A    ^noteO set youre affeccion vp&obar; wy&esset;dome, ye that be iudges of the earth. Haue a good opinion of the LORDE, ∧ seke him in the synglenesse of hert. ^noteFor he will be fo&ubar;de of them that tempte him not, and appeareth vnto soch as put their trust in him. As for frowarde thoughtes, they separate from God, but vertue (yf it be alowed) refourmeth þe; vnwyse. And why? wy&esset;dome shall not entre in to a frowarde soule, ner dwell in the body that is subdued vnto synne. For the holy goost abhorreth fayned nurtoure, ∧ withdraweth himself fr&obar; þe; thoughtes that are without vnderstondinge: ∧ where wickednes hath the vpper h&abar;de, he flieth from thence. ^noteFor the sprete of wy&esset;dome is louynge, gentle and gracious, and wil haue no pleasure in him that speaketh euell with his lippes. For God is a witnesse of his reynes, a true searcher out of his hert, and an hearer of his tonge. ^noteFor the sprete of þe; LORDE fylleth the rounde compasse of the worlde, and þe; same that vpholdeth all thinges, hath knowlege also of the voyce.

B    ^noteTherfore he that speaketh vnrighteous thinges, can not be hydd, nether maye he escape the iudgm&ebar;t of reprofe. And why? inquysicion shal be made for the thoughtes of the vngodly, and the reporte of his wordes shal come vnto God, so that his wickednes shalbe punished. For the eare of gelousy heareth all thinges, and the noyse of the grudginges shal not be hydd. Therfore bewarre of murmuringe, which is nothinge worth, and refrayne youre tonge from sla&ubar;der. ^noteFor there is no worde so darck and secrete, that it shall go for naught: and the mouth that speaketh lyes, slayeth the soule.

C    ^noteO seke not youre owne death in þe; erroure of youre life, destroye not youre selues thorow the workes of youre awne handes. For God hath not made death, nether hath he pleasure in the destruccion of the lyuynge.

For he created all thinges, that they might haue their beynge: yee all the people of the earth hath he made that they shulde haue health, that there shulde be no destruccion in them, and that the kyngdome of hell shulde not be vpon earth (for righteousnesse is euerlastinge and immortall, but vnrighteousnes bringeth death.) Neuerthelesse, the vngodly call her vnto them both &wt; wordes ∧ workes, ∧ whyle they thinke to haue a frende of her, they come to naught: for the vngodly that are confederate with her and take hir parte, are worthy of death. The II. Chapter.

A   For þe; vngodly talke ∧ ymagin thus amonge them selues (but not right:) ^noteThe tyme of oure life is but short ∧ tedious, ∧ when a man is once gone, he hath nomore ioye ner pleasure, nether knowe we eny man þt; turneth agayne from death: for we are borne of naught, ∧ we shal be herafter as though we had neuer bene. For oure breth is as a smoke in oure nostrels, ∧ þe; wordes as a sparck to moue oure herte. As for o&highr; body, it shalbe very a&esset;shes þt; are qu&ebar;ched, ∧ o&highr; soule shal vanish as þe; soft ayre. Oure life shall passe awaye as þe; trace of a cloude, ∧ come to naught as þe; myst þt; is dryu&ebar; awaye &wt; the beames of þe; Sonne, ∧ put downe &wt; the heate therof. Oure name also shalbe forgotten by litle ∧ litle, ∧ no man shal haue oure workes in remembraunce.

B    ^noteFor o&highr; tyme is a very shadow þt; passeth awaye, ∧ after o&highr; ende there is no returnynge, for it is fast sealed, so þt; no m&abar; c&obar;meth agayne. Come on therfore, let vs enioye þe; pleasures þt; there are, ∧ let vs soone vse þe; creature like as in youth. We wil fyll oure selues &wt; good wyne ∧ oyntment, there shal no floure of the tyme go by vs. We wil crowne o&highr; selues &wt; roses afore they be wythered. There shal be no fayre medowe, but o&highr; lust shall go thorow it. Let euery one of you be partaker of oure volupteousnes. Let vs leaue some token of o&highr; pleasure in euery place, for þt; is oure porcion, els gett we nothinge. Let vs oppresse the poore righteous, let vs not spare the wyddowe ner olde man, let vs not regarde þe; heades þt; are gray for age. Let þe; lawe of vnrighteousnesse be oure auctorite, for þe; thinge þt; is feble is nothinge worth. C   Therfore let vs defraude the righteous, ∧ why? he is not for o&highr; profit, yee he is cleane c&obar;trary to o&highr; doinges. He checketh vs for offendinge agaynst þe; lawe, ∧ slaundreth vs as transgressours of all nurto&highr;. He maketh his hoost to haue þe; knowlege of God, yee he calleth him self Gods sonne. He is the bewrayer of oure thoughtes: ^note It greueth vs also to loke vpon him, for his lyfe is not lyke other mens, his wayes are of another fashion. He counteth vs but vayne personnes, he &wt;draweth him self from o&highr; wayes as from fylthynes: he c&obar;mendeth greatly þe; latter ende of the iust, ∧ maketh his boast þt; God is his father. Let vs se then yf his wordes be true, let vs proue what shal come vpon him: so shal we knowe what ende he shal haue. D    ^noteFor yf he be þe; true sonne of God, he will receaue him ∧ delyuer him from the handes of his enemies. Let vs examen him with despitefull rebuke and tormentinge, that we maye knowe his dignite ∧ proue his pacience. ^noteLet vs condemne him with the most shamefull death: for like as he hath spoken, so shal he be rewarded.

Soch thinges do the vngodly ymagin, ∧ go astraye, for their owne wickednes hath blynded them. As for the misteries of God, they vnderstonde them not: they nether hope for the rewarde of righteousnesse, ner regarde the worshipe that holy soules shall haue. For God created man to be vndestroied, ^note yee after the ymage of his awne licknesse made he him. ^noteNeuerthelesse thorow envye of the deuell came death in to the worlde, and they that holde of his syde, do as he doth. ^note The III. Chapter.

A    ^noteBvt the soules of þe; righteous are in þe; hande of God, ∧ þe; payne of death shal not touch th&ebar;. ^noteIn þe; sight of the vnwyse they appeare to dye, ∧ their ende is tak&ebar; for very destruccion. The waye of the righteous is iudged to be vtter destruccion, but they are in rest. And though they suffre payne before men, ^note yet is their hope full of immortalite. They are punished but in few thinges, neuerthelesse in many thinges shal they be well rewarded. For God proueth them, ∧ fyndeth th&ebar; mete for himself: yee as the golde in the fornace doth he trye them, ∧ receaueth them as a brentofferinge, and when þe; tyme commeth they shalbe loked vpon.

B    ^noteThe righteous shal shyne as the sparkes þt; renne thorow the rede bu&esset;she. ^noteThey shal iudge the nacions, ∧ haue dominion ouer þe; people, ∧ their LORDE shal raigne for euer. They þt; put their trust in him, shal vnderstonde the trueth, ∧ soch as be faithfull, wil agree vnto him in loue: for his chosen shal haue giftes ∧ peace. ^noteBut the vngodly shalbe punyshed acordinge to their awne ymaginaci&obar;s, for they haue despysed the righteous, ∧ forsaken the LORDE.

C   Who so despyseth wy&esset;dome ∧ nurto&highr;, he

is vnhappie, and as for the hope of soch, it is but vayne, their labours vnfrutefull, and their workes vnprofitable. Their wyues are vndiscrete, and their childr&ebar; most vngodly. Their creature is cursed. Blessed is rather þe; baren ∧ vndefyled, which hath not knowne the synfull bedd: she shall haue frute in the rewarde of the holy soules. And blessed is þe; gelded, ^note which &wt; his handes hath wrought no vnrighteousnesse, ner ymagined wicked thinges agaynst God. For vnto him shal be geuen þe; speciall gift of faith, and the most acceptable porcion in þe; temple of God. D   For glorious is the frute of good laboure, ∧ the rote of wy&esset;dome shall neuer fade awaye. As for þe; childr&ebar; of aduoutrers, they shal come to an ende ∧ the sede of an vnrighteous bedd shal be roted out. And though they lyue l&obar;ge, yet shal they be nothinge regarded, ∧ their last age shalbe without honoure. Yf they dye haistely, they haue no hope, nether shal they be spoken to in the daye of knowlege. For horrible is the death and ende of the vnrighteous. The IIII. Chapter.

