A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 15
Eccleſ. 8.5.
A wiſe mans heart diſcerneth both time and judgment.
THeſe words are a ſecond Anſwer to the thid Invention which Solomons Subjects made to excuſe themſelves for dealing faithfully with him in ſome word of Admonition, when he was falling into this great ſin of harkning to his wives in the Toleration, yea and maintenance of their Idolatrous Religion.
The Invention or excuſe was taken from the Soveraignty and incontroulable Power and Authority of Princes, and the danger of oppoſing them (though but in word) in their way, v. 4. Whereto Solomon anſwereth, and oppoſeth firſt the ſafety of Obedience to the Commandment of God: Whoſo keepeth the Commandment, ſhall feel no evill thing. Secondly, the diſcretion of a wiſe mans heart in ſo obſerving the fit time and ſeaſon, and the manner and way of an Admonition as might prevent all danger in diſpencing of it even to a king or any other Superiour. And a wiſe mans heart diſcerrneth both Time and Judgment, v. 5. Thirdly, the Inſufficiency of retaining our own life by retaining the kings favour, Eccl. 8.8.
Time] that is a fit ſeaſon of an Admonition.
Judgment] that is the manner, order or way of it, as the word is tranſlated 1 Sam. 8.11.
Doctr. A wiſe mans heart doth ſo well diſcern the time and manner of an Admonition, as that he may diſpence it ſafely, though it were to a Superiour, even to a king, 1 Sam. 25.3, 36, 37. & 19.4, 5, 6. 2 Sam. 12.1, to 12. Dan. 4.27.
Queſt. When is the fit time or ſeaſon of an admonition, eſpecially of ſuperiors?
Anſw. 1. When we are called on to be the inſtruments in ſin, as Joab to David, 1 Chron. 21.2, 3. Secondly, when they come to us for counſel, in the ſame or other matters, 1 Kings 14.1, to 16. Thirdly, when others are in danger to be corrupted, unleſſe preſent witneſſe be born againſt the ſin, Gal. 2.13, 14. Fourthly, when neither admoniſher nor admoniſhed, are diſtempered with paſſion, nor prejudice, nor any choaking impediment; but rather God offereth an opportunity by ſome word of favour or encouragement, 1 Sam. 25.36, 37. Heſt. 7.2, 3, 4. We muſt hazzard our favours for the ſervice of God and his people.
Queſt. 2. What is the fit manner, or order, or way of diſpenſing an Admonition.
Anſw. According to certain Rules, whereof ſome concern Firſt, the perſon admoniſhing; the Admoniſher. Secondly, the perſon admoniſhed. Thirdly, the offence for which admonition is given. Fourthly, the admonition it ſelfe.
1 Rules concerning the Admoniſher: 1. The Admoniſher ſhould have a calling to it through ſome relation between himſelfe and the offender. As we finde it in all kinds of Relations, Firſt, a Miniſter, 2 Sam. 12.1, to 12. Secondly, a Councellor, 2 Sam. 19, 5, 6, 7. Thirdly, a yoak-fellow, Huſband, Job 2.10. Wiſe, 1 Sam. 25.36, 37. Fourthly, a ſonne, 1 Sam. 19.4. Fifthly, a Servant, 2 Kings 5.13. Sixthly, a Subject, Dan. 4.27. Seventhly, a Brother, Lev. 19.17. Coloſſ. 4.17. Eighthly, a Friend, Prov. 27.5, 6. Yea, a ſtranger travelling by the way, and ſeeing his fellow-Traveller ſin, he hath as good a calling to help him up, as if himſelfe or his beaſt were fallen. The relation of a companion requireth it. 2 He ſhould be furniſhed with love to the offender, Lev. 19.17. 1 Cor. 16.14. 3 He ſhould firſt admoniſh, judge, and cleanſe himſelfe, Matth. 7.5. Rom. 2.1.
2 Rules concerning the Admoniſhed. Firſt, they ſhould not be ſcorners, Prov. 9.7, 8, 9. Hoſ. 4.4. Matth. 7.6. but ſuch as may be capable of reformation. Secondly, brethren, eſpecially to be admoniſhed, yea though excommunicate, whilſt there is hope, 2 Theſ. 3.15. Elſe, if wedded to his ſin, let him alone, Hoſ. 4.17. And of brethren, difference to be made, Firſt, of ſpirits; ſome are more ſluggiſh, they to be admoniſhed more ſharply, Titus 1.12, 3. Jude 23. Some more tender; they to be admoniſhed with more meekneſſe, Gal. 6.1. Jude 22. Secondly, Of yeers and place, 1. Men of greater yeers and place, rather exhorted then reproved, 1 Tim. 5.1. Dan. 4.27. 2 Inferiours with more liberty and plainneſs. Thirdly, any man capable of hearing or bearing a word of admonition.
3 Rules concerning the ſinners admoniſhed. Firſt, they muſt be certainly known and convinced, 1 Cor. 5.1. Matth. 18.15. we may not reprove upon a ſuſpition, 1 Cor. 13.5. nor upon our own inquiſition; It is as if I ſhould ſay, Let me put my finger in your eyes to feel if there be not a moat; Nor upon any uncertain heare-ſay, Eſay 11.3. Secondly, a difference muſt be put between Moats and Beams, Gnats and Camels, Matth. 23, 24. Camels and Beams may not be admoniſhed with gentle reproofs, 1 Sam. 2.23, 24.
4 Rules concerning the Admonition it ſelfe. Firſt, it ſhould be diſpenſed in moſt wholſome words; ſuch as may be moſt fit to gain a ſinner, and heale his ſoule. Wholſome gaining words are, Firſt, generall terms, eſpecially at firſt, and againſt pretious and gainful ſins and dangerous to be openly rebuked, Acts 19.26, 37. Secondly, Cloathed in a parable, 2 Sam. 12.1, 2, 3. &c. a garment is beſt ſeen how it becommeth us, on another mans back. Thirdly, Delivered in Scripture phraſe that the offendor may ſee God reproving him in his own words, rather then man, Matth. 15.7, 8, 9. Fourthly, Such as acknowledge ſome good where it is, as well as ſee fault, Rev. 2.2, 3, 4. Pills would be given in Sugar. 2. In order, leſſe ſins would be firſt reproved. John firſt reproved Herod for leſſe matters, Mark 6.20. before he came to the matter of Herodias [Vada prius pertentanda] Jer. 12.5.
Reaſon of the Doctrine, From a wiſe mans ſelfe-denyal; hence God guideth, and bleſſeth him, Prov. 3.5, 6, 7.
Ʋſe 1. To inſtruct us in this great and difficult, yet moſt neceſſary duty of love, Admonition. To neglect it wholly, is an hatred of our brother in our heart, Levit. 19.17. All the excuſes of it are ſinful inventions: To tell others of it, not themſelves, is a ſlander and malice, Prov. 26.28. To admoniſh offenders themſelves not in fit time and manner, is to ſpill the admonition, to take an Ordinance in vaine.
Ʋſe 2. To teach the admoniſhed to take ſuch a duty in good part, as a pretious balme, Pſal. 141.5. as a jewel or golden ear-ring, Prov. 25.12.