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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| 3. | Chap. 3. |
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 | Chap. 3. Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher |  |
23
Chap. 3.
1. All purposes haue proper times, all things fit seasons find,
2. At time of birth, and death, to plant, and supplant is assignd.
2. At time of birth, and death, to plant, and supplant is assignd.
1
Bvt for I see the wordly wise will say,
They haue iust cause, to studie to attaine
The hidden course, which nature doth bewray
In interchange of times: which doth remaine
Inrold in writ of many a learned braine,
I will with them awhile conferre, and show
To thee the depth of all the skill they know.
They haue iust cause, to studie to attaine
The hidden course, which nature doth bewray
In interchange of times: which doth remaine
Inrold in writ of many a learned braine,
I will with them awhile conferre, and show
To thee the depth of all the skill they know.
Most true it is (I graunt) that hidden are,
In knowledge of Philosophy indeede,
Such rules profound, by learning fet so farre,
As in the mind doth admiration breed:
But yet that skill doth serue to little steed,
For God hath natures bounds prefixed so,
That from that course art cannot make them go.
In knowledge of Philosophy indeede,
Such rules profound, by learning fet so farre,
As in the mind doth admiration breed:
But yet that skill doth serue to little steed,
For God hath natures bounds prefixed so,
That from that course art cannot make them go.
2.
Begin we first where we begin and end,
With birth of man in mothers wombe conceiu'd,
Which (fortie weekes expir'd) needs forth must send,
And age compels to yeeld the breath receiu'd,
In both of which, the wisest are deceiu'd:
The birth and death of diuerse, diuersely
Preuenting time, of birth and time to dy.
With birth of man in mothers wombe conceiu'd,
Which (fortie weekes expir'd) needs forth must send,
And age compels to yeeld the breath receiu'd,
In both of which, the wisest are deceiu'd:
The birth and death of diuerse, diuersely
Preuenting time, of birth and time to dy.
And as of men, so in increase of things
The which the earth brings forth in growing kind,
Although we know the Moone fit seasons brings,
To planted things to prosper, yet we find
They oft miscarie, and we chaunge our mind,
And (be their fruits once ripe) they gathered bee,
And stocke once rotten, we stub vp the tree.
The which the earth brings forth in growing kind,
Although we know the Moone fit seasons brings,
To planted things to prosper, yet we find
They oft miscarie, and we chaunge our mind,
And (be their fruits once ripe) they gathered bee,
And stocke once rotten, we stub vp the tree.
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3. A time to cure and kill there is, to build and ouerthrow,
4. To laugh and weepe, a mournfull cheare, and merry hart to show.
4. To laugh and weepe, a mournfull cheare, and merry hart to show.
3.
And though it be a thing vnnaturall,
And most repugnant to societie,
The life of man by hand of man to fall,
And to shed bloud, wherein his life doth lie,
Yet iustice craues that male factors die,
Aswell as that the sicke, should phisicke haue,
Or salues imployd, the wounded corps to saue.
And most repugnant to societie,
The life of man by hand of man to fall,
And to shed bloud, wherein his life doth lie,
Yet iustice craues that male factors die,
Aswell as that the sicke, should phisicke haue,
Or salues imployd, the wounded corps to saue.
Yea though that cities first well founded were,
For safetie vnto men of ciuill sort:
Yet neuer Monarkes seat such fame did beare,
Or citie grow so much with great resort,
But time made cottages of small import
Suruiue their greatnesse, and surpasse them farre,
As Henok, Babell, Troy, true patterns are.
For safetie vnto men of ciuill sort:
Yet neuer Monarkes seat such fame did beare,
Or citie grow so much with great resort,
But time made cottages of small import
Suruiue their greatnesse, and surpasse them farre,
As Henok, Babell, Troy, true patterns are.
4.
Though nothing be more needfull to our kind,
The rigors to alay of worldly care,
Though nothing better for the health we find,
Then mirth (at times we may well for it spare)
Yet in the vse of it we must beware,
And vse it so as if we readie were,
The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare.
The rigors to alay of worldly care,
Though nothing better for the health we find,
Then mirth (at times we may well for it spare)
Yet in the vse of it we must beware,
And vse it so as if we readie were,
The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare.
