Wisdom — Chapter 3

one beginning of al,abfolute of it-felfe , neither proceeding nor de- pending of an other , nor alimited fubftance. As the thing thar isa’man , 1s nota beafts an oxe Is nota horfe &c.and telling what anie thing is,we exclude therby that 111s not other things,but faying without addition ,HawHi :cHis , weshew the ‘beginning of al, inno forte limited:and this is God. Whom fome Philofophers, by fuch difcourfe found,& knew in general,& fometimes confeffed,but didnot honour him as God,and therefore were inexcufable, as $. Pauleconcludeth againft them. OM, Le Cuap, fas. Ter. fe. OF WISDOM. 365 Cuap. XIIIL Foolish men intending to faile, honour woodden idols, in regard of the profite they receine by ships : 6. by which [ome were fated in the gencral deluge. 8. Idols, and idol-makers are curfed.12 They were not from the beginning, 15 but were denifed for memorse of she dead,and worshipped with diuine Lonour. 22. So men forgessing God, proceeded in idolasrie,with otler-abominable and cruel enormistes. Gayne an otherthinkingto fayle , and beginning to make aiourney through the fierce waues , inuocateth wood (4) more frailethen the wood thar carieth him, (4)Great mad- n€s to Inuocare a woodden idol} more bafe &

For couetoufnes of getting inuéted it,and the crafts- man by his wifdom framed it,3. Butthy prouidence, o WZ euen in the fea,and among the waues a moft {ure path , 4, fhewing thar thou art able to faue out of al things,yea(b) if ama goe tothe fea without art.5. Butthatthy workes might not be voyde of wifdom: for this caule alfo men commit their liues evento a litle wood, and pafling ouer the fea are deliuered by fhip. 6. Bur from the Eeginning alfo when the proud giants perifhed, the hope of the world flying toa fhip , rendered to the world feede of nariuitie, which was gouerned by thy had, 7,For( c)bleffed isthe wood, by the which (d ) iuftice is made,8, Butthe idol that is made by hands , curfed is-bothit, and he that made it: becaufe he indeed wrought it: and the fame being fraile,was called God. 9, Butto God the impious and his impietie are odious alike, 10, For that which is made, with him that made it, thal fuffer torments, 11, For this caufe alfo in the idol of the nations there fhal be no refpect : becaufe the creatures of God were made to hatred,and for tétationro thefoules of men,and for ainare tothe feete of the vnwife. 12. Forthe beginning (¢) of fornication is the deuifing ofidols:and the inuenting of them.isthe corruptid of lite.13, For neither werethey from the beginning , neither thal they be for euer, 14. For this vanitie of men came into the world: and therfore there is founda fhort end of thé,15,For “the father being forow ful with bitter mourning, made vnto himfelf the image of his fonne quickly taken away: and hitn, that then was.a dead man , now ( f ) he began to worliip as God >and appointed holie things and facrinces among his feruats,16.(g) Afterward by fucceffion of time , the wicked cuftom preuayling , this errour was kept as alaw, and things graucn were worthipped by the commande- ment of Tyrants, 17. Andthoie , whom openly men could not honour, for that they were far off,their figure being brought from a far,they made an cuident image of the King, whom they would honour : thar by their caretulnes they might honour as prefent,him that was abient, 18, And to AS, & Father , doth gouerne: becaufe thou haft giuen a way ey inication , & common ly more corrupti- ‘ble then the wood of a shippe. (6) Asthe Ifraelices went through the red fea. (c) The author} prophetically alludeth to the wood of the Crofie,on { which our Sa- uiour redee- med mankind. (d)Fromwhofe death procec- deth mans in- ftification. (e) Invention of Idols brotght men - to fpiritual for- corruption of manners, Cf) This firft idolatrie was only priuately). exercifed by the father and hisferuants at sheir mafters commandmét, by which occafion pub- like idola- Xx 2 the. --- PAGE 1383 --- ‘trie came into the world, twicked cuftom lin time preuai- ling. (2)The name Gop inthe proper fienif.. cation, cannot be gtuen to anie creature, (b) Mante © enormious crimes pro- ceede from idolatris. (i)Two forts of periurie: {wearing by falfe Gods, and {wearing yntruths, Caluin falfly chargeth this booke with erreur. Images of falfe Gods are rightly called idols. 