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

For he can not strive with him that is stronger then he.

For he can not striue with him that is stronger then he.

That is with the thing that is above his reach.¹ For all things have their foundation upon Gods law and ordinance. The very heathens saw that thing were not governed by the counsel of the wise, but attributed the doing to destiny, or to fortune, and not to God. So Solomon in this place hath an eye to the course of this world. As things do pass in the world. There he seeth, that men can not compass & bring to pass that they desire & take in hand. The reason is, because the self same things withstand them. They will not be in subjection nor be ruled by our counsels, As if one would strive to have his own deuyse to go forward he prevaileth not, the thing withstandeth him, God stoppeth him. In vain therefore we wince against the ⟨image 106⟩prick, to as small purpose as if we would run through a wall with our head. For that that is stronger then he, and above him withstandeth his devise, as Anthony would have burst through his enemies, when he came into Italy, and made his two sons kings, one of the East, the other of the West, but he was disappointed thereof. See how Caesar was put by his cogitations and devise. Neither hath the Popes enterprises succeeded: because their names were given them before and appointed, they went beyond their bounds. So they strove against a stronger then they, and so gat nothing thereby, but care, sorrow, and calamity.

THat is with the thing that is aboue his reach.¹