For times there are, when dutie doth require,
We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe,
For (partners in distresse) doe all desire,
And men suppose thereby they find reliefe
For sinne, so should we mourne, as cause most chiefe:
When Gods offended face, doth threat his rod,
Thus mirth and woe, are both requir'd by God.
We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe,
For (partners in distresse) doe all desire,
And men suppose thereby they find reliefe
For sinne, so should we mourne, as cause most chiefe:
When Gods offended face, doth threat his rod,
Thus mirth and woe, are both requir'd by God.
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5. To scatter stones and gather them, t'embrace and thrust away,
6. A season is to seeke, to loose, to keepe, to wast, I say.
6. A season is to seeke, to loose, to keepe, to wast, I say.
5.
There is a time when we the quarries draw,
And from the bowels of the earth full deepe,
Rayse vp her bones, the stones which neuer saw
The lightsome aire, and them we carued keepe,
To rayse with them our towers, to heauen which peepe,
Which afterward decay, and we are faine,
Their ruines to transport abrode againe.
And from the bowels of the earth full deepe,
Rayse vp her bones, the stones which neuer saw
The lightsome aire, and them we carued keepe,
To rayse with them our towers, to heauen which peepe,
Which afterward decay, and we are faine,
Their ruines to transport abrode againe.
Euen so in youthfull yeares it seemeth fit,
As nature made it apt for loues imbrace,
So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it,
With due respect of person time and place:
Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case,
As when decrepit age creepes to the graue,
To dote in loue, and seeke a wife to haue,
As nature made it apt for loues imbrace,
So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it,
With due respect of person time and place:
Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case,
As when decrepit age creepes to the graue,
To dote in loue, and seeke a wife to haue,
6.
There is a time, when man with reason may
With diligence indeuour for to gaine
A portion fit, his family to stay,
Although with sweat of browes, and daily paine;
But it were folly to torment his braine,
If losses happe, for there will losses fall,
Vnto most wise, if they haue ought at all.
With diligence indeuour for to gaine
A portion fit, his family to stay,
Although with sweat of browes, and daily paine;
But it were folly to torment his braine,
If losses happe, for there will losses fall,
Vnto most wise, if they haue ought at all.
Then he that's wise, knowes when to spend and spare,
For who hath most, before he die may need,
And he must spend sometimes that is most bare,
And he may thriue, that doth the needie feed:
Bountie doth loue, and neighbour liking breed:
It is a vertue, placed in a meane,
Although it rather doe to giuing leane.
For who hath most, before he die may need,
And he must spend sometimes that is most bare,
And he may thriue, that doth the needie feed:
Bountie doth loue, and neighbour liking breed:
It is a vertue, placed in a meane,
Although it rather doe to giuing leane.
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7. A time to reape and sow againe, for silence, and to speake,
8. To loue, to hate, to talke of peace, and peace with war to breake.
8. To loue, to hate, to talke of peace, and peace with war to breake.
7.
The rich attyres ordaynd by craft mans hand,
To couer shame, which sinne made man to see,
Be not so comely held in any land,
But that in other lands, dislikt they bee:
So what one sowes, the other reapes for thee:
Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are,
None make more fast, then others mending marre.
To couer shame, which sinne made man to see,
Be not so comely held in any land,
But that in other lands, dislikt they bee:
So what one sowes, the other reapes for thee:
Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are,
None make more fast, then others mending marre.
What speake we of such common things as this?
Not speech it selfe (the Eccho to the hart)
May be so free, but it restrained is
To ciuill rules, and lawes of very art,
The tongues misuse, oft breedes the bodie smart:
We therefore learne, both how and when to speake,
And when we modest silence may not breake.
Not speech it selfe (the Eccho to the hart)
May be so free, but it restrained is
To ciuill rules, and lawes of very art,
The tongues misuse, oft breedes the bodie smart:
We therefore learne, both how and when to speake,
And when we modest silence may not breake.
8.
Yea though that kindle heate of beauties fire,
And sympathy of natures liking good,
(Chast loue) be founded on a iust desire,
And beare such sway as hardly is withstood,
Infecting by the eye, both spirit and blood:
Yet such incounters grow in some respect,
That loue findes hate, best merit, base neglect.
And sympathy of natures liking good,
(Chast loue) be founded on a iust desire,
And beare such sway as hardly is withstood,
Infecting by the eye, both spirit and blood:
Yet such incounters grow in some respect,
That loue findes hate, best merit, base neglect.
Yea bloudie warre the scourge of peace misusd,
The fire-brand of ambition, hels owne chyld,
The wracke of iustice, value oft abusd
From common wealth may not be well exyld,
Though peace breed welth, welth yet with pride defyld,
Produceth warre; which pouertie doth breed,
To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed.
The fire-brand of ambition, hels owne chyld,
The wracke of iustice, value oft abusd
From common wealth may not be well exyld,
Though peace breed welth, welth yet with pride defyld,
Produceth warre; which pouertie doth breed,
To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed.
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9. What profit finds the toylesome man, of all his carke and care?
10. To humble mans ambitious mind, God did these paines prepare.
10. To humble mans ambitious mind, God did these paines prepare.
9.
Which if so be, (as so it is indeed)
Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise,
The Magy, Druides, and Stoicks breed,
The Sophis, and most wise of all Rabbies,
And all Philosophers of euery guise,
Who morall rules, and naturall skill did know,
Or iudgements supernaturall did show.
Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise,
The Magy, Druides, and Stoicks breed,
The Sophis, and most wise of all Rabbies,
And all Philosophers of euery guise,
Who morall rules, and naturall skill did know,
Or iudgements supernaturall did show.
Them would I haue to tell to me in briefe,
What profit man, most properly may say
He hath, of all his dayes consumde in griefe,
Which he assured is with him shall stay:
The goods of fortune subiect to decay,
The strength of bodie, fayling euery houre,
The minds much more, which worldly cares deuour.
What profit man, most properly may say
He hath, of all his dayes consumde in griefe,
Which he assured is with him shall stay:
The goods of fortune subiect to decay,
The strength of bodie, fayling euery houre,
The minds much more, which worldly cares deuour.
10.
I see (me thinkes) a laborinth of woes
Enuiron man about, from day of birth
Till houre of death, what so about he goes,
With sower sauce, seasoning still his fained mirth,
Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth,
For needfull things for life, yet foolish he,
With needlesse studies still will medling be.
Enuiron man about, from day of birth
Till houre of death, what so about he goes,
With sower sauce, seasoning still his fained mirth,
Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth,
For needfull things for life, yet foolish he,
With needlesse studies still will medling be.
And God hath iustly giuen this plague to all,
For our forefather Adams clyming mind,
That humbled so, we might before him fall,
Confessing that we are poore wormes, most blind,
And fly to him where we may comfort find,
Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest,
As thing whereby, we onely may be blest.
For our forefather Adams clyming mind,
That humbled so, we might before him fall,
Confessing that we are poore wormes, most blind,
And fly to him where we may comfort find,
Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest,
As thing whereby, we onely may be blest.
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11. All beautious & desird God made, though al things mānot know.
12. This only good know I, with ioy, good works in life to show.
12. This only good know I, with ioy, good works in life to show.
11.
Indeede God so his creatures beautified,
And marshald so their musters euery one,
That in them his great wisedome is espied,
And in their season is their beautie showne,
Defect vnto their kind, they suffer none:
No maruell then, if heart of man desire
To see and know their vertue, and admire.
And marshald so their musters euery one,
That in them his great wisedome is espied,
And in their season is their beautie showne,
Defect vnto their kind, they suffer none:
No maruell then, if heart of man desire
To see and know their vertue, and admire.
And God hath giuen to man a speciall will,
To search for knowledge euer while he liues,
Who therefore beates his braines about it still,
And vseth all endeuour nature giues,
But he in vaine about the matter striues:
He neuer can or shall, the depth attaine
Of Gods decree, his labours are but vaine.
To search for knowledge euer while he liues,
Who therefore beates his braines about it still,
And vseth all endeuour nature giues,
But he in vaine about the matter striues:
He neuer can or shall, the depth attaine
Of Gods decree, his labours are but vaine.
12.
Let wise men therefore learne to be content,
With knowledge of such things as vs befit,
Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent,
And with contented mind in quiet sit:
His paine and trauell may not farther git,
Then God hath limited, of that be sure,
With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure.
With knowledge of such things as vs befit,
Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent,
And with contented mind in quiet sit:
His paine and trauell may not farther git,
Then God hath limited, of that be sure,
With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure.
For I no other good on earth can praise,
But present vse of blessings I possesse,
With chearefull heart to exercise my dayes,
To good of such, to whom I loue professe,
And deedes which charitie doe best expresse,
And that is all this world to thee can lend,
And vse, why God did them vnto thee send.
But present vse of blessings I possesse,
With chearefull heart to exercise my dayes,
To good of such, to whom I loue professe,
And deedes which charitie doe best expresse,
And that is all this world to thee can lend,
And vse, why God did them vnto thee send.
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13. To eat & drinke pains gained store, as gifts Gods blessings were.
14. His wil (most firme) man may not change, but it admire with fere.
14. His wil (most firme) man may not change, but it admire with fere.
13.
And to speake truth, what man with all his paine,
Can promise to himselfe the vse to haue
Of what with greatest trauell he doth gaine,
To yeeld the sustenance his life doth craue?
What prouidence so wisely can it saue,
But in a moment it may vade away,
Twixt cup and lip, fall many a slip we say?
Can promise to himselfe the vse to haue
Of what with greatest trauell he doth gaine,
To yeeld the sustenance his life doth craue?
What prouidence so wisely can it saue,
But in a moment it may vade away,
Twixt cup and lip, fall many a slip we say?
Then let man learne that Gods good gifts they are,
And lent but for a time, whereof to yeeld
Account how they are vsed, and how farre
Our confidence and trust on them we build:
For wealth cannot from heauenly iudgement shield;
Let God therefore haue part, the poore haue his,
With temp'rance do thou spend, remaine that is.
And lent but for a time, whereof to yeeld
Account how they are vsed, and how farre
Our confidence and trust on them we build:
For wealth cannot from heauenly iudgement shield;
Let God therefore haue part, the poore haue his,
With temp'rance do thou spend, remaine that is.
14.
For well I know, God all things doth foresee,
And seeing doth foreknow their issues all,
Whose knowledge (when he will) makes things to bee
In such estate, as vnto vs they fall:
Whose prouidence herein some fortune call,
Because effects of cause to vs vnknowne,
By chance (as we suppose) hath to vs growne.
And seeing doth foreknow their issues all,
Whose knowledge (when he will) makes things to bee
In such estate, as vnto vs they fall:
Whose prouidence herein some fortune call,
Because effects of cause to vs vnknowne,
By chance (as we suppose) hath to vs growne.
But they in his decree immutable;
From all beginnings were, and firme must stand,
Examples be, mans frustrate labours still,
If God assist not with his helping hand,
A haire from head, a birdfalles not on land,
But with his heauenly will (which is a law)
And should vs to his feare and reu'rence draw.
From all beginnings were, and firme must stand,
Examples be, mans frustrate labours still,
If God assist not with his helping hand,
A haire from head, a birdfalles not on land,
But with his heauenly will (which is a law)
And should vs to his feare and reu'rence draw.
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15. Things past are now, what is shalbe, for God will haue it so:
16. Yet on the earth, wrong rules for right, and all peruerse doth go.
16. Yet on the earth, wrong rules for right, and all peruerse doth go.
15.
Hence nature hath this interchange of things,
This spring times clothing, of delightfull greene,
That scorched yellow colour sommer brings,
That tawney hew, in new spent haruest seene,
Those withered pale prospects in winter beene,
When trees and plants to root liues sap retyre,
And euery change, that seasons doe require.
This spring times clothing, of delightfull greene,
That scorched yellow colour sommer brings,
That tawney hew, in new spent haruest seene,
Those withered pale prospects in winter beene,
When trees and plants to root liues sap retyre,
And euery change, that seasons doe require.
This well deuided kingdome of the light,
Twixt Sunne and Moone, so needfull to our life,
Of th'one by day, th'other by the night,
Wherein they louingly, like man and wife,
With equall care doe trauell voyd of strife,
By Gods almightie hand were framed so,
Things past, and those to come in order go.
Twixt Sunne and Moone, so needfull to our life,
Of th'one by day, th'other by the night,
Wherein they louingly, like man and wife,
With equall care doe trauell voyd of strife,
By Gods almightie hand were framed so,
Things past, and those to come in order go.
16.
Yea though God be not author of our ill,
(Whereto by nature onely we are prone,)
Yet for our tryall, or our scourge, he will
Permit sometimes, (as I full oft haue knowne)
That euen his Magistrates, by whom alone
He leaues his lawes of Iustice to be tryde,
Into most foule enormities to slyde.
(Whereto by nature onely we are prone,)
Yet for our tryall, or our scourge, he will
Permit sometimes, (as I full oft haue knowne)
That euen his Magistrates, by whom alone
He leaues his lawes of Iustice to be tryde,
Into most foule enormities to slyde.
So wicked Tyrants vnto kingdomes rise,
And Iudges sit in holy Iustice seat,
Whose offices (ordain'd to beat downe vice,)
It fosters, and the Iust do worst intreat,
Which of all plagues to kingdomes is most great,
Yet God (who it permits) can it redresse,
Whose wondrous works therein we must confesse.
And Iudges sit in holy Iustice seat,
Whose offices (ordain'd to beat downe vice,)
It fosters, and the Iust do worst intreat,
Which of all plagues to kingdomes is most great,
Yet God (who it permits) can it redresse,
Whose wondrous works therein we must confesse.
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17. My hart yet giues both good & bad, in due time God wil find.
18. Who made mā pure, & gaue him wit, though brutish wilbe blind.
18. Who made mā pure, & gaue him wit, though brutish wilbe blind.
17.
For God the great law-giuer, wise and iust,
Who sees the thoughts, and secrets of the raynes,
Though he a while, permit them in their lust
To range, in pride of their malicious braynes,
Yet when he please, their progresse he restraynes,
And makes them stand before his iudgement seat,
Whose sway on earth doth seeme most powrful great.
Who sees the thoughts, and secrets of the raynes,
Though he a while, permit them in their lust
To range, in pride of their malicious braynes,
Yet when he please, their progresse he restraynes,
And makes them stand before his iudgement seat,
Whose sway on earth doth seeme most powrful great.
He cals each creature in his time at will,
To wreke the wrongs that innocents abyde:
Plague, famine, sword, attend vpon him still,
And all mishaps the wicked doe betyde,
Fro out the snares, the iust he safe doth guyde
In his due time, and them with honour crowne,
But their oppressors, headlong plucketh downe.
To wreke the wrongs that innocents abyde:
Plague, famine, sword, attend vpon him still,
And all mishaps the wicked doe betyde,
Fro out the snares, the iust he safe doth guyde
In his due time, and them with honour crowne,
But their oppressors, headlong plucketh downe.
18.
Thus mayst thou see (as I do truly say)
By deepe consideration of the thing,
To humaine state on earth, each houre and day
Some chaunge, or alteration new to bring
To all estates, to subiects as to King:
And that albeit in creation, we
Were holy and pure, we now corrupted be.
By deepe consideration of the thing,
To humaine state on earth, each houre and day
Some chaunge, or alteration new to bring
To all estates, to subiects as to King:
And that albeit in creation, we
Were holy and pure, we now corrupted be.
Through which corruption, death did first creepe in,
And death with it, all plagues and wants hath brought,
The heauie recompence of parents sin,
By them infusd to vs, by vs still wrought:
Corrupt throughout, in word, in deed, in thought,
With more then brutish sins which in vs raigne,
And in our of-spring alwayes will remaine.
And death with it, all plagues and wants hath brought,
The heauie recompence of parents sin,
By them infusd to vs, by vs still wrought:
Corrupt throughout, in word, in deed, in thought,
With more then brutish sins which in vs raigne,
And in our of-spring alwayes will remaine.
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19. Man beastlike liues & dies, & both breath, liue, and die, in vaine.
20. Of dust at first, all passe by death, vnto the earth againe.
20. Of dust at first, all passe by death, vnto the earth againe.
19.