206 ULE the worshipping of thefe the excellent diligéce alfo of the artificer,hol them forward,that were ignorant.19.For he willing to pleafe him thar entertained him , laboured. by his. art to fafhion the fimilitude in berrer fort, 20. And the multitude of men caried away by the beautie of the worke, him that alittle before had been honoured as anian , now they efteemed for a God.21.And this was the deceyuing of mans lite:becaufe mé feruing either affection,or Kings,gaue the name that is(g)not c6mu- nicable,to ftones.and wood.22.And it was not fufficient that they erred about the knowledge of God , bur alfo liuing in a great bartail ot igno- rance,fo manie and fo great euils they cal peace.23.For (}) either facrifi- cing their childré, or making abfcure facrifices,or hauing watches ful of madnes, 24.they now neither keepe life, ner mariage cleane,but one kil- leth an other by enuie,or playing the adulterer maketh him forowtul: 25, and al things are mingled together, bloud,manflat ghrer,theft and fiction, corruption and infidelitic,trouble and periurie,dif quieting of the good, 26.forgerfulnes of God,inquination cf foules, immutation of natiuitie, inconttancie of mariage,dif{corder of adulterie,and vnchafines, 27, For the worfhip of idols not to be named, isthe caufe of aleuil, and the be- ginning andend, 28. For either when they reloyce, they are madde: or certes prophecie falfe things,or line vniuftly,or quickly forfweare them- felues.29, For whilesthey truft in idols, which are without foule, fwea- ring amiffe they hope not to be-hurt,30. (+) Two euilthings therfore fhal happen to them worthily, becaufe they haue thought euil of God, attend- ing to idols,and hauefworne vniuftly , in guile contemning iuftice, 31. For itis notthe power ofthem that are {worne by , but the punifhment ofthem that finne goeth alwayes through thetrangredfion of the vninft,

And if one be perfect among the children of men, and thy wifdom!

What hath pride profited vs? or what commoditie hath the vaunting of riches broagiz to vs?.9. A! thofe things are paffed away asa fhadow, and as a meflenger running before,to, and as.aihip,tha: paffech through the furging waters : wherof, when itis palt, the trace can no: be fouad no: the path of thar fhips keele inthe waues: 11, or asabird, that Ayech throuzh in the ayre, of which there is no token.canbg found of her paf- fage, batonly a found of the wings beating the light winde:. and by vehemence of going cutting g the ayre, mouing the wings fhe is owen through and afterward there is no figne found of her way:12, or as when an acrow is fhot forth'to a fer marke, the diuided ayre is. forthwith clofed in it-feltagaine , fo thatthe paflage therof is no: Knowen: 13. fo. we alfo being borne forthwith ceatedto be: and of vertue cerces haue been ableto lhew no fizne: butin our naughtines we are confumed, 14, Such things (¢) faydthey in hel, which finned: 15, becaufe the hope of the impious is as duft, waich istaken away with the winde: and as a thinne froth, which is difperfed by the ftorme: and:as {moke that is {catered abrode by the winde: and asthe memorie of a gheft of one day that paffeth..16, But the iuft fhal live for euer, and their reward is with our Lord, and cogitation of chem with the Higheft, 17, Thertore fhal they receive a Kingdom-of honour, & a crowne of beautie at the hand of out Lord: becaufe with his right hand he wil couer them, and within his holie arme he wil defendthem, 18, And (d) his zele wil take armour, and he wil arm:the creature to the reuenge of the enemies,19.He wil put. on iuftice for a breft-plate, & wil take fincere iudgement for an helmet: - zo; he wil take equitie for an inuincible fhielde: 21. and he wil fharpen fierce wrath for afpeare, & the round world fhal fight with him againft the fenflefle. 