Hitherto the Law, and Historie of Gods peculiar people are set forth in the former partes of the holie Bible: after which folowed the Booke of Psalmes, which in maner of stile, being al in verse, is a distinct part, but in substance of matter, is an Epitome or briefe Summe of al holie Scripture: most conueniently therfore placed in the middes of the rest, as the Sunne amongst other Planetes, a shining great light in a large house. ^note Now ensueth the third part, conteining Diuine Instructions, or Rules of good life. A doctrine most agreable to Gods hiegh wisdom, and most fitly commended to Man, his reasonable creature in earth. ^note But besides this principal subiect, as before is noted (that each part participateth with others in their proper contents) so here be manie precepts of the Law renewed; sundrie examples of men, and thinges past repeted; and diuers prophecies vttered of thinges to come: though in this part more specially is shewed the ground, and as it were, the very life or soule of the Law, which is Reason, the true Rule or Directorie wherin al good lawes are grounded.

For it both sheweth what ought to be done, or auoided, & directeth mans iudgement to embrace that is good, and to flee from al euil, not only illuminating the vnderstanding to see that is right and iust, but also disposing the internal affection to desire, loue, choose, and preferre the right path of Gods law, before whatsoeuer otherwise semeth pleasant or profitable: & so, notwithstanding al dangers, difficulties, distresses, worldlie calamites, and death itself, effectually perswading to perseuere to the end in holie conuersation. ^note Al which by a general name is called Wisdom: comprising in one word, al good desires, holie vertues, supernal giftes, godlie endeuoures, and the whole meanes wherby God is rightly knowen, & duly serued; wherof these fiue Bookes, teaching this most excellent and most necessarie maner of life, are called Sapiential. Neuertheles foure of them haue also other particular names, as appareth in their titles. Only the fourth is called the Booke of Wisdom, by appropriation of the general name.

Al fiue are Canonical and assured holie Scripture: as is shewed before: and may be further proued of the two later, which Protestants denie. ^note It is also euident that King Salomon was Auctor of the three former: as S. Ierom, S. Augustin, and other Fathers proue by the holie text it selfe. As it is likewise certaine that he either writte, or at least by diuine inspiration vttered, much more then is now extant. For the holie Scripture (3. Reg. 4.) testifieth, that he spake three thousand Parables: and his Songes were a thousand and fiue. ^note He disputed of the trees from the ceder that is in Libanus, vnto the hyssop which cometh out of the wal: and he discoursed of beastes, and foules, and creeping wormes, and fishes. Iosephus (li. 8. c. 2. Antiq.) folowing some other Edition, saith his songes were fiue thousand, and parables (as the ordinarie text hath) three thousand. For he deduced a parable (saith Iosephus) through out euerie kinde of trees, from the hyssop to the ceder. In the same maner he treated of beastes, and other liuing creatures of the earth, water, and ayre. For he was not ignorant of anie natural thing, neither omitted to treate therof, but clerly explicated al their natural proprieties. ^note Most briefly S. Ierom declareth both the Auctor, and matter of these three bookes, saying: Salomon the Peaceable, and amiable of our Lord ^note correcteth maners: ^note teacheth the nature (of creatures) ^note ioyneth the Church and Christ; and singeth the swete bridal song of the holie Mariage.

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