Title page of An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed, London, 1573

A06504:105

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

Name: An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed
Author: Martin Luther

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed.An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.

Martin Luther 1483–1546London: printed by John Daye, 1573London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1573

181 [i.e. 187] leaves · 71k words · STC 16979 · ESTC S105591

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Chapter 2 › I said unto the man given to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man…: I said unto the man given to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man given to mirth, wha…Chapter 2 › I sayd vnto the man geuē to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man…: I sayd vnto the man geuē to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man geuen to mirth, wha…

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:104–117 of 797

:104img 32

I said unto the man given to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man given to mirth, what dost thou?

I sayd vnto the man geuē to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man geuen to mirth, what doost thou?

:105p. 31

¹Understand all these things of mans ways and intents. Thus he meaneth, I thought by art to devise me good days, to seek my pleasure and pastime: but this cogitation was a mere madness, which two ways troubled me. For first the travel of devising and searching vexed my mind. Then when I think I have attained to my purpose, by and by some sorrow or grief falleth out, that causeth me to lose both my labour, & joy. ⟨p. 31⟩This is it that he saith, the laughter that I seek for, and the joy, which I go about to procure, what availeth it me? For I can never attain to it, but always some grief or trouble happeneth between. Therefore that joy & mirth is best, which is not sought for but which God sendeth unlooked for, without thy cares and devises. So the outward mirth is good, but with those that use it well. The wicked although they live in never so much pleasure, yet theirs is no true joy, because, they acknowledge it not for Gods gift, but straightway loth it, and invent other delights, being never content with that which is present.

¹VNderstand all these thinges of mans wayes and intentes. Thus hee meaneth, I thought by art to deuise me good dayes, to séeke my pleasure and pastime: but this cogitation was a mere madnes, which two wayes troubled me. For first the trauell of deuising and searching vexed my minde. Then when I thinke I haue attained to my purpose, by and by some sorrow or grief falleth out, that causeth me to lose both my labour, & ioy.

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The book

Title as printed

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed.An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.

Author

Martin Luther 1483–1546

Place

London

Printer

John DayeIohn Daye

Year

1573

Size

181 [i.e. 187] leaves

Words

71,187

Catalogue

STC 16979 · ESTC S105591

Text

EEBO-TCP A06504

Passages

797

Sections

334

Title page

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

I said unto the man given to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man given to mirth, what dost thou?

I sayd vnto the man geuē to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man geuen to mirth, what doost thou?

And I thought in mine hart to abstain from wine,¹ and to govern my hart wisely, and to comprehend foolishness, until I might perceive what was good for the children of men, to do under heaven as long as they lived.

And I thought in myne hart to absteine from wyne,¹ and to gouerne my hart wisely, and to comprehēd foolishnes, vntill I might perceaue what was good for the children of men, to doe vnder heauen as long as they lyued.

And to govern my hart wisely.

And to gouerne my hart wisely.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

I said unto the man given to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man given to mirth, what dost thou?

I sayd vnto the man geuē to laughter, thou art mad, and to the man geuen to mirth, what doost thou?

And I thought in mine hart to abstain from wine,1 and to govern my hart wisely, and to comprehend foolishness, until I might perceive what was good for the children of men, to do under heaven as long as they lived.

And I thought in myne hart to absteine from wyne,1 and to gouerne my hart wisely, and to comprehēd foolishnes, vntill I might perceaue what was good for the children of men, to doe vnder heauen as long as they lyued.

And to govern my hart wisely.

And to gouerne my hart wisely.

And I thought in mine hart to abstain from wine,¹ and to govern my hart wisely, and to comprehend foolishness, until I might perceive what was good for the children of men, to do under heaven as long as they lived.

And I thought in myne hart to absteine from wyne,¹ and to gouerne my hart wisely, and to comprehēd foolishnes, vntill I might perceaue what was good for the children of men, to doe vnder heauen as long as they lyued.