There might none other put theym on but onely his children and his childers chyldren perpetuallye Daylye perfourmed he hys burnte offringes two times Leui. 8. a Moses fylled his handes and anoynted hym with holy Oyle This was now confirmed him with an euerlastinge couenaunt to his sede as the dayes of Heauen namely that his childrenne shuld alway minister before him and perfourme the offyce of the Preesthoode and wysh the people good in his name Before all men lyuynge chose he him that he shulde offer inceÌ„ce before the lorde and make odours for a swete sauoure and remembrauÌ„ce that he shulde reconcile the people of the lord with hym againe ⊣ Deu. 17. c and .xxi. a. Mala. ii a He gaue him auctoritie also in his commaundementes and in the Couenaunte that he shoulde teach Iacob the statutes testimonies and to enforme Israell in hys lawe ✚ Nu. 6. a. Therefore there stode vp certain agaynst him and had enuye at hym in the wyldernes namely they that were of Dathan and Abirams syde and the furious Congregation of Chore. Thys the lorde sawe and it displeased hym and in his wrathfull indignacion were they consumed A greate woÌ„der dyd he vpon them and consumed them with the fyre â— Beside this he made Aaron yet more honorable and
deade agayne what doth his watching Pro. 26. b 2. Pe. 2. b So is it with a man that fasteth for his synnes doth them agayne who wil heare his prayer Or what doth his fastinge helpe him ¶ It is well done to praye and to do sacrifice The prayer of the fatherlesse of the wydowe and hym that humbleth hym selfe Capi. xxxv WHo so kepeth the lawe Iere 7. c â–ª bryngeth offerynges ynough He that holdeth fast the coÌ„maundement offereth the right helth offeringe He that is thanckfull and recompeÌ„seth Hebre. 13c Phili. 4 c offereth fyne floure Who so is mercyfull and gueth almes that is the right thanckoffring God hath plesure when one departeth froÌ„ synne to forsake vnrighteousnes recoÌ„cileth vs with him Exo. 43. a Thou shalt not appere emptie before the lorde Gene. 4. a for all suche is done because of the coÌ„mauÌ„dement The offering of the rightuous maketh the aulter fat a swet smel is it before the hiest The offeryng of the rightuous is acceptable vnto god and shal neuer be forgotteÌ„ Geue god his honour with a cherful hert kepe not backe the firstlinges of thi haÌ„des In al thy giftes shew a merciful couÌ„tenauÌ„ce and halow thy tithes vnto god with gladnes Geue vnto god 2. Cor. 9. b according as he hath enryched and prospered the Tob. 4. b loke what thyne haÌ„des is able gyue with a cherful eye for the Lord recompenseth geueth the seuen tymes as muche agayne Geue no vnryghtuous giftes for such wyll he not receiue Beware of wroÌ„geous offringes for the Lord is a rightuous iuge regardeth no maÌ„s persoÌ„ He accepteth not the person of the poore but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed He despyseth not the desyre of the fatherles Iudi. 4. b nor the wydow wheÌ„ she poureth out her praier befor him Doth not god se the teares that reÌ„ down the chekes of the wydow Or heareth he not the coÌ„plaint ouer suche as make her to wepe For froÌ„ her chekes do the teres go vp vnto heuen the lorde which heareth them doth accept them Who so serueth god after his plesure shal be accepted his prayer reacheth vnto the cloudes Tren 3. d â—â—te 10. a The prayer of him that humbleth him self goeth thorowe the cloudes tyll she come nye She wil not be comforted nor go her wai til the hiest god haue respect vnto her gyue true sentence refourme the iudgement And the Lord wyl not be slacke in coÌ„ming nor tarye longe tyll he haue smytten in sonder the backes of the vnmerciful auenged himself of the hetheÌ„ tyl he haue takeÌ„ away the multitud of the cruel broken the cepter of the vnrighteous til he geue euery maÌ„ after his workes reward theÌ„ after theyr doynges til he haue deliuered his people maiÌ„teyned their cause reioyced then in his mercy O how fayre a thiÌ„g is mercy in the time of anguishe trouble It is lyke a cloude of rayne that coÌ„methe in the tyme of a drouth ¶ A prayer to god in the person of all faythfull men with the prayse of a good woman Capi. xxxvi HAue mercy vpon vs O Lorde thou God of al thynges Haue respect vnto vs shewe vs the lyght of thy mercyes and sende thy feate among the Heathen and strauÌ„gers which seke not after the that they may know howe that there is no god but thou and that thei may shew thy wonderous workes Lift vp thy haÌ„d ouer the outlandish hethen that they may lerne to know thy myght power Lyke as thou art halowed in vs before theÌ„ so bryng to passe that thou maist be magnifyed also in theÌ„ before vs that they may know the lyke as we know the. For there is none other god but only