Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes

whom thou lovest] This is the character of a wife, and the duty of the husband, that which makes their communion comfortable, Ezek. 24.16, 18. Eph. 5.25, 28, 29. therefore the husband is called the friend of his wife, Jer. 3.20. There is a special freeness of delight and liberty of love which is allowed in this relation, though still within the bounds of honour and sobriety, Prov. 5.19. ⟨p. 295⟩Gen. 26.8. It noteth also the difference between conjugal and adulterous love, that is, a love wherein a man may live joyfully, or may sweetly enjoy his life with comfort; whereas the pleasures of the other lead unto death, Prov. 2.18. & 5.3—11. & 6.26, 32, 33. & 7.23.

all the days of the life of thy vanity] As Chap. 6.12. This is repeated again, to mind us in the midst of all our earthly contentments, that they are perishing and Temporary things. This living joyfully All our days, is to be understood as the Always, in the former verse, with restriction to the duties of piety and humiliation, 1 Cor. 7.5. and also it intimateth the duty of cohabitation, that they should not depart one from the other, 1 Cor. 7.10.

all the daies of the life of thy vanity] As Chap. 6.12. This is repeated again, to mind us in the midst of all our earthly contentments, that they are perishing and Temporary things. This living joyfully All our daies, is to be understood as the Alwaies, in the former verse, with restriction to the duties of piety and humiliation, 1 Cor. 7.5. and also it intimateth the duty of cohabitation, that they should not depart one from the other, 1 Cor. 7.10.

which •e hath given thee] That may refer either to the wife, which Solomon elsewhere tells us, is the gift of God, Prov. 19.14. or to the days of the life of our vanity, which also are the gift of God, Job. 10.12. Act. 17.25. Ps. 31.15.

which •e hath given thee] That may refer either to the wife, which Solomon elsewhere tells us, is the gift of God, Prov. 19.14. or to the daies of the life of our vanity, which also are the gift of God, Job. 10.12. Act. 17.25. Ps. 31.15.

V. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might] Having instanced in the principal outward comforts of life, food, raiment, marriage, he concludeth with a general precept, that in all things else wherein the Tranquillity and comfort of life did consist, they should freely and cheerfully make use of them, before they go into their graves, where, as they shall have none of these outward materials to work upon, so neither, if they had them, should they have any wisdom or skill to make use of them, or to reap delight from them.

V. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might] Having instanced in the principal outward comforts of life, food, rayment, marriage, he concludeth with a general precept, that in all things else wherein the Tranquillity and comfort of life did consist, they should freely and cheerfully make use of them, before they go into their graves, where, as they shall have none of these outward materials to work upon, so neither, if they had them, should they have any wisdome or skill to make use of them, or to reap delight from them.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do] Whatsoever is within thy power, and thy abilities can reach unto, whatever works in thy Calling do belong unto thee, or whatsoever state and condition the providence of God shall put thee in, Gen. 32.13. Lev. 5.7. & 12.8. Num. 6.21. Judg. 9.33. whatsoever just occasion of honest cheerfulness doth offer it self unto thee, embrace it.

do it with thy might] Vigorously, industriously, instantly, do not slack time, nor defer it till it be too late, Rom. 12.11. 2 Thess. 3.8. Tit. 3.8, 14.

for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest] In this life thou hast opportunities of ⟨p. 297⟩doing good, of delighting thy self in the studies of knowledge and wisdom, of improving thy strength and invention to pleasure thy self and others, Therefore work while it is day, and while thou hast yet an opportunity, Joh. 9.4. & 12.35. Gal. 6.10. while there is strength in your hand, while there is wisdom in your head, while the vigour of your faculties last: for in the Grave, or in the state of death, whither thou art every moment hastening, there is no place for any of these things, that is not saculum operis, but mercedis. If thou wilt be rewarded then, thou must work now. Carpe diem, quam minimum cr•dulus postero. Jam te promet nox. Though this be appliable unto all duties of piety and charity, yet the scope of the place aims principally at the enjoyment of the comforts and commodities of this present life, which we are cheerfully while they are put into our hands, to enjoy, and not put them off till death, when we shall have neither skill nor strength to use them. Here also we may observe what manner of delights he alloweth them, namely, such as arise from honest labours, and are guided and moderated by art, knowledge, and wisdom. Our delights must not be sensual, but rational and industrious.

for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest] In this life thou hast opportunities of ⟨p. 297⟩doing good, of delighting thy self in the studies of knowledge and wisdome, of improving thy strength and invention to pleasure thy self and others, Therefore work while it is day, and while thou hast yet an opportunity, Joh. 9.4. & 12.35. Gal. 6.10. while there is strength in your hand, while there is wisdome in your head, while the vigour of your faculties last: for in the Grave, or in the state of death, whither thou art every moment hastening, there is no place for any of these things, that is not saculum operis, but mercedis. If thou wilt be rewarded then, thou must work now. Carpe diem, quam minimum crdulus postero. Iam te promet nox. Though this be appliable unto all duties of piety and charity, yet the scope of the place aims principally at the enjoyment of the comforts and commodities of this present life, which we are cheerfully while they are put into our hands, to enjoy, and not put them off till death, when we shall have neither skill nor strength to use them. Here also we may observe what manner of delights he alloweth them, namely, such as arise from honest labours, and are guided and moderated by art, knowledge, and wisdome. Our delights must not be sensual, but raional and industrious.

