A57129:617
Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes
London: printed by J. Streater, 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
nor riches to men of understanding] We read of rich fools, 1 Sam. 25.2, 3, 25. Luke 12.16, 20. and of poor wise men here, vers. 15.
nor yet favour to men of skill] Joseph cast into prison, Daniel in the Lions den, David hated of Saul.
But Time and chance happeneth to them all] Their Endeavours do arrive at such a success as the Counsel of God had pre-ordained, which is wholly hidden from our eyes, and therefore seem to fall out many times rather at adventure, and casually, then according to any regular means that have been used in order unto them. Whereby we learn, that Divine providence hath a wise and holy hand in ordering the most casual and fortuitous Events, to the execution of his righteous counsels, 1 Reg. 22.34. Esther 6.1— 11. 1 Sam. 6.7—12▪ 2 Reg. 3.22—24. He doth not hereby dishearten us from the use of means, but direct us in the ⟨p. 301⟩use of them, not to sacrifice to our net, nor to glory in our own wisdom, but to wait upon the blessing and providence of God, to give him the praise of our successes, and quietly bear whatever miscarriages he hath ordered to befall us, 1 Cor. 1.31. Jam. 4.13—16. 2 Sam. 15.25, 26.
But Time and chance hapneth to them all] Their Endeavours do arrive at such a success as the Councel of God had pre-ordained, which is wholly hidden from our eyes, and therefore seem to fall out many times rather at adventure, and casually, then according to any regular means that have been used in order unto them. Whereby we learn, that Divine providence hath a wise and holy hand in ordering the most casual and fortuitous Events, to the execution of his righteous counsells, 1 Reg. 22.34. Esther 6.1— 11. 1 Sam. 6.7—12▪ 2 Reg. 3.22—24. He doth not hereby dishearten us from the use of means, but direct us in the ⟨p. 301⟩
V. 12. for man also knoweth not his time] Events are then said to be casual, when no previous knowledge or counsel hath made way unto them. Therefore to prove that even able, wise, and skilful men are subject in common with others unto Time and chance, he here addeth, That man knoweth not his time] [Greek or Hebrew], so the Septuagint: [Greek or Hebrew], so Symmachus: His proper season and opportunity of working. But by the similitudes here used to illustrate this ignorance, It should seem, that His Time, noteth the time of evil and calamity, which many times befalls a man when he little dreams of it. This is called his day, or his hour, Psal. 37.13. Joh. 16.4. & 13.1. Calamity comes as a Thief in the night, unseen, unexpected, Matth. 24.50. 1 Thess. 5.3. Luke 12.20. Or as a snare which a man thinks not of, Luk. 21.35.
V. 12. for man also knoweth not his time] Events are then said to be casual, when no praevious knowledge or counsel hath made way unto them. Therefore to prove that even able, wise, and skilfull men are subject in common with others unto Time and chance, he here addeth, That man knoweth not his time] 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, so the Septuagint: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, so Symmachus: His proper season and opportunity of working. But by the similitudes here used to illustrate this ignorance, It should seem, that His Time, noteth the time of evil and calamity, which many times befalls a man when he little dreams of it. This is called his day, or his hour,
As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, [evil and exitious unto them,] and as the birds that are caught in a snare; so are the ⟨p. 302⟩sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them] Many times when we think things to go best with us, as the fish and the bird go with much hope and promise of good to themselves, unto the bait and snare: so men fall into evil by those very means by which they promised much good unto themselves, Esther, 5.12. Psal. 69.22. 2 Sam. 13.28. Luke 12.19, 20. He intimateth likewise, that as the wisdom of man can easily deceive the simple birds, so the providence and power of God can be too hard for all the wisdom of men, and ensnare them in their own counsels, Job 5.12.13, 14. Prov. 11.5, 6. He can suddenly infatuate them, Isa. 19.11—15. or suddenly start up some unexpected circumstance, which shall vary the nature of the whole business, though otherwise never so wisely contrived, 1 Sam. 23.27, 28. Job 22.10. Psal. 64.7.
As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, [evil and exitious unto them,] and as the birds that are caught in a snare; so are the ⟨p. 302⟩sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them] Many times when we think things to go best with us, as the fish and the bird go with much hope and promise of good to themselves, unto the bait and snare: so men fall into evil by those very means by which they promised much good unto themselves,
V. 13, 14, 15, 16. This wisdom have I seen also under the Sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little City, &c.] These words may be understood either as the Observation of another Vanity, namely, the disrespect which is showed unto wisdom when it is over-clouded with poverty, by the example or parable of a little City, delivered from a great King, by a poor despised ⟨p. 303⟩man: or else in Relation to the words next preceding, thus; Though it be true, that sometimes Events fall out contrary to the second causes, so that even wise men are disappointed in their works of those ends which regularly should have ensued upon them; yet wisdom ought not therefore to be despised, no not in the meanest persons; for as sometimes God doth deny success to the most proper and probable causes, so doth he at other times give great deliverance by unknown and unthought on means. The scope is to show the excellent use of wisdom, and how highly it is to be valued, though it be as a treasure in an earthen vessel, 2 Cor. 4.7. though brought unto us by mean hands: as David blessed God for the wise counsel of Abigail, 1 Sam. 25.32, 33. and Naaman rejected not the advice of a little maid, 2 Reg. 5.2, 3, 4. wisdom, in but a woman, saved a City from destruction, 2 Sam. 20.16—22.
