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

¹To be plain therefore, the subject and matter of the book is, that mankind is so foolish, that he desireth and searcheth after his own ways many things which he can not compass and bring to pass, or if he bring them to pass, he can not enjoy them, but possesseth them with care & loss, not thorough any fault in the things, but by reason of his most foolish affections & desires. Julius Cesar was greatly occupied to obtain the Empire of the Romans, but what perils & travels sustained he before he could get it?² And having gotten it, he was not yet quiet, he had not bys whole wish, but while he was carefully busied to clime yet higher, he perished most miserably. The same cometh to pass in all worldly affairs, when we have greatest wealth, straight way, we like not with it. If we want & lack, we are never quiet & at rest for desire of it. This vice of mans nature and inclination saw yt heathen writers. For thus saith Ovid: That lawful is, we loth, and like the things we are forbid to do: That followeth us, we flee, and seek to follow that, that flees us fro. Again:⟨p. 9⟩ The present state doth no man please, Upon his own to live at ease.

¹To be plaine therfore, the subiect and matter of the booke is, that mankynde is so foolish, that he desireth and searcheth after his owne wayes many thynges which he can not compasse and bryng to passe, or if he bring them to passe, he can not enioy them, but possesseth them with care & losse, not thorough any fault in the thynges, but by reason of his most foolishe affectiōs & desiers. Iulius Cesar was greatly occupyed to obteine the Empyre of ye Romaynes, but what perils & trauels susteyned he before he could get it?² And hauing gottē it, he was not yet quiet, he had not bys whole wyshe, but while he was carefully busied to clyme yet higher, hee perished most miserably. The same cōmeth to passe in all worldly affaires, whē we haue greatest wealth, straight way, we lyke not with it. If we want & lacke, we are neuer quiet & at rest for desire of it. This vice of mans nature and inclination saw yt heathē writers. For thus sayth Ouide: That lawfull is, we loth, and like the thinges we are forbid to doe: That foloweth vs, we flee, and seeke to follow that, that flees vs fro. Againe: