John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 11:3

Verſ. 3. If the clouds bee full of rain] As the Sun draws up vapours into the air, not to retain them there, but to return them to the earth, for its relief, and the creatures comfort: ſo thoſe that have attracted to themſelves much riches, ſhould plentifully pour them out for the benefit of their poorer brethren. Clouds, when full of great and ſtrong Rain (as the word here ſignifies) pour down amain; and the ſpouts run, and the eves ſhed, and the preſſes over-flow, and the aromatical trees ſweat out their precious oyls; ſo ſhould rich men bee ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate. But it falls out otherwiſe, for commonly the richer the harder, and thoſe that ſhould bee as clouds to water the earth, as a common bleſſing, are either waterleſſe clouds (as St. Jude hath it) or at beſt, they are but as water-pots, that water a few ſpots of ground onely in a ſmall garden.Domini inarſupium. The earth is Gods purſe, as one ſaith; and rich mens houſes are his ſtore-houſes. This the righteous rich man knoweth, and therefore hee diſperſeth (as a ſteward for God) hee giveth to the poor, his righteouſneſs (and his riches too) endureth for ever, Pſal. 112.9. Whereas the wicked rich man retaineth his fulneſs to rot with him; hee feedeth upon earth like a Serpent, and ſtriveth like a Toad, to dye with much mould in his mouth; and is therefore bidden by St. James, to weep and howl for the miſeries that are comming upon him, for his curſed hoard of evil gotten and worſe kept goods. The rottenneſs of his riches, the canker of his caſh, the moth of his garments ſhall bee a witneſs againſt him, and eat up his fleſh as fire, James 5.1, 2, 3. Hee ſhall bee ſure to bee arraigned as an arrant theef, as a curſed couſener; for that,Mal. 1.14 having a better thing by him, hee brings a worſe, and being a rich man, hee makes himſelf poor, leſt hee ſhould do good to the poor. As Pope Alexander the fifth ſaid of himſelf, that when hee was a Biſhop, hee was rich, when a Cardinal, hee was poor, and when hee was Pope, hee was a begger. I ſhould ſooner have beleeved him, if hee had ſaid as his ſucceſſor Pius Quintus did,Corn. a Lap. in Numb. 11.11 Cum eſſem religioſus, ſperabam bene de ſalute animae meae; Cardinalis factus exti[illegible: 2 letters]ui; Pontifex creatus pene deſpero. When I was firſt in Orders (without any further Eccleſiaſtical dignity) I had good hopes of my ſalvation; when a Cardinal, I feared my ſelf; but now that I am Pope, I am almoſt out of hope.

And if the tree fall toward the South] i. e. Which way ſoever it groweth, it fructifieth: ſo ſhould rich men bee rich in good works, 1 Tim. 6.18. and being fat Olive-trees,Pſal. 52.[illegible: 1 letter] they ſhould bee (as David) green Olive-trees, full of good fruits. Or thus, trees muſt down, and men muſt die; and as trees fall South-ward, or North-ward, ſo ſhall men bee ſet either at the right hand of the Judge, or at the left, according as they have carried themſelves towards Chriſts poor members, Matth. 25. Up therefore and bee doing whiles life laſteth; and ſo lay hold upon eternal life. Mors atra impendet agenti. Where the boughs of holy deſires and good deeds are moſt and greateſt, on that ſide no doubt the tree will fall: but being fallen, it can bear no fruit for ever.