Salomon's Sentences.
Being an Excellent Ditty, showing the Sage Sayings, and Wise Sentences of Salomon.
The Tune is, Wigmores Galliard.
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THose that will run a vertuous Race,
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and learn the precepts of the Sage,
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Those that true Wisdome will imbrace,
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and learn to live in Youth and Age;
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Let them approach hereto with speed,
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And to my Lessons give good heed,
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For bearing well these things away,
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The Lord will bless them night and day
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My Son said Salomon the Wise,
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if thou true wisdom wilt obtain,
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Then fear the Lord that rules the skies,
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for so the Scriptures teacheth plain:
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Imbrace his word and him obey,
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This is the chief and only way,
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For they that doe these things despise
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Are fools to God though worldly wise.
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Unto thy Father honour give,
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and thou shalt surely blessed be,
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And be obedient while thou live,
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and to thy Mother courteous be:
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Then God will send thee evermore
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Sufficient wealth and treasure store,
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All things shall prosper in thine hand,
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And long thou shalt enjoy the Land.
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The blessing of thy Father dear,
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doth cause his Childrens good successe,
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But where the Mother doth appear
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to curse her Childrens wickedness,
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[T]heir whole foundation doth decay,
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[Li]ke withered Leaves that fall away,
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Then all good Christians learn by me,
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To love your Parents faithfully.
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Set not thy mind on worldly wealth,
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nor put thy confidence therein,
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For riches doth consume by stealth
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and Covetousness is counted sin:
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For whilst thou livest on the Earth,
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Thou art uncertain of thy death.
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And when that death doth stop thy wind,
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Then thou must leave thy goods behind.
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Be friendly unto every man,
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but unto few familiar be,
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And try thy friend if that you can,
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his inward thoughts to prove and see:
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And if thou find him just and true,
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Change not an old friend for a new.
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For many promise much indeed,
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But clean forsake them in their need.
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If thou hast Sons instruct them well,
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and on thy Daughter never smile,
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Their wanton waies do far excell;
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let not affection thee beguile.
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With due correction love them still,
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And give them not their wanton will,
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For if that they do stubborn grow,
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They will not then their duty know:
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Give honour to the aged sort,
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and to thy betters always bow,
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So shalt thou have a good report,
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for God himself doth it allow;
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Of hatefull pride always beware,
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And have an eye to after care,
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Be not too wrath in anything,
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For that will soon repentance bring.
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Lend not thy goods to mighty men,
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whose countenance passeth thy degree,
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For they are hard to get again,
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as now by daily proof we see:
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For other men give not thy word,
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No further then thou canst afford.
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Lest afterward thou chance to rue,
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And pay the debt when it is due.
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With him that is a Magistrate,
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in any wise go not to Law,
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Lest thou repent the same too late,
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for he will hold thee still in awe:
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Be always wary of thy words,
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For spightful tongues are cruel swords,
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And look to whom thou dost impart
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The thoughts and secrets of thy heart.
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Be never jealous of thy Wife,
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least she therefore mischief learn,
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For then thou shalt soon purchase strife,
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then wisely do each thing discern.
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And do not evil occasion give,
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But lovingly together live,
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For when the man and wife do hate,
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The curse of God hangs at the gate.
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On Harlots cast not thou thy mind,
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least thou thyself thereby consume,
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And waste thy riches with the wind,
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whilst thou in fancy fret and fume;
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Their foul inticements bringeth death,
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And poison cometh out of their breath,
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Their eyes are wandring to and fro,
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And everyone their fashions know.
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No woman praise for beauties sake,
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nor discommend no man by sight,
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And with thy tongue no lying make,
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fulfil thy promise just and right:
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Be merciful unto the poor
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And God will thee reward therefore,
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Keep not the Labourers wages back,
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And comfort such as comfort lack.
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Grieve not the heavy-hearted man,
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nor joy not at thy enemies harm,
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Rebuke thy Brother friendly then,
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against no man use open charm.
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Nor credit thou a Tale in haste,
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Least trial make the matter waste:
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From hateful slander keep thy tongue,
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And work for age whilst thou art young.
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Three things there are which God doth hate
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as holy Scripture doth declare,
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A man too proud in Beggers state,
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a Rich man for to lye and swear:
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To see an old man given to Lust,
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These things of God are sure accurst:
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The lying tongue the soul doth quell,
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But Pride and Lust throw down to hell.
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Whilst thou art living call for grace,
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thy life is like a fading flower,
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Death coming stealing on apace,
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thou canst not know the day nor hour.
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Thy speech at all times may not last,
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Use well the same that now thou hast,
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And from Repentance do not stay,
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Thou canst no time with death delay.
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If thou consider well the same,
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and bear these Lessons in thy mind,
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And thereunto thyself do frame,
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great comfort thou shalt quickly find:
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Plant well these sayings in thy heart,
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And from these Precepts never start,
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So shall thou live in perfect peace,
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And God will bless thee with increase.
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