Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes

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 […] though the sentence of death hath sometim•• been revoked, Isa. 38.1, 5.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 〈…〉 though the sentence of death hath sometim•• been revoked, Isa. 38.1, 5.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.

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.

to cast away] Either out of necessity, as Jon. 1.5. Act. 27.18, 38. or out of charity, Prov. 11.24. Eccles. 11.1. or out of special duty to God, Heb. 10.34. Matth. 10.37.38, 39. and 19.29.

V. 7. To rent] As the custom was in mourning, Job. 1.20. Joel 2 19.

V. 7. To rent] As the custome was in mourning, Job. 1.20. Joel 2 19.

to speak, to keep silence] According to difference of seasons, Prov. 26.4, 5. & 25.11. Amos 5.13.

V. 8. A time of war] 2 Sam. 11.1.