The vvell of wisedome, conteining chiefe and chosen sayinges vvhiche may leade all men to perfect and true vvisedome, as vvell to Godvvard as to the vvorlde Gathered out of the five bookes of the olde testament, especially belonging to vvisedome, that is to say, the prouerbes of Salomon, Ecclesiastes, Canticum, Sapientia and Ecclesiasticus, and bestowed in usuall common places in order of A. B. C. By T. C.

Iudge and iudgement.

* 1.1 THe Lord hateth as well him that iu∣stifieth the vngodly as him that con∣demneth the innocent.

* 1.2 It is not good to regard the per∣son of the vngodly, or to put backe the righ∣teous in iudgement.

* 1.3 He that geueth sentence in a matter be∣fore

he heare it, is a foole and worthy to be confounded.

* 1.4 See that thou robbe not the poore be∣cause he is weake, and oppresse not the simple in iudgement, for the Lorde him selfe will defende their cause, and doe vio∣lence vnto them that haue vsed violence.

* 1.5 Deliuer them that goe vnto death, and are ledde away to be slayne, and be not neg∣ligent therein: if thou be able to doe them good.

* 1.6 It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement. He that sayeth to the vngodly thou art righteous, him shal the people curse: yea the comminaltie shall abhorre him. But they that re∣buke the vngodly, in them doth God de∣lite, and a rich blessing shall come vppon them.

* 1.7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poore, but the vngodly regardeth no vn∣derstanding.

* 1.8 Be thou aduocate for the dumme, and stand in iudgement thy selfe to speake for all such as be succourlesse in this transitory worlde. Open thy mouth, defende the thing that is lawfull and right, and the cause of the poore and helpelesse.

* 1.9 I sawe vnder the Sunne vngodlines in the stede of iudgment, and iniquitie in stede of righteousnesse. Then I thought in my minde: God shall separate the righteous from the vngodly, and then shall be the time and iudgement of all counsell and workes.

* 1.10 If thou seest the poore to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt withall, so that equi∣ty and the right of the law is wrested in the lande, maruell not thou at such a thing: for one great man kepeth touch with an other, and the mighty men are in authoritie ouer the poore.

* 1.11 See that thou iustifie the smal and great alike.

O set your affection vpon righteousnes, ye that be iudges of the earth. Haue a good opinion of the Lorde, and seeke him in the singlenesse of heart, for he will be founde of them that tempt him not, and appeareth vnto such as put their trust in him.

* 1.12 O learne ye that be iudges of the earth. Geue eare ye that rule the multitudes, and delite in much people. For the power is ge∣uen you of the Lorde, and the strength from the highest: which shall trie your workes, and serch out your imaginations. How that ye being officers of his kingdom, haue not

executed true iudgement: haue not kept the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 righteousnes: nor walked after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of God. Horrible and that right soone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appeare vnto you: for an hard iudg∣ment 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they haue that bare rule. Mercy is graunted vnto the simple, but they that be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 authoritie shall be sore punished.

* 1.13 Deliuer him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressour, and be not faynt hearted when thou sittest in iudgement. Be mercifull vnto the fatherlesse as a father, and be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of an husband vnto their mo∣ther, so shalt thou be as an obedier•• sonne of the highest, and he shall loue thee more then thy mother doth.

* 1.14 A wise iudge will order his people with discretion: and where a man of vnderstan∣ding beareth rule, there goeth it well.

* 1.15 As the iudge of the people is him selfe, euen so are his officers: and looke what ma∣ner of man the ruler of the citie is, such are they that dwell therein also.

* 1.16 Greate is the iudge and mighty in ho∣nour, yet is there none greater then he that feareth God.

* 1.17 Condemne no man before thou haue tri∣ed out the matter, and when thou hast made inquisition, then reforme righteously. Geue

no sentence before thou hast hearde the cause, but first let men tell out their tales.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pro. 17. 15.
• * 1.2

  Prou. 18. 5.
• * 1.3

  Pro. 18. 13.
• * 1.4

  Pro. 22. 22.
• * 1.5

  Pro. 24. 11.
• * 1.6

  Pro. 24. 23. 24. 25.
• * 1.7

  Prou. 29. 7.
• * 1.8

  Prou. 31. 8. 9.
• * 1.9

  Ecclesiastes 3. 16. 17.
• * 1.10

  Ecclesiastes 5. 7.
• * 1.11

  Ecclesiastes 5. 5. VVis. 1. 1. 2
• * 1.12

  VVis. 6. 2. 3 4. 5. 6. 7.
• * 1.13

  Ecclesiasti∣cus 4. 9. 10.
• * 1.14

  Ecclesiasti∣cus 10. 1.
• * 1.15

  Ecclesiasti∣cus 10. 2. 3.
• * 1.16

  Ecclesiasti∣cus 10. 21.
• * 1.17

  Ecclesiasti∣cus 11. 7. 8.