Thou seest he reciteth not the works under the sun,1 but the very Creatures of God them selves, such as is the generation of men, the sun, the water, and the land, comprising almost the four Elements herein. For the Philosophers have so devised the four elements, wherein all things live that are in the world. They have placed the sier above, over the three other elements. And Solomon seemeth to take the sun, for this fiery element ⟨image 15⟩so that in these words he expoundeth what he would have understanded, by these words under the sun, so that the sum of his meaning is this. The creatures of this world, the sun, the air, the water &c. Wherein men have there being, abide in the rule and law appointed them: they go forth, they run back again, they are carried &c. even as they are ordained, they have their prefixed courses, they change not, they go not out of them, but do that they ought to do, as the sun goeth his way and certain course &c. But men which have their being in these four elements, creatures of such constancy and stability can not do the like, because they waver and stagger, being most inconstant by reason of the variety of their divers enterprises and desires, not content within their own bounds, businesses, and vocations &c. Wherefore they expound not the matter which understand the generation that passeth,2 to be the Jews, and the generation to come, to be the Christians, because Solomon speaketh here of the perpetual success of generations and ages.
THou séest he reciteth not the workes vnder the sunne,1 but the very Creatures of God them selues, such as is the generatiō of men, the sunne, the water, and the lād, comprising almost the foure Elements herein. For the Philosophers haue so deuised the foure elemēts, wherin all thynges lyue that are in the world. They haue placed the sier aboue, ouer ye three other elements. And Salomon seemeth to take the sonne, for this fiery element ⟨image 15⟩so that in these wordes he expoundeth what he would haue vnderstanded, by these wordes vnder the sunne, so that the summe of his meanyng is this. The creatures of this world, the sunne, the ayer, the water &c. Wherein men haue there beyng, abyde in ye rule and law appointed them: they go forth, they runne backe agayne, they are caryed &c. euen as they are ordeined, they haue their prefixed courses, they chaunge not, they go not out of them, but do that they ought to do, as the sunne goeth his way and certeine course &c. But men which haue their beyng in these foure elementes, creatures of such constācy and stabilitie can not do the like, bicause they wauer and stagger, beyng most inconstant by reason of the varietie of their diuers entreprises and desires, not content within their owne boundes, businesses, and vocations &c. Wherfore they expounde not the matter which vnderstād the generation that passeth,2 to be the Iewes, and the generation to come, to be the Christians, bicause Salomon speaketh here of the perpetuall successe of generations and ages.
- 1Gods creatures are firm and stable, but men are carried and vexed with diverse desires.Gods creatures are firme and stable, but men are caryed and vexed with diuerse desires.
- 2False interpretation blamed.False interpretatiō blamed.
