A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 30
Eccleſ. 5.1, 2, 3.
Verſ. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goeſt to the Houſe of God, and be more ready to heare then to give the ſacrifice of fools: for they conſider not that they doe evil.
2. Be not raſh with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be haſty to utter any thing before God: for God is in Heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3. For a dream commeth through the multitude of buſineſs, and a fools voyce is known by multitude of words.
IN this Chapter Solomon declareth the vanity found, Firſt, in the performance of Gods worſhip, v. 1, to 7. Secondly, in marvelling and murmuring at oppreſſions in men of place, v. 8. Thirdly, in Riches, v. 9, to 19. In declaring the vanity found, not in Gods worſhip, but in mens manner of performance of it, leſt he might ſeem with the prophane, (Mal. 3.14.) to eſteem it a vain thing to ſerve God, he rather directeth men how to prevent ſuch vanities, then declareth the vanities which they fall into in Gods worſhip. His direction in theſe three verſes is, Firſt, in generall; to take heed or look wel to our waies, when we enter into holy publike aſſemblies, v. 1. Secondly, in particular: To draw nigh to heare. Whereof he giveth a reaſon, from the folly of all ſacrifices without drawing neer to heare, v. 1. Which is amplified by the Reaſon thereof, taken from the evil of ſuch a worſhip, and their ignorance of that evil, who doe ſo perform it, v. 1. 2 To avoyd haſtineſs and multitude of words before God. Whereof he giveth a twofold reaſon, Firſt, from Gods heavenly Majeſty, in compariſon of earthly baſeneſs, v. 2. Secondly, from the folly ſpringing from multitude of words, amplified by the compariſon of a dream comming from multitude of buſineſs, v. 3. The words may fitly be opered in opening the Doctrine which ariſeth from them.
Doctr. When we come into the preſence of God in holy Aſſemblies, it is for us to take heed to our waies, that we may draw nigh to heare, and be ſerious and ſhort in ſpeech before the Lord.
To take heed to our feet] is a Metonymie; To take heed to our waies, as Pſalm 119.115. & 39.1. Which implieth, Firſt, cleanſing of our feet (that is our ſteps) before holy duties, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. Pſal. 26.6, 12. John 13.10. Jam. 4.8. Secondly, attention to the performance of holy duties in an holy manner, Exod. 3.5. Joſh. 5.15. Levit. 10.3.
Be more ready to heare] is better tranſlated, Draw nigh to heare, rather then offer, &c. Which drawing nigh to heare, implieth, Firſt, putting away all ſuch things, as ſet God far off from us, Jam. 4.8. Pſal. 138.6. Eſay 59.2. Secondly, ſincere deſire and purpoſe of heart, to attend and obey the whole counſel of God, Acts 10.33. Elſe we are far off, Mat. 15, 7, 8. Ezek. 33.31. Thirdly, Mingling it with faith, that is, with faithful Application to our ſelves, Rom. 10, 8. Heb. 4.2.
Reaſon 1. From the folly of all ſacrifices (of all other parts of Gods worſhip) If attention to the word be neglected: Text. Prov. 28.9. It is an evil before God, and evacuateth the acceptance of all our oblations, 1 Sam. 15.22, 23. And it is alſo mixt with vacuity and ignorance, to think we are wel occupied, and ſpend our time wel, when indeed we loſe our labour, yea return worſe then we came.
Reaſon of ſerious and ſhort ſpeech. 1 From Gods heavenly Majeſty in compariſon of our earthly baſeneſſe, v. 2. Prov. 10.19. Matth. 6.7. His heavenly Majeſty, firſt, knoweth all our wants when we pray, Matth. 6.32. Secondly, is a ſpirit that is not moved with words, but ſpirit and life, John 4.23, 24. Thirdly, his own words, when he ſpeaketh to us are ſpirit and life, John 6.63. And therefore we muſt not beat the ayre in haſty and much ſpeech.
Reaſon 2. From the vanity and folly of long diſcourſes, whether in prayer or preaching: Text, v. 3, 7. Prov. 10.19. As a Dream commeth by much buſineſſe, ſo a fooles voyce by multitude of words, v. 3. where blot out in the Tranſlation, is known.
Ʋſe 1. To teach us how we are to eſteem holy Aſſemblies; They are the Houſe of God. In old time ſo was the Tabernacle and Temple, 1 Kings 9.1. Pſalm 132.5. & 74.8. & 83.12. Which were Types, Firſt, of Chriſt body, Iohn 2.21. Secondly, Of the Church Aſſembly, 1 Cor. 3.16. Now therefore Church Aſſemblies are the Lords houſe, 1 Tim. 3.15. Not our meeting Houſe, but Gods people in them, Acts 7.48, 49. John 4.21. 1 Tim. 2.8.
Ʋſe 2. To reprove falling down to private prayer, either firſt, In meeting-houſes behind a pillar, in the abſence of the people. Secondly, in the preſence of the people, but not joyning with them. All publique duties ſhould be performed, firſt, with one accord, Acts 1.14. & 2.46. & 4.24. Secondly, to publique edification, 1 Cor. 14.26. Alſo to reprove Latin-ſervice, and Inſtruction by Images, which are to be ſeen, not heard. Likewiſe to reprove ſtanding farre off, when we may come within hearing. Alſo careleſſe and liſtleſſe carriage in the Congregation, ſtanding like pillars, driving away the time with ſleeping, talking gazing about. Likewiſe running out of doores before all be ended, Moreover lowneſſe of voyce in Miniſters, which hindreth hearing.
Ʋſe 3. To teach us ſuch preparation before hearing, and attention in hearing, as may be acceptable to God; and profitable to our ſelves.
Ʋſe 4. To teach Miniſters in Prayer and Preaching, both Weight of matter, and ſhortneſſe of words, Prov. 10.19, 20. & 29, 20,
Object. But was not Chriſt long in prayer? a whole night, Luke 6.12, and Paul in preaching, Acts 20.7, 9.
Anſw. Firſt, upon extraordinary occaſions. Secondly, with as much variety of matter, and fervency of ſpirit, as multitude of words.