A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verses 63
Eccleſ. 11.7, 8.
7 Truly the light is ſweet, and a pleaſant thing it is for the eies to behold the Sun.
8 But if a man live many yeers, and reioyce in them all, yet let him remember the dayes of darkneſse, for they ſhall be many, all that commeth is vanity.
COherence, ſee verſ. 1, 2, 3. Theſe words expreſs and declare the fourth wholſome inſtruction which Solomon giveth to men that live in the ruinous times of a civill State: wherein he teacheth all men this holy duty, that however the times here may fall out to their own particular, yet to remember the dark times that remain after this life is ended, and therefore ſo to provide and prepare in this life, as that we may with comfort leave it. Which duty Solomon requireth may not be neglected, notwithſtanding three divers things which might occaſion the neglect of it: Firſt, the ſweetneſſe of life for the preſent, v. 7. Secondly, the long continuance of life to ſome men. Thirdly, the proſperity and comfortable eſtate that may befall ſome men in their long life. Yet to remember, firſt, the daies of darkneſſe (which are comming after this life ended) are many. Secondly, That all the future time and work wil be but vanity, v. 8.
The light is ſweet, and it is a pleaſant thing for the eyes to behold the Sunne; light is a Periphraſis of this naturall life, Job 3.20. ſo here. As who ſhould ſay, life is ſweet; and ſo they that behold the Sun, are put for men living in this world: Eccleſ. 7.11. And here both are put in oppoſition to the daies of darkneſs after this life ended, which are daies of death and buriall.
Doctr. Though life be ſweet, and to ſome men long, yea and comfortable all their daies, yet let them remember that the daies which are comming are many both of darkneſſe and vanity. The ſweetneſſe of death is argued by even Peters lothneſs to die, even when an aged Chriſtian, and the cauſe of death is honourable and gratefull, John 21.18. Daies of death and buriall are daies of darkneſs, Job 10.21, 22. And in hell the darkneſs is extream, and everlaſting; the darkneſs is outward or extream, Matth. 22.13. notwithſtanding the fire, Matth. 25.41. as a fire of Brimſtone, Eſay 30, 33.
Reaſon of lifes ſweetneſſe, Firſt, from many deſireable comforts which we enjoy in this life, congruous and ſuitable to all our ſenſes, and to all our affections. Secondly, from the intimate union of ſoule and body, ſo as they both make but one perſon. Hence lothneſſe to part; we will loſe any member to ſave head and heart, or any vitall part.
Some men ſpend their daies in proſperity, Job 21.13:
Reaſon 1. From the reward of godlineſs, Prov. 3.16.
Reaſon 2. From the patience and bounty of God to evil men, Gen. 25.17.
Reaſons why the daies of darkneſſe and vanity are many. Firſt, from their continuance to the reſurrection in the end of the world, Joh 14.12.
Secondly, from the ignorance and oblivion of all things in the grave, Pſal. 88.12. & 6.5.
Thirdly, from the diſappointment of any labour all that time, Eccleſ. 9.10. Pſal. 30.9.
This to be remembred] words of ſenſe in the Hebrew are underſtood with affection and action; ſo this word Eccleſ. 12.1. which implieth here, 1. Continuall mindfull knowledge of it. 2. So to be affected with care and conſcience of it, as that it may take deeper impreſſion in us then all the tranſient cares and comforts of this naturall life, whereof though the daies be many, yet not ſo many. 3. So to provide in this life as that when our bodies ſhall ſleep in darkneſs, yet our ſoules may enjoy the light and comfort of everlaſting life and bleſſedneſs.
Reaſon 1. From the benefit of ſuch remembrance. In ſo doing we remember God, Eccleſ. 12.1. and our ſelves alſo, Luke 16.4.
Reaſon 2. From the danger and folly brutiſh folly of ſuch forgetfulneſs, Job 21.13. Ecceſ. 3, 21.
Ʋſe of lifes ſweetneſſe, 1. For thankfulneſs to God, who hath given us life, and all the lively comforts of it, Joh 10.12. For thankfulneſs to Chriſt, who laid down this life for our ſakes, Matth. 20.28. whence we are to live to him, 2 Cor. 5.15.
Ʋſe 2. To learn to behold a greater ſweetneſſe in the life of grace, in union with Chriſt in the light of Gods countenance, Pſal. 4.6, 7, & 63, 3.
Ʋſe of many dayes of darkneſſe and vanity, and remembrance hereof, 1. To warne us not to be ſo taken up with the ſweetneſſe of this life, as to forget the farre longer time to come.
Ʋſe 2. To teach us not to envy the many proſperous dayes of wicked men here; Their lightſome dayes here are but a few to their darke dayes behinde.
Ʋſe 3. To provide here for life in death, and for light in darkneſſe, and for felicity againſt vanity. Meanes hereof; Firſt, Meditation frequent, and conſtant, and ſerious of the ſhortneſſe of this life, and of all the comforts of it, Iſai. 40.6, 7, 8. Secondly, Not to reſt in a ſtate of darkneſſe here, Eph. 5.8. 1 John 1.6. Thirdly, Behold Chriſt loſing his ſweet life for us, and mourne over him, Zach. 12.10. Fourthly, Walke in his light, 1 John 1.7.