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MORAL SAYINGS OF THE WISE AND GOOD OF VARIOUS AGES AND NATIONS.

Proverbs from the Book of Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, &c.

WISDOM is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.

She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.

Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail : for he shall find her sitting at his doors.

The very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;

And love is the keeping of her laws and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption.

And incorruption maketh us near unto God:

Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.

But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world and a wise king is the upholding of the people.

Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.

When I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others

do.

For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.

For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came

to me.

I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.

In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility; yea, the Lord of all things himself loved

her.

For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.

If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things? And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she ?

And if a man love righteousness, her labours are virtues; for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude; which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.

If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come : she knoweth the subtilities of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.

Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.

For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.

When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.

Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.

After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her for her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.

And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report.

I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him with my whole heart.

All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hand.

And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.

I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.

For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.

God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me ; because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.

He hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made, and the operation of the elements.

And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.

For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,

Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.

For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.

For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.

For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.

Wisdom exalteth her children, and layeth hold of them that seek her.

He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy.

He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and wheresoever she entereth, the Lord will bless.

They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One and them that love her the Lord doth love.

But if a man go wrong, she will forsake him, and give him over to his own ruin.

My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel.

Select Sentences.*

In every man the appetites unrestrained form the seed and principle of death.

Instinct is the faculty given to man, in common with the lower creatures, by which he is impelled to do certain things or to avoid certain dangers or inconveniences.

As a soil, however rich it may be, cannot be productive without culture, so the intellect, without cultivation, can never produce good fruit.

There sometimes wants only a little observation to discover numberless latent good or bad qualities

* The subjects referred to in these sentences are indicated by italics, and are arranged in the order of subjects of preceding lessons, pages 1 to 216.