A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 60
Eccleſ. 11.1, 2, 3.
1 Caſt thy bread vponupon the waters for thou ſhalt find it after many daies.
2 Give a portion to ſeven, and alſo to eight, for thou knoweſt not what evil ſhall be vponupon the earth.
3 If the clouds be full of raine, they emptie themſelves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the South, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it ſhall be.
COherence, ſee above in Chap. 10. verſe 20. Solomon having ſhewed ſundry ſeveral vanities, which (like dead flyes) are found in Stateſmen, he proceedeth to direct his wiſe Subjects to ſome ſuch Chriſtian duties as are requiſito at all times, but eſpecially in ſuch dangerous times as the vanity of great men are wont to bring upon a State, from verſe 20. of Chap. 10. to the end of the eighth, Diſcourſe of the vanity of the eſtate of the creatures, till we come to conclude the whole Book. As Firſt, To beware of curſing Princes and Stateſmen, how corrupt ſoever their Government be: the better to provide for our own ſafety, Chap. 10.20. Secondly, To be the more liberal to pious and charitable uſes in regard of the troubles comming upon the Land, where ſuch miſgovernment is found, Chap. 11.1, 2, 3. Thirdly, To be the more diligent and fruitſul in the duties of our calling, verſe 4.5, 6. Fourthly, To breake off a courſe of ſin, and to haſten repentance, and turning unto God, howſoever the time be, verſe 7. to verſe 8. of Chap. 12. Whereupon Solomon concludeth the whole Book, Chap. 12. verſe 9, to 14. The Text is an exhortation to liberality, or Beneficence, Caſt thy Bread, Give a Portion, &c. Which is amplified by a twofold ſtate of the Subject; Firſt, By the fleeting eſtate of the Subject, like waters, verſe 2. Secondly, By the variety of ſubject perſons or multitude of them, to 7. & 8, verſe 2. And confirmed by four motives; Firſt, From the recompence thereof at laſt, in fulneſſe of dayes thou ſhalt finde it verſe 1. Secondly, From the uncertainty of future calamities threatning the State; for thou knoweſt not what evil ſhall be upon the countrey, verſe 2. Thirdly, From the example of the Clouds, who, when they are full, empty themſelves upon the Earth, verſe 3. Fourthly, From the certainty of the reſt or aboad of a benefit where it is beſtowed, ſet forth by the ſimilitude of a Tree lying where it falleth, verſe 3.
Doctr. 1. When dangerous times hang over the publick State, it is a point of holy wiſdome to be liberal and bountiful to charitable and pious uſes, eſpecially there, where there is leaſt hope of recompence in mans eye: Bread caſt upon the face of the waters is utterly loſt in mans reaſon; it will either ſinke or ſwim away. Yet caſt thy Bread there eſpecially in dangerous times, when thou knoweſt not what evils are comming upon the Land. There be ſix or ſeaven properties of Almes Deeds, or other good offices of Chriſtian love, and bounty, which Solomon comprehendeth (even all of them in theſe words.) Firſt, to be doing good readily and roundly, not ſo as if a gift, or good worke ſtucke in a mans fingers: implyed in the word Caſt, not give only, or draw out, but caſt. God loveth a cheerful giver, 2 Cor. 9.7. Secondly, To doe it uſefully and helpfully, caſt thy Bread, not ſtones, not ſcorpions, not ſcraps, not refuſe: but ſuch things as may doe true good, may be a ſtaffe and ſupport to others, as Bread. Bread (in Matth. 6.11.) is put for all profitable outward things. Thirdly, to doe it juſtly of a mans own, not others; not to rob one to ſuccour another; give the bread; Prov. 5.16, 17. Iſai. 61.8. Pay debts firſt, give after. Fourthly, To doe it freely without hope of recompence from them on whom you caſt your bread. Bread caſt on water will either ſink or ſwim away, Luke 14.13, 14. By waters is not here meant locus irriguus, moiſt and fruitfull ground, as Eſay 32, 20. for there it is not ſaid beſides all waters (where ſuch places are fruitfull:) but upon the face of the waters. Nor here meant watery faces, weeping for want, though that be part of the meaning, Fifthly, To doe it ſincerely, without aym of vainglory. This bread thus caſt upon the face of the waters, ſtayeth not to be ſeen of men, but either ſinketh or ſwimmeth away. Bread given as the Phariſees did for vainglory, is caſt rather upon pillars of Marble, or of Braſſe, rather then upon fleeting waters. Sixthly, to doe it frequently and often, not rarely, and to a few; give a portion to ſeven, and alſo to eight, v. 2. Seven put for many, 1 Sam. 2.5. Micah 5.5. A good man diſperſeth his beneficence, to wit, to many, Pſal. 112.9. The larger the field is, wherein ſeed is ſcattered the more hope of a plentifull harveſt. Seventhly, to doe it wiſely and diſcreetly; Give a portion to ſeven, and alſo to eight, implieth, 1. Not all to others, leaving none for home; but give a part. 2. Not all to ſome, none to others, but a part to ſeven, and alſo to eight. 3. Not a Pittance, but a portion; ſuch a proportion as whereon a poor man may work, and occupy, to doe ſome good withall, as with a portion.
Reaſon 1. From the recompence; For in multitude of daies thou ſhalt finde it. Text. Which implieth, Firſt, length of daies, promiſed to men fruitfull this way: which often holdeth in proper ſpeech, Pſal. 34, 12, 14. Doe good, and it is a way to ſee good daies long, Dan. 4.27. Liberall men ſeldom die young. Abraham lived long, Gen. 25.7, 8. Pſahn 41.2. Secondly, if they ſhould dye ſooner, their children wil finde it, Pſal. 37.25, 26. Thirdly, ſometimes themſelves finde ſpeedy recompence in the ſame kind, 1 Kings 17.13 to 16. Fourthly, ſometimes they finde it with uſury, or advantage in ſpirituall and eternall grace and glory, Luke 16, 10, &c. Gal. 6.6 to 9. 1 Tim. 6.18, 19. 2 Tim. 1.16, &c.
Reaſon 2. From the uncertainty of ſuture calamities, or rather certainty of their comming, but uncertainly in what kind. Text, v. 2. And therefore firſt, it is good to be giving, whilſt we have it, leaſt all be ſwept away in a deluge of Publike calamity. Secondly, it is wiſdome by this means to prolong tranquility, Dan. 4.27. Thirdly, it is ſeaſonable to prepare againſt a ſtorm, Pſalm 41.1, 3.
Reaſon 3. From the example of the clouds, which being full of water, poure down rain, Text verſe 3. and that both upon earth and Sea. Not like rich men, who the more rich they grow, grow the more niggardly, and give more ſparingly then the poorer ſort. Yea, the clouds by pouring out rain regain it again both from the Sea and earth, by aſcending vapours; and ſo doe liberall men gaine by bounty, Prov. 11.25.
Reaſon 4. From the uncertainty of the reſt of a benefit, where it is beſtowed: as a tree reſteth where it falleth, Text verſ. 3. Benefit will be reaped from thence to thee, though they ſhould not be the better for it, Iſay 49.4, 5. Pſal. 35, 13. how much more when they doe reap benefit by our benificence, Job 29.13. & 31.20.
Ʋſe 1. To exhort to unwearied and abundant fruitfulneſs in all theſe kinds, by all theſe Reaſons, as ſo many motives. Prov. 19.17. Luke 6.38.