A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 40
Eccleſ. 7.13, 14.
13. Conſider the works of God: for who can make ſtrait what he hath made crooked?
14. In the day of proſperity be joyfull, but in the day of adverſity conſider: God alſo hath ſet the one againſt the other, to the end that man ſhould finde nothing after him.
DOct. Whatſoever the eſtate of times be, it is out part to conſider the work of God as ſo diſpoſing the times, and in ſetting good and evil times one againſt another; and accordingly in good times to be in goodneſs, and in ill times to look at Gods hand as only able to amend therein. As who ſhould ſay, look not at the creature as the chiefe agent in the eſtate of the times, but conſider his hand in all eſtates, and make uſe of them, as his hand leadeth unto. Job 1.21.
1. It is Gods work, firſt, to ſend, 1. Good times, 2 Chron. 2.11. 2 Evil times, Prov. 28.2. Secondly, to ſet good and evil times in a viciſſitude or enterchange, one contrary over againſt another, Jer. 18.7, 9. In good times, firſt, God maketh mens, or at leaſt ſome chiefe mens hearts and waies right before him, 1 Sam. 13.14, Secondly, God giveth them a right courſe, and good ſucceſs in their proceedings, Jer. 22.15, 16. 2 Chron. 17.3, 4, 5. In evil times, firſt, God giveth men up to the crookedneſs of their own hearts and waies, Pſal. 125, 5. & 81.11, 12. 2 Chron. 28 1. Secondly, God ſendeth them croſs and crooked iſſues of their waies, 2 Chron. 28.1, to 6. & v. 16. to 20. Ier. 22.17, 18, 19. Pſalm 18.26.
2. God ſetteth theſe good and evil times enterchangeably one againſt another. Sauls times were bad, the times of David and Solomon good; Rehoboam and Abijam bad, Aſa and Iehoſophat good, Ioram and Ioaſh bad; Ʋzziah and Jothan good, Ahaz bad; Hezekiah good, Manaſſeth and Amon bad; Joſias good, his ſucceſſours to the captivity bad; after the captivity good.
Reaſon 1. From Gods peoples abuſe of Proſperity, unto ſelfe confidence, Pſal. 30.6, 7. and Luxury, Deut. 32.15. Hence followeth calamity and adverſity.
Reaſ. 2. From the humiliation and Reformation of Gods people in adverſity, Hoſ. 5.15. with chap. 6.1, 2.
Reaſ. 3. To the end we ſhould finde nothing after God; as in the Text. To wit, firſt, no ſtability in the creature, but unſetled viciſſitudes. Secondly, No fault in God and his adminiſtrations. So the phraſe and word is taken, Iohn 14.30. Iob 31.7.
3. Accordingly it is our parts, in good times to be in goodneſs, v. 14. Implieth, Firſt, to be in a good frame. Secondly, to take a good courſe. Thirdly, to be of good cheer or comfort, to be joyfull. As husbandmen make Hay when the Sunne ſhineth, and Marriners hoyſe up and ſpread abroad their ſailes when the wind bloweth faire, Acts 9.31.
Reaſ. 1. From Gods expectation of ſtore of good fruit in ſuch times, Iſa. 5.1, to 4.
Reaſon 2. From Gods ſudden change of times, when they are thus abuſed, Iſay 5, 5, 6. Deut. 28.47, 48,
In evil times to look at Gods hand, as only able to amend them, Prov. 21.1.
Reaſon 1. From Gods ſoeveraign power over, firſt, Mens hearts, Prov. 21.1. Secondly, the change of times, Acts 1.7. Pſal. 31.15.
Reaſon 2. From the unprofitableneſs of all the uſe of creature-means and helps without God, Iſay 22.8, to 14. Hoſ. 5.13, 14. 2 Chro. 28.20, 21.
Ʋſe 1. To teach us in all the eſtate of times, not to look ſo much at the Creatures or Inſtruments, but at the hand of God. If Princes be wicked, God giveth ſuch, and the People into their hands, Hoſ. 13.11. Zach. 11.6. If Princes be good, the Lord giveth ſuch as a favour to his people, 2 Chro. 2.11. Heathens could ſay, Deus nobis haec otia fecit.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us, whatever the times be, not to look at them as unchangeable; for God wil ſet one of them contrary to another, and we know not how ſoon.
Ʋſe 3. To teach us therefore in good times to be in goodneſs; that is, Firſt, be in a good and thankful frame. Secondly, take a good courſe, Acts 9.31. be fruitful. Thirdly, be of good comfort. Break off from ſinful courſes; It will prolong tranquillity, Dan. 4.27.
Ʋſe 4. To teach us in ill times, not chiefly to quarrel the creature, muchleſs to quarrel Gods providence, Iſay 8.21. Neither to imagin that we can redreſs the evil of the times by our own wiſdom or power; No, look we rather up to God, who can make ſtreight that which is crooked, both in mens hearts, waies, or eſtates. And therefore uſe we ſuch means as may prevaile with him ſo to doe.
Means: Firſt, Let our uncircumciſed hearts be humbled to accept of puniſhment of our iniquities, and to confeſſe our iniquities and the iniquities of our fathers; where we have Confeſſion, and Contrition, Lev. 26.40.41. Secondly, look up to Chriſt our Redeemer, the Prince of the Kings of the earth to deliver us, Judg. 10.15. Thirdly, ſerious Reformation, Judg. 10.15.