My Son! attend th'Instructions that I give,
And let them ever in thy Memory live;
So shall thy Life with Length of Days be crown'd,
And as thy Days, so shall thy Peace abound:
Let heav'n-born Mercy ever fill thy Breast,
And Truth be there an ever constant Guest;
Then shall thy Deeds with God Acceptance find,
And Men shall hail thee, Friend of Human-kind!
With steady Trust confide in God alone,
Upon his Judgment lean, and not thy own;
In all thy Ways acknowledge Him-he'll shew,
The Path most safe, direct the Way to go:
Let no vain Self-conceit so dim thy Eyes,
To puff thee up, and tell thee thou art wise;
But let thy Wisdom be to fear the Lord,
To fly from Evil, and revere his Word;
'Tis that shall keep thee from Distemper free,
And ruddy Health shall thy Companion be:
Honour thou him from whom thy Blessings flow,
Let thy First-fruits an Heart that's grateful shew;
So shall thy Feilds with Plenteousness be crown'd,
And with new Wines thy Presses shall abound:
Despise not thou the Chast'ning of the Lord,
Nor spurn the Blessings that his Stripes afford;
For whom he loveth, those he doth reprove;
These are the Marks of his Paternal Love;
In Anger pitiful, in Correction mild,
As the fond Father to his fav'rite Child:
Happy is he who Wisdom can attain,
And the rich Treasure of true Knowledge gain;
A Treasure far surpassing what the Coast
Of Afric, or rich India's Shore can boast;
Rubies and Diamonds are of Price less far,
In Value nothing when compar'd with her:
On her Right-hand do Length of Days attend,
Riches and Honours on her Left do stand;
Her Ways are Pleasantness, her Paths are Peace,
Where ev'ry Step we take, our Joys increase;
She is a Tree of Life, thrice happy Man!
Who holds her fast, and can her Gifts retain:
Behold the Glories of yon azure Sky,
Then to the Earth direct thy wond'ring Eye;
Wisdom all perfect did the Fabrick raise,
And Heav'n and Earth proclaim their Maker's Praise:
He spake-their destin'd Course the Depths pursue,
And Clouds obsequious drop their pearly Dew:
My Son! from Wisdom do thou ne'er depart,
And sound Discretion treasure in thy Heart;
So shall they add, while Years on Years do roll,
Grace to thy Neck, and Life unto thy Soul;
Then shalt thou walk securely in thy Way,
No guileful Passion shall thy Steps betray:
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid,
Thy Sleep be sweet, no frightful Dreams invade;
Be not dismay'd, when Desolation wide
O'er takes the Wicked, for the Lord thy Guide,
Shall lead thee forth, thy Foot shall make full fast,
Until his righteous Vengeance be o'er-past:
Withhold not Good from them to whom 'tis due,
When in the Power of thy Hand to do;
Let not the Poor distrest e'er sue in vain,
Put him not off, nor bid him come again;
Say not To-morrow I'll thy Wants relieve,
With Joy embrace the present Now to give:
Hurt not the Man who in thee puts his Trust,
Nor give him Cause to say thou art unjust:
Strive not with him who never meant thee Ill,
Th'Oppressor envy not, nor approve his Will;
For God abominates the froward Heart,
But to the Righteous doth his Will impart;
Curses that House that hath his Laws withstood,
But Blessings fill the Dwellings of the Good:
Surely the Scorner, he shall ever scorn,
But Grace and Wisdom shall the Meek adorn;
Honour and Glory shall attend the Wise,
But Fools on ignominious Shame shall rise.