For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. (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; 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.
The preacher is here making a similar conclusion, to what holy melt of old, in all ages, have done, that let what will appear of worthlessness in some, or merit in others, and the common events which take place in all; yet the Lord is neither an inattentive, nor an inactive observer of either; or, to use Solomon's own words, Their works are in the hand of God. Reader! it is one of the most profitable of all studies, to have right conceptions of our gracious God in his providences. If we look at the state of things going on around us, we do indeed see what Solomon saith, that there is one event to the righteous, and to the sinner. But if we, as the prophet did, look beyond the mere surface of the wheels in God's government, we shall see as he did, One like the son of man, regulating, appointing, ordering all. Ezekiel 1:4-26. And although, as far as outward circumstances appear, all things come alike to all; yet a mighty distinction takes place, even in the events themselves, and in the effects induced by them. The sickness of the sinner, and the sickness of a child of God, differ in their operation and consequences as wide as any circumstances in life can differ. And, as in their effect, so in their design; in the instances of God's children, they are the marks of a fatherly love. They are messengers of sanctification and wisdom. They are angels in disguise. In the instances of the ungodly, they are tokens of displeasure, messengers of wrath, and the consequences of sin. Reader, it is blessed to be enabled to mark the difference; to hear the rod, (as the prophet speaks) and who hath appointed it. Micah 6:9.