Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10:2

IS at his] That is to say, hath a settled understanding, whereby hee doth all things rightly: whereas the fooles understanding wandring astray, doth every thing in a contrary way.

Ecclesiastes 10:3

Yea also] Hee cannot when hee is abroad in publicke dissemble his follie: but discovers it in his gestures; and in his gate, and in all his other unproper speeches and actions.

Ecclesiastes 10:4

Leave not] Doe not thou give over thy service through despight, or impatience, nor doe not forsake the place thou art in For yeelding] The Italian, For mildnesse] That is to say, humilitie and patience.

Ecclesiastes 10:5

As an error] Namely like to the frequent errors of Princes of the world, who doe advance the most unworthy and incapable: because they will seeme to doe every thing out of an absolute will and power, as if they were not bound nor tied to any thing.

Ecclesiastes 10:6

Folly] Namely base persons, which have no understanding nor vertue. See Proverbs 26:10 The rich] Men of qualitie and note, and more capable of managing publicke affaires.

Ecclesiastes 10:8

Hee that diggeth] He seemeth to meane that Princes, who are causes of these disorders, doe also endure the punishent of them.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the Iron] It in Warres, all manner of weapons; though blunt and out of order as the Israelites weapons were, when their enemies had dominion over them, Judges Chapter 3. verse 31. and 5, 8. 1 Samuel Chapter 13. verse 22. may bee made use of by good and valiant Souldiers. Much more may wee hope to make good use of wisdome: which is better than any weapon, Ecclesiastes 9:1-18. verse 18.

Ecclesiastes 10:11

Surely the] That is to say the slanderer is like the Serpent, and his biting, Psalme 58. 4, 5. and and 140. 3.

Ecclesiastes 10:12

Are gracious] They gaine the favour and good will of all men.

Ecclesiastes 10:13

The beginning] The more he speakes, the more he discovers his follie, especially when being reproved or contradicted, he bursts out into some furious passion.

Ecclesiastes 10:14

Is full of words] The Italian, Multiplyeth words] That is to say, doth bragge of many things, discourseth much, and undertaketh many things, feeding himselfe with great hopes, James 4:13-14; James 4:16.

Ecclesiastes 10:15

Wearieth] By reason of their unreasonable, and yet unprofitable striving, being not able for want of understanding and industry to attaine, to their ends even as a travailer wandring out of the high way can never attaine to his journeys end.

Ecclesiastes 10:16

A child] In age, understanding and experience Eate] That is to say make feasts, and drinke excessively In the morning] Which is the time to sit in councell and dispatch businesses. That is to say o preferre pleasure, before such things as belong to their office.

Ecclesiastes 10:17

The Sonne of] Bearing a high, and heroick mind, free from base and sordid inclinations, and passions, such as ordinary and vulgar people are subject to.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

The building] Namely the houses, and families fall to decay and ruine.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast] Seeing every one delights in honest recreations, wee must labour to get meanes, to sweeten thereby the bitternesses of this life. Or it is a pleasant thing according to the world to live in pastimes and pleasures, but that cannot be done without great wasting and expence of ones estate, which it were more expedient to save for necessary uses.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

The rich] Of him that is great in wealth and authority A bird] The businesse might bee revealed by some unknowne meanes: for great ones have their spies in all places.