Chapter 18

18. He that lives for ever created all things, and the Lord only is righteous, who governs the world with the palm of his hand, and all things obey his will, yet to whom hath he given power to declare his works, or who shall find out his noble acts, or number the strength of his majesty and his mercies, for as for the wondrous works of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, neither may anything be put unto them, neither can the ground of them be found out. What is man, and of what use is he, for his days at the most are an hundred years, and as a drop of water to the sea, so are a thousand years to the days of eternity, therefore God is patient and poureth forth his mercy upon them, because he saw that their going was not good and their end was an abomination, so he multiplied his compassion. The mercy of man is toward his neighbour, but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh, for he reproveth, nurtureth, teacheth, and bringeth again, as a shepherd his flock, having mercy on them that receive discipline and diligently seek after his judgments. My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncomfortable words when thou givest anything, for a word is better than a gift, and lo, is not a word better than a gift, but both are with a gracious man, yet a fool will upbraid churlishly, and a gift of the envious consumeth the eyes. Learn before thou speak, and use physick before you are sick; before judgment examine yourself, and in the day of visitation you shall find mercy, so humble yourself before you are sick, and in time of sins shew repentance. Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified, but prepare yourself before you pray, and be not as one that tempts the Lord; think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance when he shall turn away his face, and when you have enough, remember the time of hunger, and when rich, think upon poverty, for from morning until evening the time is changed, and all things are speedy before the Lord, and a wise man will fear in everything, and in the day of sinning he will beware of offence, but a fool will not be moved.