A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 36
Eccleſ. 12.14.
14. For God ſhall bring every work into judgement, with every ſecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
IN the former verſe Solomon gave it for a concluſion of the whole Book, Fear God, and keep his Commandements.
Which duty he preſſeth by a twofold Argument; Firſt, from the weight of the Duty, it is the ſum and ſafety of the whole man, verſe 13. Secondly, from the univerſal and ſtrict account which God wil take of every work done under the Sun. Text. v. 14. So this laſt end of the book is the laſt end of the world.
Doctr. There is no work, whether it be open or ſecret, good or evil, but God wil bring it to judgement.
No work] whether, firſt, Of the heart as counſels, thoughts, affections, 1 Cor. 4.5. Jer. 17.9, 10. Secondly, of the lips, as words, Matth. 12.36. Jude 15. Thirdly, of the hands, or other outward members of the body, 2 Cor. 5.10. Eccleſ. 11.9. Pſalm 50.21. Not onelyonly of all the children of men, but even of evil Angels alſo, 1 Cor. 6.3:
Though never ſo ſecret] foreign abſconditum, velatum, hidden or ſecret; ſo the word ſignifieth, not as the vulgar Latine turneth it, erratum, abſurdly; for when he ſaith, pro omni errato, ſive Bonum, ſive malum ſit, it argueth ſome erratum is bonum. But if it be an erratum, an errour or fault, how is it good? if good, how is it erratum, an errour or fault? See then their vanity that think the vulgar Latin authenticall; or the Church of Rome infallible.
God will bring all to judgement] many things in this world, Prov. 11.31. Pſalm 58.10.11. All things whatſoever, at the laſt day, 2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 2.16. Acts 17.31. Matth. 25.31, to 46.
Reaſon 1. It is for the honour of God, to rectifie all the iniquity of judgement-ſeats, and other obloquies here below, Eccleſ. 5.8. & 3.16, 17. with Micah 7.3, 4. As his infinite wiſdome knoweth all iniquity, ſo his infinite juſtice cannot but give due recompence to all.
Reaſon 2. It is for the honour of Chriſt, John 5.23, 29. To declare the honour firſt, of his power, in raiſing the dead by his voyce, John 5.28, 29. Secondly, of his glory, Matth. 25.31. all the elements burning about him, 2 Pet. 3.10. all the Angels and Saints attending him, each one as bright as the Sun, Matth. 25.31. Jude 14. a glorious high Throne ſet in the aire for him, Matth. 25.31. all the creatures preſented before him, and bowing to him, Rom. 14.10, 11. Thirdly, the honour of his wiſdom, in making manifeſt the ſecret counſels of all hearts, with all ſecret conveyances, and that particularly 1 Cor. 4.5. Luke 12.2. Fourthly, of his juſtice; both ſhewing the cauſe of all his own adminiſtrations; why often it went ill with the godly, and well with the wicked, Eſay 28.17. and rewarding all according to their works and the fruits of them, Jer. 17.10. which wil not be accompliſhed whilſt the world laſteth; neither the good that ſome have done by their laws, books, counſels, examples, &c. nor the evil of others.
Reaſon 3. It is for the honour of the Church, and of all the godly, 2 Theſ. 1.10. Micah 7.9.
Ʋſe 1. For information, 1. That the account taken at the laſt day wil be general, of all Nations and perſons; and alſo particular of every ſingular cauſe and perſon, Rom. 14.12. Matth. 12.36. Pſalm 50.21. And that not ſecret, but open, ſo as all men may judge of all ſecret conveyances, Luke 12.2. 1 Cor. 4.5. Secondly, that the day of judgement wil be of longer continuance, then a night or day: For ſo many buſineſſes of all Nations, and perſons cannot be examined openly, in the ſpace of a few houres or yeers: The day of grace is of many yeers of (1 Cor. 6.2.) ſo alſo is that of judgement.
Ʋſe 2. To exhort to repentance, and faith, that he who ſhall be our judge, may be our Saviour, Acts 17.30, 31. 1 Cor. 11.31. 2 Theſ. 1.10.
Ʋſe 3. To bridle all licentiouſneſſe and boldneſſe in ſin, and pleaſure in it, Eccleſ. 11.9. Acts 24.25.
Ʋſe 4. To exhort to ſincere and conſcionable, awfull, and fruitful obedience, 1 Pet. 1.17. 2 Pet. 3.11, to 14. 2 Cor. 5.9, 10. Text, v. 13, 14. Luke 12.1, 2. 1 Cor. 15.58.
Ʋſe 5. To exhort to judge others ſparingly and charitably, 1 Cor. 4.5. Rom. 14.10. Matth. 7.1, 2. Jam. 2.13. But to provoke them earneſtly to prepare from this day, 2 Cor. 5.10, 11.
Ʋſe 6. To encourage the Saints to patience, conſtancy, and comfort in wel doing, and ill ſuffering, 1 Cor. 15.58. 1 Theſ. 4.17.2. 2 Theſ. 1.6, 7.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Cotton, A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes (1654)