Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies] As one sinner, in the precedent words; so here one sin destroyes much good. Alike folly doth fly-blow a wise mans reputation, Neh. VI. 11.

Ecclesiastes 10:2

heart is at his right hand] As his eyes are in his head, chap. II. 14. He ordereth his affairs with discretion; he acts dexterously and discreetly with mature advise and judgement; he worketh by the guidance of his heart, Luke XIV. 28, 31.

But a fools heart] He is left-handed in his works and wayes; doth them rashly, awkwardly, bunglingly, preposterously, As 1 Kings XII. 8. Esay XIX. 10,—14.

Ecclesiastes 10:3

walketh by the way] He doth palpably discover to others, and proclaime, That he is a fool, Prov. VI. 13 and chap. XII. 23. and XIII. 16. and XVIII. 2. See Prov. XVII. 28.

Ecclesiastes 10:4

Leave not thy place] Thy office, duty and obedience to him. A souldier must stand to his station, ch. VIII. 3. proudly fling not away in displeasure; much lesse, stand not to affront him; turne not, rise not up against him, as 1 Kings XII. 16. seek to pacifie him, Prov. XV. 1. and if need be, go a little aside out of his sight, till his rage, and thy danger be over-past. See Judges VIII. 1, 2, 3. Gen. XXXII. 13. and XXXIII. 3. 1 Sam. XXIV. 16. and chap. XXV. 32. Prov. XXV. 15

Ecclesiastes 10:5

as an error] Haply by the erring information of others; seeing Rulers must needs see much with other mens eyes, and hear much by other mens ears. And yet this error may prove a great mischief, to Church, and State.

Ecclesiastes 10:6

and the rich] In worth, and wisdome. Dignity ought to wait upon Desert; though it alwayes doth not. For Rulers sometimes grow into suspition of such as eminently excel in extraordinary worth.

Ecclesiastes 10:7

Servants upon horses] Men of a low, base, servile condition. And how insupportable this is, see Prov. XXX. 22. and how unseemly, see Prov. XIX. 10. It is a curse of God, Deut. XXVIII. 43. 44. Gen. IX. 25, 26. Lamented, Lam. V. 8. Yet the Levellers would be at this, to lay all alike: As in Germany, in Anno 1525. But the issue of that attempt was to themselves deservedly miserable.

Ecclesiastes 10:8

He that diggeth a pit] This, and the three following Proverbial similitudes tend all to this end, That evil usualy returneth on the heads of those that were the authors of it. Malum consilium consultori pessimum, Prov. XXVI. 27. and XXVIII. 10. Psal. VII. 16. and IX. 15. In application; against such as overturne the foundations of Lawes, and Customes; and alter the long established and wholsome constitutions of Kingdomes, Nations, and people; and confound Rule and Subjection, and dissolve the ligaments of Government, Prov. XXVI. 27.

Ecclesiastes 10:9

Who so removeth stones, &c.] Besides the general sense of the words, application of them may be made against those who remove land-marks; or rashly alter things seriously setled, and duly defined; and so do sowe seditions, and raise factions.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the iron be blunt] Wisdome directeth to whet the edge; to save the putting to of more strength; And so wisdome is better then strength chap. IX. 16. It guideth a mans actions without so much toile and labour, and a better end: without it, and Art and cunning by it, strength, and toile, and eloquence, or ought else is to small purpose.

Ecclesiastes 10:11

The Serpent will bite] If not charmed before. And after the biting, the Master of the tongue or eloquent man, cannot help or better the matter. The meaning may be, to compare the spirit of disloyalty against Rulers, and rebellious speeches against them, to the biting of a Serpent: And the wise and humble speeches and demeanor of subjects to their offended Governours, to an inchantment to keep them from biting. Or, to shew that a vaine babler, whose lawlesse tongue is ever finding fault with Government is no better then an uncharmed Serpent. It may be applied against any Sycophants and Slanderers whatsoever. Or to those who bite and babble at the Traditions of the wise.