22, The fhots of lightnings fhal goe directly , & as it were from a bow of the clouds wel bent they fhal be caft torth,and fhal light oira certaine place, 23. And from rocked wrath fhal thicke haile-ftones be caft, the water of the fea fhal rage againftthem , and the riuers hal runne together roughly, 24, A {pirit of power thal ftand againft them, and asa hurlewinde fhal dinide them: and their iniquitie thal bring al thelandtoadefert , and naughtines {hal ouerthrow the feats of the mightie. Pro. 36 Ut9, Cuap --- PAGE 1372 --- lRec'e. 9. OF WIS Crarv, Vi, Kings anda! M agifrates are azaine admonis red to exerci’e iustice: 7. ot “erwife they shal be more griewoully punished. 13. Wifdom may ealely be found 18. the enuious,or 1! dijpoled } 26. both to Prince and people. lsepom isbetterthen ftrength : and a wife man then a ftrong. 2, Heare therfore ye Kings, . 5 . the earth, 3. Giue eare ye thatrule multitudes, and that pleaf e your felues in muicizudes: of na- our Lord, and ftrength by the Higheit, who wil examine your workes, and fearch your cogita- tions: 5, becaufe when you werethe minifters of his Kingdom, you iudged nor rightly, nor Kept the law of iuftice, nor haue walked ac- ‘ cording tothe wil of God, 6. Horribly and quickly wil he appeare to: you: becaufe moft feuere iudgement shal be doneon them, -hat bearerule, 7. Fortothelitleone mercieis granted: but (6) the mightie thal mightily fuffer torments, 8, For God wil not except any mans per- s . fon, neither wil feare the greatnes of any man: becaufe he made the litle {trong torment isimminent, 10. To youtherfore 6 Kings are thefe my words, that you may learnewifdom, and not fal, 11, For they thar haue kepz: iutk things inttly, fal be iuftified: and they that haue learned thefe things, fhal find what they may anfwer, 12, Couer ve therfore my words, and loue them,and you fhal haue difcipline.r3. Wifdom is cleere, and fuch as neuer fadeth,and is eafely feen of them that Joue her, andis found of them that feeke her, 14. She preuenteth rhemrhat couet her, fhal not labour : for he fhal find her fitting at her doores.16. To thinke therfore of her, is perfect vnderftanding: and he that watcheth for her, -fhal quickly be fecure, 17, Becaufe fhe goezh about feeking them that be Worthie of her,and in the wayes fhe wil {hew her felfto them cheerfully, is the moft true defire of difcipiine. 1. The care therfore ot difcipiine, is loue: and loue is keeping of her lawes: and the keeping of the lawes, is the confummation of incorruption ; 20. and incorruption makethto be next to God, 21. Thertore the defire of wifdom leadeth to the euerlaiting Kingdom, 22. If therfore you be delighted with thrones,and with {cep- ters, oye Kings of the people,loue wildom,that you may reigne for euer, 23.Loue the light of wi{dom al ye that beare rule ouer peoples, 24, But what wifdom.is, and how fhe wasmade,1 wildeclare: and I wil not Vu Tom, 2, by thofe that fincerely defsre it. 22. And is very proftable (2 5+ excepting 355 & vnderftand , learne ye iudges of the endsof. : . ; 1 Iu 1 of tions: 4. becaufe the (4) power is gizen you of from God: & therforeto be refoected, noah the Imag {trates Bbufe their an- tones charee is and the great, & he hath equally-care of al, 9. But to the ftronger more that fhe firft may fhew herfelf vnto them.15.He that awaketh early to her, (2) Al nower is ‘ometiimnes choriiia, (6) Aseuerie ‘nore or leffe, fo his account. 18 eafier or har~ der andthe ounishinent (if he offend ) finalier or igreater.S, Gre- no.y. 1 Euang. (ce) Wifdom is and inal prouidence fhe wil meere them, 18. For (c) the beginning of her jattained by us gradation, and:fo from firft tolaft, a refolute defire loyneth faith ful foules to God,v.22, hide --- PAGE 1373 --- The fecond part. Wifdom pro- ceedeth from Sod,and is Procured by prayer. (7) The perfe- ctet children are Sorne ia of che tenth tnonth. (6) Children in the mothers hvombe are as in fleepe. (¢) Salomon (whofe fay- ings are here recized)praied ‘orw ifdom, & rbrained it.

