A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 23
Eccleſ. 3.16, 17.
16. And moreover, I ſaw under the Sun the place of judgement, that wickedneſse was there; and the place of righteouſneſse, that iniquity was there.
17. I ſaid in mine heart, God ſhall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpoſe, and for every worke.
IN the former part of the Chapter Solomon ſhewed the vanity of the eſtates of men, by an argument taken from the changes and viciſſitude which the determinate hand and Providence of God did put upon them. In theſe verſes he obſerveth and declareth another vanity that befalleth our eſtates by the hand and government of Magiſtrates: yea a vanity that befalleth upon judgement-ſeats themſelves. The vanity is wickedneſſe, which is both, Firſt, ungodlineſſe, 2 Sam. 22.22. Secondly, unrighteouſneſſe, Iſai. 58, 4, 9. And leſt this vanity ſhould caſt ſome blemiſh upon the wiſe and juſt providence of God (whereof penitent ſoules are more tender) he declareth his reſolution of that doubt, what it was in his own heart, that God will judge righteouſly, and ſo reform all the iniquity of Judgement-ſeats: And this he proveth by a principle delivered in v. 1. of this chap. taken from the time appointed for every purpoſe and every work there, verſe 17.
Doct. 1. He that ſhall live in the beſt times of the beſt Commonwealths, may ſee ſeats of Judgements and Juſtice corrupted with wickedneſſe and iniquity. The word wickedneſſe ſignifieth both, Firſt, Ungodlineſſe, 2 Sam. 22.22 Secondly, Unrighteouſneſſe or iniquity, Iſai. 58, 4, 6. Solomon ſpeaketh not of Markers, or Tavernes, or Stewes, or Mountaines of prey (Stand-gate Hole, Shooters Hill, Black Heath, Saliſbury Plaine, &c.) but of Seats of law and juſtice, and that not in the reigne of wicked Tyrants, Saul, Ahab, Iezabel, or the like, but in the times wherein himſelfe lived, which were the beſt which the beſt Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Iſrael, ever ſaw, even the times of David and Solomon. In Davids time, 2 Sam. 19, 24, to 30, with 16.4. In his time and Solomons, Eccleſ. 10, 5, 6, 7. 1 Kings 11.6, 7, 8, and 12, 4. In Aſas time, 2 Chron. 16.10. In Iehoſophats, 2 Chron. 18, 1, & 20, 33, to 37. In Ʋzziahs and Iothans, Iſai. 1.21, 22, 23, & 5, 7, & 3, 12, 15. In Hezekiahs, Micah 7, 3, 4, & 3, 9, to 12. with Ier. 26, 18. In Ioſiahs, Zeph. 1.1, 9, & 3, 1.3.
Reaſon 1. Acceptance of perſons in the Princes promoting their kinſmen or friends (though unworthy) to Judgment ſeates, as Samuel promoted his ſons, 1 Sam. 8, 1, 3.
Reaſon 2. Miſ-information and receiving it without hearing both parties ſpeak, 2 Sam. 16.1, 2, 3, 4. with Chap. 19.26.29.
Reaſon 3. Wicked fervants of Counſellours about a Prince, Prov. 25.4, 5. 1 Kings 12.8, to 11.
Reaſ 4. Selfe ſufficiency, leaning to a mans own wiſdome, Ioſh 14.15. Prov. 3, 5.6.7.
Reaſ. 4. Bribes or gifts, 1 Sam. 8.3. Exod. 23.8. Prov 281.21.
Ʋ …e 1. To teach us not to wonder, if we finde ſometime the like errours here in our Courts. We are to humble ourſelves for the ſins of our Courts, Iſai. 59.14, 15, 16. 2 Chron 19.10. It may be every one will not Judge it an iniquity to ſine the injury of twenty pound at two hundred; we read of reſtauration two-fold, four-fold, ſeven-fold, but never one hundred-fold. But is it not a wickedneſſe to ſuffer blaſphemy to paſſe unpuniſhed, and Sodomitical Rapes? what will become of rigour without mercy, is yet unknown.
Ʋſe 2. To teach men of place, Firſt, not to affect ſeats of Juſtice, they will not ſecure them. Secondly to prevent theſe errours, which is done by, 1. Gods feare, 2 Chron. 19.6, 7.2. Not judging by the hearing of the eare, Iſai. 11, 3, 4. unleſſe both eares be open. 3, Rejection of gifts, Iſai. 33.15.
Ʋſe 3. To refute the Popes infallibility of Judgement; for he hath not ſuch a promiſe of infallibility, as the King hath, Prov. 16.10.
Ʋſe 4. To moderate mens eagerneſſe to ſuits at Law.
Object, Why may I not ſue for my Right?
Anſw. But can you tell that you ſhall attaine your right by ſuit?
Ʋſe 5. To teach us Private cenſurers may erre much more, who have not received like promiſes.
Doct. 2. God will finde a time to Judge both the righteous and wicked, with every purpoſe (or will) and every work, verſe 17. Not onelyonly at the laſt Judgement, Matth. 12.36. 1 Cor. 4, 5. Eccleſ. 12. laſt. but even in this life, Prov. 11.31. Pſal. 9.4, 12, 16, & 7, 11, to 16, & 76, 9, 10. Exod. 22, 22, 23, 24.
Reaſon 1. The glory of God, Pſal. 9, 16, and 50, 26,
Reaſ. The reſtraint and check of the rage and pride of men, Pſal. 9.20.
Reaſ. 3. The groanes and ſighes, and expectation of the poor afflicted, Pſal. 12, 5. Pſal. 9.18.
Ʋſe 1. To exhort to watchſulneſſe in Judgement-ſeats, and againſt all ſecret unrighteouſneſſe, Eccleſ. 12. laſt.
Ʋſe 2. To exhort to quietneſſe of ſpirit, when wrong Judgement proceedeth, Eccleſ. 5.8.