The Book of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon Paraphrased, Text and paraphrase 1 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
ARGUMENT.
The ſumm of this Chapter is, That, as true Wiſdom and Vertue is the only thing that can give us tranquility: ſo that part of it which teaches us to govern our tongue, and to behave our ſelves dutifully towards our Governours (though they do not manage things to our content, nor to the general good) conduces more unto it, than men are willing to believe. For this is, in a manner, the ſcope of the whole Chapter, to make every one ſenſible of the great Bleſſing of Government; eſpecially of good Government: and that therefore they ought to bear with all manner of grievances; as a leſs miſchief than the want of Government, by Rebellion againſt it. Which begins, in undutiful Diſcourſe: the folly and danger of which he admirably repreſents; with many other things tending to our preſent peace and ſettlement.
1. DEad flies cauſe the ointment of the apothecary to ſend forth a ſtinking ſavour: ſo doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wiſdom and honour.
1. AND the Wiſer or better any man is, ſo much the more cautious ought he to be, in all his words and actions; if he mean to preſerve that credit, eſteem and authority in the World, which give him great advantages of doing good. For as dead Flies, though very ſmall Creatures, falling into a Pot of Ointment, and burſting there, corrupt that precious Compoſition, which the Apothecary hath made with excellent Art; ſo that it turns the Perſume into a ſtink: in like manner doth a ſmall errour, or miſcarriage blemiſh him, who was highly valued for his Diſcretion and Vertue; and the leaſt ſordid action deſtroys his reputation, who was honoured for his noble way of living. See Annot. [a].
2. A wiſe mans heart is at his right hand; but a fools heart is at his left.
2. It is hard indeed to be thus circumſpect; but herein a truly Wiſe mans worth is diſcovered, that his judgment never fails him in the greateſt difficulties: wherein he not only reſolves aright, and takes things by the right handle; but is ready alſo in the execution of what he deſigns, and manages his Affairs with eaſe, and with dexterity: whereas a Fool both miſtakes in his aim, and fumbles alſo in the eaſieſt buſineſs; which he handles ſo awkerdly, and untowardly, that it commonly miſcarries. See Annot. [b].
3. Yea alſo when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wiſdom faileth him, and he ſaith to every one that he is a fool.
3. And though he would diſſemble his folly, and endeavour to ſeem wiſe, he is ſo far from his aim; that in every thing he doth, whether great or ſmall, he openly betrays his want of judgment: nay, by his very gate and behaviour, as well as by his words and actions, he tells every Body (as plainly as if he ſaid it in ſo many words) that he is a Fool: Which appears in nothing more, than in his holding all for Fools, in compariſon with himſelf. See Annot. [c].
4. If the ſpirit of the ruler riſe up againſt thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
4. But a mans Wiſdom hath ſeldom a greater tryal, than when his Prince is angry with him, and perhaps treats him hardly; which incenſes a Fool, and makes him leave the Court, if not grow factious and rebellious: But it is better and ſafer Advice to keep in the ſtation, wherein thou art, and to do thy Duty faithfully; with a patient, but yet penſive ſpirit: For nothing ſo appeaſes a Princes offended mind, as to give way to his fury by mild and gentle words, and by modeſt, humble and ſubmiſſive behaviour; whereby a man alſo prevents a World of ſins, into which he throws himſelf, if he yield unto diſloyal thoughts. See Annot [d].
5. There is an evil which I have ſeen under the ſun, as an errour which proceedeth from the ruler.
5. And there are worſe evils than this, that a wiſe and good man muſt patiently bear withal; particularly that great errour, which Princes, it muſt be acknowledged, either through ignorance, imprudence, ſurprize, eaſineſs and being impoſted upon by other mens falſe repreſentations, ſubtilties, or ill affections, are too frequently guilty of: whereby they derive many miſchiefs upon all their people; for which they muſt anſwer, as if they were committed by themſelves. See Annot. [e].
6. Folly is ſet in great dignity, and the rich ſit in low place.
6. In advancing I mean (which I have too often obſerved) the moſt witleſs, careleſs men, and of baſe condition; or ſuffering ſuch who are noted for nothing but their folly, and their vices, to creep up to the moſt eminent Dignities and Offices: and in the mean time depreſſing noble perſons, or making no account of them, though indowed no leſs with all excellent Qualities, than with Riches and Honour. See Annot. [f]
7. I have ſeen ſervants upon horſes, and princes walking as ſervants upon the earth.
7. By the like ſenſeleſs folly, I have obſerved mere Slaves, that deſerved not the meaneſt Office in a private Family (being ſitter to be kept under by every Body, than to be intruſted with the ſmalleſt power) appear in the greateſt ſtate, by reaſon of their high preferment: and men of great Families, or of ſingular worth and merit altogether ſlighted; nay, forced to wait upon them, as if they had been their Lacqueys. See Annot. [g].
