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

¹He rehearseth almost a whole beadroll of his works, that he exercised to teach others. I began (saith he) to assay many ways, whereby to occupy my ⟨p. 33⟩self, in abstaining from wines & pleasures, so that other by my example might learn to live the better, and the wiselier to abstain, and to govern their household. He speaketh of a worldly and civil wisdom, not of the heavenly & spiritual, whereby we understand what duty we owe unto God. I began to build, to plant vineyards, I omitted no labour and travel. &c. but of all my labours, I reaped nothing but vanity. Because I would govern my self after mine own rule and devise.

¹He rehearseth almost a whole beaderolle of his workes, that he exercised to teach others. I beganne (saith he) to assay many wayes, whereby to occupy my ⟨p. 33⟩selfe, in abstayning from wynes & pleasures, so that other by my exāple might learne to liue the better, and the wiselyer to absteyne, and to gouerne their housholde. He speaketh of a worldly and ciuile wisdome, not of the heauenly & spirituall, wherby we vnderstand what dutie we owe vnto God. I began to build, to plant vineyards, I omitted no labour and trauell. &c. but of all my laboures, I reaped nothing but vanitie. Because I would gouerne my selfe after mine own rule and deuise.

1. 1Solomons exercises.Salomons exercises.

And for a man to rule himself after his own devise, is but a vanity,¹ nay he two manner of ways hurteth himself. First he troubled himself with his own devises. Secondly, he attaineth not to that he would, or if he attain to it, some sorrow falleth out, that dasheth his devise. Thus Nero builded a princely Court of great magnificence, but he could not enjoy it. For thus it cometh to pass commonly, that one buildeth, and an other possesseth & enjoyeth that that is builded,