Ecclesiasticus — Chapter 16

For better is one fearing God, then a thousand impious children.

Al mercie shal make a place to euerie man according to the merite of his workes, & according to the vnderstanding of his peregrination.

workes. 28. Euerie one shal not vexe his neighbour for euer, 29. Be not incredulous to his word, 30, After this God looked vpon the earth , & filled it with his good things.3 1.And(c)the foule of euerie liuing thing shal-shew before the facethereof, and into it againe is their returne. Cuar. XVII God creating man tobis ovene unage, gaue him guifts, 9. and peecepts: 1.4 .chofe the Ifraelstes for bis peculiar people. 18.Workes of mercie are commended to al men:20. Repentanceto finners.28.Mercie is offered to al, se G D crearedman of the earth , aud after his owne ne image he made him, 2. And againe he turned him 1] into it, and conformable to himfelfe clothed him (4) with ftrength. 3. He gaue him a number of daies and time , and gaue him power of thofe things that are vpon the earch. 4. He put his 4 feare oueral flesh,and he had dominion of beafts a=! and fowles. 5. He created of him an helper hike to himfelf: he gaue them counfel ,and tongue , andeies, & eares, and Bbb hast Tom, 2. (b)Euena dish of colde water giaen in almes shal be rewar- ded, 2445. 10. folow reafon) and al fenfible foules doe(in uidence of God 5 in vfing al creatures to that end for which thy were created. (a)Man at firft receiued ori- ginal iuftice, by loofing wherof we al fel into .origi= nal fine, (c) Reafonable . foules ( if they, ; their manner) , praife the pros. i \ if \preceptto man to be ob- ferued for ex- 'ercife of his ‘obedience, & fo to be re- warded,and ivnder paine of. punishment afhetranfyref- fed.Gen.z, ithe end.-is ne- \ceflarie, which’ Inone can me- iFIte. \(d@) Bur muft (6) God gauea (c)Perfeueran-: purpofe,and (d) of praier of hemoft high God,25.Goe into the parts of re in verrue to Sti] pray for ir. 396 THE BOOK OF 6.He created in them the knowledge of the fpirit,he filled their hart with vnderftanding,and euil and good he fhewed them.7,He fer hiseievpon their harts to fhew them the greatthings of his workes : 8, tharthey might praife the name of fanctificatid:& glorie in his meruelous workes, that they might declare the glorious things of his wotkes.g.He added (b) difcipline vnto them,and madethem inherite the law of iife.1o. He made an euerlafting teftament withthem , & hefhewed them iuftice and his iudgeméts,11.And their eie faw the glorions things of his-honour ,& their eares heard the honour of his voice,and he faidto them:Bew are of eue- rie vniuft thing.12. And he gaue them commandment eucrie one con- cerning his neighbour. 13, Their wayes are before him alwaies, they are not hid fronrhis eies,14,Quer euerie nation he appointed a -ruler.15.And Iirael was made the manifeft portionof God.16.And.al their workes as the funne in the light of God; and his cies without intermiffion looking ontheir wayes, 17. The teftaments were not.hid by their iniquities and al theit iniqui.ies are in the fight of God. 18. The almes of a manis asa feale with him , and thal preferue the grace of a man asthe apple of the cie:19.And afterward he shal arife, and dbalrender them reward,to eueric one ypon their head, and dhalturne into the inner parts of the earth, 20, Lut tothe penitent he hath giuenthe way of iuftice, and he hath confir- medthem that faile to fufteine, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth, 21.Turneto our Lord,and forfake rhy finnes : 22. pray betore the face of our Lord,and diminiih offences.23.Keturne to our Lord, & curne away. from thine iniuftice, and hate exceedingly abomination:24. and know the iuftices and iudgeinents of God, and(c)ftand in the lot of thy rthe holie world,with thediuing,and thé that giue praifeto God. 26.Ta- ' rie not inthe errour of the impious, betore death cdtefle. From the death as nothing, confefhion perifheth,2 4, Thou fhalt confeffe liuing aliue and in health thou halt corefle,and {halt praife God,and shalt glorie in his mer- cies.28.How great isthe mercie of-our Lord , and his propitiation to them thar rurne io him? 29. Foralthings can not be in men,becaufe the fonne of manis not immortal, and they haue delighted inthe vanitie of malice.3o0,What is brighter then the funne?& it flial faile, Or what more wicked then that which flefh and bloud hath inuented ? and this fhal be reproued,31,He beholdeth the power of the height of heauen;and al men be earth and afhes, hart to deuife : and he filled them with the difcipline of vnderftanding. -Rom,13. Cuap, Pfa.89. VU.10.