John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 5:9

Verſ. 9. Moreover the profit of the Earth is for all] viz. For all ſorts of men, and for all kind of uſes. Alma mater, Terra ferax. Then ſhall the Earth yeeld her increaſe: and (therein) God, even our own God ſhall bleſs us, Pſal. 67.6. Can any of the Vanities of the Heathens give rain or grain? no, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. neither, Jer. 14.22. Can the Earth bring forth fruit of her ſelf? So indeed our Saviour ſeems to ſay, firſt the Blade, then the Ear, after that the full Corn in the Ear, Mark 4.28. but then it is after the good husband hath ſowed it, and God by his bleſſing given the increaſe. The drift of the Preacher here, is, to ſet forth the excellency of tillage firſt, and then to ſhew the vanity of it. Tillage is the life and blood of a Common-wealth: it is beyond all pecuniary poſſeſſions. Jacob had mony and other fruits of the Earth: Gen. 43. and yet if Aegypt, (the worlds Granary, as one calls it) had not ſupplyed them with Corn, hee and his might have periſhed.

The King himſelf is ſerved by the field] Not the Lyon, Dragon, Unicorn,Rex agro fit ſervus. Ar. Montan. &c. But the Plough and the Ship are the ſupporters of a Crown. Some read it thus, Rex agro ſervit, The King is a ſervant to the field; It concerns him to have care of tillage, plantation of fruits, breeding of Cattel, &c. or elſe all will ſoon run to wrack and ruine. King Uzziah loved husbandry, and uſed it much, 2 Chron. 26.10. and Amos 7.1. wee read of the Kings mowings. And Pliny hath obſerved, that Corn was never ſo plentifull and good-cheap at Rome, as when the ſame men tilled the Land, that ruled the Commonwealth, Quaſi gauderet terra laureato vomere ſcilicet & aratore triumphali.