A   O how fayre is a chaist generacion &wt; vertue? The memoriall therof is immortall, for it is knowne &wt; God and men. When it is present, m&ebar; take ex&abar;ple thereat: and yf it go awaye, yet they desyre it. It is allwaie crowned ∧ holden in hono&highr;, ∧ wynneth þe; rewarde of the vndefyled battayll. But the multitude of vngodly childr&ebar; is vnprofitable, and the thinges þt; are planted &wt; whordome, shal take no depe rote, ner laye eny fast foundacion, ^note Though they be grene in the braunches for a tyme, yet shal they be shak&ebar; &wt; the wynde: for they stonde not fast, ∧ thorow the vehemence of the wynde they shalbe roted out. For the vnparfecte braunches shalbe broken, their frute shalbe vnprofitable ∧ sower to eate, yee mete for nothinge. And why? all the children þt; are borne of the wicked, must beare recorde of the wickednesse agaynst their fathers ∧ mothers, when they be axed. But though the righteous be ouertaken &wt; death, yet shal he be in rest.

B   Age is an honorable thinge: neuertheles it stondeth not only in the lenth of tyme, ner in the multitude of yeares: but a mans wy&esset;dome is the graye hayre, and an vndefyled life is the olde age. He pleased God, ∧ was beloued of him: so that where as he lyued am&obar;ge synners, he tr&abar;slated him. ^noteYee sod&ebar;ly was he taken awaye, to the intent þt; wickednesse shulde not alter his vnderst&obar;dinge, ∧ þt; ypocrisye shulde not begyle his soule. For þe; craftie bewitchinge of lyes make good thinges darck, þe; vnstedfastnesse also ∧ wickednes of voluptuous desyre, turne asyde þe; vnderstondinge of þe; symple. Though he was soone deed, yet fulfilled he moch tyme. For his soule pleased God, therfore haisted he to take him awaye fr&obar; amonge þe; wicked. This the people se, ∧ vnderstonde it not: they laye not vp soch thinges in their hertes, how þt; þe; louynge fauo&highr; ∧ mercy of God is vp&obar; his saintes, ∧ þt; he hath respecte vnto his chosen.

C   Thus þe; righteous þt; is deed, c&obar;demneth the vngodly which are lyuinge: ∧ þe; youth þt; is soone brought to an ende, þe; l&obar;ge life of þe; vnrighteous. For they se þe; ende of þe; wyse, but they vnderst&obar;de not what God hath deuysed for him, ∧ wherfore þe; LORDE hath taken him awaie. And why? they se him ∧ despyse him, therfore shall God also laugh th&ebar; to scorne: So þt; they th&ebar; selues shal dye here after (but without hono&highr;) yee in shame amonge þe; deed for euermore. For without eny voyce shal he burst those þt; be puft vp, ∧ remoue th&ebar; fr&obar; þe; foundacions, so þt; they shalbe laied waist vnto the hyest. They shal mourne, and their memoriall shall perishe. So they beynge afrayed shall remembre their synnes, and their owne wickednesse shal bewraye th&ebar;. The V. Chapter.

A    ^noteThen shal þe; righteous stonde in greate stedfastnesse agaynst soch as haue dealt extremely &wt; th&ebar;, ∧ tak&ebar; awaye their labours. When they se it, they shalbe vexed &wt; horrible feare, ∧ shal wonder at the haistynesse of þe; sodane health: groninge for very distresse of mynde, ∧ shall saye within them selues (hauynge inwarde sorow, and mournynge for very anguysh of mynde):

These are they, whom we somtyme had in derision, ∧ iested vp&obar;. ^noteWe fooles thought their life very madnesse, ∧ their ende to be &wt; out honoure. But lo, how they are counted amonge the children of God, ∧ their porcion is amonge the sayntes. Therfore we haue erred from the waye of trueth, þe; light of righteousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs, and the S&obar;ne of vnderst&obar;dinge rose not vp vp&obar; vs. We haue weeried o&highr; selues in þe; waye of wickednesse ∧ destruccion. Tedious wayes haue we gone: but as for the waye of the LORDE, we haue not knowne it.

B   What good hath o&highr; pryde done vnto vs? Or, what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs? ^noteAll those thinges are passed awaye like a shadowe, ∧ as a messaunger rennynge before: as a shippe þt; passeth ouer the wawes of the water, which whan it is gone by, ^note the trace therof can not be founde, nether þe; path of it in the floudes. Or as a byrde þt; flyeth thorow þe; ayre, ∧ no man can se

eny token where she is flowen, but only heareth the noyse of hir wynges, beatinge the light wynde, partinge the ayre thorow the vehem&ebar;ce of hir goinge, ∧ flyeth on shakynge hir wynges, where as afterwarde no tok&ebar; of hir waye can be fo&ubar;de. Or like as wh&ebar; an arowe is shott at a marck, it parteth the ayre, which immediatly c&obar;meth together agayne, so that a man can not knowe where it wente thorow. Euen so we in like maner as soone as we were borne, beganne immediatly to drawe to oure ende: ∧ haue shewed no token of vertue, but are consumed in oure owne wickednesse.

C   Soch wordes shal they that haue synned, speake in the hell: ^note for the hope of the vngodly is like a drye thistell floure (or dust) that is blowne awaye &wt; the wynde: like as thynne scomme þt; is scatred abrode &wt; the storme: like as þe; smoke which is dispersed here ∧ there &wt; the wynde, ∧ as þe; remembraunce of a stra&ubar;ger þt; tarieth for a daie, ∧ th&ebar; departeth.

^noteBut þe; righteous shal lyue for euermore: their rewarde also is &wt; the LORDE, ∧ their remembraunce &wt; the Hyest. Therfore shal they receaue a glorious kyngdome ∧ a beutifull crowne of the LORDES hande: for &wt; his right hande shal he couer th&ebar;, ∧ &wt; his owne arme shall he defende th&ebar;. His gelousy also shal take awaye the harnesse, ∧ he shal wap&ebar; þe; creature to be au&ebar;ged of þe; enemies. ^noteHe shal put on righteousnes for a brest plate, ∧ take sure iudgment in steade of an helmett. The invyncible shylde of equite shall he take, his cruell wrath shal he sharp&ebar; for a speare, ∧ the whole compase of the worlde shall fight with him agaynst the vnwyse.

D   Th&ebar; shal the thonder boltes go out of þe; lighteninges, ∧ come out of the rayne bowe of the cloudes to the place apoynted: out of the hard stony indignacion there shall fall thick hales, ∧ þe; water of þe; see shal be wroth agaynst th&ebar;, ∧ the floudes shal renne roughly together. Yee a mightie wynde shal st&obar;de vp agaynst them, ∧ a storme shall scater th&ebar; abrode. Thus the vnrighteous dealinge of th&ebar; shal bringe all the l&obar;de to a wyldernes, ∧ wickednes shall ouerthrowe the dwellinges of the mightie. The VI. Chapter.

A    ^noteWy&esset;dome is better then strength, ∧ a m&abar; of vnderst&abar;dinge is more worth th&ebar; one þt; is str&obar;ge. Heare therfore (O ye kinges) ∧ vnderstonde: O lerne ye þt; be iudges of the endes of the earth. Geue are ye þt; rule þe; multitudes, ∧ delite in moch people. ^noteFor the power is geu&ebar; you of the LORDE, ∧ the str&ebar;gth from the Hyest: which shal trie yo&highr; workes and search out yo&highr; ymaginaci&obar;s: How that ye beynge officers of his kyngdome, haue not executed true iudgment, haue not kepte the lawe of righteousnes, ner walked after his will. Horribly ∧ that right soone shall he appeare vnto you: for an harde iudgm&ebar;t shal they haue þt; beare rule. ^note B   Mercy is gra&ubar;ted vnto the symple, but they that be in auctorite shalbe sore punyshed. For God which is LORDE ouer all, shall excepte no m&abar;s personne, nether shal he stande in awe of eny mans greatnesse: for he hath made þe; small and greate, ∧ careth for all alyke. But the mightie shal haue þe; sorer punyshm&ebar;t.