V. 13, 14, 15, 16. This wisdome have I seen also under the Sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little City, &c.] These words may be understood either as the Observation of another Vanity, namely, the disrespect which is shewed unto wisdome when it is over-clouded with poverty, by the example or parable of a little City, delivered from a great King, by a poor despised ⟨p. 303⟩man: or else in Relation to the words next preceding, thus; Though it be true, that sometimes Events fall out contrary to the second causes, so that even wise men are disappointed in their works of those ends which regularly should have ensued upon them; yet wisdome ought not therefore to be despised, no not in the meanest persons; for as sometimes God doth deny success to the most proper and probable causes, so doth he at other times give great deliverance by unknown and unthought on means. The scope is to shew the excellent use of wisdome, and how highly it is to be valued, though it be as a treasure in an earthen vessel,
It seemed great unto me] However the wisdom of the poor man was undervalued by others, yet it seemed great unto me; so much the greater, by how much fewer helps and means he had to attain unto it.
It seemed great unto me] However the wisdome of the poor man was undervalued by others, yet it seemed great unto me; so much the greater, by how much fewer helps and means he had to attain unto it.
There was a little City, and few men within it] Here in a parable, he showeth the excellency of wisdom, by the greatness of the ⟨p. 304⟩danger from which it delivereth; set forth by a little City, with few men, and weak defence, assaulted by a great King, with a numerous Army, and strong bulwarks: so that the disadvantage was every way on the City side.
There was a little City, and few men within it] Here in a parable, he sheweth the excellency of wisdome, by the greatness of the ⟨p. 304⟩danger from which it delivereth; set forth by a little City, with few men, and weak defence, assaulted by a great King, with a numerous Army, and strong bulwarks: so that the disadvantage was every way on the City side.
now there was found in it a poor wise man] He found in it: Verbs active of the third person are used sometimes passively, Isa. 9.6. Hos. 10.2. God many times maketh one wife and holy man a means of delivering a whole people, Prov. 11.11. Gen. 50.20. 1 Reg. 2.12. 1 Sam. 17.8, 9, 51, 52. Deut. 32.30.
And he by his wisdom delivered the City] As one Archimedes at Syracuse, by his Art, did more towards the defence of the City, then all the rest that were in it; [Greek or Hebrew].
And he by his wisdome delivered the City] As one Archimedes at Syracuse, by his Art, did more towards the defence of the City, then all the rest that were in it; 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
yet no man remembered that poor man] This deliverance was wrought by a poor man whom no man made any account of, nor expected any such good from, being an obscure unknown person: and when he had wrought it, no man looked after him, to return him thanks for it, 2 Cor. 4.7.
yet no man remembred that poor man] This deliverance was wrought by a poor man whom no man made any account of, nor expected any such good from, being an obscure unknown person: and when he had wrought it, no man looked after him, to return him thanks for it, 2 Cor. 4.7.
Then said I, wisdom is better then strength] As Chap. 7.19. Prov. 21.22. & 24.3, 4, 5. Hereby we are taught to consider the goodness of things in comparison ⟨p. 305⟩one to another, and to prefer that which is most excellent, 1 Cor. 12.31. & 7.38. 1 Sam. 15.22.
Then said I, wisdome is better then strength] As Chap. 7.19. Prov. 21.22. & 24.3, 4, 5. Hereby we are taught to consider the goodness of things in comparison ⟨p. 305⟩one to another, and to prefer that which is most excellent, 1 Cor. 12.31. & 7.38. 1 Sam. 15.22.
V. 17. The words of wise men are heard in quiet, more then the cry of him that ruleth among fools] Are heard, that is, ought to be heard. As a son honoureth his father, Mal. 1.6. that is, he ought to honour him.
are heard in quiet] That is, either are to be delivered with submission and meekness, Prov. 25.15. 1 Reg. 12.7. Or, Are to be heard with a tractable and calm spirit, without pride or contradiction, Job. 29.21, 22. Jam. 1.21. A wise man speaking, though without clamour, contention, or ostentation, doth by his weighty and seasonable advice, more calm the spirits of his hearers, and by his sober and serious counsel more powerfully prevail with them, then all the angry and passionate words of such as have more power, but no skill to manage it: Ille regit dictis animos & pectora mulcet.
V. 18. Wisdom is better then weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.] Wisdom is not only better then strength, but then strength armed and seconded with military provisions: the poor mans wisdom did not only deliver the City from the great King and his numerous Army, but from his bulwarks and fortifications ⟨p. 306⟩which he had raised against it.
V. 18. Wisdome is better then weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.] Wisdome is not only better then strength, but then strength armed and seconded with military provisions: the poor mans wisdome did not only deliver the City from the great King and his numerous Army, but from his bulwarks and fortifications ⟨p. 306⟩which he had raised against it.
but one sinner destroyeth much good] By the opposition between a sinner and a wise man, It is evident, that Solomons Wise man here, is also a godly man: otherwise God useth to infatuate and defeat the counsels of worldly wisdom, 2 Sam. 15.31. Isa. 19.11—14. Isa. 29.14. & 44.25. 1 Cor. 1.19.
but one sinner destroyeth much good] By the opposition between a sinner and a wise man, It is evident, that Solomons Wise man here, is also a godly man: otherwise God useth to infatuate and defeat the counsels of worldly wisdome, 2 Sam. 15.31. Isa. 19.11—14. Isa. 29.14. & 44.25. 1 Cor. 1.19.