mind, will leave him in danger that delivered him. Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations. Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation. Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again. As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any. For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy. In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour. At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance. Have regard to thy · name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.

From the same.

Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit keep them with thee.

Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth. An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful. Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies. Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding. Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother. Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee? If their understanding fail, have patience with them ; and despise them not when thou art in thy full strength. In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather. Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season. Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee. Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay. Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them. Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and for his neighbour's money he will speak submissively: but when he should repay,

he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time. Many therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded: yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy. Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss. Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantic among thy servants. If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty. Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil. Set him to work, as is fit for him: but be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing. If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him? Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil, nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee. Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty. Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that

and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgement, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgement, and equity; yea, every good path.

Ecclesiasticus.

My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it. Remember that death will not be long in coming,. and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee. Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee. Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee. Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee. As near as thou canst guess at thy neighbour, and consult with the wise. Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in the law of the Most High. Let

just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord. Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work. Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men. All iniquity is as a two-edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed. Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth. Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man. The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not. He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel; if thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faithfulness. He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt. Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him. Who will pity a charmer that is bitten with a serpent, or any such as come nigh wild beasts? So one that goeth to a sinner, and is defiled, with him in his sins, who will pity? If thou followest righteousness thou shalt obtain her, and put her on as a glorious long robe. The