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…

Solomon in the former verse, having judged it to spring from want of wisdom, to conceive the former times to be always better then the latter, and to enquire (as men ordinarily do) of the reason thereof: He giveth in these and the following uses, three several observations, touching the better and worse estate of one age above another, as at any time, so for his own time. First, For his own time, wherein wisdom and wealth abounded; he telleth us not that it was better then other times, but that it was (so far forth) a good time; wisdom saith he is good with an inheritance, and profitable for men, v. 11. And this he proveth, 1. From the benefit which either of them yield apart: wisdom is a defence, or rather a protection or refreshing, and money is the like, v. 12. Secondly, From the more excellent benefit of wisdom, but the excellency of wisdom is, it giveth life to the owners of it, v. 12. Secondly, He calleth us to consider the work of God in the estate of the times; as in his own age, so in every age: and the insufficiency of any man to make straight that which God hath made crooked, verse ⟨p. 133⟩13. and therefore to make a good use of the vicissitude of changes from age to age, verse 14. Thirdly, He declareth that in the best times, at least in his own time, he hath seen much evil, which he specifieth, verse 15. to the end of the Chapter; and some good, verse 19.28.

SOlomon in the former verse, having judged it to spring from want of wisdome, to conceive the former times to be alwayes better then the latter, and to enquire (as men ordinarily doe) of the reason thereof: He giveth in these and the following uses, three several observations, touching the better and worse estate of one age above another, as at any time, so for his own time. First, For his own time, wherein wisedome and wealth abounded; he telleth us not that it was better then other times, but that it was (so far forth) a good time; wisdom saith he is good with an inheritance, and profitable for men, v. 11. And this he proveth, 1. From the benefit which either of them yeild apart: wisdome is a defence, or rather a protection or refreshing, and money is the like, v. 12. Secondly, From the more excellent benefit of wisdom, but the excellency of wisdom is, it giveth life to the owners of it, v. 12. Secondly, He calleth us to consider the work of God in the estate of the times; as in his own age, so in every age: and the insufficiency of any man to make straight that which God hath made crooked, verse ⟨p. 133⟩