John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 10:9-10

Verſ. 9. Who ſo removeth ſtones ſhall be hurt therewith] So he that attempteth to looſe and remove the joynts and pieces of a ſetled Government, there is danger, that like Sampſon, he'l be cruſht in the ruin: So one gives the ſenſe of it.Pemble. Hee that goeth about to remove a Ruler out of his place, and to divide a ſetled Government that is at unity in it ſelf, undertaketh a dangerous peice of buſineſſe.Granger. As he undertaketh a deſperate work, ſuch ſhall his reward be. It is evil medling with edged tools, &c. ſaith another Interpreter. Some by ſtones here underſtand Land-marks, which to remove was counted Sacriledge among the Romans, Dim. Halic. and worthy of death. What are they guilty and worthy of then,Jerem. 6. that abrogate the good old Lawes of a Land, or the good old wayes of God, that have given reſt to ſo many ſouls? See the Note on Prov. 26.27.

And he that cleaveth wood, ſhall bee in danger thereby] viz. of breaking his tools, if not his ſhins: ſpecially if hee bee a bungler at it. This is to the ſame ſenſe with the three former ſimilitudes. Cyprian makes uſe of this text againſt Schiſmatiques,Teſt. ad Quirinum. lib. reading it thus; Scindens ligna periclitabitur in eo ſi exciderit ferrum, Hee that cleaveth wood ſhall be indangered thereby, if that the iron fall off. Hierom by wood here underſtands Hereticks; as being unfruitful and unfit for Gods building; and makes this Note upon it, Quamvis ſit prudens & doctus vir, &c. Although he be a wiſe and a learned man, who with the ſword of his diſcourſe cutteth this knotty wood,Hieron. in loc. he will bee endangered by it, unleſſe he be very careful.

Lib. 34. cap. 14Verſ. 10. If the Iron be blunt] Pliny calls iron the beſt and worſt inſtrument of mans life, and ſhewes the many uſes of it: as in plowing, planting, pruning, plaining, &c. but abominates the uſe of it in warre and murthering weapons. Porſena enjoyned the Romans, Ne ferro niſi in agricultura uterentur, ſaith hee,Plin. that they ſhould not uſe Iron but only about their Husbandry. The Philiſtims took the like order with the diſarmed Iſraelites, 1 Sam. 13.19. among whom ſwords and ſpears were geaſen, ſhares and coulters they allowed them, but ſo as that they muſt go down to the Philiſtims for ſharpening. Gregory compares the Devil to theſe Philiſtims, blinding and blunting mens wits and underſtandings, leſt the light of ſaving truth ſhould ſhine unto them. Theſe Edge-tools therefore muſt bee whetted by the uſe of holy Ordinances, and much ſtrength put to,2 Cor. 4.4 great pains taken, virtutibus corroborabitur, (ſo the old Tranſlation hath it.) But when all is done, he muſt needſly be obtusè acutus, which ſeeth not that wiſdome is profitable to direct: that is, that (whether the iron be blunt or ſharp, whetted or not whetted, more ſtrength added, or not added) 'tis wiſdome that rectifies all, or the benefit of rectifying is wiſdome. There is none to that, as David ſaid of Galiah's ſword.