Ecclesiastes 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean… I. FOR THE SAME THINGS UNCERTAINLY AND INDIFFERENTLY TO BEFALL THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED IN THIS LIFE IS UNAVOIDABLY NECESSARY. 1. Because men have the dominion over their own actions, and do that which themselves choose to do. 2. Because a great deal of prosperity and affliction befalls men, not as the reward or the effect of anything done by themselves, but by descent from their parents, whose virtues and vices have great influence upon the persons and fortunes of their children by the providence of God, and by the laws of men, and by the course of nature. 3. Because they are so mixed together in their persons, interests, employments, and places of abode, that they cannot be distinguished in the events that befall them. 4. For the more evident and certain distinguishing of them one from another. II. THEY WHO MAKE THIS OBJECTION AGAINST PROVIDENCE ARE NO COMPETENT JUDGES IN THE CASE, AND SUPPOSE IN THEIR OBJECTION THAT WHICH IS FALSE. It is supposed in this objection that the righteous endure so much grief, and the wicked enjoy so much pleasure, as cannot consist with God's love to the righteous and anger at the wicked, if He take notice and be concerned in that which happens. The better to judge of this supposition, let two things be considered. 1. That by the outward estate of men we know very little of their present grief or pleasure. 2. If we did know their present grief or pleasure, we cannot infer from thence which is the good, and which is the bad condition. III. HOWEVER, THE DAY OF JUDGMENT IS A SUFFICIENT ANSWER TO THE OBJECTION. St. Paul, when he felt the smart of his present afflictions, called them light afflictions, for a moment, not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed. (Z. Cradock, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. |
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