SACRED AND SCRIPTURAL. PROVERBS, CHAP. I. v. 20—31. WISDOM aloud proclaimeth. In the street In the chief place, where men assembled meet; Thus from betwixt the expanded gates giveswarning: "How long, ye fools, will ye Embrace simplicity ?— How long, ye scorners, take delight in scorning? Turn ye at my reproof. Behold! for your behoof On you my inmost spirit I will outpour, Because I call'd, and ye refused-because I too will laugh for that ye inly bleed; I too will mock when fear, as desolation, Then shall they call on me, and I refuse; The fear of the Lord their God to keep in mind. ECCLESIASTICUS, CHAP. I. ALL Wisdom is from 'T'hee, O Lord! with Thee Abideth ever. The drops of rain that fall—the sand of the seaThe sum of days that makes eternity, Who shall endeavour To number?-who, to measure Heaven's height, Earth's breadth, the depth of ocean infinite, The boundless stream Of Wisdom-first of all created things- Her ways are everlasting laws-to whom Been e'er reveal'd? Who knows her solemn councils? who so blest, From all beside ?-Yet is there One, most wise, Who Wisdom's self did into being call, And saw, and number'd, and hath since thro' all His works made known And, most of all, to them that live, and move, And their Almighty Father know and love, Hath given her for their own. The fear of the Lord is Honour, Glory, Gladness; A crown of happiness without alloy; The fear of the Lord dispelleth grief and sadness, And giveth length of years, increase of joy. Who fears the Lord, with him it shall be well E'en to the last, and peace upon his death bed dwell. The fear of the Lord is Wisdom's first creation, Found with the faithful yet within the womb, And will continue with them to the tomb, And with their seed upon secure foundation. WISDOM OF SOLOMON, CHAP. II. THUS said the heathen, in their reasonings vain; "Man's life is short, or but prolonged in pain : In death no remedy, no comfort, lies, And from the grave we may not look to rise. And leave no record that we once have been. Our breath is smoke, our heart's warm pulse a spark, Soon kindled, soon extinct, then all is dark; And Fate itself prohibits our return. 66 Come, then, enjoy the hours that yet are thine, Give thy full soul to perfumes, baths, and wine; Let youth enhance the moments as they fly, And let no flower of painted spring go by! With early rose-buds let us crown our head, Ere yet their full-blown leaves be torn and shed! No pleasure pass untried, nor dear delightThe festive day, the soft voluptuous night; Leave through the world the tokens of your This is our portion, and our lot is this. bliss, "Let us the poor and righteous man oppress, Nor spare the widow nor the fatherless, Nor hold in reverence grey antiquity— But let our strength the law of justice be. That which is weak is ever worthless foundLet then our toils the righteous man surround; For that he thwarts our arts, and doth prevent By stern reproof our lawless will's intent; Such thoughts they did conceive, by sin made blind. God's hidden mysteries were not in their mind; GREAT Universal Father-Thou Thy name with reverential awe Be ever hallow'd here, And not a thought profane the place |