Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes

1. An enforcement: It is necessary to yield obedience unto Magistrates, not only ⟨p. 253⟩out of fear towards them, because of their sword, but out of conscience towards God, and because of his vows that are upon us, Rom. 13.5. and so it seems to relate unto some covenant and oath of fidelity, which was taken by them towards their Princes. We read of the covenant between the king and the people made before the Lord, 1 Chr. 11.3. and a promise or league made in the presence of God, was likely to be by the intervention of an oath, as the covenant between Abimelech and Abraham, Gen. 21.23, 24. See Gen. 26.28, 29. & 31.44, 53. And this may seem to be intimated in that phrase of Giving the hand under Solomon; which we render, By submitting themselves unto him, 1 Chron. 29.24. A like Ceremony, whereunto Abraham's servant used, when he sware faithfulness unto him, Gen. 24.2, 3. & 47.29. So giving the hand, was a ceremonial confirmation of some sworn covenant or promise, Ezra 10.19. Ezek. 17.18, [Greek or Hebrew], Iliad. 2. And hence some here by Juramentum Elohim, understand the Oath of the Magistrates, who are sometimes in Scripture so called, Exod. 22.28. Psal. 82.1, 6. Josh. 10.34. Thereby to teach them to rule for God, not by their own lust, but by his Law, and for the good of his people. But I rather understand, by the ⟨p. 254⟩Oath of God, an oath sworn unto God,

2. This clause containeth a limitation, by which our obedience unto men is to be bounded: Keep the Kings Command; yet so, that thou do not violate thine oath and obedience due unto God. Thy service to the one, must be such as will consist with the fealty to the other; for we are bound unto God and his service by oath and covenant, 1 Pet. 3.21. Neh. 9.38. & 10.29. Psal. 119.106. and no subordinate obedience to others must make us forget our duty unto him, 1 Sam. 19.1. & 22.17. Dan. 3.16, 17, 18. Act. 4.19. & 5.20. 1 Pet. 2.17. Prov. 24.21. 1 Reg. 21.3. Esth. 3.2. 1 Sam. 14.45.

V. 3. Be not hasty to go out of his sight, &c.] Or, Go not hastily out of his sight. When two Verbs finite come together, either the later is to be taken infinitively; as Deut. 2.31. Esth. 8.6. Psal. 102.13. or the former adverbially; as Gen. 24.18. 1 Sam. 4.14. Hos. 9.9.

Do not thou stand in an evil thing] If thou have been transported with perturbation, and gone out of the way, cool and draw back betime; do not harden thy self in thy defection, but labour, by forbearance and mildness, to recover his favour again, Prov. 15.1. & 25.15. & 30, 32. To stand in a thing, is to have a fixed and unmoved resolution upon it, 1 Cor. 7.37. Ephes. 6.11, 13, 14.

Do not thou stand in an evil thing] If thou have been transported with perturbation, and gone out of the way, cool and draw back betime; do not harden thy self in thy defection, but labour, by forbearance and mildnesse, to recover his favour again, Prov. 15.1. & 25.15. & 30, 32. To stand in a thing, is to have a fixed and unmoved resolution upon it, 1 Cor. 7.37. Ephes. 6.11, 13, 14.

for he doth what soever pleaseth him] This is not spoken to confirm, or give allowance unto any revengeful and cruel Actions of Princes, as if their power did serve to execute their own lusts; but he showeth, besides the sinfulness of it, how unsafe, and how fruitless it is to resist those, who have power to do what they please, and who being injured and provoked, can easily break in pieces those who rise up against them.

for he doth what soever pleaseth him] This is not spoken to confirm, or give allowance unto any revengefull and cruel Actions of Princes, as if their power did serve to execute their own lusts; but he sheweth, besides the sinfulness of it, how unsafe, and how fruitless it is to resist those, who have power to do what they please, and who being injured and provoked, can easily break in pieces those who rise up against them.

