A   O sett youre affeccy&obar; vp&obar; ryghteousnesse, ye that be iudges of the earth. Haue a good opinion of the Lorde, and seke hym in þe; synglenesse of herte. For he wil be founde of them þt; tempte him not, ∧ appeareth vnto soch as put their trust in him. As for frowarde thoughtes, they separate from God, but vertu (yf it be alowed) refourmeth the vnwyse. And why? wysdome shall not entre into a frowarde soule, ner dwell in the body that is subdued vnto synne. For þe; holy goost abhorreth fayned nurtoure, ∧ withdraweth hym selfe from the thoughtes that are without vnderst&abar;dyng: and where wyckednes hath the vpper h&abar;de, he flyeth from thence. For the sprete of wysdome is louynge, g&ebar;tle and gracyous, ∧ wyll haue no pleasure in hym that speaketh euell wyth hys lyppes. For God is a wytnesse of hys reynes, a true searcher out of hys herte, and an hearer of hys t&obar;ge. For the sprete of þe; Lord fylleth the rounde compasse of the worlde: ∧ the same that vpholdeth all thynges hath knowledge also of the voyce.

B   Therfore, he that speaketh vnryghteous thinges, can not be hydd, nether maye he escape the iudgement of reprofe. And why? inquysicion shalbe made for the thoughtes of the vngodly, and the reporte of hys wordes shall come vnto God, so that his wickednes shalbe punished. For þe; eare of gelousy heareth all thynges, and the noyse of the grudginges shall not be hydd. Therfore, beware of murmurynge, which is nothynge worth, and refrayne youre tonge from sclaunder. For there is no worde so darck and secrete þt; it shall goo for naught: and the mouth that speaketh lyes, slayeth the soule.

C   O seke not your awne death in the erroure of your lyfe, destroye not your selues thorow the worckes of youre awne h&abar;des. For God hath not made death, nether hath he pleasure in the destruccyon of the lyuynge. For he created all thinges, that they myght haue their beynge: yee all the people of the earth hath he made þt; they shuld haue health that there shulde be no destruccyon in them, and that the kyngdome of hell shulde not be vp&obar; earth (for righteousnesse is euerlasting and immortall, but vnryghteousnes bryngeth death.) Neuerthelesse the vngodly call

her vnto them both with wordes ∧ workes: and whyle they thyncke to haue a frende of her, they come to naught: for the vngodly that are confederate with her and take her parte, are worthy of death. ¶ The .ii. Chapter. ¶ The ymaginacyons and desyres of the wycked, and theyr councell agaynst the faythfull.

A   For the vngodly talke and ymagin thus amonge them selues (but not ryght:)The tyme of oure lyfe is but short and tedyous: and when a man is once gone, he hath nomore ioye ner pleasure, nether knowe we eny m&abar; that turneth agayne from death: for we are borne of naught, and we shall be herafter as though we had neuer bene. For oure breth is as a smoke in oure nosetrels, and the wordes as a sparck to moue oure herte. As for oure body, it shalbe very asshes that are quenched, and oure soule shall vanish as the soft ayre. Oure lyfe shal passe awaye as the trace of a cloude, and come to naught as the myst that is driu&ebar; awaye with þe; beames of the Sonne, and put downe with the heate therof. Oure name also shalbe forgotten by lytle ∧ lytle, and no man shall haue oure worckes in remembraunce.

B   For oure tyme is a very shadow þt; passeth awaye, ∧ after oure ende there is no returnyng, for it is fast sealed, so that no man c&obar;meth agayne. Come on therfore, let vs enioye the pleasures that ther are, and lett vs soone vse the creature lyke as in youth. Let vs fyll oure selues with good wyne ∧ oyntment, and let there no floure of the tyme go by vs. Let vs crowne our selues with roses afore they be wythered. Let there be no fayre medowe, but oure lust go thorow it. Lett euery one of you be partaker of oure volupteousnes. Let vs leaue some tok&ebar; of our pleasure in euery place, for that is oure porcion, els get we nothynge. Lett vs oppresse the poore ryghteous, let vs not spare the wyddow ner olde m&abar;: let vs not regarde the heades that are gray for age. Let þe; lawe of vnryghteousnesse be our auctorite, for þe; thing that is feble is nothing worth. C   Therfore let vs defraude the ryghteous, and why? he is not for oure profyt, yee he is cleane c&obar;trary to oure doynges. He checketh vs for offendynge agaynst þe; law, and scla&ubar;dreth vs as tr&abar;sgressours of all nurtour. He maketh his boast to haue the knowledge of God, yee he calleth him self Goddes sonne. He is the bewrayer of our thoughtes: It greueth vs also to loke vp&obar; him, for his life is not like other mens, his wayes are of another fashyon. He counteth vs but vayne personnes, he withdraweth hym selfe from oure wayes as fr&obar; fylthynes: he comm&ebar;deth greatly the latter ende of the iust, and maketh his boast that God is his father. Let vs se then yf his wordes be true, lett vs proue what shall come vpon hym: so shall we knowe what ende he shall haue. D   For yf he be þe; true sonne of God he wyll receaue him, and delyuer hym from the handes of hys enemyes. Let vs examen hym with despytefull rebuke and tormentynge, that we maye knowe his dignite, &abar;d proue hys pacience. Lett vs condemne hym with the most shameful death: for lyke as he hath spoken, so shall he be rewarded.

Soch thynges do the vngodly ymagin, and go astraye, for their awne wyckednes hath blynded them. As for the mysteries of God, they vnderstande th&ebar; not: they nether hope for the rewarde of ryghteousnesse, ner regarde þe; worship that holy soules shall haue. For God created m&abar; to be vndestroyed, yee after þe; ^note ymage of hys awne lyckenesse made he h&ibar;. Neuerthelesse thorow enuye of the deuell came death in to the worlde: and they that holde of hys syde, do as he doth. ¶ The .iii. Chapter. ¶ The conseruacyon and assurance of þe; ryghteous. The rewarde of the faythfull.

A   But the soules of the ryghteous are in the hande of God, and the payne of death shall not touch th&ebar;. In the syght of þe; vnwyse they appeared to dye, and theyr ende is taken for very destrucci&obar;. The waye of the righteous is iudged to be vtter destruccyon, but they are in rest. And though they suffre payne before men, yet is theyr hope full of immortalyte. They are punyshed but in fewe thinges, neuerthelesse in many th&ibar;ges shal they be well rewarded. For God proueth them, and fyndeth them mete for him selfe: yee as þe; golde in the fornace doth he trye them, and receaueth th&ebar; as a brent offeringe, and when the tyme commeth, they shalbe loked vpon.

B   The ryghteous shall shyne as þe; sparkes that renne thorow the red busshe. They shal iudge the nacyons, and haue dominion ouer the people, and theyr Lord shall raygne for euer. They that put theyr trust in him, shal vnderst&abar;de the trueth, and soch as be faythfull, will agree vnto him in loue: for his chosen shall haue gyftes and peace. But the vngodly shalbe punyshed accordynge to theyr awne ymaginacions, for they haue despised the ryghteous, and forsaken the Lorde.

Who so despiseth wysdome ∧ nurtour, he is vnhappye, and as for the hope of soche, it is but vayne, theyr labours vnfrutefull, ∧ theyr workes vnprofitable. Theyr wyues are vndiscrete, and theyr chyldren most vngodly. Theyr creature is cursed. Blessed is rather the baren and vndefyled, which hath not knowne the synfull bedd: she shall haue

frute in the reward of the holy soules. And blessed is the gelded, which with his handes hath wrought no vnrighteousnes, ner ymagined wicked thinges against God. For vnto him shall be geu&ebar; þe; speciall gift of fayth, and the most acceptable porcion in the temple of God. D   For glorious is þe; frute of good laboure, and the rote of wysdome shall neuer fade awaye. As for the chyldren of aduouterers, they shall come to an ende, ∧ the sede of an vnryghteous bedd shall be roted out. And though they lyue longe, yet shall they be nothing regarded, and their last age shalbe without honoure. Yf they dye hastely they haue no hope, nether shal they be spok&ebar; to in the daye of knowledge. For horrible is the death and ende of the vnrighteous. ¶ The .iiii. Chapter. ¶ Of the chaste generacyon of the faythfull, and of theyr felicite. Of the death of þe; ryghteous, and of the condemnacyon, of the vnfaythfull.

