Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Verse 19, 20
Ver. 19. Wiſdom strengtheneth the Wiſe, more than ten mighty Men which are in the City.
20. For there is not a juſt Man upon earth, that doth good, and ſinneth not.
HE returns again to the commendation of Heavenly Wiſdom from the bleſſed Effects thereof, that it Strengthens and fortifies the perſon indued therewith againſt yeilding to the Temptations, or ſuccumbing under the Trials formerly mentioned, and this effect he illuſtrats by preferring the ſtrength which this wiſdom giveth, to the Strength of ten Men for defending of a City, or never ſo many Men, for Ten is frequently in Scripture put for very many Gen. 31.7. Job. 19.3. though they be all Rulers, as the word Mighty ſignifies.
Next, he brings an Argument to prove the excellency of this wiſdom, above all humane ſtrength without it, and to excite Men to the ſtudy of it, taken from the proneneſs of the beſt to miſcarry, even in their beſt Actions: For ſaith he, there is not a juſt Man, to wit, inherently and compleatly Righteous upon the Earth, or, there is not a juſtified perſon who is by imputation Juſt, Who doth good, and (even in doing of it) Sinneth not: And therefore there is much need of this Heavenly Wiſdom, which diſcovers the way how Ungodly Men, may have their by paſt Sinfulneſs covered, Rom. 3.25. And may be reputed juſt in Gods ſight Iſai. 53.11. And for the future may be keeped from theſe ſinful extreams formerly mentioned.
Hence Learn. 1. The certainty of a delivery out of Temptations and Troubles, ſhould not make the Lords people careleſs, or ſhake their diligence in the ſtudy of Heavenly Wiſdom, which diſcovers the way of oppoſing Temptations, and the right uſe of lawful means of Defence againſt outward hazards: For, having promiſed that they ſhall come forth of all thoſe, he now commends Wiſdom which Strengthens againſt all theſe, Wiſdom Strengthens the wiſe, more than ten mighty men.
2. No mans Wiſdom can ſet him beyond the reach of aſſaults from ſpiritual or outward Enemies, while he is in this Life, the truly wiſe have more Enemies to oppoſe than any City in the World hath, as is ſuppoſed in this, that Wiſdom Strenghens the Wiſe more than Ten mighty Men which are in the City.
3. Spiritual and Heavenly Wiſdom, brings much ſpiritual Strength to the Soul indued with it, for oppoſing Temptations and enduring difficulties with Patience, and Cheerfulneſs; it ſets the Soul either upon the uſe of ſome approven mean for preventing outward hazards, 2 Sam. 20.16.22. Or upon the right way of bearing them Patiently, and Cheerfully Philip. 4.12. And leads it to Chriſt who is the Believers Strength for all that he hath to do, Iſai. 45.24. For Solomon here commends it from the effect of it, Wiſdom Strengthens the Wiſe more than Ten mighty Men.
4. However the Men of this World confide much in their numbers of Men, eſpecially in their Rulers and great Perſons, yet without ſaving Wiſdom to depend upon God in ſtraits, theſe will prove weak, and more unable to defend them, than ſuch are who want all external means of defence, and have that Wiſdom: For, ſaith he, Wiſdom Strengthens more than Ten mighty Men that are in the City.
5. It is impoſſible for any mortal to attain to a perfect and perſonal Righteouſneſs, All having in Adam loſt ſtrength for what is good Rom. 3.23. For this may be looked upon as deſcribing negatively the caſe of every Man conſidered in himſelf There is not a juſt Man upon Earth. &c.
6. Even they that are reputed Juſt by the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs to them, are but in part ſanctified in this Life, there remains ſtill in them a great byaſs toward that which is ſinful, and the ſame is ſtill manifeſting it ſelf in them, and will be ſo as long as they are on Earth: For of a juſtified perſon by Faith in the Righteouſneſs of the Meſſiah may this be taken, as pointing at the imperfection of his inherent Righteouſneſs, or Sanctification. There is not a juſt Man upon Earth, that doth Good and Sinneth not.
7. The proneneſs that is in juſtified perſons to miſcarry, and …in againſt God, even in doing that which is good, ſhould incite them to the ſtudy of Heavenly Wiſdom which diſcovers Temptations, directs them how to get Strength for oppoſing them, and to apply a remedy when they are in part overtaken by them: For he brings this as a Reaſon, or motive to the ſtudy of this Wiſdom, that There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth Good, and Sinneth not.
8. There is not only Sin in juſtified perſons, when they do that which is in it ſelf Sinful, or omit what is their Duty, but even in the beſt of their Actions, in ſo far as they are alwayes ſhort of the right manner of going about their Duty: For ſaith he, There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth Good, and (even in doing Good) Sinneth not.