And as with brutish kind our liues pertake,
Or rather doth out passe them farre in ill:
(For Tygers, Wolues, Gotes, Swine, our sins vs make,
When wrath, deceit, lust, glut'ny, rule our will,)
So to our end with them we hasten still,
Foreseeing nothing deaths approaching houre,
Which vs (like them) is readie to deuour.
Or rather doth out passe them farre in ill:
(For Tygers, Wolues, Gotes, Swine, our sins vs make,
When wrath, deceit, lust, glut'ny, rule our will,)
So to our end with them we hasten still,
Foreseeing nothing deaths approaching houre,
Which vs (like them) is readie to deuour.
In care and trauell, we like them doe liue,
We liue vncertaine of the houre of death,
Vncertaine thus, securely we doe giue
Our selues to pleasure, till it stop our breath:
When time is come, no art the houre prolongeth,
When we as they, againe returne to dust,
In earth (no more then they) may we haue trust.
We liue vncertaine of the houre of death,
Vncertaine thus, securely we doe giue
Our selues to pleasure, till it stop our breath:
When time is come, no art the houre prolongeth,
When we as they, againe returne to dust,
In earth (no more then they) may we haue trust.
20.
One common matter was our stuffe and mould,
Euen earth and slime, the Element most vylde,
Which though our maker for our honour would,
With his owne hands vouchsafe to frame and bylde,
And with infused breath adopt as chyld,
Whilst by his word alone, the others all,
Take essence in the forme they were and shall.
Euen earth and slime, the Element most vylde,
Which though our maker for our honour would,
With his owne hands vouchsafe to frame and bylde,
And with infused breath adopt as chyld,
Whilst by his word alone, the others all,
Take essence in the forme they were and shall.
Yet we as they, one common end do find,
One dissolution of this earthly frame:
Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind,
From whence at first creation forth it came;
The memory whereof, the mind should tame,
Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will,
Which whilst they liue, the world with comber fill.
One dissolution of this earthly frame:
Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind,
From whence at first creation forth it came;
The memory whereof, the mind should tame,
Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will,
Which whilst they liue, the world with comber fill.
33
21. Who knows mans soule ascends, or beasts vnto the earth descēds?
22. Best then say I, ioy in thy owne: which thee thy knowledge ends.
22. Best then say I, ioy in thy owne: which thee thy knowledge ends.
21.
And though indeed, the soules immortall seed,
Which had his being from a cause more pure,
Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed,
And shall in all eternitie endure,
Yet to the eye of man, who can assure
The same, if faith (the light vnto the soule)
Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule?
Which had his being from a cause more pure,
Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed,
And shall in all eternitie endure,
Yet to the eye of man, who can assure
The same, if faith (the light vnto the soule)
Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule?
For euen the selfe same instruments of life,
The same necessities of nutriment,
The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife,
The same abhorred death, hath nature lent
To euery creature that on earth she sent:
And at, and after, parting of the spright,
The carkasses of both, seeme like to sight.
The same necessities of nutriment,
The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife,
The same abhorred death, hath nature lent
To euery creature that on earth she sent:
And at, and after, parting of the spright,
The carkasses of both, seeme like to sight.
22.
So that I see no vse of earths increase,
Fit for our bodies, but (whilst here we liue)
With them to cheere our sprights, and purchase peace,
And vnto God for them, due praise to giue,
Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue:
For he and they are subiect as you see
To chaunge, and to earths fraile mortalitee.
Fit for our bodies, but (whilst here we liue)
With them to cheere our sprights, and purchase peace,
And vnto God for them, due praise to giue,
Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue:
For he and they are subiect as you see
To chaunge, and to earths fraile mortalitee.
As for the care the wise and goodly haue,
Of their successors competent estate,
It is but due, and nature doth it craue,
But for their loue, our selues we ought not hate,
And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate,
What they will proue, or what in time may grow,
We know not, nor should curious be to know.
Of their successors competent estate,
It is but due, and nature doth it craue,
But for their loue, our selues we ought not hate,
And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate,
What they will proue, or what in time may grow,
We know not, nor should curious be to know.
| Chap. 3. Ecclesiastes, otherwise called the Preacher | |