A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 33
Eccleſ. 12.11.
11. The words of the wiſe are as goads, and as nailes faſtned by the maſters of aſsemblies, which are given from one ſhepheard.
COherence, ſee in verſe 9.
Doctr. 1. The Penmen of Scriptures, and Teachers … Gods people were for their ſpirit (or gifts) wiſe men; for their place in the Church, maſters of the Aſſemblies, and for their calling given by one ſhepheard, Prov. 11.30.
Reaſon 1. From their immediate carriage by the holy Ghoſt, 2 Pet. 1.21.
Reaſon 2. From their diſcerning between the percious and vile, Jer. 15.19. & applying a fit word to either ſort, Iſai. 50.4.
Reaſon 3. From writing and teaching unchangeable rules, for all perſons, in all ages, to which nothing can be added, nor ought taken away, Deut. 12.32.
Reaſon 4. From fitneſſe to withſtand all oppoſitions, Luke 21.15. Acts 6.9, 10.
Maſters of Aſſemblies, as being firſt, ſome of them Magiſtrates, though Prophets alſo, as Moſes, Joſhuah, Samuel, Daved, Mordecai, Nehemiah. Secondly, Some Prieſts, as Jeremy, Ezekiel, &c. Thirdly, all of them Prophets, immediately inſpired by the Holy Ghoſt, and ſo watchmen ſet over the flock, Jer. 1.9, 10. Ezek. 3.17.
Object. But their place in the Church is miniſteriall, not maſterly, 2 Cor. 1.24. & 4, 5. 1 Pet. 5.3.
Anſw. True, becauſe they command nothing in their own name, but Chriſts, 1 Cor. 4.1. but for the Churches good, 2 Cor. 13.10. 2 But yet in the name of Chriſt they call the Aſſemblies together, Acts 6.2. and they rule them being gathered, with commandments, tebukes, and with all authority, Tit. 2.15, One ſhepheard] is Chriſt, John 10.11, 16. 1 Pet. 2.25, & 5.5.
Reaſon 1. As laying downe his life to purchaſe us, Joh. 10.11.
Reaſon 2. As providing food for us, leading us into green paſtures, by ſtill waters, Pſal. 23.1, 2.
Reaſon 3. As healing our diſeaſes and ſeeking us out in our wandrings, Pſal. 23.3 Ezek. 34.16. Luke 15.4. he giveth the maſters of the Aſſemblies, Jer. 3.15. Epheſ. 4.8, 11.
Reaſon 1. As inſtituting their callings, Epheſ. 4.8, 11.
Reaſon 2. As furniſhing them with gifts.
Reaſon 3. As opening a doore for their entrance, Joh. 10.9. Acts 20.28.
Ʋſe, ſee after the next Doctrine:
Doct. 2. The words of Scripture are as goades and nailes, faſtened or implanted by the maſters of the aſſemblies given by one Paſtor. As Goads to ſtirre up the people to duty, 2 Pet. 1.13, & 3, 1. and to ſubdue an enemy like Shamgars Goad, Judg. 3.31. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5: As Nailes ſticking faſt in the foule, Pſal 119.93. and faſtening us to God, John 15.7. To our brethren, and to our duties, Neh. 10, 29. Faſtened or planted; as Gen. 2.8. as if they were not dead (as doore nailes) nor dry pegs, or ſtakes; or nailes, but living plants, James 1.21. where his foreign may ſeem to allude to Solomons foreign in this place; Miniſters are Planters, not onelyonly in the firſt gathering of Churches, 1 Cor. 3.67. but alſo in carrying on the reſt of the worke, as in building. Implanted implyeth, Firſt, The heart is pierced, and cut by the word (as in graffing or planting) Acts 2.37. Secondly, The word taking root in the heart, wanting in the ſtony ground, Matth. 13.21. not ſhaken out by wine, muſick, merry company, building buſineſſe, &c. Thirdly, Living in us, Heb. 4.12. Fourthly, Growing in us, Acts 19.20. Fifthly, Fruitful in us, Luke 8.15. Col. 1, 5, 6.
By the Maſters of the Aſſemblies] Implyeth they have a Miniſterial worke, in implanting and driving theſe nailes to the head, 1 Cor. 3.6, 2 Pet. 1.13. Theſe words and the exciting and faſtening power of them are given by one Paſtor, to wit, by Chriſt, as was opened in the former Doctrine, Pſal. 68.11.
Reaſon 1. The word is revealed by his ſpirit, 2 Tim, 3.16. 2 Pet. 1.21.
Reaſon 2. His ſpirit ſharpneth and pointeth it as a Goad, Pſal. 45.5.
Reaſon 3. His ſpirit implanteth and faſteneth them.
Both the Doctrines may be thus compriſed in one.
Doctr. The words of Scripture are the words of the wiſe, quickning like Goads and faſtened like Nailes, implanted by many Maſters. of the Aſſemblies, yet given by one Paſtor.
Ʋſe 1. See here what manner of perſons the penmen of Scriptures and the Preachers of them be, to wit, 1. For their gifts, wiſe. 2. For their office, Maſters of Aſſemblies. 3. For their calling, given by one Paſtor, as in the former Doctrine.
Ʋſe 2. To teach the Maſters of Aſſemblies, how the word ſhould be handled wiſely according to the ſenſe of Scripture, and to the eſtate of the people. As Goades, 1. Sharply, piercingly, Titus 1.13. quickning a dull ſpirit, Pſal. 119.93. 2. Subduing and wounding an enemy, whether luſt or gainſayer (as Shamgars Goad, Judg. 3.31.) 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Titus 1.9. As Nailes, 1. Driving at firſt the ſharp but ſmal end into the heart; things that may moſt eaſily ſinke and take place, and enter, Heb. 5.11, 12, 13. 2. Following the word with ſtronger matter which may hold the heart ſtrongly and cloſely to God, to Brethren, and to Duty.
Implanted] this done by diſpenſing the word, 1. In faithful ſimplicity, Jer. 23.28, 29. Humane wit and authorities added to it doe but adulterate it, like as Paint doth marble, or as honey and wine in childrens milke: as painted glaſſe windowes darken the light: as a bumbaſted ſword hindreth cutting. 2. In manifeſtation of the ſpirit breathing and ſpeaking in the Scripture, and breathing and ſpeaking in the hearts, and words, and lives of Miniſters. Hence power, 1 Cor. 2.2, 3, 4. 2 Cor. 13.3, 4.
Ʋſe 3. To teach us the ſtate of the people without Maſters of the Aſſemblies, to be wanting, firſt in heavenly wiſdome, Jer. 4.22. Secondly, in forwardneſſe; hence need of a goad to prick them forward. Heb. 5.11. Thirdly, in ſtedfaſtneſs; hence need of nailes to faſten them, Eph. 4.14.
Ʋſe 4. For triall, when the word hath had his kindly and true effect, and work in us; to wit, firſt when it quickneth us; ſecondly, when it ſtrengthneth us; thirdly, when it is implanted in us.
Ʋſe 5. To teach us to make uſe of Chriſt, as our ſhepheard, whether we be maſters of Aſſemblies, or ſheep fed by them.