An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.
About this Item
Title
An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.
Author
Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.
Publication
At London :: Printed by Iohn Daye, dwellyng ouer Aldersgate,
An. 1573.
Rights/Permissions
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Subject terms
Bible. -- O.T. -- Ecclesiastes -- Commentaries -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A06504.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 4, 2024.
Pages
Moreouer, I saw vnder the Sunne, the place of iudgemēt, where was wickednes, and the place of iustice wher was iniquitie. And I thought in myne hart, God will iudge the iust and the wicked: for there is a tyme for euery worke & purpose.
WHat should I speake of the vices & vanitie of mans deuises, where as euen in the place of iudgement, that is, where iustice and lawe should be admi∣nistred, wicked men and vngodlines doe raigne. And Salomō doth not so much complayne, that vngodlynes is in the place of iudgement, as that it can not in that place be amended and corrected: as though he should say. All thinges are vt∣terly so vayne, that the care of correcting
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this vnrighteousnes of officers, doth no good. When I saw this wickednes, I thought to correct it, but I founde that I was not able, till God would correct it. So our Prince Frederike was wont to say:The longer I gouerne, the lesse I knowe how to gouerne. Againe: Where shall I at length finde him that I may trust? Sée in the courtes of all princes, how notwith∣standing there be diuers good men that wishe well to the common weale, and géeue good counsell thereunto, yet wyll there be alwayes some founde, that will dashe and trouble all their counsels and deuises. Such therefore, and so great is the malice and naughtines of man, that man is not able to amende and correcte all men.
Salomons meaning therfore is, that if a man would breake his brayne to cor∣rect all men; he should reape nothing but trauell and care of his doing. Therfore the matter must be committed to God, and such stones taken and lifted vp, as we are able to reare and welde. That that will not be reared let it lye still. I (sayth he) that was a wise king, ouer an holy people, and a diligent setter for∣ward
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of righteousnes, was compelled to suffer wicked persons to bée in publike office. For although I had displaced and put certaine of them out of office: yet al∣wayes would some other proue the like. Then how will it fall out with other Princes. Therefore it is the best to doe that God appointeth, and the rest to cō∣mit vnto him, which in his tyme shall iudge both the righteous and vnrighte∣ous. For men will not, nor can not, al∣though they were neuer so willing.