Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Ver. 1. Who is as the wise man?] q.d., He is a matchless man, a peerless paragon, outshining others as much as the moon doth the lesser stars. a Plato could say that no gold or precious stone doth glister so gloriously, ωσπερ αγαθων ανδρων νοος συμφραδμων, as the prudent spirit of a good man. "Thou art a prince of God amongst us," said the Hittites to Abraham. "Can we find such a man as this Joseph, in whom the Spirit of God is?" said Pharaoh to his counsellors. Gen 41:38 "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth?" Job 1:8 "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house," and shall be of my cabinet council. Num 12:7 To him God said, Tu vero hic sta mecum, "But do thou stand here by me." Exo 34:5 Sapiens Dei comes est, saith Philo. Look how kings have their favourites, whom they call comites, their cousins and companions; so hath God. Nay, the righteous are "princes in all lands," Psa 45:16 kings in righteousness; Mat 13:17 Luk 10:24 the "excellent ones of the earth," Psa 16:3 the worthies of the world, Heb 11:5 fitter to be set as stars in heaven, and to be continually before the throne of God. Chrysostom b calls some holy men of his time, αγγελους, earthly angels; and speaking of Babylac the martyr, he saith of him, c Magnus atque admirabilis vir, He was an excellent and an admirable man, &c. And Tertullian, writing to some of the martyrs, says, Non tantus sum ut vos alloquar, I am not good enough to speak unto you. Oh that my life, and a thousand such wretches more, might go for yours! Oh, why doth God suffer me and other such caterpillars to live, saith John Careless, martyr, in a letter to that angel of God, Mr Bradford, as Dr Taylor called him, that can do nothing but consume the alms of the Church, and take away you, so worthy a workman and labourer in the Lord's vineyard. d

And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?] Wise a man may be, and yet not so apt and able to wise others. Those wise ones that can wise others, so as to "turn them to righteousness, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, yea, as the stars"; Dan 12:3 they do so while upon earth. Wisdom makes their very faces to shine, as St Stephen's did, Act 6:15 and as holy Job's, while he was in a prosperous condition. Job 29:8-10 Jobab he was then (the same, some think, that is mentioned Gen 36:33), as when in distress his name was contracted into Job. And then, though himself were otherwise wise, he might want "an interpreter, one of a thousand" - for such are rare, every man cannot sell us this precious oil Mat 25:9 - "to show unto him his righteousness," - that is, the righteousness of his own experience - how himself hath been helped and comforted in like case, or, to clear up to an afflicted Job his spiritual estate, and to show him his evangelical righteousness. Oh "how beautiful are the feet" of such an interpreter! "I have seen thy face," saith the poor soul to such, "as though I had seen the face of God." Gen 33:10

A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine.] Godliness is venerable and reverend. "Holy and reverend is his name." Psa 111:9 God's image is amiable and admirable, Natural conscience cannot but stoop and do obeisance to it, What a deal of respect did Nebuchadnezzar and Darius put upon Daniel! Alexander the Great upon Jaddus the high priest! Theodosius upon Ambrose! Constantine upon Paphnutius, kissing that eye of his that was bored out for the cause of Christ! &c. Godly men have a daunting presence, as Athanasius had, and Basil, to whom when Valens the Arian emperor came, while he was in holy exercises, it struck such a terror into him that he reeled, and had fallen had he not been upheld by those that were with him. e Henry II of France being present at the martyrdom of a certain tailor, burnt by him for religion, was so terrified by the boldness of his countenance, and the constance of his sufferings, that he swore at his going away that he would never any more be present at such a sight. f

And the boldness of his face shall be changed.] Or, Doubled; his conscience bearing him out, and making him undaunted, as it did David, Psa 3:1-8 and the Dutch martyr Colonus, who, calling to the judge that had sentenced him to death, desired him to lay his hand upon his heart, and then asked him whose heart did most beat, his or the judge's? By this boldness Jonathan and his armourbearer set upon the garrison of the Philistines, David upon Goliath their champion, The Black Prince was so called, not of his colour, but of his valour and dreaded acts in battle. g

a Velut inter stellas luna minores.

b Hom. 55, in Matth.

c Orat. Contra Gentiles.

d Acts and Mon., 1744

e Greg., Orat. de Laude Basilii.

f Epit. Hist. Gal, 82

g Speed, 688.