A   O how fayre is a chaste generacyon with vertue? The memoriall therof is immortall, for it is knowne with God and with men. When it is present, m&ebar; take example there at: and yf it goo awaye, yet they desyre it. It is all waye crowned and holden in honour, and wynneth the reward of the vndefyled battayll. But þe; multitude of vngodly children is vnprofitable, ∧ the thinges that are planted with whordome, shal take no depe rote, ner laye eny fast foundacion. Though they be grene in þe; braunches, for a tyme, yet shal they be shaken with þe; wynde: for they stande not fast, and thorow þe; vehemencie of the wynde they shalbe roted out. For þe; vnparfecte braunches shalbe broken, theyr frute shalbe vnprofitable and sowre to eate, yee mete for nothynge. And why? all þe; chyldren that are borne of the wicked, must beare record of þe; wyckednesse agaynst their fathers ∧ mothers, when they be asked. But though the ryghteous be ouertaken with death, yet shall he be in rest.

B   Age is an honorable thinge: neuertheles it standeth not onely in the length of tyme, ner in the multitude of yeares: but a mans wysdome is the graye hearre, and an vndefyled lyfe is the olde age. He pleased God, ∧ was beloued of him: so that where as he lyued am&obar;ge synners, he translated him. ^noteYee sodenly was he taken awaye, to the intent that wyckednesse shulde not alter hys vnderstandyng, ∧ that ypocrisie shulde not begyle his soule. For the craftye bewitchynge of lyes make good thynges darck, the vnstedfastnesse also and wyckednes of volupteous desyre turne asyde the vnderstanding of the symple. Though he was soone deed, yet fulfylled he moch tyme: For hys soule pleased God: therfore hasted he to take him awaye from amonge the wycked. This the people se, and vnderstande it not, they laye not vp soche thynges in theyr hertes, how that the louynge fauoure and mercy of God is vpon his sainctes, and that he hath respecte vnto hys chosen.

C   Thus the ryghteous that is deed c&obar;demneth the vngodly which are lyuynge: and þe; youth that is soone brought to an ende, the longe lyfe of the vnrighteous. For they se þe; ende of the wyse, but they vnderstande not what God hath deuysed for him, and wherfore the Lord hath taken hym awaye. And why? they se him and despyse him, therfore shall God also laugh th&ebar; to scorne: So that they th&ebar; selues shall dye here after (but wythout honour) yee in shame among the deed for euermore. For without eny voyce shall he burst those that be puft vp, ∧ remoue th&ebar; from the foundacyons, so that they shalbe layed waste vnto þe; hyest. They shall mourne, and theyr memoryall shall peryshe. So they beynge afrayed shall remembre theyr synnes, and theyr awne wyckednesse shall bewraye them. ¶ The .v. Chapter. ¶ The constantnes of the ryghteous before theyr persecuters. The hope of the vnfaythfull is vndurable and vayne. The blessednes of the saynctes and godly.

A   Then shall þe; ryghteous st&abar;de in great stedfastenesse agaynst soche as haue dealt exstremely wyth them, and taken awaye theyr labours: When they se it, they shalbe vexed wyth horryble feare, and shall wonder at the hastynesse of þe; sodayne health: groninge for very distresse of mynde and shall saye within them selues, hauynge inwarde sorowe, and mournynge for very anguysh of mynde.

These are they, whom we somtyme had in derision, ∧ iested vp&obar;. We fooles thought theyr lyfe very madnesse, and theyr ende tobe with out honour. But lo, how they are counted am&obar;g þe; childr&ebar; of God, ∧ theyr porcyon is amonge the sayntes. Therfore we haue erred fr&obar; the waye of truthe, the lyght of ryghteousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs, and the sonne of vnderstanding rose not vp vpon vs. We haue weried our selues in the waye of wyckednesse and destruccyon. Tedious wayes haue we gone: but as for the waye of the Lorde we haue not knowne it.

B   What good hath oure pryde done vnto vs? Or, what profyt hath the pompe of ryches brought vs? All those thinges are passed awaye lyke a shadow, and as a messaunger renninge before: as a shippe that passeth ouer the waues of the water, which when it is gone by, the trace therof cannot be fo&ubar;de nether the path of it in the floudes. Or as a

byrde that flieth thorow in the ayre, and no man can se eny token where she is flowen, but onely heareth the noyse of her wynges, beatinge the lyght wynde, partinge þe; ayre, thorow the vehemencye of her goynge, and flyeth on shakyng her wynges, where as afterwarde no token of her waye can be founde. Or lyke as when an arowe is shott at a marck, it parteth þe; ayre, which immediatly commeth together agayne, so that a m&abar; can not know where it w&ebar;te thorow. Eu&ebar; so we in lyke 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 awne wyckednesse.

C   Soch wordes shall they that haue synned speake in the hell: for the hope of þe; vngodly is lyke a drie thystell floure (or dust) that is blowen awaye with the winde: lyke a thinne scomme that is scatred abrode with the storme: lyke as the smoke which is dispersed here and there &wt; the winde, ∧ as the remembraunce of a straunger þt; tarieth for a daye, and th&ebar; departeth. But the ryghteous shall lyue for euermore: their reward also is with the Lord: and their remembraunce with the hyest. Therfore, shal they receaue a glorio&us; Kyngdome, and a bewtyfull crowne of the Lordes hande: for &wt; hys ryght hande shall he couer th&ebar;, and with hys awne holy arme shal he defende th&ebar;. His gelousy also shal take awaye the harnesse, ∧ he shall weapen the creature to be au&ebar;ged of þe; enemies. He shall put on ryghteousnes for a breast plate, and take sure iudgement in steade of an helmet. The inuincible shilde of equite shal he take, his cruell wrath shal he sharpen for a speare and the whole compase of the worlde shall fyght with hym agaynst the vnwyse.

D   Then shall the thonder boltes go out of the lighteninges, and come out of the raynebowe of the cloudes to the place apoynted: out of þe; hearde stony indignacion there shal fall thyck hayles, and the water of the see shalbe wroth agaynst them, and the floudes shall renne roughly together. Yee a mighty wynde shall stande vp agaynst them, and a storme shal scater them abrode. Thus þe; vnryghteous dealynge of th&ebar; shall brynge all the lande to a wildernes, ∧ wyckednes shall ouerthrowe the dwellinges of the mightye. ¶ The .vi. Chapter. ¶ The callynge of Kynges, Prynces, and Iudges: which are also exhorted to searche wysdome.

A   Wysdome is better then strength, and a man of vnderstandyng is more worth then one þt; is str&obar;g. Heare therfore (O ye Kynges) ∧ vnderstande: O lerne ye that be iudges of the endes of the earth. Geue eare ye that rule the multitudes, ∧ delite in moch people. For the power is geuen you of the Lorde, and the strength fr&obar; the Hyest: which shall trye youre worckes ∧ search out youre ymaginaci&obar;s: How that ye beinge officiers of his kingdome, haue not executed true iudgement, haue not kepte þe; lawe of righteousnes, nor walked after þe; wyll of God. B   Horribly ∧ that ryght soone shall he appeare vnto you: for an harde iudgement shal they haue that beare rule. Mercye is graunted vnto the symple, but they that be in auctoryte shalbe sore punished. For God which is lord ouer all, shall excepte no mans personne, nether shall he st&abar;de &ibar; awe of any mans greatnesse. For he hath made the small ∧ greate, ∧ careth for all a lyke. But the myghty shal haue the sorer punyshement.

