A57129:388
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.
and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?] For that which will not stay, which cannot be held fast, which is emptiness and very vanity. So words of wind, are empty and vain words, Job 16.3. A man walking in wind, that is, a lying Prophet, Mic. 2.11. so to reap a whirlwind, Hos. 8.7. to fill the belly with the east wind. Job 15.2. to inherit wind, Prov. 11.29. to bring forth wind, Isa. 26.18. To feed upon wind, Hos. 12.1. To speak into the air, 1 Cor. 14.9. To beat the air, 1 Cor. 9.16. Are expressions of very vain and fruitless enterprises. Here money is compared to wind; The one hath wings to fly away with, Prov. 23.5. so hath the other, Psal. 104.3. The ⟨p. 178⟩one cannot be held, Prov. 30.4. neither can the other, 1 Cor. 7.31.
and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?] For that which will not stay, which cannot be held fast, which is emptiness and very vanity. So words of wind, are empty and vain words, Job 16.3. A man walking in wind, that is, a lying Prophet,
V. 17. All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.] Or, according to the words in their order, thus, Also all his days he eateth in darkness, and much sorrow, and his sickness, and wrath. A further vanity of Riches in the hands of a covetous worldling, he denies himself a full, free, and comfortable enjoyment of outward things, he cannot unbend himself from his •arking cares even when he goes to eat, but as he gets, so he useth and enjoyeth his wealth in darkness, i. e. (for the words following are Exegetical) in sorrow, and wrath, even unto very sickness.
V. 17. All his dayes also he eateth in darknesse, and hath much sorrow and wrath with his sicknesse.] Or, according to the words in their order, thus, Also all his dayes he eateth in darknesse, and much sorrow, and his sicknesse, and wrath. A further vanity of Riches in the hands of a covetous worldling, he denies himself a full, free, and comfortable enjoyment of outward things, he cannot unbend himself from his •arking cares even when he goes to eat, but as he gets, so he useth and enjoyeth his wealth in darkness, i. e. (for the words following are Exegetical) in sorrow, and wrath, even unto very sickness.
All his days he eateth in darkness] It may be understood either literally, that he doth so lengthen out his labour, and grudge to spare himself any times even of necessary refreshment, as that he deferreth eating till it be dark, and till he can work no longer. Or rather Metaphorically, he eateth without any pleasure, and with much trouble and anxiety of mind; so much darkness commonly importeth, Isa. 49.9, 10. & 50.10. Mic. 7.8.
All his dayes he eateth in darkness] It may be understood either literally, that he doth so lengthen out his labour, and grudge to spare himself any times even of necessary refreshment, as that he deferreth eating till it be dark, and till he can work no longer. Or rather Metaphorically, he eateth without any pleasure, and with much trouble and anxiety of minde; so much darkness commonly importeth, Isa. 49.9, 10. & 50.10. Mic. 7.8.
and hath much sorrow] Or, indignation. The word in some Copies (as the Learned ⟨p. 179⟩observe) is read with the points of a noun; in others, of a verb, and so they render it, multum irascitur, or indignatur, he is very angry, or he sorroweth much, and hath sickness, and wrath. The meaning (as I conceive) is, he eateth in darkness, basely, and wretchedly, as a slave to his riches; he storms, grieves, frets, is even sick with anger and vexation, at the expenses he is put unto in keeping but a mean and a sordid Table. The Greek by a very easy mistake in the letters which are much alike, read it thus, All his days he is in darkness, [Greek or Hebrew], and in mourning, and in sorrow, and in sickness, and in wrath. His sickness, for, he hath sickness. The Affix is used for the separate and absolute pronoun; as Psal. 115.7. Ezek. 29.3. Our reading, He hath sorrow and wrath with his sickness, (where the conjunction copulative is rendered by the preposition [with] as sometimes elsewhere, 1 Sam. 14.18.) seemeth to intimate such a sense as this, All his days, or while he lives, he eats in sorrow, and when he falls sick, and is in danger of death, he hath much wrath and indignation in his sickness, for fear of parting from his wealth, which he so dearly loveth, and hath so hardly laboured for.
