A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 9
Eccleſ. 1. v. 16, 17, 18.
16. I communed with mine own heart, ſaying, Loe, I am come to great eſtate, and have gotten more wiſdom then all they that have been before me in Jeruſalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wiſdom and knowledge.
17. And I gave my heart to know wiſdom, and to know madneſſe and folly: I perceived that this alſo is vexation of ſpirit.
18. For in much wiſdome is much griefe: and he that encreaſeth knowledge, encreaſeth ſorrow.
SOlomon having taught us, partly by the nature of the creatures themſelves, and partly by his own experience, that happineſſe is not to be found in the creatures;
He now proceedeth to enquire after happineſs, in making triall and uſe of thoſe bleſſings which God had given him;
1 Great Eſtate.
2 Great Wiſdom.
Which point he delivereth by declaring,
Firſt, His communing with himſelfe, what gifts he had received, which were two, 1 Great Wiſdome. 2 Great Eſtate;
Amplyfied, 1 A Minore, Greater then any before him in Hieruſalem.
2. By the confirmation of it by his experience, verſ. 16.
Secondly, his making uſe of the benefit of both theſe gifts, and that by a phraſe frequent in Scripture, I gave my heart to know wiſdom; to wit, to know the worth of it, by experience and ſearch.
And to know madneſſe and folly, to wit, by experience; thus making uſe of this great eſtate, to know the worth and benefit of ſenſuall bleſſings, mentioned Chap. 2. v. 1, to 10. which to do in way of ſeeking happineſſe therein, he calleth madneſſe and folly, verſ. 17. &c. 2. v. 3.
Thirdly, His obſervation of the worth of wiſdom, v. 17. I perceive that this alſo is vexation of ſpirit.
Fourthly, His reaſon of ſuch his judgement upon obſervation taken from the ſorrow accompanying and following wiſdome, v. 18.
Doct. 1. Solomon in his time attained to great excellency both of outward Eſtate, and inward wiſdome!
His Eſtate was great,
1. In wiſe Princes and Counſellors, 1 Kings 4.1, to 6. & 2.6.
2 In proviſion for his houſhold, 1 Kings 4.7. to 19.
3 In multitude and peace of his ſubjects, and in largeneſs of Dominion, 1 Kings 4.20, 21, 24, 25.
4 In beautifull keeping, 1 Kings 4.22, 23. Compare this with that of Nehem. 5.18.
5 In Horſes and Chariots, 1 Kings 4.26. & c. 10.26.
6 In Magnificent buildings, 1 Kings 6. & c. 7.1, 2, &c. &c. 9.17, 18, 19.
7. In abundance of wealth, 1 Kings 10.14, 21. Which he got
1 By Sea-voyages, 1 Kings 9.26, 27, 28.
2 By Merchandiſe in Aegypt, 1 Kings 10.28, 29.
3 By preſents, 1 Kings 10.25.
4 By Husbandry: For thoſe Officers that ſerved his houſhold every monethmonth, were overſeers of his Heards and Flocks, and Vineyards; this care he adviſeth his ſonne, Prov. 27, 23, to 27.
His Wiſdome was great,
Firſt, By the meanes of it.
1 From his youth up, by Gods bleſſing in nature, 1 Kings 2.9.
2 Prayer, chooſing it above all bleſſings, 1 King. 3.9. to 12.
3 Experience, Eccleſ. 1.16.
Secondly, in the effects of it, 1 King. 4.32, 33.
Thirdly, in compariſon of all others, 1 Kings 4.29, 30, 31.
Fourthly, In the ſame of it, and the uſe made of it, 1 Kings 4.34. &c. 10. to 17.
Reaſons of theſe ſo great bleſſings given him of God.
1. The upright-heartedneſſe of his Father, 1 Sam. 13.14.
2. Becauſe he was to be a type of Chriſt, who aboundeth in all riches, and treaſures of wiſdome and bleſſedneſſe, that of his fulneſſe we might all receive ſupply of all our wants, John 1.16.
Ʋſe 1. To teach us the right and ready way to attain wealth and wiſedome, and to procure it to our children; which are
1. Upright-heartedneſs, giving up our wills to be guided by Gods will: For that is an heart after Gods heart.
2. Prayer for wiſedome above wealth or any other outward bleſſing, 1 Kings 3.11, 12, 13.
3. Juſt and honeſt dealing, without bribery or partiality: Solomons Throne was eſtabliſhed by juſtice; He never wronged any.
4. A wiſe care reaching to the outmoſt corner of all our affaires.
5. Bountifull diſpenſing the talents we receive to publique good of others.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us not to reſt in inward gifts, or outward bleſſings, to preſerve us from falling, but in humbleneſs of heart to depend upon Chriſt. Solemon with all theſe bleſſings fell fearfully.
Doct. 2. It is the part of a wiſe Chriſtian to conſider within himſelfe what inward and outward bleſſings he hath received.
Solomon communed with his owne heart, Lo I am come to great Eſtate, and have gotten more Wiſdome, &c. Pſalm 126.3.
Reaſon 1. How ſhall we elſe be thankfull to the Lord for the bleſſings we enjoy?
Reaſon 2. How ſhall we elſe employ the talents we have received to Gods beſt advantage?
Ʋſe. To teach all men, eſpecially great men, to follow Solomons example herein. A Steward that never ſetteth downe his Accompts, what he hath received of his Lords moneys, will never make a good Accompt of the expence of it.
We muſt not be ſo brutiſh as the ſwine or other beaſts, that eat what is given them; but never commune with their hearts, what they have received.