Unto you therfore (O ye Kynges) do I speake, that ye maye lerne wisdome and not go amysse. For they þt; kepe hys ryghteousnes shalbe ryghteously iudged, ∧ they that are lerned in righteous thinges, shall fynde to make answere. Wherfore, set youre lust vpon my wordes, and loue them, so shall ye come by nurtour. C   Wisdome is a noble thinge, and neuer faydeth awaye: yee she is easely sene of th&ebar; that loue her, and founde of soche as seke her. She preu&ebar;ted th&ebar; that desire her, þt; she maye fyrst shewe her selfe vnto th&ebar;. Who so awaketh vnto her by times, shall haue no greate trauayle, for he shall fynde her syttinge readye at hys dores. To thincke vpon her, is parfecte vnderst&abar;dyng: and who so watcheth for her, shalbe safe, &abar;d þt; soone. For she goeth aboute, sekynge soch as are mete for her, sheweth her selfe cherfully vnto them in their goynges, and meteth th&ebar; with all dilig&ebar;ce. For the vnfayned desire of refourmacy&obar; is her begynnyng: to care for nurtour is loue, and loue is the kepynge of her lawes. Now the kepyng of the lawe is perfeccion and an vncorrupte lyfe, and an vncorrupte lyfe maketh a man familier with God. And so þe; desire of wysdome ledeth to the Kyngdome euerlastynge. D   If youre delyte be th&ebar; in royall seates and cepters (O ye kynges of the people) set youre lust vp&obar; wysdome, that ye maye raygne for euer more. O loue the lyght of wisdome, all ye that be rulers of the people. As for wysdome what she is, and how she came vp, I wyll tell you, and wyll not hyde the mysteryes of God from you: but wyll seke her out from the begynnynge of the natiuite, and brynge the knowledge of her into lyght, ∧ wyll not kepe back the trueth: Nether wyll I haue to do wyth consumynge enuye, for soch a man shall not be partaker of wysdome. But the multytude of the wyse is the welfare of the worlde, ∧ a wyse kyng is the vpholdynge of the people. O receaue nourtoure then thorowe my wordes, and it shall do you good.

¶ The .vii. Chapter. ¶ Wysdome ought to be prefarred before all thynges.

A   I my selfe also am a mortall m&abar;, lyke as all other, and am come of the earthy generacyon of hym that was fyrst made, and in my mothers wombe was I fashyoned to be flesh: In the tyme of ten monethes was I brought together in bloude thorow the sede of man, and the commodyous appetyte of slepe. Wh&ebar; I was borne, I receaued lyke ayre as other men, ∧ fell vp&obar; the earth (which is my nature) crying and wepynge at the fyrst, as all other do. I was wrapped in swadlynge clothes, and brought vp with greate cares. For there is no k&ibar;g that hath had eny other begynnynge of byrth. All m&ebar; then haue one entraunce vnto lyfe, and one goinge out in lyke maner.

B   Wherfore I desyred, and vnderstanding was geuen me: I called, and the sprete of wysdome came into me. I sett more by her then by kyngdomes and royall seates, and counted ryches nothynge in comparison of her. As for precio&us; stone, I compared it not vnto her: for all golde is but grauell vnto her, and syluer shalbe counted but claye before her sight. I loued her aboue wellfare ∧ beutye, ∧ purposed to take her for my lyght for her lyght cannot be quenched. All good thynges came to me with her, ∧ &ibar;numerable ryches thorowe her handes. I was glad in th&ebar; all, for thys wysdome wente before me, &abar;d I knew not that she is the mother of all good thinges. Now as I my selfe learned vnfaynedly, so do I make other men partakers of her, and hyde her ryches fr&obar; no man, for she is an &ibar;finite treasure vnto m&ebar;, which who so vse, become partakers of the loue ∧ frendshype of God, and are accepted vnto hym for the gyftes of wysdome.

C   God hath graunted me to talke wysely, and conueniently to handle the th&ibar;ges that he hath gracyously l&ebar;t me. For it is he, that ledeth vnto wysdome, and teacheth to vse wysdome a ryght. In his hand are both we ∧ oure wordes: yee all oure wysdome, oure vnderst&abar;dynge and knowledge of all oure worckes. For he hath geuen me the true sci&ebar;ce of these thinges: so that I knowe how the worlde was made, &abar;d the powers of the elementes: the begynnynge, endynge and myddest of the tymes: how the tymes alter how one goeth after another, and how they are fulfylled, the course of the yeare: the ordina&ubar;ces of the starres: the natures ∧ kyndnes of beastes: the furiousnesse of beastes: the power of the wyndes: the ymagynaci&obar;s of men: the diuersyties of yonge plantes: þe; vertues of rotes, &abar;d all soch thynges as are secrete ∧ not loked for, haue I learned. For the worckmaster of all thinges hath taught me wysdome. D   In her is the sprete of vnderstandynge, which is holy, manyfolde, one onely, sotyll, curteous, discrete, quyck, vndefyled, playne, swete, louynge the thynge þt; is good, sharpe, which forbiddeth not to do well, gentle, kynde, stedfast, sure, fre: hauynge all vertues, circumspecte in all thinges: receauynge all spretes of vnderstandynge beynge cleane and sharpe. For wysdome is nymbler then all nymble thinges: she goeth thorowe ∧ attayneth to all thynges, because of her clennes. For she is the breth of the power of God, and a pure cleane expressyng of the clearnes of Allmyghtie God. Therfore can no vndefyled thyng come vnto her: for she is the bryghtenes of the euerlastyng lyght, the vndefyled myrroure of the maiesty of God, and the ymage of his goodnesse. E   And for so moch as she is one, she maye do all thinges: and beynge stedfast her selfe she renueth all, and amonge the people conueyeth she her selfe into the holy soules. She maketh Godes frendes and prophetes for God loueth no man, but hym in whom wysdome dwelleth. For she is more beautyfull then the Sunne, and geueth more lyght then the starres, and the daye is not to be c&obar;pared vnto her: for vpon the daye commeth nyght. But wyckednesse cannot ouercome wisdome, and foolishnes maye not be &wt; her ¶ The .viii. Chapter. ¶ The effectes of wysdome.

A   Wysdome reacheth from one ende to another mightely, ∧ louingly doth she ordre all thinges. I haue loued her, and laboured for her, euen fro my youth vp: I did my dilig&ebar;ce to mary my selfe with her, soch loue had I vnto her beutye. Who so hath þe; company of God, comm&ebar;deth her nobylite, yee the Lord of all thynges him selfe loueth her. For she is the scole mastresse of the nurtour of God, and the choser out of his worckes. Yf a man wold desyre ryches in this lyfe, what is richer then wysdome, that worketh all th&ibar;ges? Thou wylt saye: vnderst&abar;dynge worketh. What is it am&obar;ge all thinges, that worketh more then wysdome? If a man loue vertue and ryghteousnes, let him laboure for wisdome, for she hath great vertues. And why? she teacheth sobernes ∧ prudence, righteousnes and strenght, which are soch thinges as men can haue nothynge more profitable in their lyfe. B   If a m&abar; desire moch knowledge, she can tell þe; thinges that are past, and discerne thynges for to come: she knoweth the soteltyes of wordes, and can expounde darcke sent&ebar;ces. She can tell of tokens and wonderous thynges, or euer they come to passe, and þe; endes of all tymes

and ages. So I purposed after this maner: I wyll take her vnto my company, and com&ebar; louingly with her: no doute she shall geue me good councell, and speake comfortably vnto me in my carefulnes ∧ grefe. For her sake shall I be well and honestly taken amonge the comens and lordes of the councell. Though I be yonge, yet shall I haue sharpe vnderstandyng, so that I shalbe maruelous in the syght of greate m&ebar;, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me. When I holde my tonge, they shall byde my leasure, when I speake, they shall loke vpon me, and yf I talke moch, they shall laye their h&abar;des vpon theyr mouth. Moreouer, by the meanes of her I shall obtayne immortalite, and leaue behynde me an euerlasting memoriall am&obar;ge them that come after me. I shal set the people in ordre, and the nacyons shalbe subdued vnto me. Horrible tyrauntes shalbe afrayed, when they do but heare of me, among the multitude I shalbe counted good and myghtye in batayll. When I come home, I shall fynde reste with her: for her company hath no bitternes, ∧ her felouship hath no tedyousnesse, but myrth and ioye.

C   Now when I consydered these thynges by my selfe, and pondered them in my herte how that to be ioyned vnto wisdome is immortalyte, and greate pleasure to haue her frendshype: how that in the worckes of her handes are infynite ryches: how that, who so kepeth company with her shalbe wyse: ∧ that he which talketh with her, shal come to honoure: I wente aboute sekynge, together vnto me. For I was a ladd of a rype wytt, and had a good vnderstandynge.

