Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:1

A Good] Now he sheweth, that besides wordly goods, the fruition of which he hath commended, there are other goods which the faithfull man ought to look after: namely, eternall, to which one must passe by death: the meditation of which, serves to direct the living to that happy end Name,]the Italian, Fame] Namely, the true and sound nae of faith and holinesse, which confirmed by his death, doth last afterwards Of death] Namely, of him that is a beleever, and a childe of God, and dieth in his favour.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

That is] namely, death, which is the cause of that mourning, the consideration of which, causeth living men to think upon making themselves fit for it.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

Is better] This meditation of death, though it be sorrowfull, is better for the salvation of man then all his mth, seeing he doth by that mortifie his flesh, and rendeth his heart from the world, and lifteth it up to eternall goods Of the countenance] of man in his naturall estate, which is called the outward man. 2 Corinthians 4:16 The heart] That is to say, the soule and the inward man Is made better] spiritually.

Ecclesiastes 7:4

Of the wise] Which looke after the end of things, and think upon eternity, whereas fooles are onely guided by sense, and thinke no further th things present.

Ecclesiastes 7:5

It is better] This meditation of death, is indeed harsh to the flesh, being a rough curbe to the vanities of the world: but even as the severe reproofes of wise men, are to be preferred before fooles tricks, and jests. So an humbling and correcting sorrow, is more to be desired, then alluring and be witching pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:6

For as the] That is to say, even as the fire which consumes the thornes, causeth them to crackle for a small time: so the spirit of this world which leads men to perdition, transports them into an excesse of a false and short joy, and by that meanes hindreth them from thinking upon repentance, and a due preparation for death.

Ecclesiastes 7:7

Surely] Now follow some particular precepts belonging to that wisdome which he hath spoken of before: and first he sets downe some vicious passions, which darken the lustre of it.Oppression] Namely, the inclination, and evill habit of doing wrong to other men in matters of justice, whether it be through corruption, or his owne proper passion, of otherwise.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Better] The wise man looketh after the end of things, according as he foreseeth it by the light of Gods Spirit, and according to it he regulates himselfe and all his actions, and will not be blinded with the false appearance of the time present. See Deuteronomy 32:29 The proud] That through a certaine pride and disdaine is moved at every small offence. And he makes mention of this other passion of wrath, as contrary to the peace and quietnesse of minde, and to the moderation of true wisdome.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Say not] Be not so foolish as to say, that the times of themselves are better or worse: to impute the vices and calamities of the world unto the age. But doe thou say that the times are such as the men are, and that to amend the times the men ought for to amend themselves.

Ecclesiastes 7:11

Wisdome] There are three things of singular value; life, an inheritance, (that is to say, all things to maintaine life) and wisdome for to governe it. Meaning that the wise man should take a lawfull care for either, according to his vocation.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

A defence] the Italian, A Shadow] Riches indeed have this community with wisdome, that they doe save a man out of many dangers and disasters, yet the principall subsistency and true happinesse of mans life consists in wisedome.

Ecclesiastes 7:13

Consider] Be wise in discerning the various wayes of Gods providence, for to second them with thine affections of joy or sorrow. See Ecclesiast. 3. 1. 11 For who] Since Gods will cannot be withstood, nor the effects thereof bee altered, wisedome would have a man submit himselfe quietly unto it.

Ecclesiastes 7:14

Consider] For to have such a feeling as God calleth thee unto by his visitation Hath set] he hath in this life mixed good with evill, so that the one is a remedy and a curbe for the other To the end] To direct man by thse different meanes of mildnesse and severity unto a happie death, for after that there are no more vicissitudes nor varieties: all things are perpetuall, neither is there any place for repentance or amendment Nothing] Like to what befalleth him in this world After him]Namely after his death.

Ecclesiastes 7:15

All things] The Italian All this] This may be referred as well to the precedent, as to the subsequent things Of my] Namely of my fraile and transitory life That perisheth] Runnes into diverse mortall dangers and inconveniences In his Righteousnesse] The Italian For his justice]either being persecuted by Tyrants, or misconstrued and calumniated or too indiscreetly and hatefully used. The wise mans meaning is to shew, that wisdome ought to bee joyned with uprightnesse in the guiding of mans life Wickednesse] covered over with art and cunning, or used with politicke craft.

Ecclesiastes 7:16

Righteous overmuch] That is to say, a too severe reprover of every petty error, or too much bent upon a thing which of it selfe, or in thine opinion is just, without yeelding any way, either in charitie, or wise innocenccie to the opinion of others, to the necessitie of times, to common custome, or to humane frailty Destroy thy selfe] Making thy selfe as it were the very marke of publicke hatred.

Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not] Have also a greater care of loosening the raines too much to wickednesse which provoketh Gods suddain judgment Before thy] The Italian, Out of thy] Before the 〈◊〉 of〈…〉 all course and out of it, by some violent and 〈◊〉 end, which may carrie with it the tokens and signes of Gods expresse vengeance. See Job 15. 32. and 22. 16. Psalms 55:15. Proverbs 10:27.

Ecclesiastes 7:18

That thou shouldest take hold] That thou shouldest follow the middle way between Gods right and the Consciences duty on the one side, and thy wise and innocent civill accommodation with men on the other side He that feareth] True piety doth indeed save a man from the said inconveniences, but it is by means of this holy wisdome: to intimate unto us that these two vertues ought to be joyned together.

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Strengtheneth] Against all assaults and dangers Mightie men.] The Italian, Governour] that is to say, politicke Magistrates, or Commanders of warre.

Ecclesiastes 7:21

Also] Seeing that all men are subject to errors, there is great reason they should also be apt to forgive one anothers faults, especially those which are most common, and into which a man may fall suddainely, and unawares, such as are the errors of the tongue, James 3:2.

Ecclesiastes 7:23

Have I pro〈…〉ed] I have meditated upon, and put in practice all these precepts, by meanes of that wisdome which God hath conferred upon mee a 〈◊〉 still with such imperfction as is inseparably joyned to humane nature.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

The wickednesse] Namely that which is absolutely vicious in the common course of life; to beware of it, and therein to use the severe remedies of mine office; tolerating in the meane time many things that proceed from ignorance and weakenesse.

Ecclesiastes 7:26

The woman] The strumpt, that knowes all the wayes how to entice, ensare, and catch men.

Ecclesiastes 7:27

This have I] Namely those things which I have spoken of; and which are but a parcell of that perfection which I sought after, to the height of which I could never attaine, v. 23.

Ecclesiastes 7:28

Have I found] I have found but few men capable of these first instructions of wisdome, but almost not any woman.

Ecclesiastes 7:29

This onely] The onely point that I have well apprehended, is, that God had at the beginning endowed man with divine wisdome, for to direct him to the end of his happinesse, but hee hath lost this gift through sinne and rebellion: and in stead of that, he hath gotten false carnall wisdome, which is the cause of all his evills, and strayings Iavention] The Italian Discourses.] Namely vaine, and false imaginations thoughts, and councells. See Psalme 119 113. Romans 1:21.