Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 7:26

26 And I find more bitter than death, the woman whose heart is snares and nets , and her hands as bands . Whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her , but the sinner shall be taken by her .

By my own sad Experience. Which Solomon here records, partly as an instance of that folly and madness which he expressed in general, v. 25. and partly as a testimony of his true Repentance, for his foul miscarriages, for which he was willing to take shame to himself, not only from the present, but from all succeeding generations.

More vexatious and pernicious, as producing those horrours of Conscience, those reproaches, and diseases, and other plagues, both temporal and spiritual, from God, which are far worse than simple death, and, after all these, everlasting destruction.

The strange woman, of whom he speaks so much in the Proverbs.

Who being subtil of heart, Prov. 7. 10. is full of crafty devices to insnare men.

Either by Gifts; or rather by lascivious Actions.

Wherewith she holds them fast in cruel bondage, so that they have neither Power no[illegible: 1+ letters] Will to forsake her, notwithstanding all the dangers and mischiefs which they know do attend upon such practices.

Heb. he that is good before God, either 1. Whom God loves and favours. Or rather 2. Who is good sincerely, or in the judgment of God who cannot be deceived; whereas Hypocrites are frequently good in the eyes or opinions of men. Which sense seems to be confirmed from the opposition of the sinner to him, both here, and Eccles. 2. 26. Hereby he intimates that neither a good temper of mind, nor great discretion, nor good Education and Instruction, nor any other thing, except Gods Grace, is a sufficient preservative from the dominion of this Lust.

Shall be prevented from falling into that sin, or, if by surprisal or strong temptation he be drawn to it, he shall be recovered out of it by true Repentance.

The wilful and obstinate sinner, who gives himself up to the common practice of this or other sins; he who is a sinner before the Lord, as the Sodomites are called, Gen. 13. 13. who is fitly opposed to him that is good before God; he in whom there is not a dram of true goodness: for otherwise all men are sinners, as was said v. 20.

Shall be intangled and kept fast in her chains, as is implied, because this is opposed to escaping from her.

It is a strange thing, and worthy of your serious observation.

Marginal references: Pro. 22. 14.; Heb. he that is good before God.