Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 3:21

21 Who knoweth the spirit of [illegible: 1 word] that [illegible: 1 word] upward, and the spirit of the [illegible: 1 word] that goeth downward to the earth:

It might be objected that the condition of men and beasts are vastly differing, because Man's Spirit goeth upward to God, Ch. 12. 7. but the spirit of a beast goeth downward together with its Body, and perisheth with it. To this he answers, Who knoweth this? Which is not to be understood as if no Man did know it, or as if the thing were utterly uncertain and unknown, for he knew it, and positively affirms it, Ch. 12. 7. but that few know it; as the same manner of expression is understood, Prov. 31. 10. Who can find? Isa. 53. 1. Who hath believed, &c? Which note the scarcity or difficulty, but not the nullity or impossibility, of the thing. Besides he seems here to speak not so much of a speculative, as of a practical knowledge, as such words are most commonly used. Who considers or regards this, or layeth it to Heart? True it is, there is such a difference, which also is known and believed by wise and good men: but the generality of Mankind never mind it: their Hearts are wholly set upon this life, and upon present and sensible things, and they place all their hopes and happiness in them, and take no thought nor care for the things of the future and invisible World. And as to them, with whom Solomon hath to do in this matter, the argument is strong and good, being, as Logicians call it, an Argument to the Man; and there is no considerable difference between sensual men and beasts, because their affections are set upon the same Objects, and both of them are partakers of the same sensual satisfactions and subject to the same sensual pains and miseries, and their hopes and felicity perish together, to wit, at death, and therefore such men are no more happy than the beasts that perish. Others understand it thus, Who knoweth this? to wit, by sense or experience; or, meerly by his own reason, or without the help of Divine revelation. But, with the leave of so many worthy Interpreters, and with submission to better Judgments, the former seems to be the truer sense.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] a[illegible: 1+ letters] cending.