John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 7:13

Verſ. 13. Conſider the work of God, &c.] q. d. Stoop, ſith there is no ſtanding out. See God in that thou ſuffereſt, and ſubmit. God by a crooked tool many times makes ſtraight work; he avengeth the quarrel of his Covenant by the Aſſyrian that rod of Gods wrath, though hee thinks not ſo, Eſay 10.7. Job could diſcern Gods arrows in Satans hand, and Gods hand on the Armes of the Sabcan robbers. He it is that killeth and maketh alive, ſaith holy Hannah, he maketh poor and maketh rich, hee bringeth low and lifteth up, 1 Sam. 2.6, 7. All is done according to the counſel of his will; who as he may doe what he pleaſes, ſo he will be ſure never to over-doe: his holy hand ſhall never bee further ſtretched out to ſmite, than to ſave, Eſay 59.1. This made David dumb, for he knew it was Gods doing. It is the Lord, ſaid Eli, let him doe, Pſal. 39. 1 Sam. 3.18 and I will ſuffer, leſt I adde paſſive diſobedience to active. Aaron his Predeceſſor had done the like before him upon the ſame conſideration, in the untimely end of his untowardly children, Levit. 10.3. Jacob likewiſe in the rape of Dinah, Gen. 34.5. Agnovit hand dubie ferulam divinam, ſaith Pareus on that text, hee conſidered the work of God in it, and that it was in vain for him to ſeek to make that ſtraight which God had made crooked. There is no ſtanding before a Lion, no hoyſing up ſayl in a tempeſt, no contending with the Almighty. Whoever waxed fierce againſt God and proſpered? Job 9.4. Who ever got any thing by kicking againſt the pricks, by biting the rod which they ſhould rather have kiſſed? See Eſay 14.27. Job 9.12, 13. & 34.12.10. Set God before your paſſions, when they are up in a hurry, and all will bee huſht. Set down proud fleſh when it buſtles and briſtles under Gods fatherly chaſtiſements, and ſay ſoberly to your ſelves; ſhall I not drink of the cup that my Father (who is alſo my Phyſician) hath put into mine hands? ſtand under the croſs that he hath laid on my ſhoulders? ſtoop unto the yoke that he hangeth on my neck? Drink off Gods cup willingly (ſaid Mr. Bradford the Martyr) and at firſt when it is full, leſt if we linger wee drink at length of the dregs with the wicked. Ferre minora volo, ne graviora feram. That was a very good ſaying of Demoſthenes (who was ever better at praiſing of vertue than at practiſing of it) good men ſhould ever doe the beſt, and then hope the beſt. But if any thing happen worſe than was hoped for, let that which God will have done, be born with patience.