Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher Containing Salomons Sermons or Commentaries (as it may probably be collected) vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father. Compendiously abridged, and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie, according to the analogie of Scripture, and consent of the most approued writer thereof. Composed by H. L. Gentleman [i.e. Henry Lok]. Whereunto are annexed sundrie Sonets of Christian Passions heretofore printed, and now corrected and augmented, with other affectionate Sonets of a feeling conscience of the same Authors |
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| III. |
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| 11. | [Chap. 11.] |
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 | [Chap. 11.] Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher |  |
102
[Chap. 11.]
1. Cast bread on waters, freely spend: ere long thou shalt it find.
2. To seuen & seuen, giue if they need earths wants are great behind
2. To seuen & seuen, giue if they need earths wants are great behind
1.
Now since no lesse discretion is requir'd
In vsing wealth, then getting of the same,
And that the bounteous mind is most admir'd,
Doth profit others most, and gaines best name,
I therefore wish thereto thy hart to frame.
In vsing wealth, then getting of the same,
And that the bounteous mind is most admir'd,
Doth profit others most, and gaines best name,
I therefore wish thereto thy hart to frame.
I would not haue thy hand too quickly tyrde,
Nor too respectiue vnto whom to giue,
Some I haue seene for shame haue not desyrde
An almes, whom greatest need to craue might driue:
Though water powred in the sea seeme vaine,
Yet needlesse gift, a gratefull hart may gaine.
Nor too respectiue vnto whom to giue,
Some I haue seene for shame haue not desyrde
An almes, whom greatest need to craue might driue:
Though water powred in the sea seeme vaine,
Yet needlesse gift, a gratefull hart may gaine.
2.
Some giue in hope a gift to gaine thereby,
Such gifts, I rather bribes, then gifts do call,
Some feare to giue, least they themselues may try
Like want ere long: and so giue nought at all,
Some sometimes giue, but yet their gifts are small.
Such gifts, I rather bribes, then gifts do call,
Some feare to giue, least they themselues may try
Like want ere long: and so giue nought at all,
Some sometimes giue, but yet their gifts are small.
But I would haue thy almes giuen cheerefully
Vnaskt, sometimes if crau'd, to none denide,
Let none lacke (to thy powre) in need that lye,
And to preuent their need, some goods deuide,
For God all bountie is, and so should we
Dispose our goods, if like him we would be.
Vnaskt, sometimes if crau'd, to none denide,
Let none lacke (to thy powre) in need that lye,
And to preuent their need, some goods deuide,
For God all bountie is, and so should we
Dispose our goods, if like him we would be.
103
3. If clouds be full, raine fals on earth: and trees in north & south.
4. Who sowes and reapes by rules of wind, but little land he plow'th.
4. Who sowes and reapes by rules of wind, but little land he plow'th.
3.
Yea looke how plenteously thou seest the raine,
Fro out the deaw-fild clouds on earth distill,
So long as any drops in them remaine,
Wherewith earths dryed cesterns vp to fill,
So in thy almes be thou as forward still.
Fro out the deaw-fild clouds on earth distill,
So long as any drops in them remaine,
Wherewith earths dryed cesterns vp to fill,
So in thy almes be thou as forward still.
And as each soile, some sap from heauen doth gaine,
And euery tree and shrub of deaw hath part,
So thinke thou not thy gift bestowd in vaine,
To whom or when so ere thou giuing art:
And if thy store be great, more mayst thou spend,
If lesse, yet some, vnto more needy lend.
And euery tree and shrub of deaw hath part,
So thinke thou not thy gift bestowd in vaine,
To whom or when so ere thou giuing art:
And if thy store be great, more mayst thou spend,
If lesse, yet some, vnto more needy lend.
4.
Take all occasions to be doing well,
Let euery season for it proper seeme,
The husbandmen that most in skill excell,
Though sometimes they to sow more fit do deeme,
Yet to be too precise, vnfit esteeme.
Let euery season for it proper seeme,
The husbandmen that most in skill excell,
Though sometimes they to sow more fit do deeme,
Yet to be too precise, vnfit esteeme.
Who marketh alwaies where the wind doth dwell,
And feareth euery cloud that is in sky,
But little corne shall sow or reape to sell,
If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby:
So giue thou when thou maist, and thinke thy store
Increast thereby, no whit impaird the more.
And feareth euery cloud that is in sky,
But little corne shall sow or reape to sell,
If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby:
So giue thou when thou maist, and thinke thy store
Increast thereby, no whit impaird the more.
104
5. As child in wombe, so al things God makes grow vnknown to thee.
6. Thē morn & euen, sow thou thy seed: God knows which best shalbe
6. Thē morn & euen, sow thou thy seed: God knows which best shalbe
5.
Thinke this, that euen that God which gaue to thee
The present blessings that thou dost possesse,
Thy charitable workes, from heauen doth see.
