A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 13
Eccleſ. 7. v. 28.
Doct. 1. There is a great ſcarcity of men (worthy the name of men, or quitting themſelves like men,) and a greater ſcarcity of women worrhy of the name of women: and Kings of all men (eſpecially penitent Kings) have moſt cauſe to to ſay ſo. Or, There is a great ſcarcity of good men, and a greater ſcarſity of good women, eſpecially about the Court. For Solomon ſpeaketh of what himſelfe found; One man among a thouſand have I found, which argueth a great ſcarcity of men, and ſurely he doth not meane that men for the moſt part are no men, but not good men, not ſuch as are worthy the name of men, that quit themſelves like men, as they ſhould according to 1 Cor. 16.13. in our ſeveral relations and employments, 2 Sam. 10.12. See the like phraſe, Prov. 18.22. So 1 Chron. 6, 10. Jehojada or Azariah (either of both, for the holy ghoſt giveth liberty to underſtand either) (Sacerdotem egit) executed the Prieſts office; why, did not their Predeceſſors and ſucceſſors execute the ſame office? true, but not with like Prieſtly wiſdome, courage, zeal, faithfulneſſe. There is ſuch a like phraſe in Job 33.23, One of a thouſand to declare to a man his righteouſneſſe and ſo his failing and falling ſhort of it: that is a faithful admoniſher of the ſcarcity of faithful men, David (a Courtier) complaineth, Pſal. 12, 1. Prov. 31.10.
Reaſons of few men, 1. From the paucity of the Elect, Matth. 20.16. And if not Elect then not effectually called, and then Chriſt not being united to us, we are ſtill full of ſelfiſhneſſe, ſelf-conceit, ſelf-will, ſelf-ſeeking.
Reaſon 2. From the hardneſſe and ſtraitneſſe of the gate, and wayes of righteouſneſſe, with the contrary liberty and eaſe of the gate and wayes of ſin and death, Matth. 7.13.14.
Reaſ. 3. From the variety of the changes of relations, wherein a man ſtands. A man that is a good ſervant, if he become a Church member, he can deſpiſe his Maſter, whether he be carnal (becauſe ſuch:) or a brother becauſe then equal in Chriſt, hence 1 Tim. 6.1, 2.
Reaſons of fewer women. 1. From their greater liableneſſe to deceit and temptation, 1 Tim. 2.14.
Reaſ. 2. From their greater vehemency and impotency in their paſſions and luſts, not only on good objects, 2 Sam. 1.26. but on evil alſo, 1 Kings 21.25.
Reaſon 3. From their great ſuperſtition, Acts 13, 50. 2 Tim, 3.6, 7. This Solomon found by experience.
Reaſons of feweſt in Court, 1. From the greateſt paucity and rarity of great men called, 1 Cor. 1.26.
Reaſon 2. From the affected liberty of great men, eſpecially, Jer. 5.5.
Reaſon 3. From the ſelf-ſeeking of flattery frequent in Courtiers, Hoſ. 7.3, 5. 2 Chron. 24.17. 1 Kings 22.13.
Reaſon 4. From the temptations that follow the Court, Immunity from Controlment, Amos 7.13. Iſai. 30.10. Impunity from the hand of Juſtice. The Court is commonly made a ſanctuary for iniquity.
Ʋſe 1. To refute the Papiſts note of the Church; multitude; Not one of a thouſand, more Mahumetans then Chriſtians of all ſorts.
Ʋſe 2. To diſwade men from bleſſing themſelves in leading ſuch a life, as moſt men lead, Exod. 23, 2. Scarcity of good ſtore of company in good wayes is no juſt diſcouragement from walking in them, yet with this caution, not therefore to neglect the multitude of the godly, whether in matters of Judgement or practice, 1 Cor. 14, 36. 1 Cor 11.16.
Ʋſe 3. To humble both men and women for this ſcarcity of goodneſſe amongſt us. See how low ſin debaſeth, we are not worthy the name of men and women by reaſon thereof, Prov. 30.2. Pſal. 49.20. & 73.22. 1 Cor. 15.32. Eccleſ. 3.18. Grace maketh us like to Angels, yea to God himſelfe: amongſt men, one of a thouſand, but ſinne, maketh us rather beaſts then men. Not one man ſcarce of a thouſand, or woman, that quit themſelves well in all their relations.
Ʋſe 4. To weane us from affecting to live in the Court where, of all places, goodneſſe is moſt rare. God threatned preferment, in a great Court, for a great plague, 2 Kings 20.18.
Ʋſe 5. To teach good men, and good women eſpecially to be the more thankful, that God ſhould ſhew us ſuch ſpecial grace, and favour, as to paſſe by thouſands, and call us to goodneſſe. Univerſall righteouſneſſe endoweth us with rare excellency, ſuch as is ſcarce found in a thouſand.