and hath much sorrow] Or, indignation. The word in some Copies (as the Learned ⟨p. 179⟩observe) is read with the points of a noun; in others, of a verb, and so they render it, multum irascitur, or indignatur, he is very angry, or he sorroweth much, and hath sickness, and wrath. The meaning (as I conceive) is, he eateth in darkness, basely, and wretchedly, as a slave to his riches; he storms, grieves, frets, is even sick with anger and vexation, at the expences he is put unto in keeping but a mean and a sordid Table. The Greek by a very easie mistake in the letters which are much alike, read it thus, All his dayes he is in darknesse, , and in mourning, and in sorrow, and in sicknesse, and in wrath. His sickness, for, he hath sickness. The Affix is used for the separate and absolute pronoun; as
V. 18. Behold, that which I have seen, It is good and comely, &c.] Here is subjoined ⟨p. 180⟩a remedy of this Vanity, setting forth the right use of riches, to take away all this sinful anxiety which is conversant about them; which is, in the fear of God comfortably to enjoy his good blessings, without afflicting our selves for the future, but casting ou• cares upon him, who careth for us.
V. 18. Behold, that which I have seen, It is good and comely, &c.] Here is subjoyned ⟨p. 180⟩a remedy of this Vanity, setting forth the right use of riches, to take away all this sinful anxiety which is conversant about them; which is, in the fear of God comfortably to enjoy his good blessings, without afflicting our selves for the future, but casting ou• cares upon him, who careth for us.
that which I have seen, is this] He speaketh out of experience, and upon exact study and inquiry after the truth; as 1 Joh. 1.1, 3. Joh. 1.14. Chap 1.13. & 2.24. & 3.22.
It is good and comely] Good and comfortable to a man himself. Comely, decent, honourable, and of good report toward others. Or, there is a good which is also comely. Or, it is good, yea, it is comely. Or, Behold I have seen that which is good, that which is comely. The like manner of expression, 1 Sam. 15.20. Psal. 10.6. Teaching us in our conversation, 1. To look unto that which is good in it self, and then to that which is decent towards the world, Phil. 4.8.
that a man eat and drink, and enjoy good of all his labour] Or? In all his labours, to sweeten his labours with a comfortable fruition of the fruit of them. Of all his labours; so the Preposition [Greek or Hebrew] is used, to signify as much as Ex or De, Exod. 12.43.
that a man eat and drink, and enjoy good of all his labour] Or? In all his labours, to sweeten his labours with a comfortable fruition of the fruit of them. Of all his labours; so the Preposition 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is used, to signifie as much as Ex or De, Exod. 12.43.
all the days of his life which God giveth him] When God gives life, we should not deny the comforts of it to ourselves.
all the dayes of his life which God giveth him] When God gives life, we should not deny the comforts of it to ourselves.
for it is his portion] All the good he can ever have from them: A metaphor from division of heritances; or from distribution of meat at a feast. It is that which God hath allotted him of all his labour. But withal, he must remember, that God allows him but a part; God himself, and the poor, and his family, country, friends, challenge part likewise in those goods, wherewith God hath blessed him, Prov. 3.8. 1 Cor. 9.13, 14. 1 Cor. 16.2. Gal. 6.6, 10. 2 Cor. 12.14. 1 Tim. 5.8. Isai. 23.18.
for it is his portion] All the good he can ever have from them: A metaphor from division of heritances; or from distribution of meat at a feast. It is that which God hath allotted him of all his labour. But withal, he must remember, that God allowes him but a part; God himself, and the poor, and his family, country, friends, challenge part likewise in those goods, wherewith God hath blessed him, Prov. 3.8. 1 Cor. 9.13, 14. 1 Cor. 16.2. Gal. 6.6, 10. 2 Cor. 12.14. 1 Tim. 5.8. Isai. 23.18.
