Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 7:14

14 In the day of prosperity be joiful , but in the day of Adversity consider : God also hath set the [illegible: 1+ letters]ne over against the other , to the end that man should find nothing after him .

Enjoy Gods favours with chearfulness and thankfulness.

To wit, Gods work, which is easily understood out of the foregoing verse. Consider that it is Gods hand, and therefore submit to i[illegible: 1+ letters], humble thy self under his hand, be sensible of it, and duly affected with it: Consider also why God sends it, for what sins, and with what design. This is a proper season for serious consideration, whereas Prosperity relaxeth the mind, and calls it forth to outward things. But this clause may be, and is by some rendred thus, and look for a day of adversity. In Prosperity rejoice with trembling, and so as to expect a change.

God hath wisely ordained these vicissitudes, that Prosperity and Adversity should succeed one another in the course of mens Lives.

Either 1. After man himself, or, as it may be rendred, after it, i. e. after his present condition, whether it be prosperous or aff[illegible: 1+ letters]ctive. So the sense is, That no man might be able to foresee, or find out what shall certainly befall him afterwards, and therefore might live in a constant dependance upon God, and might neither despair in trouble, nor be secure or presumptuous in prosperity, because of the frequent and sudden changes from one to the other. Or 2. After God, That no man might come after God, and review his works, and find any fault in them, or pretend that he could have managed things better, because this mixture of Prosperity and Adversity is most convenient both for the Glory of Gods Wisdom, and Justice, and Goodness, and for the benefit of Mankind, who have an absolute need of th[illegible: 1+ letters] vicissitude, le[illegible: 1+ letters]t they should be either corrupted and ruined by perpetual Prosperity, as many have been, or overwhelmed with uninterrupted Adversity.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word].