3. Let the uncertainty of all earthly things promote in us caution, diligence, and prayer: caution that we do not exceed in unreasonable mirth, and live without thought and fear. We know that we must die, and that there is nothing to be done in the grave; therefore we should be diligent; embrace every opportunity to do good and get good; be active in the bufinefs of our ftations, and efpecially in the work of religion. Opportunities will foon be over; and after death it will be too late to correct our errors and mend our ftate. To our diligence we fhould alfo add prayer; for the race is not to the fwift. If it were always fo, men would forget God: but the fact being otherwife, it is a plain proof of an over-ruling providence, and a call to remember our dependence upon him, and make our requests known to him. 4. We must not think the worfe of wisdom, or be backward to pursue it, because it is defpifed and goes unrewarded. What Solomon obferved in his time, has been obferved ever fince, that wife and ufeful men are often neglected; and noify, infolent fools careffed. Many who fpend their days and their strength in ferving their fellow creatures, have neither recompenfe nor honour, nor perhaps thanks. But we fhould not be difcouraged from doing our duty by the world's ingratitude. If they are not fenfible of the pains we take for their benefit, we shall have the fatisfaction of having done good; at least of having honeftly endeavoured to do it; and God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love, but will bountifully re ward it. CHAP. X. The principal defign of this chapter is to teach us to behave loyally and dutifully to rulers, as what will contribute to our peace and happiness. 'D EAD flies cause the ointment of the apothecary, or perfumer, to fend forth a stinking favour: [fo doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom K 4 [and] [and] honour; the wiser any man is, the more care he fhould take of his words and actions; it is not fo much the want of knowledge, as of attention and prudence that leffens 2 men's characters. A wife man's heart [is] at his right hand; he goes readily and wifely to work; performs things with dexterity, in the proper time and manner, and in the moft decent order; but a fool's heart at his left; he goes aukwardly to work, and therefore generally mifcarries. 3 Yea alfo, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wifdom faileth [him,] and he faith to every one [that] he [is] a fool; he cannot fo much as conceal his folly in the plainest things; he betrays his indifcretion by his gait and air; efpecially by being a few minutes in his comA pany, you will find he is empty and conceited. If the fpirit of the ruler rife up against thee, leave not thy place; do not grow fullen and difcontented, and quit his fervice; a meek, humble behaviour may reconcile him; for yielding 5 pacifieth great offences. There is an evil [which] I have feen under the fun, as an error [which] proceed6 eth from the ruler; viz. not taking fufficient care whom he promotes; Folly is fet in great dignity, and the rich, men of confiderable rank and ability, fit in 7 low place. I have feen fervants upon horfes, perfons of a mean, fervile, mercenary difpofition advanced, and princes, men of great worth, walking as fervants upon the earth. But do not on account of thefe irregularities fo8 ment fallions against the government, for He that diggeth a pit fhall fall into it; and whofo breaketh an hedge, a 9 ferpent fhall bite him. Whofo removeth ftones fhall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleayeth wood fhall be endangered thereby; he that would remove the antient land marks of government, cut in pieces the fociety to which he belongs, and break the hedge and fence of publick autho 10 rity, will find he does it to his own hurt. If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct; a man Some have thought proper to cenfure this as a trifling, impertinent obfervation; but Homer reprefents Neftor (the wifest among the Greeks) as inftructing his fon in the art of pru dence, and mentions this fimile as an illuftration. a man should exercise prudence in the common affairs of life; efpecially in any attempt to mend a bad government; he had better whet his tool before he begins his work, and confider of the proper means beforehand, or else he will find it more 11 difficult and troublefome. Surely the ferpent will bite without enchantment, that is, without hifing; the wound will be felt before the creature's voice is heard; and a babbler is no better, who without referve tells in one place what he has heard in another, especially if it be any thing 12 too free about the government. The words of a wife man's mouth [are] gracious, pleafing to his prince; but the lips of a fool will fwallow up himself, bring him to 13 trouble and fometimes to death. The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madnefs; he works himself up into a heat, and then says what doth mischief to others, and 14 brings ruin upon himself. A fool alfo is full of words: a man cannot tell what fhall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? Probably a description of the fool's manner of talking, who multiplies words unneceffarily, or rather, talks confidently of what he will do, and what he will have, and of things past, prefent, and to come, or in fuch a foolish manner that you cannot tell from what he is faying what he will fay; he rambles on in impertinence. 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city; a fool takes most pains about, and yet blunders in the most plain and 16 obvious things. Wo to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, a weak, foolish man, and thy princes eat in the morning; are perfons addicted to luxury and intemperance, indulging their appetites, when they should be engaged in publick business, feasting in a morning, when they should be 17 trying important caufes Bleffed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the fon of nobles, of an illustrious family and excellent qualities, and thy princes eat in due feafon, for ftrength, to fit them for their proper bufinefs, 18 and not for drunkennefs! By much flothfulness the building decayeth, the rain gets in and rots it; and through idleness of the hands the houfe droppeth through. This is the cafe in private life; and it is fo in government's government; by luxury and foth the whole government is 19 difordered, and oftentimes diffolved. A feaft is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things;] it procures all worldly advantages; therefore rulers fhould not waste the publick treasure in luxury and folly, which they may want to support the flate. 20 I. Curfe not the king, no not in thy thought, neither his perfon nor government; and curfe not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air fhall carry the voice, and that which hath wings fhall tell the matter; a proverbial expreffion, and intimates, that by fome furprizing, unexpected method, it may be discovered, as if a bird flying by had heard and told it. W REFLECTION S. E here fee the benefit of wisdom and prudence, even in the common affairs of life. If we have nothing to do with the government of the nation, yet we fhould be careful to rule ourselves and our houfes well. Let us cultivate that wisdom which is profitable to direct; and learn it by thought and obfervation on the conduct of others. Let us learn to do things readily and dextrously; to concert the means well; lay good plans, and purfue them with refolution and caution; that our judgment may nót fail us when difficulties occur. There is room for improvement in every branch of wisdom, and by it we shall fave ourselves much pains, and probably much shame. 2. Let us earnestly pray that our king may be directed in the choice of counsellors and officers under him; that perfons of true worth, honour, and virtue, may not be neglected, and men of fhattered heads, and broken fortunes, advanced; that none may be raised to important offices, but those who will facrifice pleasure to bufinefs, and keep their heads cool for counsel and judgment. Confider ing how much the welfare of the nation depends upon this, it should be the fubject of our fervent prayers; for the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. 3. We fhould learn thofe leffons of loyalty and fubjection, upon which our comfort and happiness fo much de pend, pend, and guard against a factious, complaining fpirit. Too many by attempting to cure fome defects in a well. fettled government, have done more harm than good. We are in general very incompetent judges of the adminiftration of government; let us not therefore allow ourselves to find fault with it. Reviling those who rule over us, tho' done fecretly, may be known; the providence of God may by fome unfufpected way difcover it, and then it will turn to our shame, and the reproach of our profeffion. Let us therefore lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honefty: fearing God and honouring the king. 4. We fee that diligence and frugality are very neceffary for private perfons, as well as governors, v. 18. By much flothfulness the building decayeth, and thro' idleness of the hands the houfe droppeth thro'. When men neglect their business, and defert their fhops, to pursue their pleasures or to fit with vain perfons, poverty, fhame, and distress will foon come upon them. v. 19. A feaft is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry; but money anfwereth all things. Yet this must be taken with limitation; for money cannot fupply the wants of the foul; cannot fave from fin, forrow, death, and hell but it contains a proper caution, to young men especially, not to be expenfive in entertainments, dress, or equipage; the feaft of one day may confume the money that should fupport the family for a week; and leave none to do good with. Those who make the most splendid entertainments and the greateft appearance, are generally moft backward to works of piety and charity; for there is neither charity nor juftice without frugality and prudence: but wisdom is profitable to direct. CHA P. XI. Solomon in this chapter exhorts his readers to liberality, as the best antidote against the vanity of riches; and then urges a ferious preparation for death and judgment. 1 C AST thy bread, or corn, upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Corn was the chief trade of Judea, and a very profitable one; in allufion to |