A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 59
Eccleſ. 10.16. to 19.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy King is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning.
17 Bleſſed art thou, O land, when thy Kings is the ſome of nobles, and thy princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, and not for drunkenneſse.
18 By much ſlouthfulneſſe the building decayeth, and through idleneſſe of the hands, the houſe droppeth thorough.
19 A feaſt is made for laughter, and wine maketh merrie, but money anſwereth all things.
IN theſe words over and above all the former, Solomon obſerveth two other vanities incident to Stateſmen, viz. Childiſhneſſe and Intemperancy, or Epicuriſme. Which he amplifieth, firſt, By the Adjunct, wofull eſtate of a land, where ſo it is, v. 16. Secondly, by the contrary bleſſed eſtate of ſuch a land whoſe King is the ſonne of Nobles, and Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, not for exceſſe, v. 17. Thirdly, by the effects; which are, 1. Remiſneſſe in government, called here, much ſlothfulneſſe and idleneſſe of bands. And (that which eaſily floweth from thence) the decay of the ſtate of the Commonwealth, expreſſed under the compariſon of the decay of the houſe, v. 18. 2. Prodigall expence of money which groweth from their intemperancy in feaſts, as the former did from childiſhneſſe of government, v. 19.
Doctr. Is is a wofull eſtate of a Countrey or Commonwealth, where the King is childiſh, and the Princes Epicures (or intemperate.) On the contrary, the State is bleſſed, where the King is Noble, and the Princes temperate.
The word tranſlated woe, doth ſignifie an Iſland. And becauſe Iſlands were at firſt more deſolate, and leſſe inhabited then the continent; therefore they called the dolfull fowles that lodged in that Iſland, by the name of Iſlands; ſuch fowles, as doe not affect the company of men nor beaſts; as Scritchowles, and Bitternes, and Oſtriches; &c. and ſo the word commeth to ſignifie woeful or woe; ſuch a kind of woe as accompanieth deſolate Iſlands, Deſolation it ſelfe. Woe to thee O Land, whoſe King is childiſh, and whoſe Princes are riotous, they ſhall be as a deſolate Iſland, an habitation for ſcritchowles, and every dolefull bird.
A child] not ſo much in yeers; For Solomon himſelfe was very young when he came to the Crown; David ſaith of him, he was young and tender, 1 Chron. 29.1. Joaſh was but ſeven yeers old, when he began to raign, yet he ruled well all the daies of his youth, from the good councel of his uncle Jehojada, 2 Chron. 24.1. Ʋzziah was but ſixteen yeers old, yet he raigned well in his young time, by the good counſel of Zachariah, 2 Chron. 26.3, 4, 5. Joſiah was but eight yeers old, and he ſurpaſſed them all, 2 Chron. 34.1. OnelyOnly Manaſſeth, of all the young Kings, beginning to raign at twelve yeers, he did evil in his youth, 2 Chron. 33.1.
A child therefore is rather meant childiſh, 1. In underſtanding, 1 Cor: 14.20. 2 In affection and diſpoſition: Firſt, cleaving to young Counſellors, 1 Kings 12.8. Secondly, ſoon wavering in Religion, Epheſ. 4.14. Thirdly, led by ſenſe and ſenſible objects, more then by depth of judgement and reaſon; led by paſſions and luſts of youth, paſtimes and recreations, but careleſſe of matters of importance. Thus Rehoboam is ſaid to be young and tender in heart, when he was above forty one yeers old, 1 Kings 14.21. with 2 Chron. 13.7. And ſo indeed Solomon expreſſeth this childiſhneſſe in ſlothfulneſſe and remiſneſſe of government, v. 18. as by eating in the morning, he expreſſeth luxurious feaſting, v. 19.
Whoſe Princes eat in the morning] which implieth, both the unſeaſonableneſſe of their eating, eſpecially their feaſting then, as v. 19. expoundeth it of the morning, being the principal time of judgement, Jer. 21.12. And the exceſſe and riot of their eating, to wit, for gluttouy and drunkenneſſe, rather then for ſtrength, as appeareth by the oppoſition of good Princes diet, v. 17.
Reaſon 1. From the danger of childiſh government to a State, as alſo of riotous government. Which dangers be 1. Remiſneſſe of government or ſlothfulneſſe, whence the decay of all good in a Commonwealth, as in a houſe is neglected; as decay of juſtice, trading, military power, and skill, honour and reputation with forraign Princes and States; and which is worſt of all, decay in Religion, and purity thereof; whence alſo dropping in of contentious corruptions into all ſorts. 2. Prodigall expence of the treaſure of the State in feaſting and banquetting, in Masks and Revels, where money muſt anſwer all; and that not a purſe full, or pocket full, or bag full, or cheſt full, but a whole Kings Treaſury; and when that faileth, then illegall exactions of the ſubjects eſtates.
The ſonne of Nobles] not ſo much of Noble anceſtors, for moſt Kings are ſuch, and yet their Kingdoms not alwaies bleſſed. Yea ſometimes they that are raiſed from low eſtates, (as David from following the ſheep) may be bleſſed Princes, and the Land bleſſed in them. But a ſonne of Nobles, is a Noble ſon, a man of a noble ſpirit, or Heroës, (for from the Hebrew word Heroë it ſeems to be derived) are ſo called of whiteneſſe, not ſo much for wearing white Garments, as being bright and glorious, Viro Illuſtres, & clariſſimi, oppoſed to Dark or obſcure men, Prov. 22.29.
A man of a Noble ſpirit, Firſt, Notabilis, wel known and approved for his vertues, Deut. 1.13. Secondly, Of a publike ſpirit, regardeth publike good ends, more then private ſelf-ends, Pſalm 137.6. Thirdly, Affecteth rather to be loved, then feared, and yet to be feared to with due reverence; Servile natures are imperious and cruel: [aut ſervit humiliter, aut ſuperbè dominatur] Noble ſpirits (as of Lyons) wil parcere ſubjectis, be moderate in puniſhments, mercifull in ſuppliants. Fourthly, regardeth honour above life, much more before money, preferring the fifth Commandement above the ſixth, much more above the eighth.
Eate in due ſeaſon, 1. For time, not in the morning. 2. For meaſure, not for exceſſe in gluttony and drunkenneſſe, but ſparingly.
But for ſtrength, 1. Of body and mind. 2. Of fitneſſe to the duties of their place.
Reaſon of the bleſſedneſſe of the State by ſuch, 1. Vigilancy, and diligent attention of ſuch to State affairs; not ſuffering decayes in the good of the State; nor droppings in of the miſchievous ruinous evils, Secondly, provident frugality, in preſerving the Treaſure of the State, 2 Chron. 9.27. 1 Kings 10.21.
Ʋſe 1. To teach us what to pray for in behalfe of our native Countrey, 1. What evils to be avoided. 2. What bleſſings to be deſired.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us what manner of Magiſtrates are to be choſen in our little Commonwealth, and how they are to walk. It is fellowſhip with Chriſt, and living by faith in him, that girdeth us up to our callings, ſitting looſe from the head breedeth a paralytick diſtemper in the body.
Ʋſe 3. To teach all men a right uſe of meats and drinks; Large breakfaſts break the necks of our ſtrength, and of our callings. The end of feaſts ſhould be for ſtrength, and ſo moderate as our money may anſwer.
Ʋſe 4. To teach houſholders to beware of ſlothfulneſſe and ill husbandry; it wil ruine our houſes: for from thence is the compariſon here fetched.
Ʋſe 5. To teach us, a wiſe uſe of money; To be reſponſable to all our expences.