Vnto you therfore (o ye kinges) do I speake, þt; ye maye lerne wy&esset;dome and not go amysse: for they þt; kepe righteousnes shalbe righteously iudged: and they þt; are lerned in righteous thinges, shal finde to make answere. Wherfore set yo&highr; lust vpon my wordes, ∧ loue th&ebar;, so shal ye come by nurto&highr;. Wy&esset;dome is a noble thinge, ∧ neuer faydeth awaie: yee she is easely sene of th&ebar; that loue her, ∧ founde of soch as seke her. C   She preu&ebar;teth them þt; desyre her, þt; she maye first shewe herself vnto th&ebar;. Who so awaketh vnto her by tymes, shal haue no greate trauayle, for he shal fynde her syttinge ready at his dores. To thinke vpon her, is parfecte vnderstandinge: ∧ who so watcheth for her, shalbe safe, ∧ that soone. For she goeth aboute, sekynge soch as are mete for her, sheweth her self cherefully vnto them in their goynges, ∧ meteth them &wt; all dilig&ebar;ce. For þe; vnfained desyre of refourmacion is hir begynnynge: to care for nurto&highr; is loue, ^note and loue is the kepinge of hir lawes. Now the kepinge of þe; lawes is perfeccion ∧ an vn corrupte life, ∧ an vncorrupte life maketh a man familier &wt; God. And so the desyre of wy&esset;dome ledeth to þe; kingdome euerlastinge. ^note D   Yf yo&highr; delyte be th&ebar; in royall seates ∧ cepters (o ye kynges of the people) set youre lust vp&obar; wy&esset;dome, þt; ye maye raigne for euermore. O loue the light of wy&esset;dome, all ye þt; be rulers of the people. As for wy&esset;dome, what she is, and how she came vp, I wil tell you, and will not hyde the misteries of God from you: but wil seke her out from þe; begynnynge of the natiuyte, and brynge the knowlege of her in to light, and wil not kepe back the trueth: Nether will I haue to do &wt; c&obar;sumynge envye, for soch a man shal not be partaker of wi&esset;dome. But the multitude of the wyse is the welfare of the worlde, and a wyse kynge is the vpholdinge of the people. O receaue nourtoure then thorow my wordes, and it shal do you good. The VII. Chap.

A   I myself also am a mortall man, like as all other, ∧ am come of þe; earthy generaci&obar; of him þt; was first made, ^note ∧ in my mothers w&obar;be was I fashioned to be

flesh: In the tyme of ten monethes was I brought together in bloude thorow the sede of man, ∧ the c&obar;modious appetite of slepe. Whan I was borne, I receaued like ayre as other men, ∧ fell vpon the earth (which is my nature) crienge ∧ wepinge at the first, as all other do. I was wrapped in swadlinge clothes, ∧ brought vp &wt; greate cares. For there is no kinge þt; hath had eny other begynnynge of byrth. ^noteAll men then haue one intraunce vnto life, ∧ one goinge out in like maner.

B   Wherfore I desyred, and vnderstandinge was geu&ebar; me: I called, ∧ the sprete of wy&esset;dome came in to me. I set more by her th&ebar; by kingdomes ∧ royall seates, ∧ counted riches nothinge in c&obar;parison of her. ^noteAs for precious stone I compared it not vnto her: for all golde is but grauell vnto her, ∧ syluer shalbe counted but claye before hir sight. I loued her aboue welfare ∧ beutie, ∧ purposed to take her for my light, for hir shyne can not be quenched. ^noteAll good thinges came to me &wt; her, ∧ innumerable riches thorow hir h&abar;des. I was glad in th&ebar; all, for this wy&esset;dome w&ebar;te before me, ∧ I knew not þt; she is the mother of all good thinges. Now as I myself lerned vnfaynedly, so do I make other men partakers of her, ∧ hyde her riches from no man: for she is an infinite treasure vnto men, which who so vse, become partakers of the loue ∧ frendshipe of God, and are accepted vnto him for the giftes of wy&esset;dome.

C   God hath graunted me to talke wysely, ∧ conueni&ebar;tly to h&abar;dle the thinges þt; he hath graciously lent me. For it is he, þt; ledeth vnto wy&esset;dome, ∧ teacheth to vse wy&esset;dome a right. ^noteIn his h&abar;de are we ∧ o&highr; wordes: yee all o&highr; wy&esset;dome, o&highr; vnderstandinge ∧ knowlege of all o&highr; workes. For he hath geu&ebar; me þe; true sci&ebar;ce of these thinges: so that I knowe how þe; worlde was made, ∧ the powers of þe; elem&ebar;tes: þe; begynnynge, endinge ∧ myddest of þe; tymes: how the tymes alter, how one goeth after another, and how they are fulfilled: þe; course of the yeare: the ordinaunces of the starres: the natures ∧ kindes of beastes: the furiousnesse of beastes: the power of þe; wyndes: the ymaginacions of m&ebar;: the deuersities of yonge plantes: the vertues of rootes, ∧ all soch thinges as are secrete ∧ not loked for, haue I lerned. For the worckmaster of all thinges hath taught me wy&esset;dome. D   In hir is þe; sprete of vnderst&abar;dinge, which is holy, manifolde, one onely, sotyll, curteous, discrete, quyck, vndefyled, playne, swete, louynge the thinge þt; is good, sharpe, which forbyddeth not to do well, g&ebar;tle, kynde, stedfast, sure, fre: hauynge all vertues, circ&ubar;specte in all thinges: receauinge all spretes of vnderst&abar;dinge be&ibar;ge cleane ∧ sharpe. For wi&esset;dome is neembler th&ebar; all ne&ebar;ble th&ibar;ges: she goeth thorow ∧ attayneth to all th&ibar;ges, because of hir clennes. For she is þe; breth of þe; power of God, ∧ a pure cleane expressinge of þe; clearnes of Allmightie God. Therfore can no vndefyled thinge come in to her: ^note for she is þe; bryghtnes of þe; euerlast&ibar;ge light, þe; vndefiled myrro&highr; of þe; maiesty of God, ∧ þe; ymage of his goodnesse. E   And for so moch as she is one, she maie do all thinges: ∧ beinge stedfast herself she renueth all, ∧ am&obar;ge þe; people c&obar;veyeth she herself in to þe; holy soules. She maketh Gods frendes ∧ prophetes: for God loueth no m&abar;, but him in wh&obar; wy&esset;dome dwelleth. For she is more beutyfull then the Sonne, and geueth more light then the starres, and the daye is not to be c&obar;pared vnto her: for vp&obar; þe; daye c&obar;meth night. But wickednesse can not ouer come wy&esset;dome, and foolishnes maye not be &wt; her. The VIII. Chapter.

A   Wy&esset;dome reacheth fr&obar; one ende to another mightely, ∧ lou&ibar;gly doth she ordre all thinges. I haue loued her and laboured for her eu&ebar; fro my youth vp: I dyd my dilig&ebar;ce to mary my self &wt; her, soch loue had I vnto hir beutye. Who so hath þe; c&obar;pany of God, c&obar;m&ebar;deth hir nobilyte, yee the LORDE of all thinges himself loueth her. For she is þe; scolemastresse of þe; nurto&highr; of God, ∧ þe; choser out of his workes. Yf a man wolde desyre riches in this life, what is richer then wi&esset;dome, þt; worketh all th&ibar;ges? (Thou wilt saye:) vnderst&abar;dinge worketh. What is it am&obar;ge all thinges, þt; worketh more th&ebar; wy&esset;dome? Yf a man loue vertue ∧ righteousnes, let him labo&highr; for wy&esset;dome, for she hath greate vertues. And why? she teacheth sobernes ∧ prudence, righteousnes ∧ str&ebar;gh, which are soch thinges as m&ebar; can haue nothinge more profitable in their life. B   Yf a m&abar; desyre moch knowlege, she c&abar; tell þe; thinges þt; are past, ∧ discerne thinges for to come: she knoweth þe; sotilties of wordes, ∧ c&abar; expo&ubar;de darcke sent&ebar;ces. She can tell of tok&ebar;s ∧ w&obar;derous thinges, or euer they come to passe, ∧ the endes of all tymes ∧ ages. So I purposed after this maner: I will take her vnto my c&obar;pany, ∧ com&obar; lou&ibar;gly &wt; her: no doute she shal geue me good co&ubar;cell, ∧ speake c&obar;fortably vnto me in my carefulnes ∧ grefe. For hir sake shal I be well and honestly taken am&obar;ge the com&obar;s ∧ lordes of þe; councell. Though I be yonge, yet shal I haue sharpe vnderstandinge: so þt; I shal be maruelous in þe; sight of greate m&ebar;, ∧ þe; faces of prynces shal w&obar;der at me. ^noteWh&abar; I holde my t&obar;ge, they shal byde my leysure:

wh&abar; I speake, they shal loke vp&obar; me: ∧ yf I talke moch, they shal laye their handes vp&obar; their mouth. Morouer, by the meanes of her I shal optayne immortalite, and leaue behinde me an euerlastinge memoriall, am&obar;ge th&ebar; þt; come after me. I shal set þe; people in ordre, ∧ the nacions shalbe subdued vnto me. Horrible tyrauntes shal be afrayed, whan they do but heare of me: amonge the multitude I shal be counted good, ∧ mightie in battayll. Wh&abar; I come home, I shal fynde rest &wt; her: for hir c&obar;pany hath no bytternes, ∧ hir felashipe hath no tediousnesse, but myrth ∧ ioye.