And will thy labours in due season blesse,
If thou thy faith, by neighbours loue expresse.
The present blessings that thou dost possesse,
Thy charitable workes, from heauen doth see.
And will thy labours in due season blesse,
If thou thy faith, by neighbours loue expresse.
And thinke that as the infants borne that bee,
Conceiued are, do grow, do liue, do feed,
And be by birth in time from prison free,
By meanes vnknowne, to mothers them that breed,
Se be assur'd, that God which it hath wrought,
Can wealth restore, by meanes to thee vnthought.
Conceiued are, do grow, do liue, do feed,
And be by birth in time from prison free,
By meanes vnknowne, to mothers them that breed,
Se be assur'd, that God which it hath wrought,
Can wealth restore, by meanes to thee vnthought.
6.
Both rath and late at euery time and tide,
Then do vnto thy power, some almes deed,
Without some others good, let no day slide,
So oft as thou canst find a man hath need,
And who this can performe, is blest indeed.
Then do vnto thy power, some almes deed,
Without some others good, let no day slide,
So oft as thou canst find a man hath need,
And who this can performe, is blest indeed.
For man can not his worke so wisely guide,
To know to whom, and when to giue is best,
But who for pittie giues, and not for pride,
Though needlesly some fall among the rest,
Yet some (no doubt) is blessedly bestowd,
And in thy will of good, good worke is showd.
To know to whom, and when to giue is best,
But who for pittie giues, and not for pride,
Though needlesly some fall among the rest,
Yet some (no doubt) is blessedly bestowd,
And in thy will of good, good worke is showd.
105
7. Sure life is sweete; and all desire, long time to see the sunne.
8. Though long life last, yet death maks hast: & times do vainly run.
8. Though long life last, yet death maks hast: & times do vainly run.
7.
And since (but whilst thou liu'st) thy goods are thine,
And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse,
Giue while thou mayst, so mayst thou find in fine,
Well sau'd, what well was spent in liuing dayes,
(For godly worke, with God aye present stayes.)
And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse,
Giue while thou mayst, so mayst thou find in fine,
Well sau'd, what well was spent in liuing dayes,
(For godly worke, with God aye present stayes.)
Long mayst thou liue, but must in end decline
To death, the end of euery liuing thing:
To yeeld to death, yet needst thou not repine,
If liuing thou to man, no good canst bring:
And hauing left some good by life to men,
More welcome death may be vnto thee then.
To death, the end of euery liuing thing:
To yeeld to death, yet needst thou not repine,
If liuing thou to man, no good canst bring:
And hauing left some good by life to men,
More welcome death may be vnto thee then.
8.
For death thou knowest, vnto life is due,
And life doth but prepare a man to die,
Liues cares, a daily death in vs renue,
To worke in vs consent to death hereby,
Which else no flesh (with patience) sure would try.
And life doth but prepare a man to die,
Liues cares, a daily death in vs renue,
To worke in vs consent to death hereby,
Which else no flesh (with patience) sure would try.
The many dayes or yeares which do insue,
Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight,
Cannot perswade him but that this is true,
That lightsome day will turne to darksome night,
That times most long haue end and what doth vade,
Is little better then a very shade.
Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight,
Cannot perswade him but that this is true,
That lightsome day will turne to darksome night,
That times most long haue end and what doth vade,
Is little better then a very shade.
106
9. Reioyce in youth, fulfill desire, yet know God iudgeth all,
10. To clense thy hart, & wicked flesh: graue age, vain youth doth cal.
10. To clense thy hart, & wicked flesh: graue age, vain youth doth cal.
9.
Delight he then in what so ere he please,
In youth, in beauty, strength, or wealthy store,
Let him delight himselfe, in vse of these,
And cheare his hart (as cause he hath) therefore
Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore.
In youth, in beauty, strength, or wealthy store,
Let him delight himselfe, in vse of these,
And cheare his hart (as cause he hath) therefore
Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore.
And that they all, do vanish with their wayes,
That God alone remayneth euer fure,
That only vertue with vs longest stayes,
And can eternall blessednesse procure,
When to the iudgement of a God seuere,
Our workes must come, who all in mind doth beare.
That God alone remayneth euer fure,
That only vertue with vs longest stayes,
And can eternall blessednesse procure,
When to the iudgement of a God seuere,
Our workes must come, who all in mind doth beare.
10.
Let him, and all the wise whilst yet they may,
Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind,
The fierce assaults, in death that for vs stay,
And but by faith can strong resistance find,
Since all our other workes come short behind.
Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind,
The fierce assaults, in death that for vs stay,
And but by faith can strong resistance find,
Since all our other workes come short behind.
Let vs abandon euery wicked way,
And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue,
Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May,
But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue,
But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine,
When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine.
And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue,
Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May,
But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue,
But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine,
When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine.
| [Chap. 11.] Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher | |