A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 4
Eccleſ. 7. v. 2.
2. It is better to go to the houſe of mourning then to go to the houſe of feaſting: for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
AS in the former verſe Solomon preferred two things, that ſeem leſſe deſirable above other two that ſeem more deſirable, (a good name above a good oyntment: and the day of death above the birth day) So here he preſerreth a third thing that may ſeem leſſe deſirable before another, which to men doth, commonly ſeem to be much more deſirable. The houſe of feaſting is commonly preferred amongſt men, as more deſirable to be gone unto, above the houſe of mourning; but here the day of mourning, even the greateſt mourning, (mourning for the dead) is preferred before the houſe of feaſting. Better it is (ſaith he) to go to the houſe of mourning then to the houſe of feaſting; whereof he giveth two reaſons. Firſt, from the property of the houſe of mourning (to wit for the dead). It is the end of all men, Secondly, from the good uſe which the living will ſeriouſly make of his houſe of mourning, and of the cauſe of mourning which he there beholdeth (the death of ſome friend or neighbour) The living will lay it to his heart.
Doctr. 1. It is better (or a more deſireable good thing) to go to an houſe of mourning for the dead, then to an houſe of feaſting for the ſolace of the living. Of feaſts there be three ſorts. 1. Civil feaſts where a fourfold ſolace: Firſt, Eating the fat and drinking the ſweet; Secondly, Loving and neighbourly company: Thirdly, Pleaſant diſcourſe and ſometimes Muſick: Fourthly, Increaſe of mutual neighbourly love. 2. Prophane or riotous, where the former comforts are abuſed, and perverted. Firſt, by Exceſſe in eating and drinking to gluttony and drunkenneſſe: Secondly, The Company, ſwaggering and debaucht Ruffians, Swearing and roaring Boyes: Thirdly, Inſtead of pleaſant diſcourſes Ribaldry, wanton ſongs and dances, abuſing of the name of God or man. Fourthly, fallings out and quarrellings: or elſe linking in conſpiracy to doe ſome miſchiefe. 3. Holy feaſts; where, Firſt, Gods inſtitution or ſpecial mercies invite to thankfulneſſe: and meat and drink as before God, Exod. 18.12. Secondly, Chriſtian company: Thirdly, Holy conference, Luke 14.1, to 8. and ſo to the end: Fourthly, Increaſe of childlike love to God, and brotherly love one to another. Of this laſt ſort of feaſts, the compariſon is not put: for Gods ordinances are more edifying then his providences. Nor it it to civil, eſpecially to godly men put of the ſecond ſort of feaſts, Riotous. For to honeſt and good men. It is an houſe of mourning to be in ſuch an houſe of feaſting, Pſal. 120.5. But here he ſpeaketh of ſuch an houſe of feaſting as is contrary to the houſe of mourning.
Reaſon 1. From the nature of the occaſion of that mourning, it being the death of ſome or other deſirable perſon in the family, that death is the end of all men. If the perſon dead were not deſirable, there is little or no mourning for him, 2 Chron. 21.19, 20. But if there be mourning, all uſeful men will ſee their own end in his, which is very wholeſome to our ſpirits, Deut. 32, 29. Lamen. 1.9. In feaſting men are apt to put the evil day far from them, Iſai. 56.12. Amos 6.3, to 6.
Secondly, In the houſe of mourning, we ſhall be occaſioned to take to heart what we ſee: yea to lay it as a plaiſter to our heart. Text, Not ſo readily in an houſe of Feaſting.
Object. But doth not the houſe of feaſting offer to our hearts many ſerious and ſavoury meditations? Doth it not ſet before us, Firſt, A ſpectacle of Gods bounty, leading to Thankfulneſſe, Pſal. 145.16, and Repentance, Rom. 2.4. Secondly, The variety of Gods goodneſſe diſperſed in the ſeveral creatures, Acts 14.17. Thirdly, The wiſdome of Gods providence, preparing and gathering the meat and company from ſundry quarters of the world, Pſal. 145.15. Fourthly, The large extent of Chriſtian liberty purchaſed by the blood of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10.27. Fifthly, The fatneſſe and ſweetneſſe of ſpiritual and heavenly food, [a minori] Luke 14.15. Sixthly, A ſpurre to enlargement of fruitfulneſſe after a Feaſt; we expect our horſes after well meating ſhould travel better.
