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…

IN these Verses, to the end of the twelfth verse of the ninth Chapter, Solomon declareth and setteth forth another vanity ⟨p. 188⟩which he observed in the world, the promiscuous successes and events that befall good men and bad, chiefly by the mis-government of Princes.

IN these Verses, to the end of the twelfth verse of the ninth Chapter, Solomon declareth and setteth forth another vanity ⟨p. 188⟩which he observed in the world, the promiscuous successes and events that befal good men and bad, chiefly by the mis-government of Princes.

In this Fourth verse he propoundeth one kind of it, That there be just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked: and on the contrary there be wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous.

In this Fourth verse he propoundeth one kinde of it, That there be just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked: and on the contrary there be wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous.

This promiscuous event he amplifieth: First, By the adjunct vanity of it, there is a vanity done upon the Earth, I said this is also vanity, vanity ushereth it in, and waiteth upon it after; verse 14. both are vanity, both that the just find, according to the work of the wicked; and that the wicked find according to the work of the just. Secondly, By the effect it wrought in Solomon, which is the use he made of it, to commend mirth. And that he proveth; First, By the equality of the goodness hereof, the free and cheerful use of the good things of this life, being equal to any other course which a man can take in such a case. Secondly, By the Permanency of this good with him as a sauce to sweeten all his labour in the days of his life which God giveth him, verse 15. The coherence of these words with the former, is, that Solomon saw some wicked Rulers honourably buried, the punishment of some offenders prolonged, and thereby to outward view it might appear that the estate of wicked men was better then the estate of the godly (save only that saith knoweth the contrary) verse 10. to 13. He thereby taketh occasion to observe and set forth this vanity more distinctly and fully, the promiscuous estate and success of good and bad men in these, and in the following verses. The promiscuous events are of three sorts: First, That the good men fare as the evil should fare, and that evil fare as good should do, Text. Secondly, That sometimes both fare alike: If good men fare well, so do the wicked; if the wicked fare evil, so do the good: Chap. 9.1, 2, &c. to 10. Thirdly, That men of best ability and dexterity are disappointed of their hopes and means, verse 11, 12.