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

Anger is better then laughter, for by a sad look, the heart is made better.

Anger is better then laughter, for by a sad looke, the harte is made better.

This is all one saying with that afore.¹ But how agreeth this with that he said afore? We must not be angry, but rejoice in all our labour. And here he saith anger is better then laughter? I answer. He speaketh rather of sadness then anger, not that foolish sadness which men counterfeit. But even as he speaketh of the house of mourning, so he speaketh of anger, so that anger is a kind of sadness, or grief, that causeth a kind of heaviness, as when it was told David that all the ⟨image 113⟩kings children were slain, he fell sad. There is the same word, that is in this place, which surely can not there signify anger, but heaviness, so that it is all one with that we say in the Dutch tongue. He was abashed and much troubled. Adversities dusken the countenance, and make it heavy. So he that is in office public, or private, Such a one can leave his laughing, so that he be a good man and will do his duty truly, there shall he find such grief, that he shall be compelled to say. The devil be a burrow master or governor, for there is nothing but more sorrow & trouble in it.

THis is all one saying with that afore.¹ But how agreeth this with that he sayd afore? We must not be angry, but reioyce in all our labor. And here he saith anger is better then laughter? I aunswere. He speaketh rather of sadnes then anger, not that foolish sadnes which men counterfet. But euen as he speaketh of the house of mourning, so he speaketh of anger, so that anger is a kinde of sadnes, or gréefe, yt causeth a kinde of heauynes, as when it was tolde Dauid that all the ⟨image 113⟩