But wh&ebar; I grew to more vnderstandynge, I came to an vndefyled body. Neuertheles when I perceaued that I coulde not kepe my selfe chaste, excepte God gaue it me (and that was a poynte of wysdome also, to knowe whose gift it was) I stepped vnto þe; Lord, and besought him, and with my whole herte I sayde after this maner. ¶ The .ix. Chapter. ¶ A prayer of Salomon to obtayne wysdome.

A   O God of my fathers, and Lorde of mercyes (thou that hast made all thynges with thy worde, and ordeyned man thorow thy wysdome, that he shulde haue ^note domynyon ouer the creature which thou hast made: that he shulde ordre the worlde accordinge to equite and ryghteousnes, and execute iudgem&ebar;t with a true hert) geue me wisdome, which is euer about thy seate, and put me not out from amonge thy chyldren: for I thy seruaunt and sonne of thy hande mayden, am a feble personne, of a shorte tyme, and to yonge to the vnderstandynge of iudgem&ebar;t and þe; lawes. And though a man be neuer so parfecte amonge the chyldren of m&ebar;, yet yf thy wysdome be not with him, he shalbe noth&ibar;g regarded. But thou hast chosen me to be a kyng vnto thy people, and the iudge of thy sonnes and daughters.

B   Thou hast commaunded me to buylde a t&ebar;ple vpon thy holy mount, ∧ an aulter in þe; citie wherin thou dwellest: a lycknesse of thy holy tabernacle whych thou hast prepared from the begynnyng, ∧ thy wysdome wyth the, which knoweth thy worckes, which also was with the, when thou madest the world ∧ knewe what was acceptable in thy syght and ryght in thy c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes. O sende her out of thy holy heau&ebar;s and fr&obar; the trone of thy maiesty, that she maye be with me, ∧ laboure with me: that I maye knowe, what is acceptable in thy sight. For she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thinges: and she shall lede me soberly in my workes, and preserue me in her power. So shall my workes be acceptable, and then shall I gouerne thy people righteously, and be worthy to syt in my fathers seate. For what m&abar; is he, that may knowe þe; councell of God? Or, who can thinke what the will of God is? For þe; thoughtes of mortall men are miserable and oure forcastes are but vncertayne. C   And why? a mortall and corruptible body is heuy vnto the soule, and þe; earthy mansyon kepeth downe that vnderstandinge that museth vp&obar; many thynges. Uery hardly can we discerne the thinges that are vpon earth, ∧ greate labour haue we, or we can fynde þe; thynges which are before oure eyes. Who wyll then seke oute the gro&ubar;de of the thinges that are done in heauen? Oh Lorde, who can haue knowledge of thy vnderstandyng and meanyng, excepte thou geue wysdome, and sende thy holy goost from aboue? þt; the wayes of them which are vpon earth, maye be refourmed: that men maye learne the thinges that are pleasaunt vnto the, and be preserued thorow wysdome. ¶ The .x. Chapter. ¶ The deliueraunce of the ryghteous commeth through wysdome.

A   Wysdome preserued the fyrst man, whom God made a father of the worlde, wh&ebar; he was created alone brought h&ibar; out of his offence toke him out of the ^note moulde of the eerth: ∧ gaue hym power to rule all thinges. ^noteWhen the vnryghteous w&ebar;te awaye in his wrath fr&obar; this wysdome, þe; brotherhed peryshed thorow the wrath of murthur. Agayne, when the ^note water destroyed þe; whole worlde, wysdome preserued þe; righteous thorow a poore tre, wherof she was gouerner her selfe. Moreouer wh&ebar; wyckednes had gotten þe; vpper

hande so þt; þe; nacions were puft vp &wt; pryde she knewe the ryghteo&us;, preserued him fautlesse vnto God, and layed vp sure mercy of his chyldren. She preserued the ryghteous, ^note wh&ebar; he fled fr&obar; the vngodly that perished, what tyme as þe; fyre fell downe vp&obar; the .v. B    cyties: Lyke as yet this daye þe; vnfrutefull waste, and smokyng l&abar;d geueth testimony of theyr wyckednesse: yee, the vnrype ∧ vntimely frutes that growe vpon the trees.

And for a token of a remembra&ubar;ce of the vnfaythfull soule, there standeth a pyler of salt, For all soch as regarded not wysdome gat not onely this hurte, þt; they knewe not the thynges which were good, but also left behynde th&ebar; vnto men, a memoriall of their foolishnes: so that in þe; thinges wherin they synned, they coulde not be hydd. But as for soch as take hede vnto wysdome, she shal delyuer them from sorowe.

C    ^noteWhen the ryghteous fled because of hys brothers wrath, wysdome led h&ibar; the ryght waye, shewed him the Kyngdome of God, gaue him knowledge of holy thinges, made him riche &ibar; his laboures, ∧ 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 h&ibar; from the enemies, ∧ defended him from the disceauers. She made hym stronge in battaill ∧ gaue him the victory, that he myght knowe, how that wysdome is str&obar;ger then all thinges. ^noteWhen þe; ryghteous was sold, she forsoke him not, but delyuered hym fr&obar; synners. She wente downe with hym into the dongeon, and fayled him not in the bandes: ^note tyll she had brought hym the scepter of the realme, &abar;d power agaynst those that oppressed him. As for them that had accused hym, she declared them to be lyers, and brought hym to perpetuall worshypp.

D    ^noteShe delyuered the ryghteous people &abar;d fautlesse sede, from þe; nacy&obar;s that oppressed them. She entred into the soule of the seruaunt of God, and stode by him in wonders and tokens agaynst the horrible king. She gaue the ryghteous the rewarde of theyr labours, ∧ led them forth a maruelous waye: on the daye tyme she was a shadowe vnto them, &abar;d a lyght of starres in the night season. ^noteShe brought th&ebar; thorow þe; reed see, ∧ caryed them thorow the greate water. She drowned theyr enemies &ibar; the see, ∧ brought them out of the depe. So the ryghteous toke þe; spoyles of the vngodly. ^note and praysed thy holy name, O Lorde, ∧ magnified thy victorious hand &wt; one accorde. ^noteFor wysdome openeth the mouth of the domme, &abar;d maketh the tonges of babes to speake. ¶ The .xi. Chapter. ¶ The miracles done for Israel. The vengeaunce of synners. The greate power and mercy of God.

A   She ordred theyr workes in þe; h&abar;des of the holy prophet: ^note so þt; they went thorow þe; wyldernes that was not inhabited, and pitched their tentes in þe; wast deserte. They stode agaynst their enemies, ∧ were au&ebar;ged of their aduersaries, ^note When they were thirstye, they called vpon the, &abar;d water was geu&ebar; th&ebar; out of þe; most hye rock and theyr thyrst was qu&ebar;ched out of þe; harde stone. For by þe; thinges, wher thorow their enemyes were punyshed, were þe; chyldr&ebar; of Israel helped in theyr nede, to theyr c&obar;fort. For vnto the enemyes þu; gauest m&abar;s bloud in steade of liuynge water. And where as they had scarcenesse &ibar; þe; rebuke, wh&ebar; the chyldren were slayne, thou gauest vnto thyne awne a pl&ebar;teous water vnloked for: declarynge by the thyrst that was at that tyme, how thou woldest bryng thyne awne vnto honoure, and slaye theyr aduersaries.

