Ecclesiastes 4

It is no wisdom in fighting with an enemy to give him the advantage of the ground; we give Satan advantage of the ground, when we are alone. Eve was foiled in the absence of her husband; a virgin is not so soon set upon in company (Ecclesiastes 4:10). Two are better than one.

Moreover they lose the benefit of those that should watch over them, Church communion is a good preservative against lusts. Woe to him, that is alone (Ecclesiastes 4:11). Stragglers are more easily surprised; they were scattered and became meat to the beasts of the field (Ezekie…

How often have I been benefited by their counsels — Ezra 10:3? How often refreshed, warmed, and quickened by their company — Ecclesiastes 4:10-11? How often have I fasted and prayed with them, taken sweet counsel with them, and gone to the house of God in company?

1. Friendship is necessary for every one that would live in the world, because man is [illegible], a sociable creature. Man was not made to live alone, but in company with others; for mutual society and friendship, and they that fly all company and live to and by themselves are…

But yet neither can he hence obtain any thing towards his design. Therefore, he proceeds, some expound it of the city Shilo, and then they interpret [in non-Latin alphabet] shall come, [in non-Latin alphabet], as that, the sun comes; that is, sets, or goes down (Ecclesiastes 4);…

Besides they observe the number of the verses at the end of every book: as also that [in non-Latin alphabet] in [in non-Latin alphabet] Leviticus 11:42 is the middle letter of the Law; [in non-Latin alphabet], Leviticus 10:16 the middle word; Leviticus 13:33 the middle verse; th…

In Neve Shalom lib. 10. cap. 9. They term it [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], the defilement of the Serpent; see 2 Corinthians 11:3. And [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], from Ecclesiastes 4 v. 13, an old and foolish King; so is that place interpreted in Midrash Coheleth. And this as we…

And yet I desire rather to raise the spirits of all above these troubles while they live, than satisfy them how they may desire freedom from them by death. When Solomon returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and beheld the tears of such as were…

Because wisdom and youth are seldom joined in one, and the ordinary course of this world is according to Job's observation (Job 10:12), who gives men advice to seek wisdom among the ancient, and in the length of days understanding; therefore if the comparison do stand between ma…

Section 3. The Wise man tells us, that he considered all travail and every right work, and that for this a man is envied of his neighbour, which says he, is vanity and vexation of spirit, Ecclesiastes 4:4. It cannot be denied, but that this often falls out through the Corruption…

By biting cares (Ecclesiastes 2:23): All his days are sorrows, and his travel grief; indeed his heart takes not rest in the night. (Ecclesiastes 4:8): There is no end of his labors, neither is his eye satisfied with riches. Men are full of biting cares, cruciating unquiet though…

Then covetousness gets into the heart by the eye; (1 John 2:15) love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; and therefore the Apostle when he makes a division of sin, he says for all that is in th…

1. Friendship is necessary, because man is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] a sociable creature. Man was not made to live alone, but in company with others, and for mutual society and fellowship; and they that fly all company and live to and by themselves, are counted inhumane: (Eccl…

Or, 2. Consider, covetousness itself may be a thief, and rob men of the use and comfort of their own possessions: the covetous man does always need, and is indeed the poorest man in the world (Ecclesiastes 4:8). There is one alone, there is not a second (he is a single man unmar…

This notwithstanding, the grace of God may and it will make a young man wise. The Scripture speaks of a wise child (Ecclesiastes 4:13), and of a child that is a hundred years old (Isaiah 65:20), and of young men that have the Spirit of God poured on them (Joel 2:28). The young m…

For he has none to help him up, if Jesus Christ does not recover him, who can? David fell and was restored, for he had one to help him up; but Judas fell and perished, for he was alone (Ecclesiastes 4:10). 7. This being but almost a Christian, provokes God to bring dreadful spir…

Verse 30: Hoshea smote him, and reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet]. So also (Esther 2:4), (Ecclesiastes 4:15), (2 Samuel 17:25), (Genesis 30:2), (1 Kings 16:10): Zimri reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet] (Ezekiel 16:32). Joseph heard that Archelaus did reign in the room of Herod his…

Beastly whoredom is but love and dalliance. So the sluggard qualifies and mollifies his shameful sloth with the sweet name of peace, and so lulls himself asleep in his sin: Better is a handful with quietness (so he terms his sloth) than two handfuls with labor and vexation (Eccl…

I acknowledge myself in a fault; and had I been here alone, I had by sleeping run the danger of death. I see it is true that the wise man says, "Two are better than one" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Until now your company has been my mercy; and you shall have a good reward for your labor.

1. That every man in the beginning of the Sabbath, in the morning, do privately prepare himself to the public service that follows, by private prayer, by examination and humbling of himself before God, in respect of his particular sins. This the wise man exhorts to, when he says…

The third, to be as careful to bring good affections, as a good understanding. For affections are the feet that carry the heart, and Solomon bids us to take heed to our feet, when we enter into the house of God (Ecclesiastes 4:17). They are the very key of knowledge and memory;…