8. He that diggeth a pit, ſhall fall into it; and whoſo breaketh an hedge, a ſerpent ſhall bite him.
8. Which foul indignities, notwithſtanding, a wiſe and vertuous perſon ſhould chuſe rather to wink at, and patiently endure, than think of moving any publick diſturbance; for ſuch counſels are extremely hazardous, and commonly end in the ruine of thoſe that give them: according to that known Proverb among us, which admoniſhes us how dangerous it is, to purſue our own deſires and paſſions violently (eſpecially againſt Kings and Princes) whereby men, in a heat, forgetting their own contrivances, have run themſelves into that very ruine, as Hunters do into the Pit, which they prepared for others: and that other common Saying, which warns us not to overthrow the well-ſetled Laws and Cuſtoms of Church or State; for that is like the breaking down a Hedge: wherein as a Serpent many times lurks which gives him that attempts it a deadly bire; ſo they frequently draw upon themſelves their own deſtruction, who pull down the ancient Government. See Annot. [b].
9. Whoſo removeth ſtones, ſhall be hurt therewith: and he that cleaveth wood, ſhall be endangered thereby.
9. We abound with 9. We abound with Proverbs to this purpoſe: Which teach us that the giving publick diſturbance, by invading the Rights of others (eſpecially of Kings) and endeavouring to change the Form of Government, is like removing the Boundaries of Lands; which raiſes great troubles or like the taking much pains to pull down a Building without judgment; ſome of the Stones of which fall upon him that meddles with it, and cruſh him in pieces. Such is his folly alſo that fanſies he can mend every thing that is amiſs, and form and ſquare the people exactly according to his Rule: which proves juſt like an unskilful Workmans cutting a knotty Piece of Wood; who only makes Clefts and Chips (as the other doth Factions and Rents) and in the iſſue gives a grievous gaſh to himſelf. See Annot. [i].
10. 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.
10. This is ſufficient to ſhow, how unprofitable all our endeavours are without true judgment. For as a ruſty Tool, though managed by the ſtrongeſt man, is ſo far from effecting his deſires, that it only tires his arm, unleſs he file and whet it, to recover its edge: ſo all the power in the World rather hurts than advantages him, that hath it, unleſs it be guided and directed by Wiſdom and Prudence; which can do far more, than violence and force, to correct the errours of Kings, and mend the faults of their Government. See Annot. [k].
11. Surely the ſerpent will bite without inchantment, and a babler is no better.
11. But of all other men he is the moſt dangerous, who ſpits his Venom ſecretly againſt his Governours; ſlandering and traducing all their actions in his private Diſcourſes, and thereby enraging peoples minds againſt them; and giving them a more grievous wound than if they were ſtabbed with a Weapon: For that may be prevented, or healed afterwards, but this is like the biting of the moſt deadly Serpent, which ſtopping its ear to all inchantments, poyſons both inevitably, and incurably. See Annot. [l].
12. The words of a wiſe mans mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will ſwallow up himſelf.
12. See here again the wide difference between a Wiſe man and a Fool. The former of which by his vertuous Diſcourſe wins every ones (eſpecially his Princes) favour; and doth good to thoſe with whom he converſes: but the other by his ill tongue, not only hurts his Neighbour, but, plunges himſelf into endleſs troubles; out of which he cannot deliver himſelf, nor can any Body him. See Annot. [m].
13. The beginning of the words of his mouth is fooliſhneſs: and the end of his talk is miſchievous madneſs.
13. And the more he talks, in the greater Danger he is: For, though he begin only with ſenſeleſs and impertinent ſtuff, he heats himſelf before he hath done into a rage; and then minds not either how injurious his Diſcourſe is unto others, or how miſchievous unto himſelf.