B    ^noteFor when they were tryed and nortured with fatherli mercy, they knowledged how the vngodly were iudged, &abar;d punyshed thorow the wrath of God. These hast thou exhorted as a father, and proued th&ebar;: but vnto the other þu; hast bene a boysterous kyng, layed hard to theyr charge, ∧ cond&ebar;ned th&ebar;. Whether they were absent or present, their punishm&ebar;t was a lyke. For their grefe was double: namely, mournynge, and the rem&ebar;braunce of thynges past. But wh&ebar; they perceaued þt; theyr punishmentes dyd th&ebar; good, they thought vpon the Lorde, and wondered at þe; ende. For at þe; last they helde moch of hym, of wh&obar; &ibar; þe; out casting they thought scorne, as of an abiecte. Neuerthelesse, the ryghteous dyd not so when they were thyrstie: but eu&ebar; lyke as þe; thoughtes of þe; foolish were, so was also ther wickednes. ^note C   Where as certayne men now (thorow errour) dyd worshipe d&obar;me serpentes &abar;d vayne beastes thou sendest a multitude of domme beastes vp&obar; them for a vengeance: that they myght knowe, that loke where withall a man synneth, by the same also shall he be punyshed. ^noteFor vnto thy allmyghty hande, þt; made þe; worlde of naught, it was not vnpossible, to sende amonge them an heape of Beeres, or woode lyons, or cruell beastes of a stra&ubar;ge kynde, soch as are vnknowne, or spoutt fire or cast out a smokynge breth, or shote horrible sparkes out of their eyes, which myght not onely destroye them with hurt&ibar;ge, but also kyll th&ebar; with their horrible syght. Yee, without these beastes might they haue bene slayne with one winde, beynge persecuted of their awne workes, ∧ scatered a broade thorow the breth of thy power.

D   Neuertheles, thou hast ordred all thynges in measure, n&obar;bre ∧ weight. For þu; hast euer had great strength ∧ might, ∧ who maye &wt; stande þe; power of thyne arme? And why?

lyke as þe; small thing þt; the bala&ubar;ce weyeth so is the worlde before þe;: yee, as a droppe of þe; mornynge dew, that falleth downe vpon þe; earth. Thou hast mercy vp&obar; all, for thou hast power of al thinges: ^note ∧ makest the as though thou sawest not the synnes of men, because they shuld amende. For thou louest all the thinges that are, and hatest none of them wh&obar; þu; hast made: nether dydest thou ordeyne or make eny thynge, of euell wyll.

How might eny thinge endure, yf it were not thy will? Or how coulde eny thynge be preserued, excepte it were called of the? But thou sparest all, for all are thyne (O Lord) thou louer of soules. ¶ The .xii. Chapter. ¶ The mercye of God towarde synners, the worckes of God are vnreprouable. Go geueth leysure to repent vs.

A   O lorde, how gracious and swete is thy sprete in all thinges? Therfore chastenest thou them measurably þt; go wr&obar;ge, and warnest th&ebar; c&obar;cerninge the thinges wherin they offende: thou speakest vnto th&ebar; (O Lord) ∧ exhortest th&ebar; to leaue theyr wickednes, and to put theyr trust in þe;. ^noteAs for those olde inhabyters of thy holy l&abar;de, thou myghtest not awaye &wt; th&ebar;, for they c&obar;mitted abhominable workes agaynst the: as witchcraft, sorcery &abar;d Idolatry, they slew theyr awne children without mercy: they dyd eate vp m&ebar;s bowels, ∧ deuoured the bloude: yee, because of soch abhominaci&obar;s, mysbeleues ∧ offeringes, thou slewest the fathers of the desolate soules by the handes of oure fathers: þt; the land which thou louest aboue all other, might be a dwellynge for the children of God.

B   Neuertheles, thou sparedest them also (as men) ∧ sendedst þe; forer&ubar;ners of thyne hoost eu&ebar; hornettes to destroye them out by lytle &abar;d lytle. Not that þu; wast vnable to subdue the vngodly vnto the ryghteo&us; &ibar; battayle, or &wt; cruell beastes, or with one rough word to destroye th&ebar; together: ^note But thy mynde was to dryue them out by lytle &abar;d lytle, geuynge th&ebar; tyme ∧ place to amende: know&ibar;g well, that it was an vnryghteous nacy&obar; ∧ wicked of nature, &abar;d þt; their thought might neuer be altered. For it was a cursed sede fr&obar; þe; begynnyng, ∧ feared no man: Yet hast thou pardoned their synnes. For who wyll saye vnto the: why hast thou done that? Or who will st&abar;de agaynst thy iudgment? Or who wyll come before thy face an auenger of vnryghteous men? C   Or who wyll blame the, yf the people perish, whom thou hast made? For there is none other God but þu;, ^note that carest for all thynges: that þu; mayest declare how that thy iudgment is not vnryght. There darre nether kyng, ner tyra&ubar;t in thy sight require accomptes of th&ebar; wh&obar; thou haste destroyed.

For so moch then as thou art ryghteous thy selfe, þu; ordrest all thinges ryghteously ^note ∧ punishest euen him that hath not deserued to be punished, ∧ takest him for a stra&ubar;ger and an alea&ubar;t in the lande of thy power. For thy power is the begynnynge of ryghteousnes: and because thou art Lorde of all thynges, therfore art thou gracio&us; vnto al.

When men thynke the not to be of a full strength, thou declarest thy power: &abar;d boldly deliuerest thou them ouer that knowe þe; not. But thou Lord of power iudgest quietly, and ordrest vs with great worshypp, for thou mayest do as thou wylt.

D   By soch workes now hast thou taught thy people, that a man also shulde be iust ∧ louynge: and hast made thy chyldr&ebar; to be of a good hope: for euen when thou iudgest, þu; geuest rowme to amende from synnes.

For in so moch as thou hast punyshed, and with soch dilig&ebar;ce deliuered the enemyes of thy seruauntes, which were worthy to dye (where thorow thou gauest them tyme and place of amendem&ebar;t that they might turne fr&obar; theyr wyckednes) with how greate diligence then punyshest þu; thyne awne children vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne ∧ made couenauntes of good promises? So where as thou doest but chasten vs, thou punyshest our enemyes diuerse wayes, to þe; int&ebar;t that when we punishe, we shuld remembre thy goodnesse: ∧ when we ourselues are punyshed, to put oure trust in thy mercy.

E   Wherfore, where as men haue lyued ignora&ubar;tly ∧ vnryghteously, thou hast punished th&ebar; sore, euen thorow þe; same thinges þt; they worshypped. ^noteFor they w&ebar;te astraye very longe in the waye of errour, ∧ helde þe; beastes (which eu&ebar; theyr enemies despysed) for goddes, lyuinge as children of no vnderstandyng. Therfore hast thou sent a scornefull punyshment amonge th&ebar;, as am&obar;ge the children of ignora&ubar;ce. As for soch as wolde not be refourmed by those scornes &abar;d rebukes, they felt the worthy punishm&ebar;t of God For the thinges that they suffred, they bare them vnpacyently, beinge not content in them but vnwillynge. And when they peryshed by the same thinges that they toke for goddes, they knowledged then, that there was, but one true God, whome afore they wolde not knowe: therfore came the ende of theyr damnacyon vpon them. ¶ The .xiii. Chapter. ¶ All thynges be vayne, except the knowledge of God. Idolaters and Idols are mocked.

A   Vayne are all men, which haue not knowledge of God: ^note as were they that out of the good th&ibar;ges which are sene, knewe not hym, þt; of hym selfe is euerlastynge. Nether toke they so moch regarde of þe; worckes that are made,

as to knowe, who was the craftesm&abar; of th&ebar; but some toke the fyre, some the wynde or ayre, some the course of the starres, some the water, some toke Sunne &abar;d Moone, or the lyghtes of heauen which rule the earth, for goddes. But though they had soch pleasure &ibar; their beuty, that they thought th&ebar; to haue bene goddes: yet shulde they haue knowne, how moch more fayrer he is that made th&ebar;.

For the maker of beuty hath ordened all these thinges. Or yf they marueled at the power and worckes of them, they shulde haue perceaued therby, that he which made these thynges, is myghtyer then they.

B   For by the greatnesse and beuty of the creature, the maker therof may playnely be knowne. Notwithstandynge they are the lesse to be blamed, that seke God, &abar;d wolde fynde hym, and yet mysse. And why? for so moch as they go about in hys workes and seke after them, it is a token, þt; they regarde and holde moch of his workes that are sene how be it they are not wholy to be excused. For yf theyr vnderstandynge ∧ knowledge be so greate, that they can diserne the worlde and the creatures, why do they not rather fynde out the Lorde therof.