V. 4. Where the word of a King is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What dost thou?] Think not that thou shalt be able to escape the wrath of a King: for if he but speak the word, he hath power enough to reach thee where ever thou goest: Where ever the Command of a King comes, it is accompanied with power enough to be avenged ⟨p. 257⟩on any that provoke him. He never wants instruments to execute his displeasure. When Saul pronounced death upon the Priests, there wanted not a Doeg to set upon them, 1 Sam. 22.18. Dan. 5.19.

and who may say unto him, What dost thou?] This elsewhere spoken of God, who worketh all things by the counsel of his own Will, and doth whatsoever he pleaseth both in heaven and earth, Job 9.12. But of Princes and Magistrates it cannot be absolutely and so fully spoken; for being subject unto Error, and miscarriages, they may with humility and wisdom be admonished, 1 Sam. 14.45, 46. But he speaketh here of the great power which they have, against which the people dare not to mutter, Prov. 30.31. and ought not without much reverence to contest withal, Job 34.18.

and who may say unto him, What dost thou?] This elsewhere spoken of God, who worketh all things by the counsel of his own Will, and doth whatsoever he pleaseth both in heaven and earth, Job 9.12. But of Princes and Magistrates it cannot be absolutely and so fully spoken; for being subject unto Errour, and miscarriages, they may with humility and wisdom be admonished, 1 Sam. 14.45, 46. But he speaketh here of the great power which they have, against which the people dare not to mutter, Prov. 30.31. and ought not without much reverence to contest withal, Job 34.18.

V. 5. Whoso keepeth the commandment, shall know no evil] This may be understood either of the Commands of God, Piety and godly Wisdom will teach a man to walk so circumspectly, as that he shall not provoke the wrath of the King to his own ruin: or of Commandment of the King, whereof he spake, vers. 2.

V. 5. Whoso keepeth the commandement, shall know no evil] This may be understood either of the Commands of God, Piety and godly Wisdom will teach a man to walk so circumspectly, as that he shall not provoke the wrath of the King to his own ruine: or of Commandment of the King, whereof he spake, vers. 2.

he that observeth his commandment, shall know no evil,] None of the danger before mentioned, vers. 3. shall live securely, and ⟨p. 258⟩quietly out of fear, Rom. 13.3, 4. 1 Tim. 2.2.

he that observeth his commandement, shall know no evil,] None of the danger before mentioned, vers. 3. shall live securely, and ⟨p. 258⟩quietly out of fear, Rom. 13.3, 4. 1 Tim. 2.2.

and a wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment] This is a qualification of the precept, a wise man will not for fear of danger, or hope of advantage, do all that is commanded him by a blind obedience, but he considereth the season wherein, and the manner how to execute commands: or he knows to find out a proper season, and right way to apply himself unto the Prince, to prevent his displeasure, to gain his favour, to qualify or alter his Commands, if they be any way grievous, 1▪ Chron. 21.3. Judg. 6.27. Gen. 32.7, 8, 13, 16, 17. & 33.12, 14. 1 Sam. 25.18—. 1 Chron. 12.32. Neh. 2.4, 5, 12, 16. Esth. 4.5. & 7.2. & 8.5, 6.

and a wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment] This is a qualification of the precept, a wise man will not for fear of danger, or hope of advantage, do all that is commanded him by a blind obedience, but he considereth the season wherein, and the manner how to execute commands: or he knowes to find out a proper season, and right way to apply himself unto the Prince, to prevent his displeasure, to gain his favour, to qualifie or alter his Commands, if they be any way grievous, 1▪ Chron. 21.3. Judg. 6.27. Gen. 32.7, 8, 13, 16, 17. & 33.12, 14.

V. 6, 7. Because to every purpose, there is time and judgment: therefore the misery of man is greater upon him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?] Because to every purpose or enterprise there is a proper season, and peculiar manner of acting, upon which narrow points, the happy success of such undertakings do depend, and this cannot without much wisdom be duly observed: hence it cometh to pass, that the misery of man is great upon him. This general is to be applied ⟨p. 259⟩to the particular case, a man by incurring the displeasure of his Prince, bringeth much misery upon himself, because he wanteth that wisdom, which should suggest a proper opportunity, and right way of regaining his favour again. When there is ignorance and folly within, dangers and snares without, it is hard for a man to walk safely. There is no greater part of wisdom then the prudent observing of times, circumstances, and the right manner of transacting businesses that are of weight and consequence unto us, Jer. 8.7, 8. Amos 5.13. Luke 19.44. Prov. 15.23. Act. 22.25 — 29. Act. 23.6, 7.

