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. v. 17. 17. Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

BE not wicked overmuch] though the word is, [Greek or Hebrew] as before ([Greek or Hebrew] not be not overmuch wicked, but do not wickedly overmuch) but yet if we take it as is translated, the sense is the same.

BE not wicked overmuch] though the word is, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 as before (〈non-Latin alphabet〉 not be not overmuch wicked, but do not wickedly overmuch) but yet if we take it as is translated, the sense is the same.

To be wicked overmuch, implieth two things: 1. Aggravation of sin beyond the word. 2. Multiplication of it. First, to make a mans self more wicked then the word maketh him: So excessively wicked, as thereupon to shut out a mans self from all hope of mercy, or otherwise worse then he is. This excess a man that is convinced of the emptiness of his righteousness which he prized overmuch before, is apt to sink into, even to despair. Cain, who before thought himself as righteous as his brother, and his sacrifice as acceptable as his, being convinced by God of his ⟨p. 144⟩wickedness sunk into despair of mercy, Gen: 4.13. Hence also some think they have sinned against the Holy Ghost. Others that they have quenched the Spirit, when as rather the Spirit hath enlightened and awaked them. But this sense doth not fully answer the opposition in verse 14. though it answer well enough to verse 16.