Anſw. It is true, a Feaſt ſetteth before us many ſpiritual advantages. But yet, Firſt, A mans ſpirit diſpoſed to cheerfulneſſe is more expoſed to lightneſſe. Secondly, Sad objects make deeper impreſſion upon our affections. Thirdly, The company at a Funeral are not ſo apt to draw our minds away by cheerful diſcourſe as at a Feaſt.
Ʋſe 1. To reprove Funeral Feaſts: for it maketh the houſe of mourning and feaſting all one.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us the eſtate of our nature; God ſeeth it better for us to meet with ſad and mourneful Occurrences then cheerful.
Ʋſe 3. To teach us ſo to lay to heart the death of others, that it may be better to us then the beſt meals meat, better then a feaſt. If thou art a living man, lay ſad objects to heart, eſpecially this of death; more diſtinctly lay to heart, Firſt, Death it ſelfe. Secondly, the cauſes of it. Thirdly, The effects of it. Fourthly, The manner of it. Fifthly, The ſubject of it.
In death it ſelfe ſee a ſpectacle of thine own mortality, Joſh. 23.14. 1 Kings 2.2. Wait therefore for a change, Job 14.14.
In the cauſes of it, Firſt, Moral or deſerving, look at ſin, Gen. 2.17, Rom. 5.12. eſpecially original ſin. Learne to mortifie that, kill that, which elſe will kill us ſoul and body. Secondly, Natural diſeaſes; ſee the evil of corrupt nature and life, Rom. 6.23. Thirdly, Violent. 1. From Magiſtrates; Firſt, Juſtly; learne to feare ſuch wickedneſſe, Deut. 17.13. Secondly, unjuſtly; learn conſtancy to the death, Rev. 2.10. Secondly, from thieves and robbers; and then learn, 1. to walk regularly with God, who elſe may and wil deliver into ſuch hands, Ezek. 21.31. 2 If the man ſlain were godly, learn to avoyd the miſconſtructions which are wont to be made of it, Prov. 25.26. Thirdly, from ſelfe: either through, 1. Diſtreſſe, as Saul. 2 Diſgrace, as Achitophel. 3 Deſpaire, as Judas. Hence learn patience in affliction, with faith to prevent all ſuch evil.
In the manner of it: Firſt, ſome die, 1. ſuddenly, Job 21.13, 23, 24. Hence learn, firſt, preparation for ſudden changes; ſecondly, ſubmiſſion to reproofs, Prov. 29.1. 2. Lingringly, Job 21.25. Hence learn not patience only, but longſuffering. Secondly, ſome die diſtracted; Learn hence, 1. To commit our ſenſes and underſtanding to God. 2. Settle peace of conſcience, which wil keep our minds in Chriſt, when not in our ſenſes, Phil. 4.7.
In the ſubject, 1. ſome die in ſinne, carnall perſons; and they die, firſt, Either as ſtones, 1 Sam. 25.37, 38. Hence learn weanedneſſe from worldlineſſe which ſtupifieth the heart. Secondly, or preſuming, Matth. 7.22. Hence learn to build on a rock, Matth 7.24, to 27. Thirdly, Or deſpairing, as Judas. Hence learn to beware of ſins againſt conſcience. 2. Others die in Chriſt, and that firſt, either troubled in mind, conſlicting with deſertions, Matth. 27.46. Hence learn, To live by faith againſt ſenſe, Job 13.15. Luke 23 46. Secondly, Or comfortably, 1. Expreſſing their joy and confidence, 2 Tim. 4.6, 7, 8. 2 Inſtructing and exhorting others, Gen. 49. Hence learn, firſt, to live uprightly and juſtly, Pſalm 37.37. Secondly, Boldneſſe in Chriſt againſt death, Rom. 8.38, 39.