Part 422 (1/2)

8:10. I am a wall: and my b.r.e.a.s.t.s are as a tower since I am become in his presence as one finding peace.

8:11. The peaceable had a vineyard, in that which hath people: he let out the same to keepers, every man bringeth for the fruit thereof a thousand pieces of silver.

8:12. My vineyard is before me. A thousand are for thee, the peaceable, and two hundred for them that keep the fruit thereof.

8:13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the friends hearken: make me hear thy voice.

8:14. Flee away, O my beloved, and be like to the roe, and to the young hart upon the mountains of aromatical spices.

THE BOOK OF WISDOM

This Book is so called, because it treats of the excellence of WISDOM, the means to obtain it, and the happy fruits it produces. It is written in the person of Solomon, and contains his sentiments. But it is uncertain who was the writer. It abounds with instructions and exhortations to kings and all magistrates to minister justice in the commonwealth, teaching all kinds of virtues under the general names of justice and wisdom. It contains also many prophecies of Christ's coming, pa.s.sion, resurrection, and other Christian mysteries. The whole may be divided into three parts. In the first six chapters, the author admonishes all superiors to love and exercise justice and wisdom. In the next three, he teacheth that wisdom proceedeth only from G.o.d, and is procured by prayer and a good life. In the other ten chapters, he sheweth the excellent effects and utility of wisdom and justice.

Wisdom Chapter 1

An exhortation to seek G.o.d sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and desireth not our death.

1:1. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart:

1:2. For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself to them that have faith in him.

1:3. For perverse thoughts separate from G.o.d: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise:

1:4. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins.

1:5. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.

1:6. For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the evil speaker from his lips: for G.o.d is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.

1:7. For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.

1:8. Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgment pa.s.s him by.

1:9. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the unG.o.dly, and the hearing of his words shall come to G.o.d, to the chastising of his iniquities.

1:10. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of murmuring shall not be hid.

1:11. Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.

1:12. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands.

1:13. For G.o.d made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.

1:14. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of h.e.l.l upon the earth.

1:15. For justice is perpetual and immortal.