through thou hast passed, and plain, that there also we may of things from which thou canst make us another country. not be separated; and yet canst 16 The thought of the wood thou give me no answer of them. was in vain, for the fire came

10 He said moreover unto and consumed it. me, Thine own things, and such 17 The thought of the floods as are grown up with thee, of the sea came likewise to canst thou not know;

nought, for the sand stood up 11 How should thy vessel and stopped them. then be able to comprehend 18 If thou wert judge now the way of the Highest, and, betwixt these two, whom wouldthe world being now outwardly est thou begin to justify? or corrupted, to understand the whom wouldest thou condemn? corruption that is evident in 19 I answered and said, my sight?

Verily it is a foolish thought 12 Then said I unto him, It that they both have devised, for were better that we were not at the ground is given unto the all, than that we should live wood, and the sea also hath his still in wickedness, and to suffer, place to bear his floods. and not to know wherefore. 20 Then answered he me,

13 He answered me, and and said, Thou hast given a said, I went into a forest in a rightjudgement, but whyjudgest plain, and the trees took coun- thou not thyself also ? sel,

21 For like as the ground is 14 And said, Come, let us given unto the wood, and the go and make war against the sea to his floods, even so they sea, that it may depart away that dwell upon the earth may before us, and that we may understand nothing but that make us more woods.

which is upon the earth : and 15 The floods of the sea he that dwelleth upon the heaalso inlike manner took counsel, vens may only understand the and said, Come, let us go up things that are above the height and subdue the woods of the of the heavens.

SECTION V.- Frailty of Man.
LESSON XI.

to come, and the day of death,

trouble their thoughts, and cause Greattravail iscreated forevery fear of heart; man, and an heavy yoke is upon 3 From him that sitteth on a the sons of Adam, from the day throne of glory, unto him that that they go out of their mother's is humbled in earth and ashes ; womb, till the day that they re- 4 From him that weareth purturn to the mother of all things. ple and a crown, unto him that

2 Their imagination of things is clothed with a linen frock.

a

5 Wrath, and envy, trouble, to serveth he? what is his good, and unquietness, fear of death, and what is his evil ? and anger, and strife, and, in 11 The number of a man's the time of rest upon his bed, days at the most are an hundred his night-sleep, do change his years. knowledge.

12 As a drop of water unto the 6 A little or nothing is his sea, and a gravelstone in comparest, and afterward he is in his rison of the sand; so are a thousleep, as in a day of keeping sand years to the days of eternity. watch, troubled in the vision of 13 Therefore is God patient his heart, as if he were escaped with them, and poureth forth out of a battle.

his mercy upon

them. 7 Whenallis safe, heawaketh, 14 He vieweth the

power

of and marvelleth that the fear the height of heaven; and all was nothing.

men are but earth and ashes. 8 Such things happen unto 15 He saw and perceived all flesh, both man and beast; their end to be evil; therefore and that is sevenfold more upon he multiplied his compassion. sinners.

16 The mercy of man is to19 When a man hath done, ward his neighbour; but the then he beginneth ; and when mercy of the Lord is upon all he leaveth off, then he shall be flesh: he reproveth, and nurturdoubtful.

eth, and teacheth, and bringeth 10 What is man, and where again, as a shepherd his flock.

11

:

Section VI.--Death.

LESSON XII.

death, remember them that have

been before thee, and that come O Death, how bitter is the re- after; for this is the sentence of membrance of thee to a man the Lord over all flesh. that liveth at rest in his

posses- 4 And why art thou against sions, unto the man that hath the pleasure of the Most High? nothing to vex him, and that there is no inquisition in the hath prosperity in all things : grave, whether thou have lived yea, unto him that is yet able ten, or an hundred, or a thouto receive meat!

2 O Death, acceptable is thy 5 When the dead is at rest, sentence unto the needy, and let his remembrance rest; and unto him whose strength faileth, be comforted for him, when his that is now in the last age, and spirit is departed from him. is vexed with all things, and to 6 The mourning of men is him that despaireth, and hath about their bodies: but an ill lost patience!

sand years.

а

7 Have regard to thy name; ly vexed, which goeth stooping for that shall continue with thee and feeble, and the eyes that above a thousand great treasures fail, and the hungry soul, will of gold.

give thee praise and righteous8 A good life hath but few ness, O Lord. days : but a good name en- 20 All flesh waxeth old as a dureth for ever.

garment: for the covenant from 19 My son, according to thy the beginning is, Thou shalt die ability do good to thyself, and the death. give the Lord his due offering. 21 As of the green leaves on

10 Remember that death will a thick tree, some fall, and some not be long in coming, and that grow; so is the generation of the covenant of the grave is not flesh and blood, one cometh to shewed unto thee.

an end, and another is born. 11 Do good unto thy friend 22 Every work rotteth and before thou die, and according consumeth away, and the worker to thy ability stretch out thy thereof shall go

withal. hand and give to him.

23 All that are of the earth 12 Defraud not thyself of the shall turn to earth again : and good day, and let not the part he that is today a king tomorrow of a good desire overpass thee. shall die.

