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

¹This book is one of the most difficult books of the whole Scripture, which no man hath hitherto fully attained unto, yea it hath been depraved with the unworthy commentaries of diverse men: in so much that it is a more trouble to purge the author thereof from the dreams wherewith they have defaced it, then to restore the true sense thereof again. And two causes there have been,² why it hath been more hard to understand then other. One was, for that they perceived not the intent and meaning of the author, which thing as in every kind of writing, so chiefly in this, and in all others, it had been requisite, they had kept and followed. The other was by reason they were ignorant in the Hebrew tongue, & in the authors peculiar phrase, which many times swerveth from the common phrase of speech, and differeth much from the custom of our tongue.³ Hereby it came to pass, that the book which for many causes was worthy to be had in all mens hands, and specially to be known to all governors of common weals (for in it was most lively set forth and in no place like, the administration of affairs aswell public as private) hath hitherto been deprived of his name and dignity, miserably unregarded and neglected, so that to this day, we have had neither use nor commodity of ⟨p. 7⟩it. So much hath the rashness and ignorance of some men been able to do. Wherefore our first labour shall be to hold fast the certain scope & intent of the book, what it requireth and whereto it tendeth. For if we hereof be ignorant, it shall be impossible to understand the style and phrase in the same.

¹THis booke is one of the most difficulte bookes of the whole Scripture, whiche no man hath hetherto fully attayned vnto, yea it hath been depraued with the vnworthy commentaryes of diuerse men: in so much that it is a more trouble to purge ye author therof from the dreames wherewith they haue defaced it, then to restore the true sense therof agayn. And two causes there haue been,² why it hath been more hard to vnderstand then other. One was, for that they perceaued not the intent and meanyng of the author, which thyng as in euery kynde of writyng, so chiefly in this, and in all others, it had been requisite, they had kept and folowed. The other was by reason they were ignoraunt in the Hebrew toung, & in the auctors peculiar phrase, whiche many tymes swarueth from the common phrase of speach, and differeth much from the custome of our tounge.