Proverbs — Chapter 16

, is moft neceflarie, That al holic Scripture is true and certaine , as being al trarie co an other, though at firft fight they nay fo feeme to .mans vnderftanding. For by this place the Pelagians would prouc, that man can of himfelf , without the helpe of Gods grace, bagi a good thing , though without this help he can not per- forme it, becaufe it is feze fayd that ir perceyneth to man to prepare the hart: thar is, to begin a good thing. Bur S, Auguftin sheweth that it may not be fo vnderftood: becaufe fo it slrould be contrarie to that faying of.our Sauiour: Without me you can doe nothing ; andthatof S. Paul: We are not fufficient to thinke anie thing of our felues,as of our fclues: but our fuffictencie ts of Ged. Which two euident places., with other like, doe shew that this place hath an other differem fenfe, from that which the Pelagians gather. And foS, Auguftin , and other Fathers teach, that the wifinan here affrmeth nor, that man of himfelf can prepare his hart,or begin a good worke , but that it pertemneth to man to preparetus hart , prefuppoling. helpel of Gods grace, and hauing To begun, God alfo gouerneth the tongue, and by more grace dire&eth ir to fpeake thofe things wel, whichthe bart purpofed, and difpofed .o be vttered ; without which helpe none is able, neither to begin anic me- . . + . 4 ritorious worke, nor to profecutc , nor perfed that is wel begun. The like fentence, foloweth in the 9. Verfe: The hart of man difpofeth his way : but it perteynethto our Lord to direct his progreffe ; fignifying tn both places, that after a thing’ is wel begun(which can not be without the help of Gods grace) yet it can.ngt proceede wel without more grace, ftil directing and ftrengthning mans freewil. U2 8 con.duat Epiftolas Palag.} Toan.t5, 2 Cor. 3. CuHarvp XVIL Etter isa drie morfc] with ioy, then a houfe ful of vi- étimes with brauling,

A ftone is heauie, and {anid weightie : bar the anger: of a foole is heauier then both,

Asfilueristried by fyre, and gold inthe fournace: fo our Lord proueth the harts,

Counfel in Warres,and o- her great af ‘\faires. Good purpo- ‘Hfes. tothers, Fortitude. Workes of mercie , accor- ding to our ae bilitie. Wifdom is fweete: Report wel of 112, Ifthou fay, am notot force: and valiant, .6, Becaufe warre is managed by due ordering:& there shal be faluation where manie counfels are,

By mercie and truth iniquitie is redeemed : and in the feare of our Lord euil 1s auoided,

alitle with iuftice,then much fruite with iniquitie, g.The hart of man difpofeth his way:but it perteynethto our Lordto di- ret his progrefle, 1o, :: Diumation isin the lips of the King, hismouth fhal -not erre in iudgemeut, : 11, Weight and balance are iudgements of our Lord:and his worke al the {tones of the bag. 1z, They are abominable to the King that doe impiously : becaufe the throne is eftablifhed by iuftice, i. wil: Ch.t4. Usd. PROVERBS. 289 13, The wilof Kingsareiuft lips: hethat fpeaketh right things shal be beloued, .

Reprehenfion doth more proft with a wifeman, then an hundred {tripes witha foole, . . 11, An euil man alwayes feeketh braules: but a cruel Angel fhal be {ent again{t him, 12, It is betterto meete a beare when her yong are taken away , then a foole trufting to himfelfe in his owne follie. r 3- He that rendreth euil things for good, euil shal not depart from his oufe,

As the roaring of a lion, fo grafle fo alfo his cherefulnes, 13, Theforow of the father,a foolifh fonn ping through,a woman ful of brawling,

The Kings indignation, meffengers of death: and the wife man wil pacifie it, < is life: and his clemen-

Inthe cheerfulnes of the Kings countenance is life cie is as the larer showre,

the iuft auoideth euils: the keeper of his foule keepeth his way. 18, Pride goeth before deftruGion , and before ruine the fpirit shal be exalted, ,

Amott grateful pearle,the expectation of him that expecteth: whither toeuer heturnech himief, he vnderftandeth wifely,

word shal finde good things : and hethat hopeth in our Lord, is bleffed. 21, Hethat is wife in hart, shal be called prudent : and he that is {weete in {peach shal finde greater things. 22, A fountaine df lifethe learning of hin that poffeffeth it:the doctrine of fooles foolishnes, 23, The hart of the wife shal inftru@ his mouth: and shal adde grace to his lippes. . 24, Wel fer words are a honie combe : fweetnes of the foule the heaith of the bones,

He that isof a peruerfe hart, final not finde good: and he that turneth histong, shal fal into euil, z1. Atoole is borne to hisowne ignominie : but neither shal the father reioyce ina foole.