13 Shalt thou not leave thy 24 For all men have one entravails unto another? and thy trance into life, and the like labours to be divided by lot? going out.

14 Give, and take, and sanc- 25 And the entrances of this tify thy soul; for there is no world were made narrow, full seeking of dainties in the grave. of sorrow and travail : they are

15 Who shall praise the Most but few and evil, full of perils, Highin the grave, instead of them and very painful. which live and give thanks ? 26 And we pass away out of

16 Thanksgiving perisheth the world as grasshoppers, and from the dead, as from one that our life is astonishment and fear, is not: the living and sound in and we are not worthy to obtain heart shall praise the Lord. mercy.

17 O Lord, look down from 27 But if so be that we will thine holy house, and consider subdue our own understanding, us: bow down thine ear, O Lord, and reform our hearts, we shall to hear us.

be kept alive, and after death we 18 Open thine eyes and be- shall obtain mercy. hold; for the dead that are in 28 For after death shall the the graves, whose souls are judgement come, when we shall taken from their bodies, will live again : and then shall the give unto the Lord neither names of the righteous be mapraise nor righteousness : nifest, and the works of the un

19 But the soul that is great- godly shall be declared.

SECTION VII.- Penitence.

come.

LESSON XIII.

11 And that he is bountiful,

for he is ready to give where it I PRAY thee, O God of my father, needeth; and God of the inheritance of 12 And that he is of great Israel, Lord of the heavens and mercy, for he multiplieth more earth, Creator of the waters, and more mercies to them that King of every creature, hear are present, and that are past, thou my prayer.

and also to them which are to 2 Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto thine inheritance: 13 For if he shall not mul. turn our sorrow into joy, that tiply his mercies, the world we may live, O Lord, and praise would not continue with them thy name : and destroy not the that inherit therein. mouths of them that praise thee, 14 And he pardoneth; for if O Lord.

he did not so of his goodness, 3 O Lord, I am confounded that they which have committed and ashamed before thy face; iniquities might be eased of them,

4 For our sins are multiplied the ten thousandth part of men above our heads, and our igno- should not remain living. rances have reached up unto 15 And being judge, if he heaven.

should not forgive them that are 5 For ever since the time of cured with his word, and put our fathers we have been, and out the multitude of contentions, are, in great sin, even unto this 16 There should be

very

few day.

left peradventure in an innu6 Behold, now are we before merable multitude. thee in our iniquities, for we 17 But unto them that recannot stand any longer by rea- pent, he granteth them return, son of these things before thee. and comforteth those that fail in

7 And all that is befallen is patience. done unto us for our wicked T18 Return unto the Lord, works and great sins : for thou, and forsake thy sins, make thy O Lord, didst make our sins prayer before his face, and oflight.

fend less. T8 I know, Lord, that the Most 19 Turn again to the Most High is called merciful, in that High, and turn away from inihe hath mercy upon them which quity: for he will lead thee out are not yet come into the world, of darkness into the light of

9 And upon those also that health. turn to his law;

20 How great is the loving10 And that he is patient,

kindness of the Lord our God, and long suffereth those that and his compassion unto such have sinned, as his creatures; as turn unto him in holiness!

:

21 He hath mercy on them them that have clearly taught that receive discipline, and that thy law. diligently seek after his judge- 11 Take thou no indignation ments.

at them which are deemed worse

than beasts; but love them that LESSON XIV. alway put their trust in thy

righteousness and glory. O LORD, thou that dwellest in 12 For we and our fathers everlastingness, which beholdest do languish of such diseases : from above things in the heaven but because of us sinners thou and in the air ;

shalt be called merciful. 2 Whose throne is inesti- 13 For if thou hast a desire mable; whose glory may not to have mercy upon us, thou be comprehended; before whom shalt be called merciful, to us the hosts of angels stand with namely, that have no works of trembling;

righteousness. 3 Whose service is conver- 14 For the just, which have sant in wind and fire; whose many good works laid up with word is true, and sayings thee, shall out of their own constant ; whose command deeds receive reward. ment is strong, and ordinance 15 For what is man, that fearful ;

thou shouldest take displeasure 4 Whose look drieth up the at him? or what is a corruptible depths, and indignation maketh generation, that thou shouldest the mountains to melt away; be so bitter toward it?

5 O hear the prayer of thy 16 For in truth there is no servant, and give ear to the pe- man among them that be born, tition of thy creature.

but he hath dealt wickedly; and 6 Forwhile I live I will speak, among the faithful there is none and so long as I have under which hath not done amiss. standing I will answer.

17 For in this, O Lord, thy 7 O look not upon the sins righteousness and thy goodof thy people; but on them ness shall be declared, if thou which serve thee in truth. be merciful unto them which

8 Regard not the wicked in- have not the confidence of good ventions of the heathen, but the works. desire of those that keep thy testimonies in afflictions.

LESSON XV. 9 Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before OLORD Almighty, God of Israel, thee: but remember them, which the soul in anguish, the troubled according to thy will have known spirit, crieth unto thee. thy fear.

2 Hear, O Lord, and have 10 Let it not be thy will to mercy; for thou art merciful: destroy them which have lived and have pity upon us, because like beasts; but to look upon we have sinned before thee.