Title page of An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed, London, 1573

A06504:265

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

Name: An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed
Author: Martin Luther

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed.An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.

Martin Luther 1483–1546London: printed by John Daye, 1573London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1573

181 [i.e. 187] leaves · 71k words · STC 16979 · ESTC S105591

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Chapter 4 › ¶ A threefold cord is not easily broken.Chapter 4 › ¶ A threefolde corde is not easely broken.

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:264–277 of 797

:264img 71

¶ A threefold cord is not easily broken.

¶ A threefolde corde is not easely broken.

:265p. 70

¹HE entermedleth a feat Proverb, as he doth oftentimes hereafter, and that according to the manner of a good preacher. The meaning is, It is better to have fellows, and to enjoy things in commune, then to be a covetous body, solitary, raping and reuyng only for him self. In fellowship there is mutual help, aid and comfort, where the covetous ⟨p. 70⟩mans life is miserable, vain & full of affliction, being at length compelled to dye like a miser. This thing he con firmeth by a Proverb, borrowed as it may seem hereof. A certain wise father ready to depart this world, called his sons unto him, delivering them a bundle of rods to break, which when they could not break, being bound fast together, yet being taken in sunder, they brake. Thereby teaching his sons, that their force and power should be invincible as long as they lived in unity together, and would one help an other. For thorough concord small things would grow & increase, where through discord they would lose and fall in sunder.

¹HE entermedleth a feate Prouerbe, as he doth oftentimes hereafter, and that according to the manner of a good preacher. The meaning is, It is better to haue fellowes, and to enioye thinges in commune, then to be a couetous body, solitary, rapyng and reuyng onely for him selfe. In fellowship there is mutual helpe, ayde and comforte, where the couetous

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

The book

Title as printed

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed.An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.

Author

Martin Luther 1483–1546

Place

London

Printer

John DayeIohn Daye

Year

1573

Size

181 [i.e. 187] leaves

Words

71,187

Catalogue

STC 16979 · ESTC S105591

Text

EEBO-TCP A06504

Passages

797

Sections

334

Title page

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

¶ A threefold cord is not easily broken.

¶ A threefolde corde is not easely broken.

Better is a poor and wise child, than an old and foolish king, which will no more be admonished.

Better is a poore and wise childe, thē an old and foolish kyng, which will no more be admonished.

For out of the prison he cometh forth to reign, where he that is borne a king loseth the same.

For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne, where he that is borne a kyng loseth the same.

I beheld all the living which walk under the Sun, with the second child, which shall stand up in his place. There is none end of all the people, and of all that were before them, & they that come after shall shall not rejoice in him. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

I beheld all the lyuing which walke vnder the Sunne, with the seconde childe, which shall stand vp in hys place. There is none ende of all the people, and of all that were before them, & they that come after shall shall not reioyce in hym. This is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

¶ A threefold cord is not easily broken.

¶ A threefolde corde is not easely broken.

Better is a poor and wise child, than an old and foolish king, which will no more be admonished.

Better is a poore and wise childe, thē an old and foolish kyng, which will no more be admonished.

For out of the prison he cometh forth to reign, where he that is borne a king loseth the same.

For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne, where he that is borne a kyng loseth the same.

I beheld all the living which walk under the Sun, with the second child, which shall stand up in his place. There is none end of all the people, and of all that were before them, & they that come after shall shall not rejoice in him. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

I beheld all the lyuing which walke vnder the Sunne, with the seconde childe, which shall stand vp in hys place. There is none ende of all the people, and of all that were before them, & they that come after shall shall not reioyce in hym. This is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.