A34666:735
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…
A brief exposition with practical observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that late pious and worthy divine, Mr. John Cotton ... ; published by Anthony Tuckney ...A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that late pious and worthy divine, Mr. John Cotton ... ; published by Anthony Tuckney ...
London: printed by T.C. for Ralph Smith, 1654
A BRIEF EXPOSITION UPON ECCLESIASTES. › VersesA BRIEFE EXPOSITION UPON ECCLESIASTES. › Verses
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Eccles. 4.13. to 16. 13. Better is a poor and a wise child, then an old and a foolish King, who will no more be admonished. 14. For out of prison he cometh to reign, whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15. I considered all the living which walk under the Sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16. There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him: surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccles. 4.13. to 16. 13. Better is a poor and a wise child, then an old and a foolish King, who will no more be admonished. 14. For out of prison he commeth to raign, whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becommeth poor. 15. I considered all the living which walk under the Sun, with the second childe that shall stand up in his stead. 16. There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoyce in him: surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
IN these words Solomon declareth the vanity and vexation of spirit that befalleth upon Kings and Princes, and so upon Royal estates; and that from a double ground, or cause: First, from the Folly and Wilfulness of Kings, v. 13, 14. Secondly, Through the levity and inconstancy of the people, v. 15, 16. The folly and wilfulness of Kings he argueth from the meanness and baseness of that estate; and that he aggravateth by an argument à majori, of a far better estate of a wise child though poor, above a foolish king though old, and so for age venerable; Preferring the low estate of the one, above the highest estate of the other, v. 13. And this he proveth by the effects of both their estates; for the poor wise child out of prison cometh to reign: the other born and waxen old in his Kingdom becometh poor, v. 14. In declaring the levity and inconstancy of the people, he noteth it as a vanity found in the people of all the Nations under the Sun: First, That there is no end (or stay, or rest) of the peoples affections to their Princes and Governors. Secondly, That the people will wax weary of the young Prince that shall come after the old King, after they have tried his government, v. 16. And both these he proveth by his own observation of all the people living in all Nations under the Sun, and comparing the peoples dealing, with the second child that shall stand up in the old kings stead, v. 15.