Feare our Lord, my fonne, andthe King: & with detracters medleiy oisitie toGod not:22 becaufe their perdition fhal fodainly rife;and the ruine of both x the King. who knoweth? .

Aioyful mind maketh a flourifhing age, a forowful fpirit dryeth vp the bones,

gladnes : he that-hath begotten a wifeman , shal reioyce in him, 25, Let thy father be glad and thy mother, and let her reioyce thar bare thee, 26, My fonne gmte me thy hart: & let. thyne eies keepe m wayss, -

The path of life aboue.the learned, thathe may decline from the ‘lowedt hel, ; } 25. Our Lord wil deftroy the houfe of the proud: and wil make fure } the borders ofthe widow. 26, Euil cogitations are an abomination to our Lord : and pure fpeach: moft beauritui shal be confirmed of him, yful:and the foolifh man defpifeth God. Harken to good admoni- tions, A cheerful hart is defirous to earne, Aquier mind. Contment with fufici- encie. Patience. Diligence. Honour of parents. Difcretion. Defire to line wel. Counfel in feafon. To him that is wel trained in good wor- kes heanen gates cro open. Honest thoughts and

would not worke any thing: 26.al the day he iongeth and detireth : but he that isiuft , wil gras, and Wil not ceafe.

The foule of him that laboureth doth labour to himfelf, becaufe his mouth hath compelled him, oe

Mercic and witice . Obedience. God afsifterh the iaik. > Wordes of ‘fedification. Lone of difci- pline 3 and Admonition. Honnilitie, Yneceflaricin eueric good adtion. Mans iudge- nent is nat fecure. Commend thyne affayres to God, Gods proui-. dence. Punishment of finne Equitie, Mercie. Deuotion. Tuft gaine. Necefsitie of {Gods grace. 4:: God affifterh {fuperiours in -. { goucrning their fubiedis. Iuft balance do pleafe God & good kings. Gods grace - 288 THE BOO K OF 27, He that purfueth auarice difturbeth his houfe : but he that hateth guifcs thal line, By mercic and faith finnes are purged : and by’the feare’ of our Lord euerie one declineth from euil, 28, The minde of theiuft meditateth obedience: the mouth of the im- pious redoundeth with euils, 29, Our Lord is tar from the impious : and he wil heare the prayers of the iuft,

A peruerfe man raifeth contentions : and one ful of words fepara- teth Princes,

ftrong man: and he that ruleth hismind, thenthe ouerthrower of cities.

He chatreiecteth.difcipline,defpifeth his foule:but he that yealdeth to reprehentions,isa poffefiour of the hart, _

Feare, and reucrence of authoricie. Loue of wv ifdom, Luftice in ge- neral, Hamilitie. IMeeknes, Hope in God. Miuldnes, Teaching o others. 4Sincere hart. Sweernes in iconuetfation. True faith & Reli gion. Proper indu- ftrie, Charitie. Common good. True freind- ship. Sincere thoughts. Holic old age. Patience, Gods prowi- idence. Righteonfnes. A general rule that one’place of hutie Scri- pture is not contrarie to an other. is neccflarie both co begin and to profe- worke. Peace. Wifdom in general, Purification. Felowslii pe wath the good. Commifera- tion, Succeffion, \Grauicic in ecsc Deiire cf ezer- { . Nal life, 4 indited by the Holie Ghoft , the Spirite of truth: and fo one place is neuer con-' Gods grace is cure anic good: 290 THE BOOK OF

Andthou fhalt be as one fleeping in the middes of the fea, and asthe gouernour fait afleep, the fterne being loft, —_ .

And thou fhalt fay : They haue beaten me, but I was not grieued: they drew me, andI feltnot : Wheu.shal 1 awake, and finde wines againe? Cuarep. XXIII, Mvtare noteuil men,neither defire thou to be with them: 2, becaufe their mind doth meditate robberies,-and their lips fpeake deceits, ? 3. By wifedom the houfe thal be built , prudence it fhaibe itrengthned, (. 4. In doctrine the cellars shai be replenihed with al precious and moit beautitul tubitance.