C   Now whan I c&obar;sidered these thinges by myself, ∧ pondered them in my hert, how þt; to be ioyned vnto wy&esset;dome is immortalite, ∧ greate pleasure to haue hir frendshipe: how þt; in the workes of hir handes are infinite riches: how that, who so kepeth company &wt; her shalbe wyse: and that he which talketh with her, shal come to honoure: I wente aboute sekynge, to gett her vnto me. For I was a ladd of a rype wytt, and had a good vnderstandinge.

But whan I grewe to more vnderst&abar;dinge, I came to an vndefyled body. Neuertheles whan I perceaued that I coude not kepe myself chaist, excepte God gaue it me (∧ þt; was a poynte of wy&esset;dome also, to knowe whose gift it was) I stepte vnto the LORDE, and besought him, and with my whole hert I sayde after this maner: The IX. Chapter.

A    ^noteO God of my fathers, ∧ LORDE of mercies, (thou þt; hast made all th&ibar;ges &wt; þi; worde, ∧ ordeyned m&abar; thorow thy wy&esset;dome, þt; he shulde haue domini&obar; ouer þe; creature, which thou hast made: þt; he shulde ordre þe; worlde acordinge to equite ∧ righteousnes, ∧ execute iudgm&ebar;t &wt; a true hert) geue me wy&esset;dome, which is euer aboute þi; seate. ∧ put me not out fr&obar; am&obar;ge þi; children: for I thy seruaunt ∧ sonne of þi; handmayden, ^note am a feble personne, of a shorte tyme, and to y&obar;ge to the vnderstandinge of iudgment and þe; lawes. And though a man be neuer so parfecte amonge the children of men, yet yf thy wy&esset;dome be not with him, he shal be nothinge regarded. ^noteBut thou hast chosen me to be a kynge vnto þi; people, and the iudge of thy sonnes and daughters.

B   Thou hast c&obar;maunded me to buylde a temple vpon þi; holy mount, ∧ an aulter in the cite wherin thou dwellest: a licknesse of thy holy tabernacle which thou hast prepared fr&obar; the beginnynge, and thy wy&esset;dome with þe;, which knoweth þi; workes: ^note which also was &wt; þe; whan thou maydest þe; worlde, ∧ knew what was acceptable in thy sight, ∧ right in thy commaundementes. O sende her out of thy holy heauens and from the trone of thy maiesty, that she maye be with me, ∧ laboure with me: that I maye knowe, what is acceptable in þi; sight. For she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thinges: and she shal lede me soberly in my workes, and preserue me in hir power. So shal my workes be acceptable, ∧ then shal I gouerne thy people righteously, ∧ be worthy to syt in my fathers seate. ^noteFor what man is he, that maye knowe the councell of God? Or, who can thinke what the will of God is? For the thoughtes of mortall men are miserable, ∧ oure forecastes are but vncertayne. ^note C   And why? a mortall and corruptible body is heuy vnto the soule, and the earthy mansion kepeth downe the vnderstandinge þt; museth vpon many thinges. Very hardly can we discerne the thinges that are vpon earth, and greate labo&highr; haue we, or we can fynde the thinges which are before oure eyes: Who will then seke out the gro&ubar;de of the thinges that are done in heau&ebar;? Oh LORDE, who c&abar; haue knowlege of þi; vnderstandinge and meaninge, excepte thou geue wy&esset;dome and sende thy holy goost fr&obar; aboue? that the wayes of them which are vpon earth maye be refourmed: þt; men maye lerne þe; thinges that are pleasaunt vnto the, and be preserued thorow wy&esset;dome. The X. Chapter.

A    ^noteWy&esset;dome preserued þe; first m&abar;, wh&obar; God made a father of the worlde, wh&abar; he was created alone, brought him out of his offence, toke him out of the moulde of þe; earth, ∧ gaue him power to rule all thinges. Whan the vnrighteous wente awaye in his wrath from this wy&esset;dome, ^note þe; brotherheade perished thorow þe; wrath of murthur. ^noteAgayne, wh&abar; þe; water destroyed þe; whole worlde, wy&esset;dome preserued the righteous thorow a poore tre, wherof she was gouerner herself. Morouer wh&abar; wickednes had gotten þe; vpperhande, so þt; the nacions were puft vp with pryde, ^note she knewe þe; righteous, preserued him fautlesse vnto God, and layed vp sure mercy for his children. ^noteShe preserued the righteous, whan he fled from the vngodly þt; perished, what tyme as þe; fyre fell downe vpon þe; v. cities: B   Like as yet this daye the vn frutefull, waist and smokinge l&obar;de geueth testimony of their wickednesse: yee the vnripe and vntymely frutes that growe vpon the trees.

And for a tok&ebar; of a remembraunce of the vnfaithfull soule, there standeth a piler of salt. For all soch as regarded not wy&esset;dome,

gat not only this hurte, that they knewe not the thinges which were good, but also left behinde them vnto m&ebar;, a memoriall of their foolishnes: so þt; in the thinges wherin they synned, they coude not be hydd. But as for soch as take hede vnto wy&esset;dome, she shal delyuer them from sorowe.

C    ^noteWhan the righteous fled because of his brothers wrath, wy&esset;dome led him the right waye, shewed him þe; kyngdome of God, gaue him knowlege of holy thinges, made him riche in his laboures, and brought to passe the thinges that he wente aboute. In þe; disceatfulnes of soch as defrauded him, she stode by him, ∧ made him ryche. She saued him from the enemies, and defended him from þe; disceauers. She made him stronge in battayll, and gaue him the victory, þt; he might knowe, how that wy&esset;dome is stronger then all thinges. ^noteWhan the righteous was solde, she forsoke him not, but delyuered him fr&obar; synners. She wente downe with him in to the dongeon, and fayled him not in the bandes: ^notetyll she had brought him the cepter of þe; realme, and power agaynst those that oppressed him. As for them that had accused him, she declared them to be lyers, ∧ brought him to perpetuall worshipe.

D    ^noteShe delyuered the righteous people and fautlesse sede, from the nacions that oppressed them. She entred in to the soule of the seruaunt of God, and stode by him in wonders and tokens agaynst the horrible kynge. She gaue þe; righteous the rewarde of their labours, ∧ led them forth a maruelous waye: on the daye tyme she was a shadowe vnto them, and a light of starres in the night season. ^noteShe brought them thorow the reed see, and caried them thorow the greate water. She drowned their enemies in the see, and brought them out of the depe. So the righteous toke the spoyles of the vngodly, ^note and praysed thy holy name (o LORDE) and magnified thy victorious h&abar;d with one acorde. For wy&esset;dome openeth the mouth of þe; domme, ∧ maketh þe; tonges of babes to speake. The XI. Chapter.

A    ^noteShe ordred their workes in the h&abar;des of the holy prophet: so þt; they wente thorow þe; wyldernes þt; was not inhabited, ∧ pitched their t&ebar;tes in þe; waist deserte. They stode agaynst their enemies, ∧ were auenged of their aduersaries. ^noteWh&abar; they were thirstie, they called vp&obar; þe;, ∧ water was geu&ebar; them out of þe; rok, ∧ their thirst slockened out of þe; harde stone. For by þe; thinges, where thorow their enemies were punished, were they helped in their nede. For vnto the enemies thou gauest m&abar;s bloude in steade of lyuynge water. And where as they had scarcenesse in þe; rebuke whan the children were slayne, thou gauest vnto thine awne a plenteous water vnloked for: declaringe by the thyrst þt; was at that tyme, how thou woldest bringe thine awne vnto hono&highr;, ∧ slaye their aduersaries.