14. A fool alſo is full of words: a man cannot tell what ſhall be; and what ſhall be after him, who can tell him?
14. No, though he be admoniſhed of it he cannot deſiſt. For he abounds with words, and while he thinks to mend the matter, he makes it worſe; adventuring to talk not only of things Civil, but of things Sacred; and not only of things preſent, but of things paſt alſo, nay, of things to come: In which wiſer men than he have little or no skill; and yet the leſs he knows, the more conſident and bold he is; when he doth not ſo much as foreſee the evil he is bringing upon himſelf, by his fooliſh prating. See Annot. [n].
15. The labour of the fooliſh wearieth every one of them, becauſe he knoweth not how to go to the city.
15. Which is the more intolerable, becauſe he torments himſelf and others with fruitleſs pains about the abſtruſeſt matters; when he knows not the moſt trivial, that are as plain as the High-way: For if he be engaged in any common buſineſs, he only tires himſelf with toil and labour, but is never the nearer: like a ſilly Traveller, who, being ignorant of the Road, goes about, if not through dangerous, yet through troubleſome Paths; and the further he goes, perhaps is the further off from the place he intends. See Annot. [o].
16. ¶ Wo to thee O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning.
16. What a miſerable condition then, is that poor Country in, which abounds (as moſt places do) with a great many of theſe Fools? And beſides, hath the unhappineſs to fall under the Government of a Child: whoſe Tutors, Counſellors, Guardians, and Protectors, who have the management of all Affairs in his minority, are ſo given to their pleaſure, that they can find no time to mind ſeriouſly the publick buſineſs; nor take any care to infuſe Principles of Wiſdom and goodneſs into their young Princes mind, but let him remain a Child as long as he lives. See Annot. [p].
17. Bleſſed art thou, O land, when thy king is the ſon of nobles, and thy princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, and not for drunkenneſs.
17. And, on the contrary, the happineſs of that Nation is inexpreſſible, whoſe King is not only of an illuſtrious Family, deſcended from the moſt ancient Nobility; but, having had ingenuous and liberal Education, doth not degenerate from their Heroical Vertue: which teaches him to place ſuch Officers under him, in their ſeveral ſtations, as make pleaſure wait upon buſineſs; which they firſt diſpatch, and then refreſh themſelves; not to exceſs, but to fit themſelves to return to their buſineſs again. See Annot. [q].
18. ¶ By much ſlothfulnſs the building decayeth, and through idleneſs of the hands the houſe droppeth through.
18. Being ſenſible that, as through the negligence and groſs careleſneſs of the Maſter of a Family, the Houſe falls to decay; and, for want of timely reparation, the Rain gets in and rots the Roof, and then the Supporters, and at laſt the very Foundation of it: ſo by that lazineſs and ſloth, which is the effect of luxury and riot, Kingdoms themſelves go to wrack; and ſeaſonable remedies not being applied to publick diſorders, the whole Government by degrees grows out of frame, and is in the end diſſolved. See Annot. [r].
19. ¶ A feaſt is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money anſwereth all things.
19. For theſe idle and diſſolute perſons, among other miſchiefs, conſume the publick Treaſure, by their vaſt expences in Feaſts, and all manner of merriment; which ſerve indeed for their preſent pleaſure, but waſte that which ſhould make it laſting, and is of moſt univerſal uſe to ſupport the Princes Crown and Dignity: And therefore when the Exchequer is exhauſted, theſe men are tempted to fill it by the moſt grievous oppreſſions; nay Law and Juſtice, and every thing elſe, is ſold; Vertue it ſelf is of no price, but money alone is valued, and bears all the ſway: which is another way, of bringing all to utter ruine. See Annot. [ſ].
20. ¶ Curſe not the king, no not in thy thought, and curſe not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air ſhall carry the voice, and that which hath wings ſhall tell the matter.
20. But notwithſtanding all this, as I adviſed thee before, not to riſe up in Rebellion againſt thy Sovereign (v. 8. &c.) ſo now let me add, that it is very fooliſh, as well as wicked, to be provoked by this ill management, ſo much as to ſpeak an opprobrious word of him, or of his Government, or Miniſters: Nay, entertain not ſo much as a thought of it, though it may be done never ſo ſecretly, where none but thy Wife, or moſt intimate Friend, are admitted: For it is not ſafe to truſt any Body with ſo dangerous a Secret, which it is moſt likely will not alway be concealed; but, as it is certainly known to God, ſo, will be carried by ſome undiſcerned means or other, with ſuch ſwiftneſs to the Princes ears, as if the Bird that ſat in the Window, or paſſed by when the words were ſpoken, had flown away immediately with the report of them. See Annot. [t].