A57129:182
Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes
London: printed by J. Streater, 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
V. 1. To every thing there is a season] A predeterminate and an appointed time: So it is used, Esth. 9.31. Ezra 10.14. Nehem. 13.31.
to every purpose] To voluntary and contingent things, which seem most in a mans own power; yet these are over-ruled, for their beginning, duration, and ending, by the providence of God. To every purposed business: Where note; 1. That all events in the world, both natural and contingent, voluntary, or fortuitous, are all of them limited and bounded for their beginning, duration and ending, by the providence of God, Psal. 31.15. Job 14.14. Acts 17.26. So we read of a time for wrath, Psal. 37.13. Ezek. 7.7. Hos. 5.7 Isa. 40.2. A time of love, Ezec. 16.8. 2 Cor. 6.2. A time to work in, Joh. 2.4. A time to suffer in, Joh. 7.30. & 8.20. & 13.1. & 17.1. It is great wisdom for men to observe the providences of God in this point, that they may accordingly behave themselves towards him, 1 Chron. 12.32. Luk. 19.42. Eccles. 9.12. Jer. 8.7. 2. That whatever are ⟨p. 97⟩
V. 2. The Wise man subjoineth an Induction of several particulars, obvious to every mans experience, whereby he demonstrateth the truth of this general Proposition. Some of these particulars are things natural, and wholly out of the power of man: others humane and voluntary, such as are done and directed by the Skill of man. To teach us, that all the most free and contingent actions are under the Law of Gods providence, directed and limited thereby, as well as those which are most natural and necessary, 1 ⟨p. 98⟩Reg. 22.24. Isa. 10.5, 6, 7. Act. 4, 27, 28.
V. 2. The Wise man subjoyneth an Induction of several particulars, obvious to every mans experience, whereby he demonstrateth the truth of this general Proposition. Some of these particulars are things natural, and wholly out of the power of man: others humane and voluntary, such as are done and directed by the Skill of man. To teach us, that all the most free and contingent actions are under the Law of Gods providence, directed and limited thereby, as well as those which are most natural and necessary, 1 ⟨p. 98⟩Reg. 22.24. Isa. 10.5, 6, 7. Act. 4, 27, 28.
Some again begin with pleasant instances, and end in sad ones. Others begin with sadness, and end with delight. The Lord as he pleaseth ordering the affairs of men so, as that sometimes they have their good days first, and afterwards sorrow: sometimes evil first, and after, deliverance, Luke 16.25. Job 42.12. Joh. 21.18.
Some again begin with pleasant instances, and end in sad ones. Others begin with sadness, and end with delight. The Lord as he pleaseth ordering the affairs of men so, as that sometimes they have their good dayes first, and afterwards sorrow: sometimes evil first, and after, deliverance, Luke 16.25. Job 42.12. Joh. 21.18.
Another thing to be remembered here, is, That the Lord doth not by every one of these particulars signify what is good or lawful to be done, but only teach us, that not only the good actions of men, but their sins, not only their serious actions, but those which are most Ludicrous and vain, are all of them under the decrees and over-ruling counsels o• God, directing of them and their seasons a• it pleaseth him, Matth. 10.29, 30. Gen. 45 5. & 50.20. Judg. 21.21, 22, 23.
Another thing to be remembred here, is, That the Lord doth not by every one of these particulars signifie what is good or lawfull to be done, but only teach us, that not only the good actions of men, but their sins, not only their serious actions, but those which are most Ludicrous and vain, are all of them under the decrees and over-ruling counsels o• God, directing of them and their seasons a• it pleaseth him, Matth. 10.29, 30. Gen. 45 5. & 50.20. Judg. 21.21, 22, 23.
A time to be born, or to bear nd bri•• forth] Called the hour of a woman, Jo•• 16.21.
and a time to die] Called the […] wherein a man must depart, Joh. 13.1. […] though the sentence of death hath sometim•• been revoked, Isa. 38.1, 5. yet the pred••terminate time fore-fixed in the purpose God was not altered.
and a time to die] Called the 〈…〉 wherein a man must depart, Joh. 13.1. 〈…〉 though the sentence of death hath sometim•• been revoked, Isa. 38.1, 5. yet the pred••terminate time fore-fixed in the purpose God was not altered.
V. 3. A time to kill] There is a pro•• •dence ⟨p. 99⟩of God in the violent deaths of men, directing actions either sinful or fortuitous, as it pleaseth him, 2 Reg. 10.30. compared with Hos. 1.4. Exod. 21.13. 1 Reg. 22.34. Hos. 6.1. 1 Sam. 2.6. Job. 30.26.
V. 3. A time to kill] There is a pro•• •dence ⟨p. 99⟩of God in the violent deaths of men, directing actions either sinfull or fortuitous, as it pleaseth him, 2 Reg. 10.30. compared with Hos. 1.4. Exod. 21.13. 1 Reg. 22.34. Hos. 6.1. 1 Sam. 2.6. Job. 30.26.
to beat down, and to build] Jer. 1.10. & 18.7. & 31.28. Isa. 5.2, 5.
V. 4. A time to weep] viz. From the Lord; for he speaketh all along of the providence of God, in whose hand all our times both of sorrow and of joy are, Psal. 80.5. Ruth 1.20, 21.
and a time to laugh] Psal. 126.1.2. Gen. 21.6.
to mourn] As in Funerals and public calamities, Chap. 12.5.
to mourn] As in Funerals and publick calamities, Chap. 12.5.
to dance] i. e. greatly to rejoice, and express joy in the outward behaviour, 2 Sam. 6.14. Act. 3.8.
to daunce] i. e. greatly to rejoyce, and express joy in the outward behaviour, 2 Sam. 6.14. Act. 3.8.
5. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather them together] Some by this, understand the erecting of trophies over conquered enemies, as Josh. 8.29. 2 Sam. 18.17, 18. Zach. 9.16. Others, the demolishing or erecting of buildings, all ordered by Gods providence, Luke 13.4. Judg. 9.53. Lam. 2.2, 5, 7, 8, 9. & 4.1. Zach. 5.4. Mic. 1.6. 2 Reg. 3.25. Mar. 13.1, 2.
to embrace, and to abstain from embracing] 1 Cor. 7.5.
V. 6. to get] Prov. 10.6.