B    ^noteFor whan they were tryed ∧ nourtured &wt; fatherly mercy, they knowleged how the vngodly were iudged, and punyshed thorow þe; wrath of God. These hast thou exorted as a father, ∧ proued th&ebar;: but vnto þe; other thou hast bene a boysteous kynge, layed hard to their charge, ∧ cond&ebar;ned th&ebar;. Whether they were absent or present, their punyshm&ebar;t was alyke. For their grefe was dubble: namely, mournynge, and þe; rem&ebar;braunce of thinges past. But wh&abar; they perceaued þt; their punishm&ebar;tes dyd th&ebar; good, they thought vpon the LORDE, ∧ wondered at þe; ende. For at the last they helde moch of him, of wh&obar; in þe; outcastinge they thought scorne, as of an abiecte. Neuerthelesse þe; righteous dyd not so when they were thirstie: but euen like as þe; thoughtes of þe; foolish were, so was also their wickednes. ^note C   Where as certayne m&ebar; now (thorow erro&highr;) dyd worshipe domme serpentes ∧ vayne beestes, thou sendedst a multitude of domme beastes vpon them for a vengeaunce: þt; they might knowe, that loke where withall a m&abar; synneth, by the same also shal he be punyshed. For vnto thy allmighty hande, that made the worlde of naught, it was not vnpossible, ^noteto sende amonge them an heape of Beeres, or woode ly&obar;s, or cruell beastes of a stra&ubar;ge kynde, soch as are vnknowne, or spoute fyre, or cast out a smokinge breth, or shote horrible sparkes out of their eyes: which might not only destroye them with hurtinge, but also kyll them with their horrible sight. Yee without these beestes might they haue bene slayne with one winde, beynge persecuted of their awne workes, and scatered abrode thorow the breth of thy power.

D   Neuertheles thou hast ordred all thinges in measure, n&obar;bre ∧ weight. For thou hast euer had greate str&ebar;gth ∧ might, ∧ who maye withst&obar;de þe; power of thine arme? And why like as þe; small thynge þt; þe; balaunce weyeth, so is þe; worlde before þe;: yee as a droppe of þe; morninge dew, that falleth downe vpon the earth. Thou hast mercy vpon all, for thou hast power of all thynges: ^note and makest the as though thou sawest not the sinnes of m&ebar;, because they shulde amende. For thou louest all the thinges that are, and hatest none of

th&ebar; wh&obar; thou hast made: nether didest thou ordeyne or make eny thinge of euell will.

How might eny thinge endure, yf it wer not þi; will? Or how coude eny thinge be preserued, excepte it were called of þe;? But thou sparest all, for all are thine, o LORDE, thou louer of soules. The XII. Chapter.

A   O Lorde, how gracious ∧ swete is thy sprete in all thinges? Therfore chastenest thou th&ebar; measurably that go wr&obar;ge, and warnest them, concernynge the thinges wherin they offende: thou speakest vnto them (o LORDE) and exortest th&ebar; to leaue their wickednes, and to put their trust in the. ^noteAs for those olde inhabiters of thy holy londe, thou mightest not awaye with them, for they commytted abhominable workes agaynst the: as wytchcraft, sorcery and Idolatry: they slew their owne children without mercy: they ate vp mens bowels, and deuoured the bloude: Yee because of soch abhominaci&obar;s, my&esset;beleues ∧ offeringes, thou slewest the fathers of the desolate soules by the handes of oure fathers: that þe; londe which thou louest aboue all other, might be a dwellinge for the childr&ebar; of God.

B   Neuertheles thou sparedest th&ebar; also (as m&ebar;) ∧ sendedst þe; forer&ubar;ners of thyne hoost, eu&ebar; hornettes to destroye th&ebar; out by lytle ∧ litle. Not þt; thou wast vnable to subdue þe; vngodly vnto þe; righteous in battayll, ^note or with cruell beestes, or &wt; one rough worde to destroye th&ebar; together: But þi; mynde was to dryue th&ebar; out by lytle ∧ litle, geuinge th&ebar; time ∧ place to amende: knowinge well, þt; it was an vnrighteous nacion ∧ wicked of nature, ∧ þt; their thought might neuer be altered. For it was a cursed sede from þe; begynnynge, ∧ feared no m&abar;: Yet hast thou pardoned their synnes. For who wyl saye vnto the: why hast thou done þt;? Or who wyl st&obar;de agaynst thy iudgm&ebar;t? Or who wil come before þi; face an au&ebar;ger of vnrighteous m&ebar;? C   Or who wil blame þe;, yf þe; people perish, wh&obar; thou hast made? ^noteFor there is none other God but thou, þt; carest for all thinges: þt; thou mayest declare how þt; þi; iudgm&ebar;t is not vnright. There darre nether k&ibar;ge, ner tyra&ubar;t in þi; sight requyre acc&obar;ptes of them, wh&obar; thou hast destroyed.

For so moch th&ebar; as thou art righteous þi; self, thou ordrest all th&ibar;ges righteously, ^note ∧ punishest eu&ebar; h&ibar; þt; hath not deserued to be punyshed, ∧ takest him for a stra&ubar;ger ∧ an aleaunt in þe; l&obar;de of þi; power. For þi; power is þe; beginnynge of righteousnes: and because thou art LORDE of all thinges, therfore art thou gracious vnto all. Whan men thinke þe; not to be of a full strength, thou declarest þi; power: ∧ boldly delyuerest thou them ouer þt; knowe þe; not. But thou LORDE of power iudgest quyetly, and ordrest us with greate worshipe, for thou mayest do as thou wilt.

D   By soch workes now hast thou taught thy people, that a m&abar; also shulde be iust and louynge: and hast made thy childr&ebar; to be of a good hope: for euen when thou iudgest, thou geuest rowme to amende from synnes. For in so moch as thou hast punyshed, and &wt; soch diligence delyuered þe; enemies of thy serua&ubar;tes, which were worthy to dye (where thorow thou gauest th&ebar; tyme ∧ place of am&ebar;dement þt; they might turne fr&obar; their wickednes) &wt; how greate diligence then punyshest thou thine awne childr&ebar;, vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne ∧ made couena&ubar;tes of good promises? So where as thou doest but chasten vs, thou punyshest o&highr; enemies dyuerse wayes: to þe; int&ebar;t þt; wh&abar; we punysh, we shulde rem&ebar;bre þi; goodnesse: ∧ whan we o&highr; selues are punyshed, to put oure trust in thy mercy.

E   Wherfore where as men haue lyued ignora&ubar;tly ∧ vnrighteously, ^note thou hast punyshed th&ebar; sore, eu&ebar; thorow þe; same thinges that they worshipped. For they wente astraye very l&obar;ge in þe; waye of erro&highr;, ∧ helde þe; beestes (which eu&ebar; their enemies despysed) for goddes, lyuynge as children of no vnderstandinge. Therfore hast thou sent a scornefull punyshment amonge them, as amonge the chidr&ebar; of ignoraunce. As for soch as wolde not be refourmed by those scornes ∧ rebukes, they felt the worthy punishm&ebar;t of God. For þe; thinges þt; they suffred, they bare th&ebar; vnpaci&ebar;tly, beinge not cont&ebar;t in them but vnwyllinge. And whan they peryshed by þe; same thinges that they toke for goddes, they knowleged then, that there was but one true God, whom afore they wolde not knowe: therfore came þe; ende of their dampnacion vpon them. The XIII. Chapter.

A   Vayne are all men, which haue not þe; knowlege of God: ^note as were they that out of the good thinges which are sene, knewe not him, that of himself is euerlastinge. Nether toke they so moch regarde of the workes that are made, as to knowe, who was the craftesman of them: but some toke the fyre, some the wynde or ayre, some þe; course of þe; starres, some þe; water, ^note some toke Sonne and Moone, or the lightes of heauen which rule þe; earth, for goddes. But though they had soch pleasure in their beuty, that they thought them to haue bene goddes:

yet shulde they haue knowne, how moch more fayrer he is that made them. For the maker of beuty hath ordened all these thinges. Or yf they marueled at the power and workes of th&ebar;, they shulde haue perceaued therby, þt; he which made these thinges, is mightier then they.

