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

Here again these fine witted men dispute,¹ as though Solomon spoke like an ungodly man, that preferred the dead before the living. Albeit Augustine treating of the place of S. John: (It had been better for that man that he had never been borne.) saith: It were better for a man to be in evil case, then to have no being at all. Howbeit these men deal sophistically. Damned & miserable creatures thus think and judge, as Solomon here saith: For undoubtedly, they had rather not to be at all, then to be continually so tormented, and this in deed were better for them. Therefore Solomon saith well in this place. If we consider the miseries & afflictions of men, ⟨image 65⟩and have respect only to this life, we shall praise the dead, rather then the living. A man were better to be dead, then to see so great misery and calamity. He speaketh nothing of the judgement to come, but of things done under the Sun: where it is better not to be, then to see such afflictions of men. Which thing also the Gentiles perceived: which affirmed, that it was the best thing not to be borne, or being once borne, shortly to die. Therefore this place is to be understanded plainly by way of comparison.