The Book of Mormon Site
Succor Them That Perish, That Thyself Perish
I read the ending of Mosiah 4 and thought, the phrase “perish not” from John 11:50 seems unique enough for Benjamin to quote, worded “Remember, and perish not,” that I also decided to search for it, and found this mid-17th century gem (1651, written in nearly unreadable blackface), quoting the ancient Roman Seneca, headinged Precepts and Counsels:
- Give no vain and unmeet gifts, as armor to women, books to fools, or nets to a student.
- Give to the needy pearls that thou need not thyself.
- Succor them that perish, yet so that thou thyself perish not thereby [(Mosiah 4:16 uses the word succor twice in the same context, Mosiah 4:30 says “remember and perish not”)].
- If thou bestowest a beneft keep it secret, but if thou receivest any publish it abroad.
- Speak not to him that will not hear, for so thou shalt vex him.
- Give at the first asking, for it is not freely given, that is often craved.
- Boast not thyself of that which is another man’s.
- Blame not nature, for she doeth for every man alike.
- If thou wilt praise any man because he is a gentleman, praise his parents also; if thou praise him for his riches, that appertaineth to fortune, if for his strength, remember that sickness will make him weak; if for swiftness of foot, remember that age will take it away; if for his beauty, it will soon vanish. But if thou wilt praise him for manners and learning, then praise thou him as much as appertaineth to man, for that is his own, which neither cometh by heritage, nor altereth with fortune or age, but is always one.