V. 11. I returned and saw under the Sun, ⟨p. 298⟩that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, &c.] These words some make to be the observation of another Vanity under the Sun, to wit, That Events and Successes do sometimes fall out quite otherwise then the preparation or probability of second causes do seem to promise: That things are so done usually in the world, as that no reason can at all be given of them. Others make them a kind of corrective to the former precept of living joyfully in the use of all outward blessings; Though it were to be wished that man could thus evenly and comfortably pass over his days, yet when I further considered, I found, That no man can ever enjoy a stable and constant Delight in this world, in regard that future events do oftentimes quite vary from those principles and preparations which went before them. The words seem to have relation both to the general scope of the Chapter before, Touching the powerful and unsearchable providence of God, Chap. 8.16, 17, & 9.1, 2. & also to the words immediately preceding: for whereas he had advised, That whatever our hand findeth to do, we should do it with our might: Lest any man should thereupon presume, that things must needs fall out according to those abilities which he bringeth unto the effecting of them, He here directeth ⟨p. 299⟩us to look up in all our works, above second causes, not to trust in our own gifts, nor to attribute any thing to our own strength, to remember, that it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God who showeth mercy, Rom. 9.16. and accordingly to implore his assistance and blessing in all our labours, who worketh all our works for us, Isa. 26.12▪ Psal. 127.1, 2. Deut. 8.17, 18. Prov. 10.22. Jer. 9.23. And having done our duty, and used such good means as God affordeth, then quietly to refer the success unto God, in whose hand are all the ways of the children of men, and upon whose good pleasure do all the issues of things depend.

I returned and To see] The Infinitive Mood is put for the Indicative; as Jer. 14.5. Zach. 12.10.

I saw under the Sun] I considered the things which are done in this Life amongst men, and found by my observation, That the race is not to the swift] That swiftness doth not ever avail a man to win the prize, or to escape danger, 2 Sam. 2.18, 23. Jer. 46.5, 6. Amos 2 14, 15, 16.

nor the battle to the strong] That the strength of the mighty doth not always avail them either to fight or conquer, Judg. 7.7. 1 Sam. 14.6. 2 Chron. 14.9—12. Psal. 33.17, 18.

nor the battel to the strong] That the strength of the mighty doth not alwayes avail them either to fight or conquer, Judg. 7.7. 1 Sam. 14.6. 2 Chron. 14.9—12. Psal. 33.17, 18.

nor yet bread to the wise] Livelihood and subsistence to men whose wisdom should commend them to honour and great place, Chap. 10.6, 7. Psal. 127.2. David was put to desire supplies from Nabal; and Christ, in whom were all the treasures of wisdom, was ministered unto, Luke 8.2. Matth. 8.20. 2 Cor. 21.26, 27.

nor yet bread to the wise] Livelihood and subsistence to men whose wisdome should commend them to honour and great place, Chap. 10.6, 7. Psal. 127.2. David was put to desire supplies from Nabal; and Christ, in whom were all the treasures of wisdome, was ministred unto, Luke 8.2. Matth. 8.20. 2 Cor. 21.26, 27.

nor riches to men of understanding] We read of rich fools, 1 Sam. 25.2, 3, 25. Luke 12.16, 20. and of poor wise men here, vers. 15.

nor yet favour to men of skill] Joseph cast into prison, Daniel in the Lions den, David hated of Saul.

But Time and chance happeneth to them all] Their Endeavours do arrive at such a success as the Counsel of God had pre-ordained, which is wholly hidden from our eyes, and therefore seem to fall out many times rather at adventure, and casually, then according to any regular means that have been used in order unto them. Whereby we learn, that Divine providence hath a wise and holy hand in ordering the most casual and fortuitous Events, to the execution of his righteous counsels, 1 Reg. 22.34. Esther 6.1— 11. 1 Sam. 6.7—12▪ 2 Reg. 3.22—24. He doth not hereby dishearten us from the use of means, but direct us in the ⟨p. 301⟩use of them, not to sacrifice to our net, nor to glory in our own wisdom, but to wait upon the blessing and providence of God, to give him the praise of our successes, and quietly bear whatever miscarriages he hath ordered to befall us, 1 Cor. 1.31. Jam. 4.13—16. 2 Sam. 15.25, 26.

But Time and chance hapneth to them all] Their Endeavours do arrive at such a success as the Councel of God had pre-ordained, which is wholly hidden from our eyes, and therefore seem to fall out many times rather at adventure, and casually, then according to any regular means that have been used in order unto them. Whereby we learn, that Divine providence hath a wise and holy hand in ordering the most casual and fortuitous Events, to the execution of his righteous counsells, 1 Reg. 22.34. Esther 6.1— 11. 1 Sam. 6.7—12▪ 2 Reg. 3.22—24. He doth not hereby dishearten us from the use of means, but direct us in the ⟨p. 301⟩