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The Eighth Chapter of Solomon's Proverbs.

Doth not Eternal Wisdom cry,
Let sons of men rejoice,
When Jesus Christ most pleasantly
To you lifts up his voice?
As't were, upon each height he waits,
By ev'ry path and way:
At village doors and city gates,
He calling thus doth say;
“To you, O mortal men, I call;
My voice is unto thee,
Or high or low, or great or small,
That son of Adam be.
Ye that are simple, understand
My wisdom, and be wise;
Ye fools give ear to my command,
And me no more despise.
Hear: for I'll speak things excellent,
My lips right things express:
To speak the truth is my intent,
I hate all wickedness.
All words that from my mouth proceed
Are in pure righteousness;
No froward thing's in them indeed,
Or ought that is perverse.
They all are plain to him that is
To understand inclin'd;
And right to him that only does
On knowledge set his mind.
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Take my instruction, and withhold
Thine heart from silver bright;
My knowledge rather than fine gold
That glisters in thy sight:
For Wisdom sure is better far
Than richest rubies be,
And all things else inferior are
Can be desir'd by thee.
I Wisdom still with Prudence dwell,
I knowledge out do find
Of witty things that do excel,
And fit to store the mind.
The fear of God is to hate still
All arrogance and pride;
The froward mouth and way that's ill,
I cannot them abide.
Good counsel I can only give,
And Wisdom that's divine;
I understanding am, I have
Strength; yea, all things are mine.
By me kings reign, and princes, they
Their justice do decree;
By me they rule, and nobles sway,
And judges all that be.
I love them all most ardently
That have true love to me;
Who seek me early, certainly
I found of such shall be.
True wealth and honours are with me,
My riches last for ay;
With righteousness they deck'd shall be
That walk within my way.
My fruit surpasseth gold most fine;
My revenues exceed
The choicest silver from the mine,
That's often purified.
282

I lead in the most pleasant way
Of righteousness divine;
Amidst the paths of judgment I
Continually incline:
That I may cause them that me love
True substance to inherit,
I'll fill their treasures from above
With graces of my spirit.
The Lord Jehovah me possess'd
From all eternity,
Before his works of old, at first
Was none but he and me.
I was set up e'er time took place,
From all eternity;
Before the earth in being was,
Then, and before, was I:
When depths were none, brought forth was I,
When waters none could spring,
Before the hills and mountains high
God did in being bring:
While as the earth he had not made,
Nor fields nor forests fair,
Nor highest part of dust was laid,
I then existing were:
When he prepar'd the heav'ns above,
And fix'd the spangled sky,
Wherein the various planets move,
There with him, then, was I:
When on the depth a compass he
Did set upon its face,
And fix'd the clouds above that be,
And fountains knew their place;
When he the sea fix'd and decreed
His order not to pass,
When he the earth's foundation did
Appoint to know its place;
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Then I was by him, like as one
Brought up with him, and I
Was his delight, and joy'd alone
Before him constantly;
Rejoicing in that part of earth,
Where saints were to remain;
And my delights, e'er they took birth,
Were with the sons of men.
Now therefore, O ye children dear,
Attend to me always;
For blessed are they that me hear,
And ever keep my ways.
Hear my instruction, and be wise,
And do it not refuse;
For blessed are they that always
To hear my words do chuse:
Who watches daily at my gates
Good counsel he shall gain;
Who at my door-posts daily waits,
My favour shall obtain:
For whosoever findeth me,
Their life shall surely save;
They of the Lord shall blessed be,
And still his favour have:
But he against me that doth sin,
His own soul wrongeth sore;
All they that hate me do incline
That death should them devour.”
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