An abridgeme[n]t of all the canonical books of the olde Testament written in Sternholds meter by VV. Samuel minister. The names of the books are in the next leaf following.

The book of the Preacher.

The i. Chapiter.

ALl things is ful of vanitie, the precher héer dooth tel: There is nothing is durable, so long as we héer dwel. And though a man be nere so wise yet folly eke and gréef: To reign in him he may confesse, as part of his beléef.

The ii. Chapiter.

BEgin he did to take delight, in pleasures and in game: His eye ne likte, but he it got, ful vain he found the same. As wel the wise to graue shall go, as shall the idiot fool: Wherfore to eat and chéerful be, he puth vs to that scoole.

The iii. Chapiter.

COnfesse he dooth that all thing hath, a time to go and coome: That all things was the whiche is now, and shalbe in the roome.

The woorks of God moste perfet are and cause vs him to fear: Bothe good and bad the Lord shall Iudge when that he shall appéer.

iiii. Chapiter.

DOutles the cause of Innocents not heard did vexe him muche: Our labour héer is ful of gréef, the vanitie is suche. Societie and feloweship, is better then alone: A yung man poor if he be wise, excels a foole in throne.

The v. Chapiter.

ELect and chuse thy woords aright, when thou to God doost speak: The labouring man dooth sléep ful sound, when Diues braines dooth break. Man when he dyeth shall nothing haue but that whiche he did bring: To eat and drink and ioyful be, it passeth héer all thing.

The vi. Chapiter.

FUl foolishe is the riche man sure, whom God muche good hath sent:

And yet t'enioy the things he hath, the hart is not him lent. But he that hath not swet therfore, shall eat it vp at wil: Yet way they not their gréedy lust, and all the mouth to fil.

The vii. Chapiter.

GOod wholesome rules héer are you giuen from mourning for to flée: Flée hasty spéeche and angry mood let wisedome guide thine eye. So shall shée make thée strong in déed, muche folly to preuent: Man was made good, now is he bad, by things hée did inuent.

The viii. Chapiter.

HOw that we must obay the King and rulers that doo reign: And yet how none is Lord of death. his life for to retain. This chapter telth and furthermore, how Gods woorks are vnknown: Though God prolong to punishe sin yet fear thou him alone.

The ix. Chapiter.

IN looking vpon outward things, that God dooth giue to man: To iudge whom he dooth looue or hate, that iustly no man can. Nor tel the time when he shall die, therfore for wisedome séek: If thou be poore though thou be wise, yet none wil to thée séek.

The x. Chapiter.

KNowe wel ye may the difference twixt wisedome and a fool: The babling tung that slaunder dooth, yée shall not easely coole. He telth of Kings that folly haue, and wilbe ouerséen: That land is blest whose hed is wise, be it a King or Quéen.

The xi. Chapiter.

LIke, liberall men he dooth exhort, to poore that they should bée: And not to dout Gods prouidence, what so that we doo sée. That prosperous state héer in this life, is vanitie and shall: As long as world dooth stand with men but God shall iudge vs all.

The xii. Chapiter.

MEn that run on til youth be past, and neuer doo repent: In age shall short come of their wil, when vain their time is spent. This is the end fear God and kéep, all his commaundement{is}: For God wil bring foorth euery woork, and giue them their Iudgements.

FINIS.

¶The Preacher thus his sermon ends, bothe short and sweet to hear: The plesant song of Salomon, shall now to you appeer. By parables how Christe dooth loue, his Churche he dooth you showe: And eke againe how shee him loues, heer may you read and knowe.