Contemplations. L IJ:XVII. Salomons dejeflion. lllnce the firll man Adam, the world bath not ycelded eithor fo great an example ofwifdomo, or fofcarefull an example ofapo!lafie as S•l•mM: What humane knowledge A dam had in the perfctlion ofnature by creation,S•/•mon had by infufion; both fully, both from ondountaine: If A Adam called all creatures by their names,$ alamon fpake from the Cedars ofLebanon, to the moffe that fprings out ofthe wall; and befides thcfe vegetables there was no Bea!l, nor Fowle, nor Fifh, nor creeping thing that elcapcd his difcourfe.Both fdl,borh fell by one mrages;as Adm•,!o might S•/am011 hav< faidl The B ,.,.,..,, dtceivttl me: It is true indeed,that A dam fell as all; S•l•m•n as one; yet fo as that this one is the patterne of the frailty of all. If knowledge could have given an immunity from fio,both had llood:Affetlions are thole feet ofthe foule, on which it either !lands,or fals; Salomon l•vtdmany ••tltndifb women: I wonder not ifthewife King mif.caried1Every word bath bane enough for a man: Women,many women, outlandifh, idolatrous, &thofe not oncly had,but doted on1 Sexe,multitude,oatioo, condition,all confpircd to the ruine of a S•l•m111: Ifone woman undid all mankindc, what marvell is it ifmany women undid one~ yet had thofe many been the daughters of Ifrael, rhey had tempted him onely to lull; not to mif-devotion; now they were ofrhofe Nations, wherroftheLord had faid to the children of Ifrad, G11111 ye in t• thtm, nwlu them <~me in IIJOH, fir f•rely thty J>il/ turne your hearts •Jitr their C gods;to them did Salom•n joyne in love;who can marvelllfthey dif.joyned his heart from God. Satan bath found thisbaitto rake fo well, that he never changed it fince he crept into Paradife. How many have welr.oowne WhQ[e heads have been broken with their owne rib! In the firll world the fonnesofGod faw the daoghtersof roen, and tooke them wives ofall they liked; they multiplied not children, but iniquities: BAI••m knew well if the dames of Moab could ma~e the Ifradites wantons, they fhould foone make them Idolaters : Alllyes open where the covenant is not bothmade with tbc eye, and kepr. It was the chargeofGod to the Kings oflfrad before they were,that they fhould not multiply Wivcs.S4/•m•n bath gone beyond the llakcsoftheLaw,& now is rea- D dy to lee/e himfelfe among!\ a thoufand bed.fellowes;Who fo laiesthe reincs in the neckofhis carnall appetite, cannot promife where he will re!\. Oh Sailm••, where was thy wifdomr, whiles thine affctiions runne away with thee into fo wilde • voluptuoufnelfe~Wbat bootes it thee to difcourfe ofall things,whiles thou mif-kllowe!lthyfdfe! The perfetlions of £peculation doe not argue the inward powers of fdfc-govermocnt;Thc eye may be cleare, whiles the hand is palfied. It is not fo much to be heeded how the foulc is informed, as how it is difciplinod ; The light of knowledge doth wdl, but the due order ofthe alfec!lions doth better : Never any meer man fince the firll,know fo much as IJ•I•m•n,many that have known leffc hne had more command ofthemftlves: A competent ellare well husbanded, is better then a vall patrimony neglec!ted. ! There can bono fafety to that foule where is not a llrait curbe upon our defires: If our lulls be not held under as flaves,they willrulcasryrants.Nothing can prevent the extremity ofour mif-cariage bur early and llrongdenials ofour coacupifcence: Had S•lomon done thus,delicacie and lawleffe greatndfe had not led him into rhefe bogs ofintemperance. , The wayes ofyourh are t\eepe and flippery, wherein as itiseafie to fall, fo it u commonly relieved with pity;but the w,anton inordinations ofageare not more unfeafooablethen odious; yet behold S•low"'" yongeryeares werclludious, and innocent,bi' oyer-ha!lened agewas licencious and mif-governed;F~r,,.hen Salomon ""' old,hil,.ives tur,.td an>•J hil heart •fitr llhtr gods: Ifany age can fecure us from tb_e danger ofafpiriruall fall,ir is our I all; and ifany mans old age might fecure him, 1t was ~--~----------------------------------------------
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