ribes is no gainer by themz Burt if this be independent upon the former; as divers 0: her verſes here are, it isa genera] and uſeful obſervation, that the good or evil of things is better known by their end, than by their beginning;z which is true both in evil Counſe!s and Courſes, which are pleaſant at firſt, but at laſt bring deſtru&j- on ; and in all noble Enterprizes,in the ſtudies of Learning, and in the pratice of Virtue and Godlineſs,where the beginnings are difs ficult and troubleſome, but in the progreſs»nd concluſion they are moſt eaſfie and comfortable;and it is not ſufficient to begin well, un« leſs we perſevere to the end,which crowns all.x Who quietly waits for the end and iſſue of things,and is willing to bear hardſhips and inconveniencies in the mean time. y Which he puts inſtcad of ha#y or impatient,which the oppoſition mighr ſeem to require,partly be- cauſe Pride is the chief cauſe of impatience, Prove 13, 10« and makes men unable to bear any thing,cither from God or from Men, where- as Humilty makes Men ſenſible of their own unworthineſs, and that they deſerve, at leaſt from God,all the indignities and injuries - which they ſuffer from Men by Gods permiſſion, and therefore pa- rient under them 3 and partly to cerrett the vulgar error of proud Men, who think highly of themſelves,and trample all other, ejpe- cially ſuch as are meck and patient, under their feer. |
9 * Be not haſty in thy ſpiric to be angry z : for an- *Provie- ger reſteth @ in the boſom # of fools. pan
£ Be not angry withany man without due cenſideraticn.and juſt 3* and neceſſary cauſe; for otherways anger is ſometimes Jawful, and ſometimes a duty, #« Hath its ſetrled and quiet abode, is their con- ſtant companionever at hand upcn all occaſions, whereas wiſe men reſiſt, and mortifie, and baniſh it. b5In the Heart, the proper ſear of the paſſions. | :
Io Say not thou c, What is rhe cauſe that the former fHebw
days were better dthan theſe? for thou doſt not enquire 79"
tf wiſely concerning this es |
c To wit, by way of impatient Expoſtulation and Compſaint 2« mo God, either for permitting ſuch diſorders in the World, or
r bringing thee into tbe werld inſuch an evil time. and ftate of things. Otherwiſe,a man may ſay this by way of prudent and pious enquirys that by ſezrching out the cauſe, be may; as far as it is in his power, apply Remedies to make them | berter. « Either 1. Leſs ſinfal. Or rather 2- More quiet and comfortable. For this and net the former, is the cauſe of moſt Mens murmurings againſt Gods Providence. And this is an Argument of a mind ditcontent- ed and unthankful for the many Mercies, which Men commonly enjoy evert in evil times, and impatient under Gods hand. e This Queſtion fheweth thy great folly in contending with thy Creator, and the Sovereign Lord and Governour of all things, in oppoſing wy ſhallow wit to his unſearchable Wiſdom, and thy will co his'
all, E 1t Wiſdom ||is good f, with an inheritance ; and | or; 4
= ${Sorrow b ;s better thanlaughter: for by the ſadneſs * J0r,2g* of the countenance 3 the heart is made betcer &. | ; bh Eicher for ſin, or any, outward troubles. # Which 'is- ſeated. in * | the Heart, but manifeſted in the Countenance. k More;weaned from the Luſts and Vanities of this World,by:which moſt menare-: enſnared: and deſtroyed, and more quickned to ſeek: after, and em-
in his Word: | n
4 The heart. of the wiſe is in the houſe of mourning 1 but the heart of foo]sjs in the hauſe of mirth m7,
I Even when their bodies areabſent. They: are conſtantly, or very frequently mcditating.upon ſad & ſerious things,fuch asDeath and Judgment, the Vanity of this Life,and rhe realicy andeternity ef the next ; becaule they kapy that theſe thoughts, though they
| a Mans ſelf, but many others who live with. him in-rhis World.
by it there 4s profit g tothem that ſee the ſun 5, good as as], J i: e. Very good ; the Poſitive being put for the Superlative, as Inher.”
it is frequently in the Hebrew Text. When Wiſdom and Riches 191%
meet in one-man, itis an happy. conjunQion;for Wiſdom without bers 5% |
Riches is commonly contemned, Eccleſ” 9. 16.and wants opportuni-
ties and inſtruments of diſcovering it ſe]f,andof doing that good:in
brace that true and everlaſting Happineſs which God offers to them the World which it is both able & willing to. doz and Riches with=
out Wiſdom are like a Sword in a mad Mans Hand,an occaſion of much ſin-2nd miſchief,both to himſelf and others. g By Wiſdom joyned: with Riches,there comes great benefit. Heb. axd it 15 an exe cellensy, or priviledge, or advantage. hi, e To mortal men,nor only
Whereby alſo he intimates that Riches bear no price, and have na".
uſe inthe other VVerldc ia For
Chap. VL. F
ainſt whom . be not grateful to the ſenſual part,yet they are abſolutely neceſſary,
Pina 2») Ta AS
*c
ArY 16;
b af ſal
"Chap. VII.
} #Hc:byb-» 12 For wiſdom 5s a+ defence i, and money is a de-
4a MY "7 ———
-— "VO ; a , % _— , p, 0 : 4p 3X; & ” fa
ECCLES gw.
fence: but the excellency oF knowledge js,that wildom ]iveth life tothem that hays it &. :