Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4:3

not yet been] Job III. 10. and chap. X. 18, 19.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

envied] For his eminent worth and works, his ingenious Acts and Parts. As the Courtiers of Persia did Daniel. See Prov. XXVII. 4.

Ecclesiastes 4:5

foldeth his hands The foolish sluggard so described, Prov. VI. 6. See the Explanations there. And chap. XXVI. 15. and chap. XIX. 24.

eateth his own flesh] Prov. X. 4. maketh many an hungry meale.

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better is an handful] The sluggards plea. Sinners will have their shifts.

saw vanitie] Another vanitie, contrary to the former. Fools whiles they shun the sands, do rush upon the rocks.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

yet no end of all his labour] This matchlesse miser, and fellow that hardly hath a fellow is never satisfied, as Prov. XXX. 15. toiles without end, Esay V. 8. Hab. II. 5. and to no end trusts he can draw up Jordan into his mouth, Job XL. 23. and yet knows he hath none to whom he may leave his goods so toiled for. This is worse then that of Psal. XXXIX. 6.

neither is his eye satisfied with riches] Indeed the eye only hath the use of riches with such covetous men.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two are better then one] In a natural, and in a Moral sense, Jer. XLI. 13, 14. 2 Sam. X. 11. And spiritualy, next to Communion with God is the Communion of Saints, Psal. XVI. 2. Heb. X. 24.

Ecclesiastes 4:14

he cometh to reigne] The poor and wise child.

I considered] Another vanitie and vexation: if this be not an exemplification of the old foolish King dethroned, and the poor wise child standing up in his stead.

all the living] All the present generation of men living under a present Prince or Government; the multitude, many-headed, given to change, falling off from the falling Sun, and adoring the rising Sunne.

with the second child] The Successor; sonne, or who ever he be: joyning to him, and following him; as thinking they must live by the living, and not by the dead; and so expecting protection and preservation by and under him. Such is the vanitie and vexation of Princes, that if they live long, they outlive their own glorie, and are looked upon by their own subjects, as faling, sinking, bending to the grave: And such is the vanitie and levitie of people, that they are weary of present government, and even sick for a change, prove the change what it will, 1 Sam. VIII. 5, 18, 19, 20. and XII. 12. 2 Sam. XV. 12, 13. and chap. XX. 2. 1 Kings II. 15. Prov. XXIV. 21.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

no end of all the people] Infinitely discontented, and restlesse in their desires of change, never contented with their present state. The people put no end or stop to this vanitie, to this their epidemical disease; but this vanity and vexation passeth on from one generation to another, that they are thus variously affected towards their Princes in all ages.

shall not rejoyce in him] But grow wearie of him, whom now they so zealously affect, and with so much loyaltie adhere unto, and shall wish for another.

Surely this] Must needs be a vanitie and vexation to people; but to Princes specialy.