places of the city, and earnestly solicits all passengers, to give car unto her for their own salvation.

VIII. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Make no comparison of my instruction with silver and gold: alas, these are base and corruptible metals, not worthy to come into mention with those heavenly treasures, which are contained in and conveyed by my divine counsels.

VIII. 12 I wisdom dwell with prudence.

True judgment and skill how to manage all affairs, doth proceed from me, and is inseparable from me; so as men have reason, for their own good, to listen unto me.

VIII. 17 I love them that love me.

Those, that affect me, shall be sure not to lose their love and recompence; for, as I have embraced them with an everlasting love, so will I make it known to them, by my manifold blessings and mercies concerning this life and the future.

VIII. 22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

I, the Uncreated Wisdom of God, was with the Father, from all eternity; neither was there any time, wherein I was not: I was with him, and in him, before any of the works of his creation had any being.

VIII. 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him : and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.

Then was I present by him, as one that was coeternal with him ; and in whom we did mutually and infinitely solace each other, from everlasting.

IX. 1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

The Son of God, who is the Eternal Wisdom of the Father, hatb built his house, the Church of God: he hath laid sure foundations of it, and hath hewn out all the pillars thereof, in a seemly and exquisite perfection:

IX. 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

He hath instituted and addressed all his holy ordinances, whereby he may feed up the souls of men to everlasting life.

IX. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city.

He hath sent forth his holy and zealous messengers, to invite men to the participation of his sacred mysteries; and they do accordingly use all holy importunity to this good purpose.

IX. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself.

If thou be wise, thou thyself shalt reap the comfort and benefit of that wisdom of thine: others may be profited by it; but the greatest advantage shall be thine own.

IX. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

He considereth not, that they are but dead men, which give way to her lustful enticements; and that those, with whom she hath prevailed, are in the state of everlasting perdition.

X. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

The double dealing and dissembling person causeth much sorrow at the last, both to himself, and to those that have been deceived by him; but a prating fool, that utters all his heart, procures stripes to himself without further danger to others.

X. 11 Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

There is nothing in the mouth of the wicked, but violent and cruel designs.

X. 18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Both he, that smothereth his secret rancour under fair and plausible words, and he, that uttereth it in slanderous speeches, is a fool.

XI. 9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

A dissembling friend, with fair and false words and semblances, draweth his neighbour into some dangerous inconvenience; but a wise and just man will soon perceive his fraud, and avoid him, and the mischief plotted by him.

XI. 12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

A foolish man speaks spitefully and scornfully of his neighbour; but he, that is wise, concealeth his thoughts, and will not utter ought to the reproach of another,

XI. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh,

The merciful man, while he doth good to others, doth most good to his own soul, which shall reap the comfort of all his beneficence; but he, that is cruel to others, is, in that very disposition, the greatest enemy to himself.

XI. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.

Though wicked men conspire, and join all their forces together, yet all their combination and power shall not free them from just punishment.

XI. 22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

Beauty is no more an ornament to a foolish, undiscreet, ungoverned woman, than a golden jewel is to a swine's snout: both are equally misplaced; both are equally misbeseeming.

XI. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.

The liberal man, that scattereth abroad his goods in a free bountiful largition, so much more grows in wealth, through the blessing of God, by how much more frankly he bestows it,

XI. 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

He, that is an enemy to his own thrift, and prodigally wasteth his estate, shall inherit nothing but an empty wind of applause for the time, and afterwards want and beggary; and he, that was so foolish as to mis-spend himself, shall come to be a servant, at the last, to him, that is wise to get and to keep his own.

XI. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth : much more the wicked and the sinner.

Behold, even the most just and holy man upon earth shall be sure of his measure of afflictions here, in the world; how much more shall the unconscionable and ungodly man be sure to smart for his wickedness, either here or hereafter!

XII. 9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

A man, that is mean in his own conceit, and yet hath somewhat to take unto, is better than a proud and vain braggart, that wanteth means of necessary maintenance.

XII. 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men.

The wicked man affects those means of fraudulent circumvention, which he sees some crafty oppressors use to their advantage.

XII. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

A good man shall, through God's merciful retribution, find much comfort and benefit, both to himself and to others, from the gracious words of holy counsel, which proceed from his mouth; and also from the holy works of his hands.

XII. 16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

A fool cannot be angry, but he must presently shew it, and break forth into open distempers; but a wise man hides his passions, till he sees fit opportunities and means to manifest them, so, as may be most safe and advantageous to himself.

XII. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellers of peace shall be joy.

Those, whose hearts are full of mischievous devices, do, in the end, but deceive themselves; but those, that advise or procure good unto others, shall have much joy in themselves.

XIII. 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life.

He, that looks carefully to his tongue, restraining it from many and offensive words, takes a safe course for the preserving of his life, which is ofttimes endangered by much and wild talking.

XIII. 7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing. There be some, that brag, and make ostentation of much wealth; affecting to be counted rich, when, indeed, they have little or nothing, that may be justly called theirs.

XIII. 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

The heart of the righteous man shall be exceedingly cheered, with those true causes of joy, which God gives unto him; but the seeming and false mirth of wicked men, wherewith they vainly please themselves, shall be soon put out and end in sorrow.

XIII. 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The law of God, which is the matter and scope whereto all the instruction of wise teachers tendeth, is that fountain, from which spiritual and eternal life floweth, and the only means to deliver the soul from the snares of everlasting death.

XIII. 15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Good insight into businesses, and discreet carriage of them, procureth thankful acceptance; but those, that take wrong courses, cause much trouble and vexation.

XIII. 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor.

Even a poor man, by pains and industry, may grow rich; and, by his laborious tillage, obtaineth a large crop.

XIV. 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

The tongue of a fool is a scourge, whereby his own pride and over-weening is lashed; but the lips of the wise are a safe defence for himself.

XIV. 4 Where no oren are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Where there is no husbandry, or use of the ox, there needs no labour to make the crib clean; but that neatness is accompanied with want: as, contrarily, where the oxen are employed for tillage, the crib may be foul, but the barns shall be full.

XIV. 8 But the folly of fools is deceit.

The wicked man, who is indeed no better than a fool, employs all that wit, he hath, to deceive others.

XIV. 9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour,

The wicked fool makes himself merry with his sin, and scoffs at the reproof and judgment which pertains thereunto; but the righteous hath a care so to behave himself, that he shall carry away favour both from God and men.

XIV. 10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

A man is best acquainted with his own secret sorrows; and knows where he is inwardly wrung, while the world thinks him happy: as, contrarily, he may have hidden occasions of joy, which cannot be judged of by the lookers on.

XIV. 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

It is often seen, that, while the face counterfeits a smile, the

heart is inwardly heavy and vexed; and, after a feigned and forced mirth, returns to the former grief.

XIV. 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself,

A man, that is froward and perverse, and that willingly falls from his former good purposes, shall be sure to bear the punishment of his own wicked courses; and a good man shall reap the comfort of his holy carriage, and enjoy the conscience of his own integrity, XIV. 19 The evil bow before the good.

God will so bless and advance the righteous man, that the wicked and unconscionable shall be glad to crouch and bow before him, XIV. 23 But the talk of the lips tendeth only to poverty.

He, that spendeth his time in idle talk, and doth nothing, shall be sure to come to poverty.

XIV. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

A wise man, if he have riches, is much graced and adorned, thereby; but a fool, though he have wealth, yet will be a fool still, and hath hercupon more occasion to manifest his folly.

XIV. 26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

He, that feareth the Lord, hath reason to be strongly confident in the favour and sure protection of the Almighty; and shall find God a like powerful refuge even to his posterity after him.

XIV. 30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but &c.

A heart, that is clearly free from envy and all vicious affections, is a comfortable preserver of the body; but &c.

XV. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

A well-governed, holy, and discreet tongue, preserveth a man safe from dangers, and yieldeth spiritual nourishment unto others; but perverseness therein is like a blustering wind among the boughs of the trees, rending and tearing the life and spirit of a man's self, and others.

XV. 11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Even the devouring grave, and the lowest depths of the earth, lie open to the eyes of the Lord: how much more doth he behold the bottom of man's heart!

XV. 19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: Every thing seems difficult to a slothful man: he is as unwilling to go about his business, as a man would be to tread upon a hedge of thorns.

XV. 24 The way of life is above to the wise.

He, that is truly wise, hath his affections and conversation above; and, in the holy way of obedience, walketh on to eternal life.

XV. 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

Both the eye and the ear yield much comfort and refreshing to the