A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 38
Eccleſ. 7.3, 4, 5, 6.
3. Sorrow is better then laughter: for by the ſadneſs of the countenance the heart is made better.
4. The heart of the wiſe is in the houſe of mourning: but the heart of fools is in the houſe of mirth.
5. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wiſe, then for a man to heare the ſong of fools.
6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, ſo is the laughter of the fool: this alſo is vanity.
IN Verſe 2. Solomon had preferred going to the houſe of mourning above going to the houſe of mirth, whereof he gave two Reaſons before. The firſt, taken from the condition of the houſe of mourning it is the end of all men. The ſecond, from the ſpirituall improvement which living men will make of it. The living will lay it to heart, v. 2. Now in this verſe he giveth another reaſon of it. 3. From the preheminence of ſorrow above laughter, Sorrow is better then laughter. And this he proveth, firſt, from the benefit of a ſad countenance, by the ſadneſſe of the countenance the heart is made better, v. 3. Secondly, from the preheminence of ſuch men, whoſe hearts are in the houſe of mourning above thoſe whoſe hearts are in the houſe of mirth. The heart of the wiſe is in the houſe of mourning, the heart of fools in the houſe of mirth, v. 4. Thirdly, from the preheminence of hearing the rebuke of the wiſe (which cauſeth ſorrow) above hearing the ſong of fools, v. 5. the vanity whereof is amplified by a compariſon, v. 6. foreign here tranſlated ſorrow, commeth of a root which ſignifieth properly to provoke, as Deut. 32, 19. Now becauſe a man may be provoked either to anger, or to griefe; therfore this word is ſometimes tranſlated anger, Eccleſ. 7.9. Sometimes griefe or ſorrow, as Eccleſ. 11.10. Pſal 112.10. and here.
Doctr. Sorrow is better then light mirth. v. 3. Laughter expreſſeth light or frollick mirth.
For right underſtanding this point, conſider theſe points: Firſt, ſorrow, when God calleth for mirth; and joy, and mirth, and laughter, when God calleth for ſorrow and mourning, are both a like odious to God, Deut. 28, 47, 48. Gen. 4.6. Iſa. 22.12, 13, 14. Jer. 48.27. Secondly, Godly ſorrow and mourning, and ſpiritual joy and rejoycing are both alike acceptable to God, and profitable to man, 2 Cor. 7.10.11. Neh. 8.10. Thirdly, Sorrow for ſin, and upon rebukes for ſin, is better then frolick joy and mirth in vain company, Eccleſ. 7.5. Fourthly, ſorrow for outward affliction, is better then light mirth for ſleight occaſions. Theſe two latter hold forth Solomons meaning, and are the ſenſe of the doctrine, Heb. 11.25. Job 36.21.
Reaſon 1. From the benefit of a ſad countenance; as it ſpringeth from an heart ſeriouſly affected, ſo it ſtirreth up ſerious affection, meditations, and conferences in the hearts of others. A merry countenance is apt to ſtir up to looſe and diſſolute, vain and frothy meditations, affections, conferences.
Reaſon 2. From the condition of the houſe of mourning; it is a ſuitable object to the heart of a wiſe man: His heart is there: ſad objects to the heart, are as ballaſt to the ſhip, making it go ſteddy; whereas the houſe of mirth is a ſuitable object to the heart of fools, v. 4.
Reaſon 3. From the preheminence or betterment of hearing the rebuke of the wiſe (which cauſeth ſorrow) then the ſongs of fools, which cauſeth light mirth, v. 5. Which may appeare, 1. From the great benefit of wiſe reproofs: They are as firſt, Pricks to let out corruption, Acts 2.37. Secondly, Goads to ſtir up to duty, Eccleſ. 12.11. Thirdly, Nailes to drive in and faſten good counſel, Eccleſ. 12.11. Fourthly, Balm to heale ſores, Pſal. 141.5. 2 From the vanity of fools laughter, and light mirth. It is as the cracking of Thorns under a pot, v. 6. Not like the fire of thorns under a pot, which is ſoon kindled, and faire blazed; But like the noyſe which firſt, is no good melody. Secondly, ſpends much fewel, as fools mirth much time. Thirdly, ſoon decayeth and dampeth, and leaveth both meat in the Pot raw, and by-ſtanders not thoroughly warmed, Pſal. 118.12. & 58.9. So doth the mirth of fools, Prov. 14.13.
Ʋſe 1. Againſt the chiefe good of Epieures, which is pleaſure. Sadneſſe is better then it.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us contentment, yea, and thankfulneſſe to, when God ſendeth occaſions of ſorrow and ſadneſſe for affliction, Job 1.21.
Object. Pſalm 35.27.
Anſw. Proſperity that will beſt hold, and leaſt corrupt, is that which is ſown in tears, Pſalm 126.5, 6. This ſad winter, Chriſtmas (as they call it) is better then all the carnal jollity wont heretofore to be exerciſed at that time of the yeere.
Ʋſe 3. For a ſigne of trial of our hearts; where they delight to be, ſuch they are. If they delight to be in the houſe of mirth, they are vain and fooliſh; if in the houſe of mourning, they are wiſe, Mat. 6.21.
Ʋſe 4. To teach us who are fitteſt inſtruments to diſpenſe reproofs, wiſe men, v. 5, Prov. 15.12. The wiſe and the reprover, are Synonima, Prov. 25.12. Great wiſdom requiſite to diſcern, firſt of faults, whether beams or motes. Secondly, of the offenders, how more or leſſe eaſie to be wrought upon, as the body in Phyſick, Prov. 17.10.
Ʋſe 5. To exhort to patient and willing hearing of juſt reproofs. A ſound chiding is better muſick then the ſong of fools. It is an ornament if wel heard, Prov. 25.12. as arguing humility, wiſdom, ſincetity, or ſoundneſs, Prov. 9.8, 9. Sound fleſh wil abide rubbing; not ſo galled. They are the way of life, Prov. 10.17. and wiſdom, Prov. 15.31, 32.