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

The fool foldeth his hands, and eateth up his own flesh.

The foole foldeth his handes, and eateth vp his owne fleshe.

A Fool in this place signifieth not (as we commonly understand it) a dizzard or natural,¹ but a wicked man and a naughty, whom in the Dutch tongue we call, a lewd ungodly person: such as are those envious bodies, who being not able to do any thing themselves, do yet disturb and hinder other. Such men being of no account themselves, and without wit and industry, do no good while they live, but be grievous unto others. Even like those that teach or learn naughtily, foolish and unlearned preachers: so are there among artificers, such drones, as we call pelters or counterfeiters, which only be impediments to other, and can do no good them selves. Such there are among the magistrates, hinderers of the common weal, so that they most disturb the common weal, good studies, and other virtuousness, who we hoped would most have furthered the ⟨image 68⟩same. So many foolish preachers more hinder the Gospel, then the professed enemies of the same.

A Foole in this place signifieth not (as we commonly vnderstand it) a dyssarde or natural,¹ but a wicked man and a naughty, whom in the Dutch toung we call, a lewde vngodly person: such as are those enuious bodyes, who beyng not able to doe any thing themselues, doe yet disturbe and hinder other. Such men being of no accompt themselues, and without wit and industrie, doe no good whyle they liue, but be greeuous vnto others. Euen like those yt teach or learne naughtely, foolishe and vnlearned preachers: so are there among artificers, such drones, as we call pelters or counterfectours, which onely be impedimentes to other, and can doe no good them selues. Such there are among the magistrates, hynderers of the common weale, so that they most disturbe the common weale, good studies, and other vertuousnes, who we hoped woulde most haue furthered the