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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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76

5. Who keepes the law, is free from blame, the wise they times do know:
6. The wise, with iudgement chuseth time, for things, lest trouble grow.

5.

He that keepeth the commaundements shal know none euill thing, and the hart of the wise shal know the time and iudgement.

Whose lawes (the godly wise) both must and will

Indeuour most exactly to obserue,
In euery point and tittle to fulfill,
And wittingly in nothing much to swarue:
So shall he for himselfe, best safety find,
And leaue the better name to world behind.
And (for they hardly can discharge aright
Their duetie, that their natiue lawes not know,
And that their ignorance cannot acquight,
Who may, and will not learne, more wise to grow)
The wise will therefore learne their duties furst:
The good, refraine th'euill, they might and durst.

6.

For to euery purpose there is a time and iudgement, because the miserie of man is great vpon him

And as in publike causes wise men vse,

To guide their actions warily and well:
And proper times and seasons euer chuse
For all they do, before therewith they mell:
(For proper times there are for euery thing,
Which good or ill successe with it doth bring.)
So in their priuate life they do obserue,
Expediencie of that they take in hand:
From care whereof, whilst some do rashly swarue,
(Because true wifedome they not vnderstand)
They into many mischiefes headlong fall,
Which afterwards too late they would recall.