Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes

This vanity is showed, 1. Absolutely, in that the Inordinate love of them is unsatisfiable, vers. 10. and that troubles and cares are proportionably increased in the Increase of them, vers. 11.

This vanity is shewed, 1. Absolutely, in that the Inordinate love of them is unsatisfiable, vers. 10. and that troubles and cares are proportionably increased in the Increase of them, vers. 11.

2. Comparatively, and that 1. in respect of any Real benefit and good in the fruition ⟨p. 150⟩of them. The owner hath no more true profit by them, (further then that he looks on them as his own) then any of his friends and servants, who are fed and clothed by them as well as he: only his cares are increased. 2. In respect of consequent rest and quietness, the servants heart is less troubled, his body more refreshed then the owners, vers. 12. 3. In regard of the evil effects of Riches:

2. Comparatively, and that 1. in respect of any Real benefit and good in the fruition ⟨p. 150⟩of them. The owner hath no more true profit by them, (further then that he looks on them as his own) then any of his friends and servants, who are fed and cloathed by them as well as he: onely his cares are increased. 2. In respect of consequent rest and quietness, the servants heart is lesse troubled, his body more refreshed then the owners, vers. 12. 3. In regard of the evill effects of Riches:

1. The damage and hurt which sometimes a man lays up with them against himself, vers. 13.

1. The damage and hurt which sometimes a man layes up with them against himself, vers. 13.

3. The certainty of parting with them, They must dye, they cannot carry one handful away with them, vers. 15, 16.

4. The sordid and uncomfortable use of them, vers. 17.

5. Impatience and fretfulness in parting with them, or in getting of them, vers. 17.

5. Impatiency and fretfulnesse in parting with them, or in getting of them, vers. 17.

Lastly, he gives the Remedy of this Vanity and Vexation, in the right use of Riches, viz. In a free and cheerful enjoyment of them: which is here commended,

1. By its goodness to the owners.

2. By its comeliness and commendableness towards others.

2. By its comelinesse and commendablenesse towards others.

3. By its Equity, It is the fruit of a mans Own Labour, and provided for his Own Life.

4. The End of it, and his Right to it, It is His Portion, all that he is ever like to get by it, vers. 18.

5. The Author of it, it is a special gift of God, 1. To give Riches. 2. To g•ve an heart to enjoy them, vers. 19.

6. Freedom hereby from the trouble of all his Labours, when himself tastes the fruit of them, and hath experience of Gods special blessing, in answering the desires of his heart, and causing h•m comfortably to enjoy them, vers. 20.

6. Freedome hereby from the trouble of all his Labours, when himself tastes the fruit of them, and hath experience of Gods special blessing, in answering the desires of his heart, and causing h•m comfortably to enjoy them, vers. 20.

Vers. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God] He had gone up and down the World, from Learning to Pleasures, from Pleasures to Honours, from Honours to Thrones, to find out Happiness, and had met with nothing but Vanity. Now he sends us to a fitter place to find it, The House of God, whether his Temple, or other Synagogues, where God is present to those that serve him, here they shall find remedies against the vanity of other things, and that which will stay and fix their ⟨p. 152⟩hearts, Psal. 73.16, 17. Psal. 4.6, 7. Only we must take heed of putting vanity into Gods Worship, lest we be there disappointed of our aims, as well as elsewhere. This Caveat he gives us in those words, Keep thy foot] or, each foot. The letters are plural, the points direct to read it in the singular number. So foot, for feet, Psal. 119.105. This Enallage of numbers is very usual, the singular for the plural; as Psal. 14.1. The fool hath said, &c. They, i. e. fools are corrupt. In that day a man shall cast away his idols which they have made, Isaiah 2.20.

Vers. 1. KEep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God] He had gone up and down the World, from Learning to Pleasures, from Pleasures to Honours, from Honours to Thrones, to find out Happinesse, and had met with nothing but Vanity. Now he sends us to a fitter place to find it, The House of God, whether his Temple, or other Synagogues, where God is present to those that serve him, here they shall find remedies against the vanity of other things, and that which will stay and fix their ⟨p. 152⟩hearts, Psal. 73.16, 17. Psal. 4.6, 7. Onely we must take heed of putting vanity into Gods Worship, lest we be there disappointed of our ayms, as well as elsewhere. This Caveat he gives us in those words, Keep thy foot] or, each foot. The letters are plural, the points direct to read it in the singular number. So foot, for feet,

Keep thy foot] Seriously advise how thou art to behave thy self in Gods presence, look to thy heart and affections, let thy heart be fixed, thy affections composed, thy thoughts ordered, call all that is within thee together to serve him, Psal. 57.7. & 103.1. A Metaphor from men that walk in dangerous ways, who take heed to their steps lest they stumble and fall: Or rather an allusion to the speech of God to Moses, Exod. 3.5. So Exod. 19.21. Josh. 5.15. As Mephibosheth dressed his feet, when he went to David, 2 Sam. 19.24. So they used washings, and purifyings before they came into Gods presence, Exod. 19.14 15. Num. 8.7. Psal. 26.6. Heb. 10.22. Lev. 19.30. & 16.2, 3. Gen. 28.16, 17. Exod. 40.32.