A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 32
Eccleſ. 5.9. to 17.
9. Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the King himſelf is ſerved by the field.
10. He that loveth ſilver, ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſilver; nor be that loveth abundance with increaſe: this is alſo vanity.
11. When goods encreaſe, they are encreaſed that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, ſaving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12. The ſleep of a labouring man is ſweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not ſuffer him to ſleep.
13. There is a ſore evil which I have ſeen under the ſun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14. But thoſe riches periſh by evil travels, and he begetteth a ſon, and there is nothing in his hand.
15. As he came forth of his mothers womb, naked ſhall he return to go as he came, and ſhall take nothing of his labour which he may carry away in his hand.
16. And this alſo is a ſore evil, that in all points as he came, ſo ſhall he goe: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind.
17. All his daies alſo he eateth in darkneſs, and he hath much ſorrow and wrath with his ſickneſſe.
IN theſe words the Holy Ghoſt ſetteth forth the vanity of covetouſneſſe, or the love of money, by ſundry arguments: Firſt, from the unſatiableneſs of it, v. 10. amplified by the contrary ſufficing and ſatisfying profit which the earth or field yieldeth to all ſorts, even to Kings, v. 9. Secondly, From the Diverſion (or turning aſide) of the profit of wealth to others; and reſerving no more benefit to the owners then the bare ſight thereof, v. 11. Thirdly, From the diſreſt, and unquietneſſe which abundance, 1. of meats and drinks, 2. of cares, yieldeth to the owner, by the exceſſe: amplified by the contrary ſweet and quiet ſleep and reſt of the labouring ſervant, v. 12. Fourthly, From the hurt redounding to the owners by wealth, v. 13. Fifthly, from the periſhing of riches by evil travel, v. 14. Sixthly, from the penury his ſeed may fall into, v. 14. Seventhly, from the neceſſity of leaving all behind him in death, v. 15, 16. Eighthly, from the many croſſes and; exations which befall a man in his life time, from his wealth, v. 17.
Doctr. The earth yieldeth ſufficient profit unto all ſorts of men, from the king to the meaneſt ſervant; but not to covetouſneſs, 1 Chron. 27.26, to 31. Prov. 27.23, to 27. and 31.16. 2 Chron. 26.10. Amos 2.1. It is bread that ſtrengthens mans heart above all other meats, Iſa. 3.1. It is the ſtaffe, Pſalm 104.15. Gen. 43.8. It is ſcarcity of bread that maketh a famine, not other commodities. And even the beaſts and flocks are maintained by the earth.
Reaſon of the earths yielding profit ſufficient, Firſt, God provideth it as meet that that which bred us ſhould feed us. Secondly, That labour might be encouraged, and not loſt, Gen. 3.19. Thirdly, to beat into us a ſenſe of our mortality; as the earth bred us, ſo it feedeth us, till we return to it.
Not ſo covetouſneſs, or the love of money, or of wealth.
Reaſ. 1. From the unſatiableneſs of Covetouſneſs v. 10. It is agreat vanity when we covet a Creature which cannot ſatisfy us when we have it. Hunger is ſatisfyed with meat, Thirſt with drink: but Hunger and Thirſt after Wealth is not ſatisfyed with Wealth. The love of meat and drink wil make a man willing to uſe and ſpend them: but the love of Money and Silver will not ſuffer a man to ſpend them. A poor mans poor eſtate may be relieved by one wealthy mans Beneficence: but the hunger of the Covetous cannot be ſatisfyed with an hundred mens eſtates: A ſign his heart and minde is unmeaſurably poor and miſerable. A man that is ſtill hungry when he hath eaten enough (as in the foreign) or is ſtill thirſty when he hath drunke enough (as in the Dropſy) Phyſitians ſay opus habet purgatione, non impletione ſo is it with the Covetous man: though the Covetous man may ſay and think he layeth up for his Heirs, yet he would not have his Heirs to ſpend it, but like Conduite-pipes to convey it from one to another.
Reaſ. 2. From the unprofitableneſs of abundance: it encreaſeth not our Comforts but Expences, 1 Kings 4.22, 23. Servants muſt be multiplyed ſutably 1 to our buſineſs: to our Rank. The eye is onelyonly fed with it, but neither that to ſatisfaction.