thou O lorde Renue the tokens chaunge the wonderous workes Shew thyn hand and thy right arme gloriousli raise vp thy indignacion and poure out thi wrath Take a way the aduersary and smyte the enemye Make the tyme short rememberthe couenaunt that thy wonderous workes may be praysed Let the wrath of the fyre consume them that lyue so careles let theÌ„ perysh that do thy people hurt Smit in sonder the heade of the prynces that be oure enemyes and saye there is none other but we Gather al the Tribes of Iacob together agayne that they may know howe that there is none other god but onlye thou that thei may shew thy wonderous workes be thou thy peoples heritage like as from the beginnynge O Lorde haue mercy vpon the people that hath thy name and vpon Israell Exo. 4. e. whome thou hast lykened to a fyrst borne sonne O be merciful vnto IerusaleÌ„ the cytye of thy saÌ„ctuary 1. par 6. g. the cytie of thy rest Fyl SioÌ„ with thy vnspekable vertues thy people with thi glori Giue witnes vnto thy creature whom thou madest froÌ„ the beginnyng and rayse vp the prophecyes that haue bene shewed in thy name Rewarde them that wayte for the that thy Prophetes maye be founde faythful O Lorde heare the prayer of thy seruauÌ„tes accordyng to the blessyng of Aaron ouer thy people gyde thou vs in the waye of ryghtuousnes that al they which dwell vpon the earth Nume 6 d maye know that thou art the Lorde the eternall god which is froÌ„ euerlastyng The bely deuoureth al meates yet is one meate better theÌ„ an other Lyke as the tonge tasteth venisoÌ„ 1. Cor. 2. b. so doth an hert of vnderstaÌ„ding marke fals wordes A froward hert geueth heuines but a maÌ„ of exeperieÌ„ce lyfteth him vp agayn The woman receyueth euery maÌ„ yet is one daughter better theÌ„ a other A fayer wyfe reioiseth her husbaÌ„d a maÌ„ loueth nothing better Yf she be louyng and vertuous withal theÌ„ is not her husbaÌ„d lyke other men He that hath gotten a vertuous woman hath a goodly possession she is vnto him an helpe pyller wher vpoÌ„ he resteth Where no hedge is there the goodes are spoiled where no huswife is there the frendles mourneth Like as ther is no credence gyuen to a robber that goeth froÌ„ one cite to an other So is not the man beleued that hath no reste and muste turne in where he maye abyde in the nyght ¶ Howe a man shulde knowe frendes and couÌ„cellers and searche the company of a hoolye man Capi. xxxvii EVerye frende saythe I wyll be frendly vnto him also But ther is some frende whych is onely a frende in name Remayneth there not heuynes vnto death when a companyon and frende is tourned an enemy O mooste wycked presumpcyon From whence art thou spronge vp to couer the earthe with falshed and dysceyte There is some companyon which in prosperite reioyseth with his freÌ„de but in the time of trouble he taketh part agaynst hym There is some coÌ„panion that mourneth with his frend for the belisake Eccle. 6. b but wheÌ„ trouble coÌ„meth he taketh hold of the
glorious He gaue hym an herytage and parted the fyrste fruytes vnto hym ★ Nu. xvii b Exo. xxv f Leui. 24. b. Vnto hiÌ„ specially he appointed the breade for sustenaunce for the preestes dyd eate of the offringes of the Lorde this gaue he vnto him and his sede Elles had he no heritage nor porcion in the lande and with the people Deu. xii d. and .xviii. Eze. 44. a For the lorde him selfe in his porcion and inheritaunce The thyrd noble and excellent maÌ„ is Phinches the son Eleazer whiche pleased the God of Israel because he had the zeale and feare of the Lorde For when the people were turned backe he put hiÌ„ selfe forth ryghte soone and that with a good wyll to pacifie the wrathe of the Lorde towarde Israell Therefore was there a couenaunte of peace made with him that he shulde be the principall amonge the righteous the people that he and his posteritie shulde haue the offyce of the Preesthood for euer Lyke as there was made a couenaunt with Dauyd of the Trybe of Iuda that from amonge his sonnes onely there shuld be a Kynge And that Aaron also and his seede shulde be the heritage to geue vs wisdome in oure hert to Iudge his people in ryghtuousnesse that his goodes shuld not come in to forgetfulnesse and that they re Honoure myght enduer for euer ¶ The praise of Iosue Caleb and Samuel Capi. xlvi MANLI and stronge in battayle was Iesus the Sonne of Naue whiche in steade of Moses the Prophet was geuen to be captayn of the people which accordyng vnto hys name was a greate sauiour vnto the electe of God Iosu xii e Nu. 27. b. Deu. 34. a Iosue i. â— to punysh the ennemyes that rose vp agaynst Israell that Israell myght optaine their inheritaunce O howe greate noble and excellent was he wheÌ„ he lyfte vp his hande and drew out his swearde