A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 3
Chap. 1. Verſ. 2.
Vanity of vanities, ſaith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
VAnity of vanities, &c.] The Logicall and Rhetoricall reſolution of theſe words, is delivered above in opening the firſt Uſe.
Doct. 1. All things under the Sunne (whether creatures of God, or labours of men) are altogether vain, to the attaining of true happineſſe: Or thus, Are exceſſively, diverſly, wonderfully vain. The chiefe things which men ſeek for in this life, are vain in a threefold reſpect:
1. To finde the chiefe good in them.
2. To ſatisfie the ſoule, Eſay 55.22.
3. To make that good they are made for of themſelves, Pſal. 33.17.
For the gathering of this point from the true meaning of the Text, compare this place with Verſ 3.14. and Chap. 2. verſ. 3. In this ſenſe Paul calleth all things loſſe (droſſe, dung) Phil. 3, 7, 8. to wit, not onelyonly without Chriſt, or in compariſon of him, but for the attainment of Chriſt or true happineſſe.
The ground of this point may be moſt ſitly ſhewed in opening the ſeverall acceptions of vanity in the Scripture, and obſerving how they all agree in all things in the world in this reſpect. Vanity is put for
1. Unprofitableneſſe, as here verſ. 2, 3. Mal. 3.14. which agreeth to worldly things, Mat. 16.26. A man may have the whole world, and loſe his ſoule; and then what profit did they yield him? Prov. 11.4.
2. Emptineſſe, Pſal. 2.1. 1 Cor. 3.20. Vain, that is, void of ſubſtance and worth and ſufficiency. So Eſay 36.5. to which alſo agreeth [Eſay 29.8.) Eſay 55.2
3. Lightneſſe, Pſal 62.9. which is alſo true, Deut. 32.47. The like may be ſaid of all earthly things in this caſe.
4. Falſhood and lying, Pſal. 12.2. & 4.2. which alſo holdeth here, Pſal. 31.6. Jonah 2.8.
5. Fruſtration or diſappointment of the end, Pſal. 127.1, 2. Unleſſe the Lord build and keep the houſe and City, the builders and watchmans care wil fall ſhort of the end they aime at, and ſo the work is in vain, James 1.26. 1 Cor. 15.14.
6. Frailty or inconſtancy, vaniſhing away as ſmoak, Rom. 8.20, 21. Pſal. 144.4. Eſay 40.6, 7, 8.
7. Iniquity, 2 Chron. 13.7. Prov. 12, 11.
8. Folly, Job 11.12. Prov. 12.11.
Reaſons of the vanity of thoſe former ends.
1. From the end for which God made them (to wit) for us, not us for them, 1 Cor. 3.22.
2. From their condition, they are corporall, temporall and therefore cannot feed, much leſſe ſatisfie an eternall ſpirit, Luke 12.19, 20.
3. From the curſe lying upon them ſince the fall, Gen. 3.17.
Reaſons of the Repetition of this vanity; and the Holy Ghoſts manner of ſpeech in expreſſing this vanity.
1. To ſhew the exceſſiveneſſe of the vanity of theſe earthly things.
Vanity implieth they are not onelyonly vain, but exceedingly vaine; as vain as vanity it ſelfe.
Vanity of vanities, is in the Hebrew a Superlative form of ſpeech, to ſet forth the higheſt vanity; as the Song of Songs, the moſt excellent Song; the King of Kings, the Servant of Servants, the chiefeſt King, the moſt ſervile ſervant.
2. To ſhew, the multitude and variety of vanities heaped up in earthly things. There is a reſt (as it were) of vanity in them; or as Sampſon ſpeaks in another caſe, Judg. 15.16. heaps upon heaps.
3. For admiration. To ſhew the wonderfull and ſtrange vanity of theſe things, he breaketh forth into this Exclamation, Oh vanity of vanities, &c.
Ʋſe 1. To ſhew us what a great change ſinne maketh in the world; it doth as it were blaſt the vertue and beauty of the creature.
Time was before ſin entred, when God ſaw all the creatures to be very good, Gen. 1 31. Now after ſinne had blown upon them, he looked upon them again, and all is vanity; Such a change wil ſin make in us, and in our counſels and courſes.
Ʋſe 2. To ſhew us what a wofull change they make that fell their ſoules to commit ſin for any earthly benefits, which are but vanity, Jonah 2.8. Eſay 5.18. Temptations from earthly things may draw on ſin like cart-ropes, but they are the cart-ropes of vanity. And ſo doe they that change the Ordinances of God for accommodations which are under the Sunne.
Ʋſe 3. To ſhew us the vanity of men beyond all creatures, Pſal. 119.89. He for whoſe ſake all the reſt became vain, is much more vain himſelfe, Pſalm 62.5. He is lighter then vanity, Eſay 40.17.
Ʋſe 4. To teach us not to ſet our hearts on earthly things: Pſalm 62.10. neither by
1. Coveting them before we have them, Prov. 23.4, 5.
2. Confidently truſting in them, or proudly rejoycing in them when we have them, Job 31.24, 25.
3. Griefe when we part from them, Job 1.21.
Ʋſe 5. To exhort us to lay up better treaſure then theſe earthly vanities, Matth. 6.19, 20.
Ʋſe 6. For a ſign of triall of our repentance; ſuch as ſee nothing but glory, and goodlineſſe in theſe outward things, Satan hath bewitched them, Mat. 4, 8. But ſuch as ſee the extream vanity of them, have repented with Solomon here.
Ʋſe 7. To teach us, It is no vanity to teach the vanity of the creatures in Rhetorical elegancies; here are many Tropes of Rhetorick uſed; ſo Rom. 12.5. With theſe Cautions:
1. That the Rhetorick be ſuitable to the matter, grave and holy; elſe its baſtard Rhetorick.
2. That it ſet forward the end of the diſcourſe, to wit, to affect the heart with the ſenſe of the matter in hand.