B   For by the greatnesse ∧ beutye of the creature, þe; maker therof maye playnely be knowne. Notwithstondinge they are the lesse to be blamed, that sought God ∧ wolde haue founde him, and yet myssed. And why? for so moch as they w&ebar;te aboute in his workes and sought after them, it is a tok&ebar;, that they regarded and helde moch of his workes þt; are sene: howbeit they are not wholy to be excused. For yf their vnderstondinge and knowlege was so greate, þt; they coude discerne the worlde and þe; creatures, why dyd they not rather fynde out þe; LORDE therof?

But vnhappie are they, and amonge the deed is their hope, that call th&ebar; God which are but the workes of mens handes: golde, syluer and the thinge, that is founde out by connynge, the similitude of beastes, or eny vayne stone that hath bene made by hande of olde. ^noteOr as whan a carpenter cutteth downe a tre out of the wodd, and pareth of the barck of it connyngly: C   and so with the one parte maketh a vessell to be vsed, and dighteth meate with the residue. As for the other parte that is left, which is profitable for nothinge (for it is a croked pece of wodd and full of knobbes) he carueth it diligently thorow his vanite, and (acordinge to the knowlege of his connynge) he geueth it some proporcion, fashioneth it after the similitude of a man, or maketh it like some beest, straketh it ouer with reed and paynteth it, and loke what foule spot is in it, he casteth some coloure vpon it. Then maketh he a conueni&ebar;t tabernacle for it, setteth it in the wall and maketh it fast with yron, prouydinge so for it, lest it happ&ebar; to fall: for it is well knowne, that it can not helpe it self: And why? it is but an ymage, and must of necessite be helped.

D   Then goeth he and offreth of his goodes vnto it for his children and for his wife: he seketh helpe at it, he axeth councell at it: he is not ashamed to speake vnto it þt; hath no soule: for health, he maketh his peticion vnto him that is sicke: for life, he prayeth vnto him that is deed: he calleth vpon him for helpe, that is not able to helpe him self: ∧ to sende him a good iourneye, he prayeth him that maye not go. And in all the thinges þt; he taketh in hande (whether it be to optayne eny thinge or to worke) he prayeth vnto him that can do maner of good. The XIIII. Chapter.

A   Agayne, another m&abar; purposinge to sayle ∧ beg&ibar;nynge to take his iourney thorow þe; raginge see, calleth for helpe vnto a stock, þt; is farre weaker, th&ebar; þe; tre þt; beareth him. For as for it, coueteousnesse of moneye hath founde it out, ∧ þe; craftesm&abar; made it &wt; his connynge. But þi; prouydence (O father) gouerneth all thinges fr&obar; þe; begynnynge, ^notefor thou hast made a waye in þe; see, ∧ a sure path in the myddest of þe; wawes: declaringe therby, þt; thou hast power to helpe in all thinges, yee though a man wente to the see without shippe. Neuerthelesse, þt; þe; workes of þi; wy&esset;dome shulde not be vaine, thou hast caused an arke to be made: ^note ∧ therfore do men commytte their lyues to a small pece of wod passinge ouer the see in a shyppe, ∧ are saued.

B    ^noteFor in the olde tyme also wh&abar; the proude giauntes perished, he (in wh&obar; the hope was left to increase þe; worlde) w&ebar;te in to the shippe, which was gouerned thorow thy hande, ∧ so left sede behinde him vnto þe; worlde. For happie is þe; tre where thorow righteousnes c&obar;meth: but cursed is the ymage of wod, þt; is made &wt; h&abar;des, yee both it ∧ he þt; made it: He, because he made it: ∧ it, because it was called God, where as it is but a frayle thinge. ^noteFor the vngodly ∧ his vngodlynes are both like abhominable vnto God. Euen so þe; worke ∧ he þt; made it also shal be punyshed together. Therfore shal there a plage come vpon the ymages of the Heithen: for out of the creature of God they are become an abhominacion, a temptacion vnto the soules of men, and a snare for the fete of the vnwyse. And why? the sekinge out of ymages is the beginnynge of whordome, and the bringinge vp of them is the destruccion of life. For they were not from the begynnynge, nether shall they c&obar;tinue for euer. C   The welthy ydilnes of men hath founde them out vpon earth, therfore shal they come shortly to an ende. Wh&ebar; a father mourned for his sonne þt; was taken awaye fr&obar; him, he made him an ymage (in all þe; haist) of his deed sonne: ∧ so beg&abar;ne to worshipe him as God, which was but a deed m&abar; ∧ ordened his seruauntes to offre vnto him. Thus by processe of tyme ∧ thorow l&obar;ge custome, this erro&highr; was kepte as a lawe, ∧ tyra&ubar;tes c&obar;pelled m&ebar; by viol&ebar;ce to hono&highr; ymages. As for those þt; were so farre of, þt; m&ebar; migt not worshipe them presently, their picture was brought fr&obar; farre (like the ymage of a kynge

wh&obar; they wolde honoure) to the intent that with greate diligence they might worshipe him which was farre of, as though he had bene present. Agayne, the syngular connynbe of the craftesman gaue the ignoraunt also a greate occasi&obar; to worshipe ymages. For the workman wyllinge to do him a pleasure that sett him a worke, laboured with all his connynge to make the ymage of the best fashion. D   And so (thorow the beuty of the worke) the comon people was disceaued, in so moch that they toke him now for a God, which a litle afore was but honored as a man. And this was the erroure of mans life, whan men (ether for to serue their owne affeccion, or to do some pleasure vnto kinges) ascrybed vnto stones and stockes the name of God, which ought to be geuen vnto no man.

Morouer, this was not ynough for them that they erred in the knowlege of God: but where as they lyued in the greate warres of ignoraunce, those many and greate plages called they peace. ^noteFor ether they slewe their awne children and offred them, or dyd sacrifice in the night season, or els helde vnreasonable watches: so that they kepte nether life ner mariage cleane: but ether one slewe another to death maliciously, or els greued his neghboure &wt; aduoutrie. E   And thus were all thinges myxte together: bloude, manslaughter, theft, dissimulacion, corrupcion, vnfaithfulnesse, sedicion, periury, disquyetinge of good men, vnth&abar;kfulnes, defylinge of soules, cha&ubar;ginge of byrth, vnstedfastnesse of mariage, mysordre of aduoutrie and vnclennesse. And why? the honouringe of abhominable ymages, is the cause, the begynuynge and ende of all euell. For they þt; worshipe Idols, either they are madd wh&abar; they be mery, or prophecie lyes, or lyue vngodly, or els lightly mansweare them selues. For in so moch as their trust is in þe; Idols (which haue nether soule ner vnderstondinge) though they sweare falsely, yet they thinke it shal not hurte them.

Therfore commeth a greate plage vpon them, and that worthely: for they haue an euell opini&obar; of God, geuinge hede vnto Idols, swearinge vniustly to disceaue, and dispysinge righteousnes. For their swearinge is no vertue, but a plage of them that synne, and goeth euer with the offence of the vngodly. The XV. Chapter.

A   Bvt thou (O o&highr; God) art swete, longe sufferinge and true, and in mercy ordrest thou all thinges. Though we synne, yet are we thine, for we knowe thy strength. Yf we synne not, then are we sure, that thou regardest vs. For to knowe the, is parfecte righteousnes: Yee to knowe þi; righteousnes and power, is the rote of immortalite. As for the thinge that men haue founde out thorow theyr euell science, it hath not disceaued vs: as the payntinge of the picture (an vnprofitable laboure) and carued ymage, with diuerse colours, whose sight entiseth the ignoraunt: so that he honoureth and loueth the picture of a deed ymage, that hath no soule.

B   Neuertheles, they that loue soche euell thinges, are worthy of death: they that trust in them, they that make them, they that loue them, and they that honoure them. The potter also taketh ∧ tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, and geueth it the fashion of a vessell, what so euer serueth for oure vse: and so of one pece of claye he maketh some cleane vessel for seruice, and some contrary. But where to euery vessell serueth, that knoweth þe; potter himself. So with his vayne laboure he maketh a god of the same claye: this doth euen he, which a litle afore was made of earth himself, and within a litle whyle after (whan he dyeth) turneth to earth agayne.

