A Golden Chain

This wisdom is then showed, when a man can in judgement apply his talk, and as it were in good manner make it fit to all the circumstances of persons times, places, things.¹ A fool poureth out all his mind, but a wise man keepeth in till afterward. A word spoken in his place, is like apples of gold with pictures of silver.

This wisedome is then shewed, when a man can in iudgement apply his talke, and as it were in good manner make it fit to al the circumstances of persons times, places, things.¹ A foole poureth out all his minde, but a wise man keepeth in till afterward. A word spoken in his place, is like apples of gold with pictures of siluer.

1. 1Pro. 19.11.

Now he that would have his speech to be wise, must first of all himself become a wise man. And the wise man of whom the holy scriptures speak, is a godly man, and such an one as feareth God: because this fear of God is the beginning and head of wisdom: ¹as on the contrary, the fool, whereof the scripture often speaketh, is the ungodly person, that maketh no conscience of any sin. And indeed such an one is the most senseless fool of all. He that shall ever and anon be casting himself into the fire and water, and run upon dangerous places to break his legs, arms, neck: and further shall take pleasure in doing all this, is either a fool or a mad man. Now the ungodly man as oft as he sinneth, he endeavoureth as much as in him lieth to pitch his soul into hell, and whereas he taketh pleasure in sin, he sports himself with his own destruction.

Now he that would haue his speech to be wise, must first of al himselfe become a wise man. And the wise man of whome the holy scriptures speake, is a godly man, and such an one as feareth God: because this feare of God is the beginning and head of wisdome: