A brief exposition with practical observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…

Eccles. 7.16, 17, 18. 16. Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thy self overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thy self? 17. Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this, yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Eccles. 7.16, 17, 18. 16. Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thy selfe overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thy selfe? 17. Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this, yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

IN the former verse Solomon delivered his third observation, touching the estate of the present times, to wit, what notable things he had observed in his own time. First, that he hath observed in the days of his vanity, a just man perishing in his righteousness: and a wicked man holding out long in his wickedness. A Second, see verse 19. A Third, see verse 20. A Fourth, see verse 21.22. A Fifth, see verse 23.24. A Sixth, see verse 25.26. But from that first observation, Solomon inferreth a double Corollary, First, Against excessive righteousness, which he dissuadeth from; 1. By the disease accompanying it, which is overmuch wisdom: 2. By the danger following it: Why wilt thou destroy thy self? Secondly, Against continuance and growth in wickedness, which he dissuadeth from, First, By the disease accompanying it, Folly, be not foolish: Secondly, By the danger following it, untimely Death, verse 17. and urgeth the acceptance of both these Counsels by two motives, 1. By the goodness of both. 2. By the help of God to eschew both the contrary evils, verse 18. Be not righteous ⟨p. 140⟩overmuch; First, Some take this and the next verse to be spoken by Solomon in the person of an Epicure or carnal Politician: Seeing righteous men do sometime perish in their righteousness, when wicked men prolong their days in wickedness; It is a good course not to be overjust. And yet least that should seem too gross and offensive, It is a good course also not to be overwicked, but to keep a mean between both. But if Solomon speak in the person of the wicked, he would not second it with his own approbation of the goodness of both courses, verse 18. Besides Solomon would not leave such corrupt counsel without some aspersion of folly or vanity upon it, as he doth in the like case,