But vnhappye are they, and amonge the deed is theyr hope, that call them Goddes which are but the worckes of mens h&abar;des: golde, syluer, and the thinge that is founde out by connynge, the similitude of beastes, or any vayne stone that hath bene made by hande of olde. ^noteOr as wh&ebar; a carpenter cutteth downe a tree out of the wodd, and pareth of the barck of it c&obar;ningly: and so with the one parte maketh a vessel to be vsed, ∧ dresseth meate with the resydue. As for the other parte that is left, which is profytable for nothyng (for it is a croked pece of wodd C    and full of knobbes) he carueth it diligently thorow hys vanite, and accordynge to the knowledge of hys connyng) he geueth it some proporcion, fashioneth it after the similitude of a m&abar;, or maketh it lyke some beast straketh it ouer with redd, and paynteth it, ∧ loke what foule spot is in it he casteth some coloure vpon it.

Then maketh he a conuenient tabernacle for it, setteth it in the wall, ∧ maketh it fast with yron, prouidynge so for it, lest it happen to fall: for it is well knowne, that it can not helpe it selfe: And why? it is but an ymage, and must of necessite be helped.

D   Then goeth he ∧ offreth of his goodes vnto it, for his chyldren and for his wyfe: he seketh helpe at it, he asketh co&ubar;cell at it: he is not ashamed to speake vnto it that hath no soule: for health, he maketh his petici&obar; vnto him þt; is sycke: for lyfe, he prayeth vnto him that is deed: he calleth vpon h&ibar; for help that is not able to helpe him selfe: ∧ to sende him a good iourneye, he prayeth him þt; may not go. And in all the thinges that he taketh in h&abar;de (whether it be to optayne any thyng or to worcke) he prayeth vnto hym, that can do no maner of good, ¶ The .xiiii. Chapter. ¶ The detestacyon and abhominacion of ymages. A curse of them, and of hym that maketh them. The euelles that come of Idolatrye.

A   Agayne, another m&abar; purposing to sayle, and begynninge to take his iourney thorow the ragynge see, calleth for helpe vnto a stock, that is farre weaker then the tree that beareth h&ibar;. For as for it, coueteousnesse of moneye hath fo&ubar;de it out, ∧ the craftesm&abar; made it with his connyng.

But thy prouidence, O father gouerneth all thynges fr&obar; the begynninge: ^note For thou hast made awaye in the see, and a sure path in the myddest of þe; waues: declarynge therby, that thou hast power to helpe &ibar; all thinges, yee though a man wente to the see with B    out shyp, Neuerthelesse, that the worckes of thy wysdome shulde not be vayne, ^note thou hast caused an arke to be made: and therfore do men committe theyr lyues to a small pece of wodd, passyng ouer the see in a shyp, and are saued.

^noteFor in the olde tyme also wh&ebar; the proude gyauntes perished, he (in wh&obar; the hope was left to increase the worlde) wente into the shyppe, which was gouerned thorow thy hand, and so lefte sede behinde him vnto the world. For happye is þe; tree, where thorow ryghteousnes c&obar;meth: but cursed is þe; ydoll that is made with h&abar;des, ^note ye both it and he that made it. He, because he made it: and it, because it was called God where as it is but a frayle thyng. ^noteFor the vngodly and hys vngodlynes are both lyke abhominable vnto God, Euen so þe; worcke and he that made it also, shalbe punyshed together. Therfore shall there a plage come vpon þe; ydoles of the Heathen: for out of the creature of God they are become an abhomynacyon, a temptacion vnto the soules of men, and a snare for the fete of the vnwyse. And why, þe; sekynge out of ydoles is the begynnynge of whordome, and the bryngynge vp of th&ebar; is the destruccyon of lyfe. For they were not from þe; begynnynge, nether shall they contynue for euer. The welthy ydelnes of men hath founde them out vpon earth, therfore shall they come shortly to an ende. C   When a father mourned for his sonne þt; was taken awaye fr&obar; hym, he made hym an ymage (in all þe; haste) of hys deed sonne: ∧ so beg&abar;ne to worshypp h&ibar; as God, which was but a deed man, ∧ ordened his serua&ubar;tes to offre vnto h&ibar;. Th&us; by processe of tyme ∧ thorow an vngracious custome, this erroure was kepte:

as lawe, and tyrauntes compelled men by violence to honour ymages. As for those þt; were so farre of that men myght not worshypp them presently, theyr pycture was brought fr&obar; farre (lyke the ymage of a king whom they wolde honoure) to the intent þt; with greate diligence they might worshipp him which was farre of, as though he had bene present. Agayne, the singular conn&ibar;ge of the craftesman gaue the ignoraunt also a great occasion to worshyp images. For þe; workman willyng to do hym a pleasure þt; set him a worke, laboured with all his conninge to make þe; ymage of the best fashion. D   And so (thorow the beuty of the worke) the comen people was disceaued, in so moch þt; they toke him now for a God, which a lytle afore was but honored as a man. And thys was the erroure of mans lyfe, when men (etherfor to serue theyr awne affecci&obar;, or to do some pleasure vnto kynges) ascribed vnto stones and stockes þe; name of God, which ought to be geuen vnto no man.

Moreouer, this was not ynough for th&ebar; that they erred in the knowledge of God: but where as they lyued in the greate warres of ignoraunce, those many ∧ greate plages called they peace. For ether ^note they slue theyr awne children, ∧ offred them, or dyd sacryfyce in þe; nyght season, or els helde vnreasonable watches: so that they kepte nether lyfe ner mariage cleane: but ether one slue another to death maliciously, or els greued hys neyghboure wyth aduoutrye. E   And thus were all th&ibar;ges mixte together, bloud, manslaughter, theft, dissimulacion, corrupcion, vnfaythfulnesse, sedicyon, periury, disquietynge of good men, vnthankfulnes, defilynge of soules, chaungynge of byrth, vnstedfastnesse of mariage, mysorder of aduoutrye and vnclennesse. And why? the honouringe of abhominable images is the cause, the begynnynge and ende of all euell. For they that worshype Idols, ether they are mad when they be mery, or prophecie lyes, or lyue vngodly, or els lyghtly forsweare them selues. For in so moch as their trust is in þe; Idols (which haue nether soule ner vnderstandynge) though they sweare falsely, yet they thyncke it shal not hurte them.

Therfore commeth a greate plage vpon them, and that worthely: for they haue an euell oppinion of God, geuynge hede vnto Idols, swearynge vniustly to disceaue, and despysing ryghteousnes. For theyr swearinge is no vertue, but a plage of them that synne, and goeth euer with the offence of the vngodly. ¶ The .xv. Chapter. ¶ The voyce of the faythfull, praysynge the mercy of God, for whose graces sake they serue not Idols.

A   But thou (O oure God) art swete, l&obar;g sufferynge and true, and in mercy ordrest thou all thynges.

Though we synne, yet are we thyne, for we knowe thy strength. If we synne not, then are we sure, that thou regardest vs. For to knowe þe;, is parfecte ryghteousnes: Yee, to knowe thy ryghteousnes &abar;d power, is the rote of &ibar;mortalite. As for the thynge that men haue fo&ubar;de out thorow their euell sci&ebar;ce, it hath not disceaued vs: as the payntinge of the picture (an vnproffitable laboure) and carued image, with diuerse colours, whose syght entyseth the ignora&ubar;t: so that he honoureth ∧ loueth the picture of a deed image that hath no soule.

B   Neuerthelesse, they that loue soch euell th&ibar;ges, are worthy of death: they that trust &ibar; them, they that make them, they that loue them, and they that honoure them. The potter also taketh &abar;d tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, and geueth it the fassyon of a vessel, whatsoeuer serueth for oure vse: and so of one pece of claye he maketh some cleane vessell for seruice, ∧ some contrary. But where to euery vessel serueth, that knoweth the potter him selfe. So with his vayne laboure he maketh a God of the same claye: this doth euen he, whiche a lytle afore was made of earth hym selfe, and within a lytle whyle after (wh&ebar; he dieth) turneth to earth agayne

C   Notwithstandinge, he careth not the more because he shall labour, ner because his lyfe is short: but stryueth to excell goldsmithes, the syluersmythes and copersmythes, ∧ taketh it for an honour to make vayne thynges. For hys herte is ashes, hys hope is but vayne earth, ∧ his life is more vile th&ebar; claye for so moch as he knoweth not his awne maker, that gaue him hys soule to worcke, &abar;d brethed in him the breth of lyfe. They counte oure lyfe but a pastyme, and oure conuersacion to be, but a market, and that men shulde euer be gettynge, and that by euell meanes. Now he that of earth maketh frayle vessels and ymages, knoweth him selfe to offende aboue all other.