Al the iust shal approue Gods iudgement condemning the wicked.

Yea and(4}they efteemed our life to be a paftime,and the conucrfation =i life made tor a gaine, & that we muft get cuerie Way eucn of euil, 13, For he knoweth that he offendeth aboue al men , which of theamatter of earth fafhioneth frayle veflels , and fculptils, 14. For al the vnwile and vnhappie aboueanea{ure of the foule, proude (c) are the encmies ot thy people, andrule ouerthem: 15, becaufethey haue efteemed al the idols XxX 3 of was abfolutely the firft , chat is recorded in holie Scripture , oranie other good au- ges of dead thour. And the firft publike is counted by moft authours that of Ninus , worsbip= men with di- labour without fruit, a fhape grauen by diuerfe colours, 5. the fight Tdolatric be- gan by yror- Uppie im2- uine honour, Priuate idota-} trie Was before: publike, (a) Of the di- © uers forts of idols and ido- laters fee our . lbriefe Anno- jtation vpon she

III. Great difference between chaffe and adulterous generations. 7. Speedier death of the suft 1s recompenfed by Gods promdence, 19. but the wicked incurre grea- ter damnation by liuing long H.ow beautifulis (4) the chafte generation. with glorie! ©, cor the memorie rherof is immortal.: becaufe it is knowen FP both with God and with mé.2,When it is preséc, they inu- ihe tate it, and they defire it when it hath withdrawen. it-felf, Ester and it triumpheth crowned for euer, winning the reward. manie children,shal not be.profitable, and baflarde plants shal not take: deepe roote, nor lay fure foundatié. 4. And if in the boughes for a time. they shal {pring being weakly fet, they shal be moued of theawinde,and by theyvehemencie of the winds they. shal be rooted out, 5. For.rbevn- perfect boughes shal be broken, and their fruits shalbe vnprofitable, and fowrg 20 eate, and meete for nothing, 6. For the children rhat be. borne of wicked fleeps , are witnefles of wickednes againit the parents in their examination.-7, But (b) theiuft if he be preuented-with death, shal be ina place of-refreshing.$. For venerable old ageis.nat that of long time, net accounted by rhe number of yeares : bur the vnderitan- ding of a man ate grey haires : 9. andan immaculate life is oldage.- 10, Pleafing God he is made beloued , and liuiag among finners he was tranflated, 11.” He was taken away left malice should ‘change his vp= derftanding, or left anie guile might deceiue his foule.2. For the bewit- ching of vanitie obf{eureth.good things , and the inconitancie of con- cupiicéce peruerteth the vnderftanding that is without malice.1; Being confummate in short {pace he fulfilled much time: 1-4. for his foule plea- fed God:for this caufe he baftned to bring him out of the middes of ini- quities : but the peoples that are feeing , and not ynderftanding, nor putting fuch things in their harts: 15. thatthe grace of God,and mer- cie is toward his faints, and refpé@ coward hiseleét. 16. But the iuft: dead condemneth the impious aliue , and youth foone ended’, the lon life of the vniuft, 17. For they shal fee theend of the wife, and shal not voderftand what God hathithoughtof him, and why our Lord hath -~ Pa “OF WisDOM™M. 355 hath fenfed him, 18,. For they shal feeand shal .contremne him:bur our Lord shal laugh them to -foorne, 19. and they shakfal after rhis’ with- out honour , andin contumelie among the dead for cuer : becaufe he shal breake them puffed vp (¢) withour'voice, and shal remoue tee damned them fromthe foundations, and they shal be made defolare vmo the out al exca fe higheft degree ; and shal be mourning , and the memorie of them shal hreerly con- perish, 20. They shal come feareful in eogitation oftheir finnes,and their tfounded in iniquities onthe contrarie shal conuince them. their owne konfciences. ANNOTATIONS, Cruarv. IIIT .11. He vuas taken avvay..) By this place S. Auguftin proweth that fach as died in ‘good ftate, might have fallen into wickednes , ift they hadimed tonger : and there- oreit wasa benefit rothemtto dye fooner.