John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 4:9

Verſ. 9. Two are better than one] Friendly ſociety is farre beyond that wretched aloneneſſe of the covetous Caitiff, verſ. 8. Hee joyns houſe to houſe, and land to land, that he may live alone in the earth, Eſay 5.8. Horat.Quin fine rivali ſe que & ſua ſolus amato. Let him enjoy his moping ſolitarineſſe, if he can. It is not good for man to bee alone, Gen. 2. Ariſtot. Polis. 1. ſaith God. And he that loves to be alone, is either a beaſt or a god, ſaith the Philoſopher. Man is [non-Latin text not transcribed], a ſociable creature, he is Natures good-fellow, and holds this for a Rule, Optimum ſolatium ſodalitium, There is great comfort in good company: next to communion with God is the communion of Saints. Chriſt ſent out his Apoſtles by two and two, Mar. 6.7. He himſelf came from Heaven to converſe with us; and ſhall we like Stoicks, ſty up our ſelves, and not daily run into good company? The evil ſpirit is for ſolitarineſſe, God is for ſociety. He dwels in the Aſſembly of his Saints; yea,Dupla & compaginata pleraque fecit Deus, ut coelum & terram, ſolem & lunam, marem & foeminam. Orig. in Gen. 1 Vid E[illegible: 2 letters]ſm. in Adagio [non-Latin text not transcribed]. there he hath a delight to dwell, calling the Church his Chepht ſibah, Eſay 62.4. and the Saints were Davids Chaphtfibam, his delight, Pſal. 16.2. Neither doth God nor good men take pleaſure in a ſtern froward auſterity, or wild retiredneſſe: but in a mild affableneſſe and amiable converſation.