A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 45
Eccleſ. 7.27.28.
27. Bebold, this I have found (ſaith the Preacher,) counting one by one to finde out the account.
28. Which yet my ſoul ſeeketh, but I finde not: one man among a thouſand have I found, but a woman among all thoſe have I not found.
SOlomon here inſerteth the manner and nature of the account which he took of his own wickedneſs and folly, which he deſcribeth by three Adjuncts or Qualities, Firſt, That it was exact and particular, one by one. Secondly, That it was conſtant and continual, which ſtill my ſoul ſeeketh. Thirdly, That it was defective, which ſtill my ſoul ſeeketh, but I finde not.
Doctr. 1. The acount which a penitent ſoul taketh of his wickedneſſe and folly, is a particular and conſtant account and yet defective. Particular account, Lament. 3.40. Zeph. 2.1. where one part of the ſenſe is, Fanne your ſelves. Pſal. 51. verſ. 5. original ſin, verſ. 10. a foul heart, Adulterous, verſ. 14. Bloodguiltineſs, murder, Ezek. 6.9. Zeph. 3.11. Conſtant and growing account, Pſal. 119.59. with Pſal. 139.23, 24. Defective account, Pſal. 19.12. & 38.4.
Reaſon of particular account, 1. From the illumination of conſcience, eſpecially when it is wakened to repentance, Prov. 20.27. God dealeth with his ſervants when he humbleth them, as with carnal men, he entreth into judgement with them, Pſal. 0.21. & 10.15. Conſcience enlightened and awakened, fits as it were Gods vicegerent in the ſoul, who in his judicial proceeding is exact, and particular, Mat. 12.36. Eccleſ. 12.14. Pſal. 90.8.
Reaſon of conſtant account, 1. From the ſweetneſſe of godly ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. the deeper the ſweeter. And ſorrow is the deeper and greater, by how much the deeper the ſearch is. As in bodily wounds, the deeper ſearch into old ſores, the greater pain to the body.
Reaſon of Defective account, 1. From the deep deceitfulneſs of our hearts, Jer. 17.9. 2 From the innumerable multitude of our ſins, Pſal. 40.12. & 19, 22. 3 From the Imperfection of all our beſt knowledge of ſpiritual good and evil things, 1 Cor. 13.9.
Ʋſe 1. To reprove our overly, and ſlippery conceit of perfect accounts. Many are loath to enter into any account at all; like bankrupt Merchants; or if they doe, it is but overly, Jer. 8.6. They that doe, are loath to purſue it conſtantly, ſoon ſlipt from it. The Papiſts require a perfect examination of all particular mortall ſins (as they call them) with all the circumſtances of them.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us (after Solomons example) what manner of Account books we ſhould keep between the Lord, and our ſoules, to wit,
Firſt, Exact and particular; motives, 1. It prevents Gods examining and judging us, when we are ſtrict in examining and judging our ſelves, 1 Cor. 11.28, 31. 2 It will make our, firſt, Repentance more thorough and ſincere. Secondly, prayers more fervent and humble. Thirdly, Chriſt more precious and glorious. Fourthly, Mortification more powerful. Fifthly, heart more watchfull. Sixthly life more regular, Pſal. 119.59. 3. It will leave the conſcience, firſt, more peaceable, ſin unaccounted of, will be like a debt unreckoned, and terrifie, or at leaſt trouble the conſcience, Pſal. 25.7. Iob 13.26. Secondly, more pure, ſinne unaccounted for is unrepented, and like a Canaanite, wil let in the divel at the back doore; as Jonah that repented of diſobedience to Gods call, but not of the pride of his heart, the cauſe of it; hence he is paſſionate again for diſgrace, Chap. 4.1.
Or the ſecond and third may be put together, as a motive from the benefit redounding, firſt, to our ſelves, in our Conſciences, hearts, and lives. Secondly, To our Duties, in our repentance, prayer, and mortification. Thirdly, to Chriſt.
Secondly, conſtant motives, 1. Elſe our hearts will grow hard and barren, and full of luſts and paſſions, as the ſoyle but once plowed will grow fallow, and barren of good fruit, but abounding in weeds.
Thirdly, ſenſible of its own Defectiveneſſe.
Motives. 1. It will call in for an higher ſearch, even from God himſelfe without feare and terrour, Pſal. 139.23, 24. 2. It will ſtirre up to prayer, for pardon of ſecret ſinnes, Pſal, 19.12.
Ʋſe 3. To teach us the right way of judging and admoniſhing others without arrogance or Hypocriſie; Solomon here paſſeth a deep cenſure upon men, and women, v. 28. but before this he taketh a ſtrict account of himſelfe. This method is needfull, to reckon firſt with our ſelves, Mat. 7.5.