as Moses looked back upon his enemies, & saw them drowned behind ⟨image 4⟩him. The whole narration doth show, that Solomon wrote this book after his fall, when he had th'experience of vanities, and had seen the folly of the world, what evil comes of pleasure, and what fruit grows of sin, he was bold to say Vanity of vanities, &c. which he avoucheth with such protestation, as though he would justify it against many Adversaries, for all the world is in love with that which he calls vanity. Therefore he puts to his name in the middest of his sentence, as if he would defend it against all comers: if any man ask who broached this strange Doctrine, the Preacher (saith Solomon:) to testify his hearty conversion to God, he calls himself a Preacher, besides all the titles he had before: as a witness of his unfeigned repentance, as, if God had said unto him then being converted, convert thy brethren: so, when we are converted we should become Preachers unto other, and show some fruits of our calling, ⟨image 4⟩as Solomon left this book a monument to all ages of his conversion. Therefore they which write that Solomon died in his sin, and that such a famous Instrument of God went to the damned, do great wrong to the worthy King, which gives them such an example to repent, and would correct their rash Judgement, if they considered, First,1 that he was the clearest figure of christ (except Melchizedek) which passed all prosperity and all men in wisdom. Secondly, that he was inspired with the holy Ghost like the prophets,2 to be one of the Pens of God to write his holy word, the word of salvation, which was not fit for a reprobate. Thirdly: that God promised to his Father, that he would not take his trueth and his mercy from him, as he did from Saul, 3nor forsake him as he did Saul, but correct him in an other sort. Fourthly,4 that God is said to love him,5 therefore as Paul concludes, that Jacob was elected, because God saith, Jacob have ⟨image 5⟩I loved:6 so we may conclude that Solomon was elected, because he saith, Solomon have I loved. Lastly, we may gather out of the seventh Chapter of this Book, and 30. verse, and out of the 5. of the Proverbs 14. verse, that Solomon had left his concubines and vanities, before he wrote these books.
as Moses looked backe vpon his enemies, & sawe thē drowned behinde ⟨image 4⟩him. The whole narration doth shew, that Salomon wrote this book after his fall, when he had th'experience of vanyties, and had seene the sollie of the worlde, what euill comes of pleasure, and what frute growes of sinne, he was bolde to say Vanitie of vanities, &c. which he auoucheth with such protestation, as though he would iustifie it against many Aduersaries, for all the worlde is in loue with that which he calles vanitie. Therfore he puts to his name in the middest of his sentence, as if he would defend it against all commers: if any mā aske who broched this strange Doctrine, the Preacher (saith Salomon:) to testifie his hartie conuersion to God, he calles himselffe a Preacher, besides all the titles he had before: as a witnes of his vnf•yned repē tance, as, if God had said vnto him then being conuerted, conuerte thy brethren: so, when we are conuerted we should become Preachers vnto other, and shewe some fruites of our calling, ⟨image 4⟩as Salomon left this book a monument to all ages of his conuersion. Therfore they which write thar Salomon died in his sinne, and that such a famous Instrument of God went to the damned, do great wrong to the worthie King, which giues them such an example to repent, and would correct their rashe Iudgement, if they considered, Firste,1 that he was the cleerest figure of christ (except Melchisedech) which passed all prosperitie and all men in wisedome. Secondlye, that he was inspired with the holy Ghost like the prophets,2 to be one of the Pens of God to write his holy word, the word of saluatiō, which was not fit for a reprobate. Thirdlye: that God promised to his Father, that he would not take his trueth and his mercie from him, as he did from Saule, 3nor forsake him as he did Saule, but correct him in an other sorte. Fourthly,4 that God is saide to loue him,5 therefore as Paule concludes, that Jacob was elected, because God saith, Jacob haue ⟨image 5⟩
- 1Psa. 45.7.
- 21. Cro. 17.13.
- 32. Sam. 1• ▪ 24
- 4Nehe. 13.6
- 5Rom. 9.
- 6Gen. 27.
