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Ecc_3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Ver. 18. That they might see that they themselves are beasts.] It is reckoned a great matter that wicked men are made "to know themselves to be but men," and no more. {Psa_9:20} But God will make good men see and say with David, "So foolish was I and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee." Pulchre addidit, "apud te," saith Ambrose upon those words. {a} Elegantly said the Psalmist, "Before thee," because, in respect of God, what is man but an unreasonable beast? He that is wisest among men, said Socrates, who himself was held the wisest of men, if he be compared to God, Simia videbitur, non sapiens, he will seem rather an ape than a wise man. {b} David calls himself not a "beast" only, but "beasts," in the plural, {c} behemoth, or at least a very great beast, not an ape, but an elephant. And this is that which God would have all good men see, hemmah lahem, as this text hath it, themselves to themselves, in their humble account of themselves, as holy Agur did. {Pro_30:2} {See Trapp on "Pro_30:2"}
{a} Ambr. in Ps. lxxxiii,
{b} Socrat. apud Platon.
{c} Eram apud te sicut bestiae. - Mercer.