D   All the enemyes of thy people ∧ that holde th&ebar; in subiecci&obar;, are vnwyse, vnhappye, and exceadyng proude vnto theyr awne soules, for they iudge all the Idols of the Heathen to be goddes, which nether haue eye sight to se, ner noses to smell, ner eares to heare, nor fyngers of h&abar;des for to grope: ∧ as for theyr fete, they are to slowe to goo. For m&abar; made them, ∧ he that hath but a borowed sprete, fashioned them. But no m&abar; c&abar; make a God lyke vnto him: for seynge he is but mortall hym selfe, it is but mortall that he maketh with vnryghteous handes. He hym selfe is better then they wh&obar; he worshyppeth, for

he lyued though he was mortall, so dyd neuer they. Yee, they worshyppe beastes also, which are most miserable: for compare th&ibar;ges that cannot fele vnto them and they are worse then those. Yet is there not one of these beastes, that with his syght can beholde eny good thing nether haue they geu&ebar; prayse ner thanckes vnto God. ¶ The .xvi. Chapter. ¶ The punyshment of Idolatrers, and the benefytes done vnto the faythfull.

A   For these and soch other th&ibar;ges haue they suffred worthy punishm&ebar;t and thorow the multitude of beastes are they roted oute. In steade of the which punyshmentes thou hast graciously ordred thyne awne people, and geu&ebar; th&ebar; theyr desyre þt; they longed for: anewe ∧ stra&ubar;ge taist, ^note preparing th&ebar; quayles to be theyr meate: to þe; intent that (by the thynges which were shewed and sent vnto th&ebar;) they that were so gredy of meate, might be withdrawen euen from the desyre that was necessary. But these with&ibar; shorte tyme were brought vnto pouerte, &abar;d tasted a newe meate. For it was requisite þt; (without eny excuse) destruccion shulde come vpon those which vsed tyranny, ∧ to shewe onely vnto þe; other, how theyr enemyes were destroied.

^noteFor when the cruell woodnesse of the beastes came vpon them, they perished thorow the stynges of the cruell serpentes.

B   Not withstandynge, thy wrath endured not perpetually, but they were put in feare for a lytle seas&obar;, that they myght be refourmed, hauynge a tok&ebar; of saluacion, to rem&ebar;bre the c&obar;maundement of thy lawe. For he þt; conuerted, was not healed by the thyng þt; he sawe, but by the, O sauioure of all. So in this thou shewedst thyne enemyes, þt; it is thou, which delyuerest from al euell. As for th&ebar; ^note wh&ebar; they were bytt&ebar; &wt; gresshoppers and flyes, they dyed, for the were worthy to perish by soch: But nether the teeth of dragons ner of venimous wormes ouer c&abar; thy chyldr&ebar;, for thy mercy was euer by th&ebar; ∧ helped th&ebar;. Therfore were they punished to remembre thy wordes, but hastely were they healed againe, lest they shuld fall &ibar; to so depe forgetfulnesse, þt; they myght not vse thy helpe. C   It was nether herbe ner playster þt; restored th&ebar; to health, but thy worde (O Lorde) which healeth all th&ibar;ges. It is þu; (O Lord) that hast the power of lyfe ∧ death ^note: thou ledest vnto deathes dore, and bryngest vp againe. But m&abar; thorow wickednes slaieth his awne soule, and when his sprete goeth forth, it turneth not agayne, nether maye he call agayne the soule that is tak&ebar; awaye It is not possible to eskape thy hande. For the vngodly that wolde not knowe þe;, were punyshed by þe; strength of thyne arme: with straunge waters, hayles and raynes were they persecuted, and thorow fyre were they consumed, For it was a wonderous thinge that fyre myght do more then water which quencheth all thinges: but the worlde is the au&ebar;ger of the ryghteous. Some tyme was the fyre so tame, that þe; beastes which were sent to punysh the vngodly, brent not: and that because they shulde se and knowe, that they were persecuted with the punyshment of God. And some tyme brent the fyre &ibar; the water on euery syde, that it might destroye þe; vnryghteous nacyon of þe; earth. ^note D   Agayne, thou hast fed thyne awne people &wt; Aungels fode, ∧ sent th&ebar; bred ready from heau&ebar; (without theyr laboure) beynge very pleasaunt and of good tast. And to shewe thy ryches ∧ swetnesse vnto thy chyldren, thou gauest euery one theyr desyre, so þt; euery man might take what lyked hym best. But the snowe and yse abode the violence of the fyre ∧ melted not: that they myght knowe, that the fyre burnyng in the hayle and rayne, destroyed the frute of the enemyes: þe; fyre also forgat his strength agayne: that the ryghteous myght be noryshed. For the creature that serueth the (which art the maker) is fearse in punyshing þe; vnrighteous, but is easy ∧ g&ebar;tle to do good, vnto soch as put their trust in the. E   Therfore dyd all thynges alter at the same tyme, and were all obedient vnto thy grace, which is the norse of all thynges, accordynge to the desyre of them that had nede therof: that thy childr&ebar; (O Lord) whom thou louest, myght knowe, ^note þt; it is not nature and the growinge of frutes that fedeth men, but that it is thy worde, which preserueth them that put theyr trust in the For loke what myght not be destroied with the fyre, as soone as it was warmed with a lytle S&ubar;ne beame, it melted: þt; al m&ebar; might knowe, that th&abar;kes ought to be geuen vnto the before the Sunne ryse, and that thou oughtest to be worshipped before the daye springe. For the hope of þe; vnth&abar;kfull shall melt awaye as the wynter yse, and peryshe as water, that is not necessary. ¶ The .xvii. Chapter. ¶ The iudgmentes of God vpon the Egypcyans.

A   Greate are ^note thy iudgmentes (O Lorde) and thy councels c&abar; not be expressed: therfore m&ebar; do erre, that will not be refourmed &wt; thy wysdome. ^noteFor when þe; vnryghteous thought to haue thy holy people &ibar; subiecci&obar;, they were bounde with the bandes of darcknes and longe nyght, shut vnder the rofe, thinkynge to escape the euerlastynge wysdome. And whyle they thought to be hyd &ibar; þe; darcknesse of theyr synnes, they were scatered abrode &ibar; the very myddest of th&ebar; darck couerynge of forgetfulnes, put to horrible feare and

wonderously vexed: for the corner where they myght not kepe them from feare (because the sounde came downe and vexed them) yee, many terrible and straunge visions made them afrayed.

B   No power of the fyre myght geue them lyght, nether myght the cleare flammes of þe; starres lyghten þe; horrible nyght. For there appeared vnto them a sodayne fyre, very dredeful: At the which (when they sawe noth&ibar;ge) they were so afrayed, þt; they thought the thinge which they sawe, to be the more fearfull. ^noteAs for þe; sorcery ∧ encha&ubar;tem&ebar;t that they vsed, it came to derision, and the proude wysdome was brought to shame. For they that promised to dryue awaye the fearfulnes and drede from the weake soules, were syck for feare them selues, and that with scorne. And though none of the wonders feared th&ebar;, yet were they afrayed at the beastes which came vpon them, ∧ at þe; Hyssynge of the serp&ebar;tes. In so moch that with tr&ebar;blinge they sowned, &abar;d sayde they sawe not þe; ayre, which no man yet maye escape.

C   For it is an heuy thynge, when a mans awne conscience beareth recorde of his wyckednes and condempneth hym. And why? a vexed and wounded conscience, taketh euer cruell thynges in h&abar;d. ^noteFearfulnes is nothing els, but a declaring that a m&abar; seketh helpe and defence, to answere for hym selfe. And loke how moch lesse the hope is with&ibar;. the more is the vncertentye of the mater, for the which he is punyshed. But they that came in the myghty nyght: slepte the slepe þt; fell vpon them from vnder and from aboue: somtyme were they afrayed thorow the feare of the wonders, and sometyme they were so weake that they sowned with all: for an hastye ∧ sodayne fearfulnes came vp&obar; th&ebar;.