V. 6, 7. Because to every purpose, there is time and judgment: therefore the misery of man is greater upon him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?] Because to every purpose or enterprize there is a proper season, and peculiar manner of acting, upon which narrow points, the happy success of such undertakings do depend, and this cannot without much wisdome be duly observed: hence it cometh to passe, that the misery of man is great upon him. This general is to be applyed ⟨p. 259⟩to the particular case, a man by incurring the displeasure of his Prince, bringeth much misery upon himself, because he wanteth that wisdom, which should suggest a proper opportunity, and right way of regaining his favour again. When there is ignorance and folly within, dangers and snares without, it is hard for a man to walk safely. There is no greater part of wisdome then the prudent observing of times, circumstances, and the right manner of transacting businesses that are of weight and consequence unto us,

for he knoweth not that which shall be.] Because a man cannot foresee future events, nor exactly judge of the consequences of actions, therefore it is very difficult to avoid many of those miseries which by reason of this ignorance do attend him. There is one season, and one manner of acting, which would have been seconded with success, if a man could have foreseen it, but any other time, any other way of proceeding, would miscarry: great therefore must needs be the misery of man by reason of this ignorance, who hath • thousand ways to miss the mark, and but one to hit it. A man cannot so much as fore-appoint his own actions for the ⟨p. 260⟩future, much less foresee the consequences and issues which would follow thereupon, Prov. 27.1. Jam. 4.14. None can foretell a man what shall be, but God alone, Isa. 41.•3. & 44.7. & 46.10. Only this a wise and holy man may be sure of, that whatever falls out shall be for his good, though it may be contrary to his desire and expectation, 1 Cor. 3.22.

for he knoweth not that which shall be.] Because a man cannot foresee future events, nor exactly judge of the consequences of actions, therefore it is very difficult to avoid many of those miseries which by reason of this ignorance do attend him. There is one season, and one manner of acting, which would have been seconded with success, if a man could have foreseen it, but any other time, any other way of proceeding, would miscarry: great therefore must needs be the misery of man by reason of this ignorance, who hath • thousand waies to misse the mark, and but one to hit it. A man cannot so much as fore-appoint his own actions for the ⟨p. 260⟩future, much lesse foresee the consequences and issues which vvould follow thereupon,

V. 8. There is no man that hath power over the spirit, to retain the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death.] By spirit, he meaneth the breath of life, or the soul. So it is often understood, Gen. 6.19. Job▪ 7.7. Isa. 42.5. Psal. 104.29. Luke 8.55. Jam. 2.26.

This may be understood, 1. Generally, to signify the weakness which is in man to help himself against the greatest future evil, namely, death: no power, industry, wisdom, can keep the Soul, when God by death requires it: no man hath the dominion over his own life, to live as long as it pleaseth himself; nor over death, to repel and resist Heb. 9. it when it comes, Psal. 49.7—10.27.

This may be understood, 1. Generally, to signifie the weakness which is in man to help himself against the greatest future evil, namely, death: no power, industry, wisedome, can keep the Soul, when God by death requires it: no man hath the dominion over his own life, to live as long as it pleaseth himself; nor over death, to repell and resist Heb. 9. it when it comes, Psal. 49.7—10.27.

2. Particularly, to the present argument of obedience to Princes, whose wrath is as the roaring of a Lyon, whose displeasure cannot ⟨p. 261⟩be avoided. An offender hath no power to retain his life, when supreme authority passeth judgment against it: and therefore we ought wisely to take heed of those provocations which are likely to cast us under so great danger: for the punishment of rebellion can no more be avoided, then the Wind can be held fast. Therefore we ought to keep our selves still within the bounds of duty, and that will preserve us from evil, as vers. 5.

2. Particularly, to the present argument of obedience to Princes, whose wrath is as the roaring of a Lyon, whose displeasure cannot ⟨p. 261⟩be avoided. An offender hath no power to retain his life, when supream authority passeth judgment against it: and therefore we ought wisely to take heed of those provocations which are likely to cast us under so great danger: for the punishment of rebellion can no more be avoided, then the Wind can be held fast. Therefore we ought to keep our selves still within the bounds of duty, and that will preserve us from evil, as vers. 5.