A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 19
Eccleſ. 8. v. 11.
Becauſe ſentence againſt an evil work is not executed ſpeedily, therefore the heart of the ſonnes of men is fully ſet in them to doe evill.
DOct. 1. Sentence is not ſo ſoon executed, as paſt, againſt an evil work, Zeph. 2.2. When an evil work is done ſentence paſſeth ſpeedily, Zach. 5.1, to 4, A flying Roll to imply ſwiftneſſe, Mil. 3.5. Gen. 4.7. Sin lieth at the doore, as a Serjeant or Gaoler, to watch and keep, and dog him whereſoever he goeth. No ſinner but goeth up and down with his Keeper, Pſalm 37.13. & 9.16. 3 Pet. 2.1, 3.
The ſentence is paſſed ſpeedily, Firſt, in Gods counſell, Micah 2.3. Jer. 18.11. Secondly, in the curſe of Gods law, Gen. 2.17, Gal. 3.10. Thirdly, in the conſcience of the ſinner oftentimes, 2 Sam. 24.10. Like the ſentence written on the wall of the houſe, Dan. 5.5. Fourthly, In the preparation of the cauſes to conviction and execution, to wit, in the cauſes, one linke draweth another. By Davids adultery with Bathſheba, a ſpirit of uncleanneſſe got into his houſe. Hence Amnon defileth Famar, ſhe was Abſolons ſiſter, and that draweth Abſolon to revenge; Abſolons beauty draweth on the King to pardon him; Bathſhebas father being Eliam (2 Sam. 11.3.) and Eliam being the ſonne of Ahitophel, (2 Sam. 23.34.) turned off Ahitophel from David to Abſolon, 2 Sam. 15.31. yet is not executed ſpeedily, Gen. 6.3. Numb. 14.33. 1 Kings 21.29.
Queſt. But why ſhould the Lord be pleaſed to delay execution, ſeeing many evils grow upon it: As firſt, It obſcureth Gods juſtice: The puniſhment of a ſin comming ſo long after, ſeemeth rather a calamity, then a juſt judgement of this or that ſin. Secondly, Gods providence is hence called into queſtion, Pſal. 73.11, 12. Mal. 2.17. Thirdly, Among men, The good are diſcouraged, Pſal. 73.12, 13, 14. And the wicked are hardned, As in the Text.
To theſe Objections may be anſwered: Firſt, God can cleare his juſtice in his own time, and in his own way; by ſuitableneſſe of the judgement, Judges 1.7. and Remorſe of conſcience, Gen. 42.21. Secondly, God will in every age cleare his providence by ſome remarkable judgement, Pſalm 9.16. Pſalm 58.10, 11. Thirdly, Good men muſt judge of things by the word, not by preſent events, Pſalm 73.17. If all men be hardned, it is that God aimed at, for their incorrigibleneſſe, Eſay 1.5. or for the wickedneſſe of their fathers Hoſ. 4.14.
Reaſon of delay: 1. Meet it is God ſhould ſhew his patience, as well as his juſtice, Exod. 34.6. Pſalm 145.8. Slow to anger, good to all, eſpecially, having placed the government of the world in the hand of a Mediator, Exod. 33.2, 3. Secondly, To lead on ſome to repentance, Rom. 2.4. 2 Pet. 3.9, 15. 1 Tim. 1.16. Thirdly, to reward humiliation, though not ſincere, 1 Kings 21.29. 2 Chron. 12.6, 7. Fourthly, to give way to others to fulfil the meaſure of their ſins, Geneſ. 15.16. and ſo to make way for the treaſuring up, and ſhewing forth his power and wrath, Rom. 2.5. Deut. 32.34, 35.
Doct. 2. The delay of puniſhment upon ſin, filleth the heart of ſinners to doe evil:
Filleth them, Firſt with reſolution to ſin, Jer. 44.16, 17. and with boldneſſe, Eſay 3.9. Secondly, with cuſtom in ſin, Jer. 13.23. Thirdly, with skill in ſin, Jer. 14.22.
Reaſon 1. From the depraying of their judgements by this means; either to think, Firſt, there is no God, Pſalm 41.1. or at leaſt that he regardeth not things below. Secondly, that God is like themſelves, Pſalm 50.21. Thirdly, That ſuch and ſuch evils are no ſin.
Reaſon 2. From the depravation of our wils by impunity: Not to feare God, Pſalm 55.19.
Ʋſe 1. To take notice of the venomous corruption of our nature, that can ſuck ſuch poyſon out of ſuch a ſweet Attribute, as the patience of God.
Ʋſe 2. To beware of ſuch an abuſe.
Ʋſe 3. To exhort as to be more filled with forwardneſſe to good, and hatred of evil; firſt, by the judgements of God againſt ſin; ſecondly, by the mercies of God to the godly.
Ʋſe 4. To teach Courts and Churches, neither of them to be too ſlow in executing ſentence againſt evil doers.