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. 9.13, to 18. 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it, and there came a great King against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, wisdom is better then strength: nevertheless the poor mans wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more then the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better then weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Eccles. 9.13, to 18. 13 This wisdom have I seene also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it, and there came a great King against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarkes against it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no man remembred that same poor man. 16 Then said I, wisdom is better then strength: neverthesesse the poor mans wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more then the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better then weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Solomon having observed in, v. 11. that the battle is not to the strong; bread is not to the wise; In these two verses he ⟨p. 212⟩giveth an instance of the disappointment of great strength (by such a subject as was least able to resist it) to wit, by weak means in a weak subject; and of the neglect of such a wise man. The weak subject is, first, A little City; secondly, few men in it. The great strength against it, first, There came a great King against it; secondly, he besieged it; thirdly, he built great bulwarks against it, v. 14. The weak means, A poor wise man found in the City, and by his wisdom delivered the City, v. 15. Which act of the poor man is amplified by the slender requital of that poor man, expressed in an argument à Diversis: yet no man remembered that poor man, v. 15. All which passages Solomon setteth forth, first, by the Adjunct, wisdom, great wisdom, which he observed in it, v. 13. Secondly, By the wise observations which he gathered from it: First, that wisdom is better then strength. Secondly, That a poor mans wisdom is neglected, v. 16. Thirdly, that the words of the wise are more heard in quiet, then the cry of a Ruler among fools, v. 17. Fourthly, That wisdom is better then weapons of war. Fifthly, that one sinner destroyeth much good, v. 18.