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 title of Ecclesiastes, or Preacher, ¹I think, is rather to be referred to the name of the book, then to the author thereof, because we must understand that these words were openly pronounced by Solomon, in some assembly of his Lords and others. For where he was a king, it was not his duty or office to preach, but the Priests, & Levites. Wherefore I judge these things were spoken by Solomon in some company and hearing of his counsellors and Courtiers, either at some banquet, or after the banquet, when divers of his nobles, and men of honour were present, having long time before mused and studied of the state and condition of these worldly affairs, or rather vain affections, and so as it fell out, when they were all present, spake and uttered the same. And that afterward, some of the rulers of the Commonalty, or clergy noted them ⟨image 12⟩and gathered them together: In so much that in the end of the book, they confess they received these things of one Shepherd or Pastor, and digested them in this order. As if some one of us sitting at a table should discourse of mans affairs, other being present, writing what were said.² So that this book is a public Oration which they heard Solomon make, of the which Oration, they thought good to call this book Coheleth, that is to say, the Preacher. Not that Solomon was any Preacher, but for that the book maketh as it were a public Sermon.