C   Notwithstandinge, he careth not þe; more because he shal labo&highr; ner because his life is shorte: but stryueth to excell goldsmythes, þe; syluer smythes ∧ copper smithes, and taketh it for an hono&highr; to make vayne thinges. For his hert is ashes, his hope is but vaine earth ∧ his life is more vyle then claye: for so moch as he knoweth not his awne maker, that gaue him his soule to worke, and brethed in him the breth of life. They counte oure life but a pastyme, and oure conuersacion to be butt a market, and that men shulde euer be gettinge, yee and that by euell meanes. Now he þt; of earth maketh frayle vessell and ymages, knoweth himself to offende aboue all other.

D   All the enemies of thy people and þt; holde them in subieccion, are vnwyse, vnhappie and exceadinge proude vnto their owne soules: ^notefor they iudge all the Idols of the Heith&ebar; to be goddes, which nether haue eyesight to se, ner noses to smell, ner eares to heare, ner fingers of handes for to grope: ∧ as for their fete, they are to slowe to go. For man made them, and he that hath but a borowed sprete, fashioned them. But no man can make a God like vnto him: for seinge he is but mortall himself, it is but mortall that he maketh with vnrighteous handes. He himself is better then they whom he worshippeth, for he lyued though he was mortall, but so dyd neuer they. Yee they worshippe beestes also,

which are most miserable: for compare thinges that can not fele vnto them, ∧ they are worse then those. Yet is there not one of these beestes, that with his sight c&abar; beholde eny good thinge, nether haue they geuen prayse ner thankes vnto God. The XVI. Chapter.

A   For these and soch other thinges haue they suffred worthy punyshment, ∧ thorow þe; multitude of beestes are they roted out. In steade of þe; which punishmentes thou hast graciously ordred thine awne people, ∧ geuen them their desyre that they l&obar;ged for: a new ∧ straunge taist, preparinge them quales to be their meate: ^note to the intent þt; (by the thinges which were shewed and sent vnto them) they þt; were so gredy of meate, might be withdrawen euen from the desyre that was necessary. But these within shorte tyme were brought vnto pouerte, and taisted a new meate. For it was requisite þt; (without eny excuse) destruccion shulde come vp&obar; those which vsed tyr&abar;ny, ∧ to shewe onely vnto the other, how their enemies were destroyed. ^noteFor whan the cruell woodnesse of the beestes came vpon them, they peryshed thorow the stinges of the cruell serpentes.

B   Notwithst&obar;dinge þi; wrath endured not perpetually, but they were put in feare for a litle season, þt; they might be refourmed, hauynge a token of saluacion, to remembre the c&obar;maundement of thy lawe. For he þt; c&obar;uerted, was not healed by the thinge þt; he sawe, but by THE, O sauio&highr; of all. So in this thou shewdest thine enemies, þt; it is thou, which deliuerest fr&obar; all euell. ^noteAs for th&ebar; whan they were bytten &wt; greshoppers and flyes, they died, for they were worthy to perish by soch: But nether the teth of dragons ner of venymous wormes ouercame þi; children, for thy mercy was euer by them ∧ helped th&ebar;. Therfore were they punyshed to rem&ebar;bre thy wordes, but hastely were they healed agayne: lest they shulde fall in to so depe forgetfulnesse, that they might not vse thy helpe.

C   It was nether herbe ner plaster þt; restored th&ebar; to health, but thy worde (o LORDE) which healeth all thinges. ^noteIt is thou (o LORDE) þt; hast the power of life ∧ death: thou ledest vnto deathes dore, ∧ bringest vp agayne. But man thorow wickednes slayeth his owne soule, ∧ when his sprete goeth forth, it turneth not agayne, nether maye he call agayne þe; soule þt; is tak&ebar; awaye: It is not possible to escape þi; hande. For þe; vngodly þt; wolde not knowe þe;, were punyshed by þe; str&ebar;gth of thine arme: ^note &wt; stra&ubar;ge waters, hales and raynes were they persecuted, ∧ thorow fyre were they c&obar;sumed. For it was a wonderous thinge that fyre might do more then water which qu&ebar;cheth all thinges: but þe; worlde is þe; au&ebar;ger of the righteous. Some tyme was þe; fyre so tame, þt; the beestes which were sent to punysh þe; vngodly, brent not: ∧ þt; because they shulde se ∧ knowe, þt; they were persecuted &wt; the punyshm&ebar;t of God. And somtyme brent the fyre in the water on euery syde, þt; it might destroye þe; vnrighteous naci&obar; of the earth. ^note D   Againe, thou hast fed thine awne people &wt; angels fode, ∧ sent th&ebar; bred ready from heau&ebar; (without their labo&highr;) beynge very pleasa&ubar;t ∧ well gusted. And to shewe thy riches ∧ swetnesse vnto thy childr&ebar;, thou gauest euery one their desyre, so þt; euery man might take what liked him best. But the snowe ∧ yse abode the viol&ebar;ce of the fyre, ∧ melted not: þt; they might knowe, þt; the fyre burninge in the hale ∧ rayne, destroied þe; frute of þe; enemies: þe; fyre also forgatt his str&ebar;gth agayne, þt; þe; righteous might be norished. For þe; creature þt; serueth þe; (which art þe; maker) is fearse in punyshinge þe; vnrighteous, but it is easy ∧ g&ebar;tle to do good, vnto soch as put their trust in the. E   Therfore dyd all thinges alter at the same tyme, ∧ were all obedi&ebar;t vnto thy grace, which is þe; norse of all thinges, acordinge to þe; desyre of th&ebar; þt; had nede therof: ^note þt; þi; childr&ebar; (O LORDE) wh&obar; thou louest, might knowe, þt; it is not nature ∧ the growinge of frutes þt; fedeth m&ebar;, but þt; it is þi; worde, which preserueth th&ebar; þt; put their trust in the. For loke what might not be destroyed &wt; the fyre, as soone as it was warmed &wt; a litle Sonne beame, it melted: þt; all men might knowe, þt; thankes ought to be geuen vnto þe; before þe; Sonne ryse, ∧ þt; thou oughtest to be worshipped before þe; daye sprynge. For þe; hope of þe; vnthankfull shal melt awaie as the wynter yse, ∧ perishe as water, þt; is not necessary. The XVII. Chapter.

A    ^noteGreate are thy iudgm&ebar;tes (o LORDE) ∧ thy councels can not be expressed: therfore men do erre, þt; wil not be refourmed &wt; thy wy&esset;dome. For whan the vnrighteous thought to haue thy holy people in subieci&obar;, ^note they were bounde &wt; the bandes of darcknes ∧ longe night, shutt vnder þe; rofe, thinkinge to escape þe; euerlastinge wi&esset;dome. And whyle they thought to be hyd in þe; darcknesse of their synnes, they were scatered abrode in þe; very myddest of the darck coueringe of forgetfulnes, put to horrible feare ∧ wonderously vexed. For the corner where they were, might not kepe them from feare: because þe;

sounde came downe and vexed them: yee many terryble and straunge visions made them afrayed.

B   No power of the fyre might geue them light, nether might the cleare fl&abar;mes of the starres light&ebar; þt; horrible night. For there appeared vnto th&ebar; a sodane fyre, very dredeful: At þe; which (whan they sawe nothinge) they were so afrayed, that they thought þe; thinge which they sawe, to be the more fearfull. ^noteAs for the sorcery ∧ enchauntem&ebar;t þt; they vsed, it came to derisi&obar;, and the proude wy&esset;dome was brought to shame. For they þt; promysed to dryue awaie the fearfulnes ∧ drede fr&obar; þe; weake soules, were sick for feare th&ebar; selues, and that &wt; scorne. And though none of þe; w&obar;ders feared th&ebar;, yet were they afrayed at the beestes which came vpon th&ebar;, ∧ at þe; Hissynge of the serp&ebar;tes: In so moch that with tr&ebar;blinge they swowned, ∧ sayde they sawe not þe; ayre, which no m&abar; yet maye escape.

C   For it is an heuy thinge, wh&abar; a mans owne consci&ebar;ce beareth recorde of his wickednes ∧ cond&ebar;pneth him. And why? a vexed ∧ wounded consci&ebar;ce, taketh euer cruell thinges in h&abar;de. ^noteFearfulnes is nothinge els, but a declaringe þt; a m&abar; seketh helpe ∧ defence, to answere for him self. And loke how moch lesse the hope is within, the more is þe; vncertaynte of the matter, for the which he is punished. But they þt; came in þe; mightie night, slepte þe; slepe þt; fell vp&obar; th&ebar; fr&obar; vnder ∧ fr&obar; aboue: somtyme were they afrayed thorow þe; feare of þe; wonders, ∧ somtyme they were so weake, þt; they swowned withall: for an hastie ∧ sodane fearfulnes came vpon th&ebar;. Afterwarde, yf eny of th&ebar; had fall&ebar;, he was kepte ∧ shutt in preson, but without chaynes. But yf eny dwelt in a vyllage, yf he had bene an hyrd or hu&esset;bandman, he suffred intollerable necessite: for they were all bounde with one chayne of darcknesse.

D   Whether it were a blasynge wynde, or a swete songe of þe; byrdes amonge the thicke braunches of the trees, or the vehemence of haistie r&ubar;nynge water, or greate noyse of þe; fallynge downe of stones, or the playenge ∧ r&ubar;nynge of beastes wh&obar; they sawe not, or þe; mightie noyse of roaringe beestes, or þe; sownde þt; answereth agayne in the hye mountaynes: it made th&ebar; swowne for very feare. For all the earth shyned &wt; cleare light, ∧ no m&abar; was hyndered in his labo&highr;. Onely vpon th&ebar; there fell a heuy night, an ymage of darcknesse that was to come vpon them. Yee they were vnto them selues the most heuy ∧ horrible darcknesse. The XVIII. Chapter.

A   Neuertheles thy sayntes had a very greate light (and the enemies herde their voyce, but they sawe not the figure of them.) And because they suffred not þe; same thinges, they magnified the: and they þt; were vexed afore (because they were not hurte now) thanked the, and besought þe; (o God) þt; there might be a difference. ^noteTherfore had they a burnynge piler of fyre to lede them in the vnknowne waye, ∧ thou gauest them the Sonne for a fre gift without eny hurte. Reason it was, that they shulde want light ∧ to be put in the preson of darcknes, which kepte thy childr&ebar; in captiuyte, by whom the vncorrupte light of the lawe of þe; worlde was for to be geuen. ^note B   Whan they thought to slaye the babes of the righteous (one beinge laied out, and yet preserued to be leder vnto the other) thou broughtest out the whole multitude of the children, ^note and destroydest these in the mightie water. Of that night were oure fathers certified afore, that they knowinge vnto what oothes they had geuen cred&ebar;ce, might be of good cheare. Thus thy people receaued þe; health of the righteous, but the vngodly were destroied. For like as thou hast hurte oure enemies, so hast thou promoted vs whom thou calledest afore. For the righteous children of the good men offred secretly, ∧ ordred the lawe of righteousnes vnto vnite: þt; the iust shulde receaue good and euell in like maner, singinge prayses vnto þe; father of all men. Agayne, there was herde an vnconuenient voyce of the enemies, ∧ a piteous crie for childr&ebar; that were bewayled. C   The master and the serua&ubar;t were punyshed alike, the meane man and the kynge suffred in like maner. For they all together had innumerable that dyed one death.

^noteNether were þe; lyuinge sufficient to bury þe; deed, for in þe; twincklinge of an eye, the noblest nacion of th&ebar; was destroyed. As oft as God helped th&ebar; afore, yet wolde it not make th&ebar; beleue: but in þe; destruccion of þe; first borne they knowleged, that it was þe; people of God. For whyle all thinges were still, ∧ wh&abar; þe; night was in þe; myddest of hir course, thy Allmightie worde (o LORDE) leapte downe fr&obar; heau&ebar; out of þi; royall trone, as a rough m&abar; of warre, in þe; myddest of þe; londe þt; was destroyed: ∧ þe; sharpe swerde perfourmed þi; straite c&obar;maundem&ebar;t, st&abar;dinge ∧ fyllinge all thinges &wt; death: yee it stode vp&obar; þe; earth ∧ reached vnto the heauen. Then the sight of the euell dreames vexed them sodenly, and fearfulnesse came vpon them vnawarres.

D   Then laye there one here, another there half deed half quyck, and shewed the cause of his death. For the visions that vexed th&ebar;, shewed th&ebar; these thinges afore: so that they were not ignoraunt, wherfore they perished.

The tentacion of death touched the righteous also, and amonge the multitude in the wyldernesse there was insurreccion, but thy wrath endured not longe. ^noteFor the fautlesse man wente in all the haist, and toke the battayll vpon him, brought forth the weap&ebar; of his ministracion: euen prayer and þe; c&ebar;sours of rec&obar;cilinge, set himself agaynst þe; wrath, and so brought the misery to an ende: declaringe therby, that he was thy seruaunt. For he ouer came not the multitude with bodely power, ner with weap&ebar;s of might: but with the worde he subdued him that vexed him, puttinge the in remembraunce of the ooth ∧ couena&ubar;t made vnto the fathers. For whan the deed were fallen downe by heapes one vpon another, he stode in the myddest, pacified the wrath, and parted þe; waye vnto the lyuynge. ^noteAnd why? in his longe garm&ebar;t was all the beuty, and in the foure rowes of the stones was the glory of the fathers grau&ebar;, and thy maiesty was written in the crowne of his heade. Vnto these the destroyer gaue place, and was afrayed of them: for it was only a tentacion worthy of wrath. The XIX. Chapter.

A   As for the vngodly, the wrath came vp&obar; them without mercy vnto the ende. For he knew before what shulde happ&ebar; vnto them: how that (whan they had c&obar;sented to lett them go, and had sent them out with greate diligence) they wolde repente, ∧ folowe vpon them. ^noteFor whan they were yet mournynge and makinge lam&ebar;tacion by the graues of the deed, they deuysed another foolishnes: so that they persecuted them in their flienge, whom they had cast out afore &wt; prayer. Worthy necessite also brought them vnto this ende, for they had cleane forgotten the thinges þt; happened vnto them afore. But the thinge that was wantynge of their punyshment, was requysite so to be fulfilled vpon them with torm&ebar;tes: that thy people might haue a maruelous passage thorow, and that these might fynde a straunge death.

B   Th&ebar; was euery creature fashioned agayne of the new acordinge to the wyll of their maker, obeyenge thy commaundementes, þt; thy children might be kepte without hurte. For the cloude ouershadowed their tentes, ∧ the drye earth appeared, where afore was water: so þt; in the reed see there was a waye without impediment, and the greate depe became a grene felde: where thorow all þe; people wente that were defended with thy hande, seinge thy wonderous ∧ maruelous workes. For as þe; horses, so were they fedd, ∧ leapte like l&abar;bes, praysinge the (o LORDE) which haddest delyuered them. And why? they were yet myndefull of the thinges, that happened whyle they dwelt in the londe: how the grounde brought forth flyes in steade of catell, and how þe; ryuer scrauled with the multitude of frogges in steade of fy&esset;shes.

C    ^noteBut at the last they sawe a new creacion of byrdes, what tyme as they were disceaued with lust, and desyred delicate meates. For whan they were speakinge of their appetite, the quales came vp vnto them from the see, and punyshmentes came vpon þe; synners, not without the tok&ebar;s which came to passe afore by the vehem&ebar;ce of þe; streames: for they suffred worthely acordinge to their wickednesses, they dealt so abhominably ∧ churlishly with straungers. Some receaued no vnknowne gestes, some brought þe; straungers in to bondage that dyd them good. Besyde all these thinges there were some, that not only receaued no straungers with their wylles, ^note but persecuted those also, and dyd th&ebar; moch euell, that receaued th&ebar; gladly. Therfore were they punyshed with blyndnesse, ^note like as they that were couered with sodane darcknesse at the dores of the righteous: so þt; euery one sought þe; intraunce of his dore.

D   Thus the elementes turned in to them selues, like as whan one tune is chaunged vpon an instrument of musick, and yet all the residue kepe their melody: which maye easely be perceaued, by the sight of the thinges that are come to passe. The drye l&obar;de was turned in to a watery, ∧ þe; thinge that afore swamme in the water, wente now vpon the drye grounde. The fyre had power in the water (c&obar;trary to his awne vertue) and the water forgatt his awne kynde to quench. Agayne, the flammes of the noysome beastes hurte not the flesh of them that w&ebar;te with them, nether melted they the yse, which els melteth lightly. In all thinges hast thou promoted thy people (o LORDE) and brought them to honoure: thou hast not despysed them, but allwaye and in all places hast thou stonde by them. The ende of the boke of wy&esset;dome.

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