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

When thou hast vowed a vow unto God, differ not to pay it, for he delighteth not in fools. Pay therefore that thou hast vowed. It is better that thou vowest not, than to vow, and not perform.

When thou hast vowed a vowe vnto God, differre not to pay it, for he delighteth not in fooles. Paye therfore that thou hast vowed. It is better that thou vowest not, thē to vow, and not perfourme.

¹This place is greatly tossed in the Church and kingdom of the Pope, as the only foundation whereon they build and set up their Monkish vows. We dispute not whether vows are to be performed or not, but whether the vows which they vaunt of, be vows, yea,² or no. Hierome and Lyra agree both in this, that a vow ought to be such as is possible for us to perform, and concerneth the glory of God. This they call a foolish vow, to gather up straws from the ground, and to claw the head with one finger. And Moses reciteth divers kinds of vows, and what things may be vowed, namely a field, an house, ⟨p. 80⟩meat, cloth, our own body, all which are in our power. Thus the Jews vowed their life and body to the Priests, to serve them for a certain time appointed. Furthermore,³ Moses hath no perpetual vow, but one which he calleth Anathema, namely a vow of death, in the last of Levit. that that must be slain whether it were man or beast that was vowed, as did Jephthah in the eleventh of Judges.

¹THis place is greatly tossed in the Church and kyngdome of the Pope, as the onely foundation whereon they buylde and set vp their Monkish vowes. We dispute not whether vowes are to be perfourmed or not, but whether the vowes which they vaunte of, be vowes, yea,