V. 19. Every man also to whom God hath given, &c.] Here is only a further insisting on the same argument; as Chap. 2.24. & 3.13. & 6.2. He shows, 1. That God gives us our wealth, Deut. 8.18. 2. That he gives us dominion over our wealth, that we may not be captivated unto it; every man is a slave to his estate further then God sets them free. 3. Wherein this power stands; 1. in using it, to eat thereof; 2. in using it proportionable to his condition; or as Divines speak, Secundum decentiam statuti, to take his portion: 3. To use it with fruition and cheerfulness, to rejoice in it, 1 Tim. 6.17. 4. Not to let his joy swallow ⟨p. 182⟩up his duty, nor his delight his labour, but to sweeten his labour with joy, and to moderate his joy with labour, Eph. 4.28. 5. To use, and to enjoy his own, the fruit of his own labour, not to be burdensome or injurious unto others, 2 Thess. 3.12.
V. 19. Every man also to whom God hath given, &c.] Here is onely a further insisting on the same argument; as Chap. 2.24. & 3.13. & 6.2. He shews, 1. That God gives us our wealth, Deut. 8.18. 2. That he gives us dominion over our wealth, that we may not be captivated unto it; every man is a slave to his estate further then God sets them free. 3. Wherein this power stands; 1. in using it, to eat thereof; 2. in using it proportionable to his condition; or as Divines speak, Secundum decentiam statuti, to take his portion: 3. To use it with fruition and cheerfulnesse, to rejoyce in it, 1 Tim. 6.17. 4. Not to let his joy swallow ⟨p. 182⟩up his duty, nor his delight his labour, but to sweeten his labour with joy, and to moderate his joy with labour, Eph. 4.28
V. 20. For he shall not much remember the days of his life] Some make the sense to be thus, Although he give not much, or although it be not much which God hath given, (which sense the distinguishing Accent doth somewhat favour) yet he shall remember, that all his life long, God sweeteneth that little unto him with the joy of his heart: And a little with joy and cheerfulness, and Gods blessing, is better then much riches of the ungodly, Psal. 37.16. Prov. 17.1. Luk. 12.15. Prov. 15.17. Dan. 1.15. But our Translation preferreth another sense, which seems most consonant to the drift of the place, He that in this manner, doth cheerfully enjoy the blessings which God gives him, shall not, with much sorrow or weariness, remember the troubles of his life; neither shall his labour be very irksome or grievous unto him, because the Lord doth answer him, or doth proportionably unto his labours, return comfort to him in the joy of his heart, in the joyful and contented fruition of them.
V. 20. For he shall not much remember the dayes of his life] Some make the sense to be thus, Although he give not much, or although it be not much which God hath given, (which sense the distinguishing Accent doth somewhat favour) yet he shall remember, that all his life long, God sweetneth that little unto him with the joy of his heart: And a little with joy and cheerfulness, and Gods blessing, is better then much riches of the ungodly, Psal. 37.16. Prov. 17.1. Luk. 12.15. Prov. 15.17. Dan. 1.15. But our Translation preferreth another sense, which seems most consonant to the drift of the place, He that in this manner, doth cheerfully enjoy the blessings which God gives him, shall not, with much sorrow or weariness, remember the troubles of his life; neither shall his labour be very irksome or grievous unto him, because the Lord doth answer him, or doth proportionably unto his labors, return comfort to him in the joy of his heart, in the joyful and contented fruition of them.
because God answereth him in the joy of his heart] Answereth all his labour with joy, giveth him such joy of heart, as is a full compensation for all his labour. As money is said to answer unto all things, in a proportionable value to them all, Eccl. 10.19. so shall his joy bear a full value to all the labour which was taken for it. Other expositions there are, but this is most genuine and natural.
CHAP. VI.
IN this Chapter is continued a further description of the common vanity of riches, in the hands of a covetous person. He is here set forth,
First, By the good things which he hath; 1. Riches in abundance, riches and wealth. 2. Honour, and both to the uttermost of his desires, vers. 2. 3. Many Children. 4. Many years, a great old age, vers. 3, 6.