After warde, yf eny of them had fallen, he was kepte and shut in preson, but without chaynes. But yf eny dwelt in a vyllage, yf he had bene an hearde or husb&abar;dman 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 the byrdes amonge the thycke braunches of the trees, or the vehemencye of hastye r&ubar;nynge water, or greate noyse of the fallynge downe of stones, or the playenge and runnynge of beastes whom they sawe not, or the myghtye noyse of roarynge beastes, or the sownde that answereth agayne in the hye mountaynes: it made them sowne for very feare. For all the earth shyned with cleare lyght, and no man was hyndered in his labour. Onely vpon them there fell a heuy nyght, an ymage of darcknesse that was to come vpon th&ebar;. Yee, they vere vnto them selues the most heuy ∧ horrible darcknesse. ¶ The .xviii. Chapter. ¶ The fyre lyght that the Israelites had in Egypte The persecucyon of the faythfull The Lorde smote all the fyrst borne of Egypte The synne of the people in the wyldernes. Aaron stode betwyxt the lyue and the deed, with his censoure.

A   Neuertheles, thy saxnotes had a very greate lyght (∧ þe; enemyes herde theyr voyce, but they sawe not the fygure of them.) And because they suffred not þe; same thynges, they magnified þe;: &abar;d they þt; were vexed afore (because they were not hurte now) thancked the, and besought the (O god) that there myght be a difference. ^noteTherfore had they a burnynge pyler of fyre to lede them in the vnknowne waye, and thou gauest them the Sunne for a fre gyft without eny hurt. Reason it was that they shulde want lyght, ∧ he put in the preson of darcknes, which kepte thy childr&ebar; in captiuyte, by wh&obar; the vncorrupte lyght of the lawe of the worlde was for to be geuen. ^note B   When they thought to slaye the babes of the ryghteous (one beinge layed out, and preserued to be leader vnto the other) ^note thou broughtest out þe; whole multitude of the chyldren, and destroyedst these in the myghtye water. Of that nyght were oure fathers certifyed afore that they knowyng vnto what othes they had geuen credence, myght be of good cheare. Thus thy people receaued the health of the ryghteous, but þe; vngodly were destroyed. For lyke as thou hast hurte oure enemies, so hast thou promoted vs whom thou calledest afore. For the ryghteous children of the good men offred secretly, ∧ ordred the lawe of ryghteousnes vnto vnite: that þe; iust shulde receaue good and euell in lyke maner, syngynge prayses vnto the father of all men. Agayne, there was herde an vnconueni&ebar;t voyce of the enemyes, and a pyteous crye for children that were bewayled. The master and the seruaunt were punyshed in lyke maner. For they all together had &ibar;numerable that dyed one death.

C    ^noteNether were þe; lyuinge sufficient to bury þe; deed, for in þe; twincklynge of an eye, þe; noblest nacy&obar; of them was destroyed. As oft as God helped them afore, yet wolde it not make th&ebar; beleue: but &ibar; the destrucci&obar; of the fyrst borne they knowledged, that it was þe; people of God. For whyle all th&ibar;ges were styll ∧ wh&ebar; the nyght was &ibar; the myddest of her course, thy Almyghtie worde (O Lord) leapte downe from heau&ebar; out of thy royall trone, as a rough man of warre, &ibar; the myddest of the l&abar;de that was destroyed: ∧ þe; sharpe swerde perfourmed theyr straite coma&ubar;dem&ebar;t, standynge and fyllyng all thynges with death: yee, it stode vp&obar; the earth ∧ reached vnto the heau&ebar;. Then the syght of the

euell dreames vexed them sod&ebar;ly, and fearfulnesse came vpon them vnawares.

Then laye there one here, another there, half deed, half quyck, and shewed the cause of his death. For the visy&obar;s that vexed th&ebar; shewed th&ebar; these thinges afore: so that they were not ingora&ubar;t, wherfore they perished.

D   The tentacy&obar; of death touched the ryghteous also, and amonge the multytude in þe; wildernesse there was iusurreccion, but thy wrath endured not l&obar;ge. For the blamelesse man wente in all the hast, and toke the battayll vpon him, brought forth the weap&ebar; of his ministracyon: euen prayer and the censours of reconcilinge: sett him selfe agaynst the wrath, and so brought the misery to an ende: declaringe therby that he was thy seruaunt. For he ouercame not the multytude with bodely power, ner with weapens of myght: but with the worde he subdued him that vexed him, puttynge them in remembraunce of the othe and couenaunt made vnto the fathers. For when the deed were fallen downe by heapes one vpon another, he stode in the myddest, pacified the wrath, and parted the waye vnto lyuinge. ^noteAnd why? in his longe garment was all the beuty, and in the foure rowes of the stones was the glory of the fathers grauen, and thy maiesty was wrytten in the crowne of his heade. Unto these the destroyer gaue place, &abar;d was afrayed of them: for it was onely a t&ebar;tacion worthy of wrath. ¶ The .xix. Chapter. ¶ The deeth of the Egypcyans, and the greate ioye of the Hebrues. The meate that was geuen at the desyre of þe; people. The elementes serue not onely to þe; wyll of God, but also to the wyll of man.

A   As for the vngodly, the wrath came vpon them without mercy vnto the ende. For he knew before what shulde happen vnto them: how that (when they had consented to lett them go, and had sent out with greate diligence) they wolde rep&ebar;te, and folowe vp&obar; them. ^noteFor when they were yet moornynge and makynge lamentacion by the graues of þe; deed, they deuysed another foolyshnes: so that they persecuted them in theyr flyenge, whom they had cast out afore with prayer. Worthy necessyte also brought them vnto thys ende, for they had cleane forgotten the thynges that happened vnto them afore. But the thynges that was wantynge of theyr punyshm&ebar;t, was requysite so to be fulfylled vpon them with tormentes, that thy people myght haue a maruelous passage thorow, ∧ that these might fynde a straunge death.

B   Then was euery creature fashyoned agayne of newe, accord&ibar;ge to þe; will of theyr maker, obeyenge thy commaundementes that thy chyldr&ebar; myght be kept without hurte, For the cloude ouershadowed theyr tentes, ∧ the drye earth appeared, where afore was water: so þt; in the reed see there was awaye without impediment, ∧ the greate depe became a grene felde: where thorow all þe; people wente þt; were defended wyth thy hand, se&ibar;ge thy wonderous and maruelous workes. For as þe; horses, so were they fedd, and leapte lyke lambes, praysinge þe; (O Lorde) which haddest delyuered the: and why? they were yet myndefull of thy thynges, þt; happened whyle they dwelt in þe; lande: how the grounde brought forth flyes in steade of catell: ∧ how the ryuer scrauled with the multitude of frogges in steade of fysshes.

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 when they were speakinge of theyr appetite, the quayles came vp vnto them fr&obar; the see, and punyshementes came vpon the synners, not without the tok&ebar;s which came to passe a fore by the vehem&ebar;cye of the streames: for they suffred worthely accord&ibar;g to theyr wickednesses, they dealt so abhominably and churlyshly &wt; straungers. Some receaued no vnknowne gestes, some brought the straungers into bondage that dyd them good. Besyde all these thynges there were some, that not onely receaued no stra&ubar;gers with theyr willes, but persecuted those also, ^note ∧ dyd them moch euell, that receaued them gladly. Therfore were they punyshed with ^note blyndnesse, lyke as they that were couered with sodayne darknesse at the dores of the ryghteous, so þt; euery one sought the entraunce of hys dore.

D   Thus the elementes turned into them selues, lyke as when one tyme is chaunged vpon an instrument of musyck, and yet all the residue kepe theyr melody: which maye easely be perceaued, by the syght of the thinges that are come to passe. The drye lande was turned into a watery, and the thynge that afore swamme &ibar; the water, w&ebar;te now vpon þe; drye grounde. The fyre had power in the water (contrary to his awne vertue) ∧ the water forgat his awne kynde to quenche. 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 lyghtely. In all th&ibar;ges hast thou promoted thy people (O Lorde) and brought them to honour: thou hast not despysed th&ebar;, but all waye ∧ in all places hast thou stande by th&ebar;. ¶ The ende of the boke of wysdome.

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