agaynste the Cities Who stode so manly before him For the Lord hym selfe broughte in the ennemies ¶ Stode not the sonne styll at his commaundement Iosue x. and one day was as long as â—wo He called vpon the hieste and moost mightye when the enemies preased vpon hym on euery syde and the lorde hearde him wâ—th the haile stones They smote the Heythenesse people myghtely and in fallyng downe they slew al the aduersaries so that the Hethen knew his hoost and all his defence that the lorde him selfe fought against them for he folowed vpon the myghtye men of them Nu. xiiii a In the tyme of Moises also heand Caleb the sonne of Iephune did a good worke which stode agaynst the enemies withhelde the people from synne stylled the wycked mournynge Nu. 26. â— And of syxe hundreth thousande people of fote they two were preserued to bring them into the heritage namely a lande that floweth with mylke and honye Iosu 24. â— The Lorde gaue strengthe also vnto Caleb which remained with him vnto his age so that he wente vp into the Hye places of the lande and his sede conquered the same for an heritage that all the chyldrennâ— of Israell myghte see how good a thynge it is to be obediente vnto the Lorde And the Iudges or rulers euery one after his name whose hert weÌ„t not a whoringe nor departed from the Lord and that forsoke not the Lorde vnfaythfully whose remembraunce hath a good reporte yee their bones florysh oute of their place and their names shall neuer be chaunged but honour remaineth stil with the chyldren of those holy men Samuell the prophete beloued of the lorde his god 1. Re. x. a. and .xvi. b. ordeyned a Kynge and anoynted the Princes ouer the people In the lawe of the Lord he Iudged the congregation and the lorde had respect vnto Iacob The prophete was founde dilygente in his faithfulnesse and he is knowen faythfull in his wordes 1. Re. vii a He called vpon the Lorde the Almyghtye when the enemyes preased vpon him on euery syde what tyme as he offered the suckynge lambes And the Lorde thondred from heauen and made his voyce to be hearde with a great noyse He discomfyted the Princes of Tyre and al the Rulers of the Philistines â—re xx a. Before his laste ende he made protestacion in the syghte of the Lorde and his anoynted that he toke neyther substance nor good of any man no not so muche as a shoo and no man myght accuse hym After this he tolde that his ende was at haÌ„de and shewed the Kinge also his ende and death and from the earth lyft he vp his voyce in the Prophecy that the vngodlye people shulde peryshe ¶ The prayse of Nathan Dauid and Salomon Capi. xlvii AFTERWARDE in the tyme of Kynge Dauid 2. Re. xii there rose vppe a Prophete called Nathan For lyke as the fatte is taken awaye from the offeringe so was Dauid chosen out of the Childrenne of Israell He toke his pastime with the Lyons as with Kyddes and with Beares like as with lambes 1. Reg. 17. f Slewe he not a Gyaunte when he was yet but yonge and toke away the rebuke from his people What tyme as he toke the stone in his hande and smote downe the proude Golyath with the sling For he called vpoÌ„ the Hiest Lord which gaue him streÌ„gth in his right hand so that he ouerthrew the myghty Giaunt in the battaile that he myghte set vp the horne of his people agayne * Thus brought he hym to worshyp aboue all Prynces Re. 18. b. made hym to haue a good reporte in the prayse of the Lord that he shulde were a crowne of glorye ii Re. v. b. For he destroyeth the enemies on euery side roted out the Philistines his aduersaries and brake their horne in sunder lyke as it is broken yet this day In all his workes he praysed the Hiest and holyest and ascribed the honoure vnto him With his whole herte dydde he praise the Lorde and loued god that made him 2. pa. 26. a. He sette fingers also before the Aulter in their tune he made swete songes He ordeyned to kepe the holy dayes worshypfully that the solemphne feastes thorow the whole yere shulde be honorably holden with praysynge the name of the Lorde and with syngyng by times in the morning in the Sanctuarye ¶ The Lorde toke awaye his sinnes and exalted his horne for euer He gaue him the couenaunt of the kyngdome the trone of worshyppe in Israell .2 reg 2. d 3. Re. 3 c After him there rose vp the wise sonne called Salomon and for his sake he droue the enemies awaye farre of This Salomon raygned with Peace in his tyme for God gaue him rest from his ennemyes on euery syde that he might build him an house in his name and prepare the Sanctuary for euer / lyke as he was well instructe in hys youthe and fylled with wysdome and vnderstandyng as it were with a water floude he couered and fylled the whole
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