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

Take heed to thy foot, when thou enterest into the house of God.

Take heede to thy foote, whē thou entrest into the house of God.

The temple or house of God was ordained not so much for sacrificing,¹ as for preaching, that the people of God might meet together, to hear the word of God. As a Prince calleth his house together, not only to eat and drink, but to hear his word &c. Therefore where the word of God is not heard there is no ⟨image 77⟩assembly of Gods people or house.² He commandeth them to take heed to their feet rather then their hart, to the end, they should not be offended when they hear this doctrine, as David saith in the Psalm: My feet were almost gone. For after the word of God, whether it treat of peace of conscience, or outward peace, followeth offence. For it is that sign that shall be spoken against, for the fall and rising again of many. Even as Christ saith: Blessed is he which is not offended at me. To be short, the word of God is offence and foolishness to the flesh.³ Thus he saith therefore: Thou hearest when I teach thee, but take heed thou be not offended, or make my teaching a stumbling block to thee: that when thou hearest, a man should quiet his mind, and that his devises be in vain, thou say not, then will not I labour at all, or think then thou hast nothing to do. Or contrariwise, that thou be not over careful, and wouldest govern and rule all thing after thine own reason. Mans cares, disputations, and counsels, are as uneffectual as Plato his policy or common weal. But if thou