- And-that it is neuerthcles:certaine ,'that ‘God both knew the pofsibilieie that fuclrmight, yea-would haue finned, if they bad liued longer , and-alfo knew that they sheuld die fooner , and fo efcape that danger. ‘Which ailured foreknowledge of al things that shal be,or may be, ftandeth wel with mans free-wil : againft certaine that inclined to Pelagianifme, attributing too ‘mucitto mans free-wil, and detraéting from’ Gods foreknowledge amd providence. j£¢l. 131-Which he prouing by this place, his aduerfaries excepted agaiaft the anctoritie of 4/-20 ci) this bouke,and therfore he alfo proneththacit ‘is Canonical Seripure. li.r.dePre- 4M dch.Sand&. ch: 14. Gods prefcien- ce doth not pretudice mans freewil, - Char V. In the generalindgement, the voickedfeeing the int , wohomstheybad-contemned, tobe sngreat honour,sha-bewaile their owne miferie, 9. confidering that their pleafure-was'short, 16. and the roy of the Bleffed shal be for euer.18. God wil- arme bimfelf ; and al:creatures,to punish theumpiows. yy H En shaltheiuft ftand in great conitancie againft thofe g) wie, iif that haue afflicted them, ‘and (4) taken away their la-: Sai re bours, 2, They feeing shal be troubled with horrible’ menin their 4 aife conceipt udge the tra- els of the iuft to be vaine & ruitles, > feare, and shal merue] atthe fodainnes of vnexpected Y faluation , 3, faying within themfelues , ( }.) repenting, PPeg and fighing for anguihh of fpirit: Thefe are they, whom

Becaufe asthe leaft weight of the balance , fo is the round world betore thee, and as a drop of the dewe before day , that falleth vpon the earth, 24. But thou haft mercie thing of thofe which thou haft made :.for t thou fpareft al : becaufe they arethine 6 Lord, whichJoueft foules, Car, faffered punishment , for defect of their drinke , and therein, when the potent hand , which made the world of inuifible matter, was not vnable to fend vpon them ammultitude of beares, or fierce lyons, 19, or vnknowenbeafts ful of anger of a new kind; or breathing the -vapourof fires, or cafting forth the fauour of imoke , or fhooting horrible {parks from theircies: 20.6f which not onlie their hurt was able to deitroy them, but alfo their fight to-kil rhem for feare, e with one fpirit hey might have been flaine fuffering perfecution of their owne fattes ,. and difperfed by the fpirit-of thy power ; bur thou haft difpofed al things in meafure, and number, and weight, 22, For, to beof great force retted alwaies in thee onlte: & {:) When the Ivraelictes wan- tcd water God Dundance out of rockes. (4)Bur turned alike, 13, For double redioufnes had taken them , and fighing with tacAcgyptians hey vndetfteod (e) bytheir punifhment thar ic went wel with them, they remembred (e) After affii- our Lord, merucling at theend of the euent.15.(f) For whom betore they éton the bene- _ derided , being caft forth-in thar wicked laying out to perifh , him they merueled ar inthe end of the euent ; not thirfting in like manner to the ) fome etring did worsfhip damme ferpents and fuperfluous beafts, thou didft fend vponthem amuttitude of dumme beats for revenge : 17. that they might know that by whatthings a man finneth, by the [ame alfo he is waters into bloud. fite of peace is more graréfil (f-Moyfes was reieéted when he iudged be- tween his bre- thren Exed,2, y.14. but was afterwards the whole people. gaue them a- ¢ deliuererof the} AG7.