Ecclesiastes 10:12

The words] Ephes. IV. 29. Col. IV. 6. Prov. X. 32. and XII. 13. and XV. 1, 2. 4, 26. and XVI. 23, 24. Such were Abigaels to David,

swallow up himself] Prov. XIX. 28. and XII. 13. Rom. III. 13. James III. 2,—12. Psal. LII. 3. Many men by their tongue have cut their own throats.

Ecclesiastes 10:14

is full of words] Multiplyeth boasting discourses, vainly tells his own undertakings, brags what he will do, and what he shall have.

cannot tell what shall be] No man, much lesse a fool, can tell this to himself.

Ecclesiastes 10:15

wearieth every one] By his wordinesse, and much idle vaine babling without any solid and sound matter; as empty casks sound loudest, chap. V. 3, 7. Prov. X. 19. and XVII. 17, 27.

how to go to the citie] He tires himself in trifles, being not able to manage the least matters, and easie for children; having not wit enough to keep the high road, to know the beaten path to the Citie. And yet he will foolishly labour and weary himself about hard and difficult matters.

Ecclesiastes 10:16

Wo to thee O land] Esay III. 4. A child in years, For Tutors and Protectors have mostwhat self-ends, and deal not fairly and faithfully, or jarre among themselves. Thus it was in Rome after the death of Ancus Martius: and in the Romane Empire in the times of Arcadius and Honorius. Yet the Land was blessed and happy under young Solomon, Josiah, Uzziah, our Edward the VI. and others, for the parts and graces wherewith God endowed them. Or else a child in understanding and parts, rude and raw, without experience, discretion and abilities for so weighty an imployment, of a childish disposition for wit, courage, carriage, this, though not a childe in years. And such was Rehoboam, 1 Kings XIV. 21. with 2 Chron.

XIII. 7. In a word, a worthlesse and wicked King is a Woe to the whole Land; and a great argument of Gods anger against it, 1 Sam. VIII. 6,—18. Job XXXIV. 30. Prov. XXVIII. 2.

Esay XIX. 4.

eate in the morning] Are riotous, and luxurious, unseasonably feasting.

Ecclesiastes 10:17

Sonne of Nobles] Nobly borne, The ancient splendor of a royal stock and descent addes much honour to a King, Est in juvencis, est in equis patrum virtus. And much more when he is nobly bred up, nobly seasoned with principles of true nobility, wisdom, & holinesse, honour and government; without which, nobility in blood and birth, are but shapes and shadows of true noblenesse. Though never so much noble blood run in the veins, yet worthlesnesse and wickednesse remaining in the heart, rendereth it ignoble.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

sloathfulnesse] See the Observations on Prov. VI. 6. Here it seems applyable to a sluggish, childish, carelesse government of a Kingdome or Common-wealth.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast] Feasting and wine have their mirthful use. But money answereth all things, doth supply and minister the former; yea, and hath the dominion in humane affairs above all other things: money is the measure of all things, buyeth all things. Money is the sinewes of warre; beares the masterie, in matches, and marriages, and Law-suits; effecteth all things.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Curse not the King] Notwithstanding his errours in government, or miscarriages in living, or wrongs done to thee, Exod. XXII. 28. 2 Pet. II. 10.

no not in thy thought] Or conscience, or heart. Thought is not free. Jer. IV. 14. Esay LIX. 7. Psal. LXII. 4. It will likely break forth.

for a bird of the aire] The danger if thou mutter it in hugger-mugger, God can reveale it by brute creatures; birds, and beasts; by inanimate creatures. See Gen. IV. 11. Esay XXVI. 21. Hab. II. 11. As Luke XIX. 40. So in this case. However, Kings themselves have long eares. Yea, we say, walls, and hedges have ears. See that Ester II. 22. And consider the discovery of our hellish Powder-plot.