Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes

CHAP. XI.

Concerning which, we have, First, the precept it self, concerning substantial and useful charity, vers. 1. with an effectual reason thereof, both drawn from a Metaphor of sowing and reaping seed, vers. 1.

Secondly, the manner and measure of this our charity, which is to abound towards all ⟨p. 351⟩that are in want, and that enforced by a reason drawn from the uncertainty of future Events; now thou art able; hereafter thou mayst be disabled, therefore do good while thou hast means so to do, and thereby provide friends to thy self against any evils which thou also mayst fall into, vers. 2.

Thirdly, Both those are illustrated by many similitudes, in the which he doth by way of Prolepsis prevent such objections as the covetous hearts of men are apt to make against this duty.

1. A man is apt to say, That he is nearest to himself, and must look after his own supplies, and leave others to look after theirs.

1. A man is apt to say, That he is neerest to himself, and must look after his own supplyes, and leave others to look after theirs.

To which he answereth, That as Clouds are not filled with waters to keep them to themselves, but to empty them upon the Earth: so Gods blessings are not deposited to men only for their own good, but as Stewards they are to dispense out of them unto others, vers. 3.

To which he answereth, That as Clouds are not filled with waters to keep them to themselves, but to empty them upon the Earth: so Gods blessings are not deposited to men only for their own good, but as Stewards they are to dispence out of them unto others, vers. 3.

2. It may be objected, If I must relieve seven and eight, take notice of the wants of many, It will be seven to one if much of this bounty will not be cast away upon unworthy and ungrateful persons, who will make no return either unto God or man for it.

To this he answereth, That as it is all one ⟨p. 352⟩to the master of a tree, whether it fall North or South, for either way it falls to the owners use and benefit: so that good which is done to any man in want, out of a desire thereby to honour God, and to help our neighbour, shall prove beneficial unto him that so doth it, whatever the person be unto whom it is done, vers. 3.

3. It may be objected, That it is not yet a season to be thus bountiful, there are many Impediments and discouragements thereunto, This charge, this loss; that affliction or danger, or expense lies upon me, when I am gotten over these, it will then be a fitter time to think on the wants of others, when I am secured against mine own.

3. It may be objected, That it is not yet a season to be thus bountiful, there are many Impediments and discouragements thereunto, This charge, this loss; that affliction or danger, or expence lyes upon me, when I am gotten over these, it will then be a fitter time to think on the wants of others, when I am secured against mine own.

To this he answers by another similitude drawn from husbandry, He that will not sow his seed lest the wind should blow it away, nor reap his corn, lest the Clouds should rain and wet it, shall never want exceptions against that which yet is necessary to be done. Therefore our duty is to embrace the present opportunity, and leave the success for the future unto Gods blessing.

If we could certainly fore-see better weather, and more seasonable accommodations for our businesses to morrow than to day, we might haply pretend some reason for delay of duty. But that is in Gods hand alone, ⟨p. 353⟩as unknown unto us, as the way of the wind, or of the souls coming into the body, or the growing of the bones of an Embryo in the womb. Therefore it is our duty to do good at present while we have opportunity, and to commit the success of all for the future unto God, vers. 4, 5. Whereupon he repeateth the Exhortation in the same Metaphor, sow thy seed, scatter thy charity in season and out of season, in youth, in age, at all times, on all occasions, since thou knowest not which will be most successful, vers. 6.

If we could certainly fore-see better weather, and more seasonable accommodations for our businesses to morrow than to day, we might haply pretend some reason for delay of duty. But that is in Gods hand alone, ⟨p. 353⟩as unknown unto us, as the way of the wind, or of the souls coming into the body, or the growing of the bones of an Embryo in the womb. Therefore it is our duty to do good at present while we have opportunity, and to commit the success of all for the future unto God, vers. 4, 5. Whereupon he repeateth the Exhortation in the same Metaphor, sow thy seed, scatter thy charity in season and out of season, in youth, in age, at all times, on all occasions, since thou knowest not which will be most succesful, vers. 6.

And now having thus largely set down various precepts for making the life of a man comfortable, and his mind quiet amidst all the vanities of the world, He proceedeth to instruct him how he may provide for death, and judgement, and so secure happiness in another world too: for a man might be apt to say, when I am thus throughly fitted by these many precepts unto a secure and comfortable manner of living, having the favour of great men, the blessing of poor men, peace within, and plenty without, when by godly wisdom, vexation of mind, and the vanity and disquietness thereupon of all outward things is healed, and removed. It cannot then but be a very pleasant thing to live, to see the light of the Sun, and to enjoy those ⟨p. 354⟩contents which by these means we have arrived at, vers. 7. To this the Wise man answereth, That albeit by these means life is much sweetened, and the vanity thereof is much abated, yet it is never throughly removed: But when all is done which can be done to render our condition here comfortable, yet All that cometh, both life, and the supplies thereof, are still Vanity, and will pass away, and the days of darkness which follow, will be abundantly more than the days of light which went before. And that therefore we ought, by the timely remembrance of them both, to moderate our delights in things present, and to prepare our selves to lift up our heads with comfort in the judgement to come, vers. 8.

And now having thus largely set down various precepts for making the life of a man comfortable, and his mind quiet amidst all the vanities of the world, He proceedeth to instruct him how he may provide for death, and judgement, and so secure happiness in another world too: for a man might be apt to say, when I am thus throughly fitted by these many precepts unto a secure and comfortable manner of living, having the favour of great men, the blessing of poor men, peace within, and plenty without, when by godly wisdome, vexation of mind, and the vanity and disquietness thereupon of all outward things is healed, and removed. It cannot then but be a very pleasant thing to live, to see the light of the Sun, and to enjoy those ⟨p. 354⟩contents which by these means we have arrived at, vers. 7. To this the Wise man answereth, That albeit by these means life is much sweetned, and the vanity thereof is much abated, yet it is never throughly removed: But when all is done which can be done to render our condition here comfortable, yet All that cometh, both life, and the supplyes thereof, are still Vanity, and will pass away, and the daies of darkness which follow, will be abundantly more than the daies of light which went before. And that therefore we ought, by the timely remembrance of them both, to moderate our delights in things present, and to prepare our selves to lift up our heads with comfort in the judgement to come, vers. 8.

And because of all others, young men, whose blood is fresh, and spirits active, are most apt to surfeit on present pleasures, and to put far from them the evil day, slighting such admonitions as these; therefore the Wise man, who had had himself as full a gale of youthful pleasures, as ever any other man, and had found the vanity of them all, doth by an Irony, deride the folly, and by a solemn citation unto the Tribunal of God, awaken the conscience of such a voluptuous Epicure, vers. 9. persuading him by the assurance of a future judgement, wherein he must be called ⟨p. 355⟩to a strict account for all the vanities and miscarriages of his youth: and by the flitting condition of that age wherein he doth so glut upon them, to remove far from himself those sinful excesses which would fill his heart with sorrow, and his flesh with sin.

And because of all others, young men, whose blood is fresh, and spirits active, are most apt to surfeit on present pleasures, and to put far from them the evil day, slighting such admonitions as these; therefore the Wise man, who had had himself as full a gale of youthful pleasures, as ever any other man, and had found the vanity of them all, doth by an Irony, deride the folly, and by a solemn citation unto the Tribunal of God, awaken the conscience of such a voluptuous Epicure, vers. 9. perswading him by the assurance of a future judgement, wherein he must be called ⟨p. 355⟩to a strict account for all the vanities and miscarriages of his youth: and by the flitting condition of that age wherein he doth so glut upon them, to remove far from himself those sinful excesses which would fill his heart with sorrow, and his flesh with sin.