¥. 45. (g)Aegy ptian: for Gods, . iwere-plapned by frogees, finiphes,tiyes, and lo cuftes, feruing beafts . on al,becaufe thou canft doe al things; and-diffembleit the finnes of men for, repentance, 25, For thou (/) louelt aihings thar are , and hateft no- ou didft: not ordame-or make‘any thing hating it, 26. And how could.any thing continue , vnles thou wouldeft? or be preferued which was not called ot thee? 27, Bur, (b) God made ro Creature e- wil,as the Ma- nichees foo- lishly Imagi- ned, neither i; there any Go butone, who alonecreated at things, ; i (a) From the land of Lurie, calle 1facred, becaufe God Was there: rightly ferued: an the -old. re- ftament,and mans redemp- tion Was wrought “there by Chrift. (6) By cuftom fmalice be- § ; vere natural, 12, For who fhal fay tothee: what haft thou done > er who fhal ftand after thar na~ againft thy.iudgement? or who in thy fight fhal come reuenger of the fearewascor- wicked men ? or whofhal imputeit tothee, if the nations perifh, which rupted. thou haft made?13.Forthere is no other God but thou, who haft care of al, that thou mayit fhew-that thou doeft not giue iudgement vniuftly, 14,Neither King, nor Tytant in thy fight fhal enquire of them, whom thou haft deftroyed. 15, For fo muchthen as thou art iuft, thou doeft difpofeal things iuftly:thou alfo efteemeft it difagreable from'thy power. to-condemne him, who ought not to hepunithed, 16, For thy power isthe beginning ot iuftice:. and for thisthat thou art Lord of 2! — thoy makeftrhy felt to {pare al. 17, For thou fheweft power, which art not thoughtto be abfolure in power, and thou conuinceft-the boldaes.of (c)Gods power them, that know thee not, 18, But thou dominatour of power , iudeeft peing Almigh=- eis only hi- mited by his wil, thy holieland odious to thee by forceries their owne children with THE BOOK Cuarm XIL Gods wifdom and mercie in deftroying the wicked inhabitants of Chanaan , by. parts (io. that they migit bane amended ) vehom he could baue flaine fudenly.

Sey He directed their workes in the hands of a4) holy 2 Prophet, 2. They madeaiourney through the deferrs, that were not inhabited : and in-defert places they. SVB pitched cortages; 3, They ftood againft (b) the aduer- FAW faries,and reuéged themtelues of the enemies, 4. They 9 thirfted , and inuecated thee ,.and water was ciuen them out of amoft hi gh rocke,and quenching ottheir fuffered. Exo. 29. Num. iy. 22, ve 7, Leui.26. Iere.8. OF WISDOM. children of Ifraet abounded , they did reioyce: 6, by thefe things , when otherslackedthe fame, it went wel withthem, 7, For in ftead of the fountaine of an euerlafting riuer , thou gaueft mans bloud to the vniuft, 8, Who when they were Finished inthe deftruction of the: murdered infants, thou gaueft them aboundant water vnlooked for: 9.fhewing by the thirft, that then was, how thou didft exalt thine , & -didft kil their aduerfaries, 10, For when (¢) they were tempted , and indeed ‘with mercie taking difcipline, they knew how (d) the impious being iudged with wrath did {uffer torments. 11. Thele certes admonishing as a father thou did{t proue: but them examining asa hard King thou did{t condemne, 12. For the abfent and the prefent weré tormented the memorie of good things paft, 14, For when t iuft, 16. But for fenfeles cogitations of their iniquities, for that tormented, 18. For: thine omat