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

¹Here Solomon coucheth as it were a heap of proverbs together, all which he applieth to his purpose, saying as it were: it cometh to pass in this world, as these proverbs declare. Whatsoever thou doest in this world, it cometh to pass, as saith the proverb: He that diggeth a pit. &c. Men do not escape from it without hurt. Likewise to rule men, is as to break up an hedge, where many times, it chanceth that a Snake stingeth him. Wherefore, if mishap betide thee, play the slackarde never the more, but remember that thus it goeth in this world. For to rule men is in Gods power only. Therefore, he that is called to authority, must remember that he taketh that in hand that mans wit can not compass. For the hearts of men are not in our power. Only they which have the fear of God in them are easily ⟨p. 116⟩governed. This proverb is taken from them that dig pits or graves,² whose chance it is many times unawares to fall into the same. So to bear rule in this world, is to dig a pit: there be thou fenced, & know thou art in peril. Which except thou wilt do, thou shalt fall into many sudden and unforeseen dangers. For dangers foreseen less hurt us. Thus did Demipho in Terence's Phormio well give warning of. Wherefore (saith he) All men when they are in most prosperity, most chiefly consider with themselves how to suffer and bear adversity, dangers, losses, banishment. When he cometh out of the country, let him alway think, my son may have committed some fault, my wife may be dead, my daughter may be sick: these be common cases, and it may be that they shall not be strange unto thee. Whatsoever falleth out otherwise than thou hopedst for, take for advantage. That if any thing so happen, thou mayst say, thus I thought and looked for, and think no strange thing is happened unto thee. And if any good hap or fortune betide thee, take it for a daily gain.