Reaſon 3. From the Diſreſt and Disquietneſs which Abundance yeildeth by exceſs, 1 of Meats and Drinks. 2. Cares, and want of Sleep, v. 12. which commeth to paſs Firſt by filling the Stomach, and ſo ſtraitning the Lungs, that they cannot breathe freely. Secondly, by ſending up ſtore of Fumes and vapors into the Brain, which ſill it with excrements, and emptyeth it-ſelf in Rhewms and Flegmes, which by Spitting, Coughing, and Dreams, interrupt Sleep. Thirdly, by ſtupifying the Animal ſpirits which ſhould recreate and refreſh the Brain. Fourthly, by heating the Brain in the Night with ſtudy and cares. But Labour breedeth ſweet Sleep, I when he eateth little, his ſenſes cloſe for want of ſpirits to quicken and open them. 2 when a man eateth much. Firſt, by exciting natural heat by Labour. Secondly, by waſhing ſuperfluous humours, and ſo keeping the Stomach and Brain clean.
Reaſ. 4 From the hurt Redounding to the Owners, by Wealth, v. 13. Hurt, 1 To the body, 1 Kings, 21.6, 7, 8.2 To the Soul, Firſt leading it into many Temptations, 1 Tim. 6.9. Pſal. 69.22. Secondly, Choaking good ſeed, Matth. 13.22. Thirdly, hardning mens hearts in evil of impenitency, Rom. 2.4, 5.
Reaſon 5. From the periſhing of riches by evil Travel, verſe 14. either, Firſt, of a mans ſelfe, as by an ill haunt to Haukes, Hounds, Whores, or Suretiſhip, Buildings, Gaming, coſtly Apparrel. Secondly, of his Houſhold, children, ſervants, waſting and conſuming the eſtate. Thirdly, of his enemies, Job 1.14, 17.
Reaſon 6. From the penury incident to rich mens children, nothing in his hand; 1. No wealth, 2, No labour. Firſt, neither wit, Secondly, nor skill, Thirdly, nor ſtrength to it.
Reaſon 7. From the neceſſity of leaving all behind a man at death, verſe 15.16. Job 1.21. 1 Tim. 6.7, Only laden they are with more ſin, elſe ſtript of all outward things, Firſt, Honours, Pſal. 49, 17. Secondly, Profits, Luke 12.20. Thirdly, duplicate page duplicate page Pleaſures, Heb. 11, 25. we come into the world crying, we go out mourning and groaning. Hence all labour for wealth is for winde. Firſt, We cannot hold and keep it, Secondly, It ſwelleth us like empty bladders.
Reaſon 8. From the much anguiſh and ſorrow and vexation which wealth cauſeth, through, Firſt, loſſes and croſſes. Secondly, Feares of after evils. Thirdly, Darkneſſe through want of ſpiritual light.
Ʋſe 1. To encourage to husbandry and feeding of Cattel and all labour about the earth. It breedeth ſufficing profit, The earth is a ciſterne to the ſea alſo.
Ʋſe 2. To reach Kings not to deſtroy the fruits of the earth: They undoe themſelves.
Ʋſe 3. To acknowledge the bounty of God in providing ſo fruitful a nurſe for us, Acts 14.16, 17.
Ʋſe 4. To diſſwade from covetuoſneſſe which is when we love riches, Firſt, For themſelves, nor for their uſe. Secondly, Are not ſatisfied with them. Thirdly, are not content with what the earth may produce for Diet, Clothing, and Lodging.
Ʋſe 5. To teach a painful poor man thankfulneſſe.
Ʋſe 6. To teach all men, even rich men, moderation of Diet, and diligence of labour, Prov. 31.13, 19, 27.
Ʋſe 7. To teach wealthy men to beware of ill haunts, Prov. 6.26, & 21, 17, & 23, 21, but rather to employ their eſtates in ſome profitable matter, they will elſe come to an ill end.
Ʋſe 8. To teach Parents to leave their children, Firſt, A good covenant; Secondly, cuſtome to labour. Any other wealth may come ſhort to them.