Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Verse 18
Ver. 18. It is good that thou ſhouldest take hold of this: yea, alſo from this withdraw not thine hand, for he that feareth God, ſhall come forth of them all.
HEre Solomon preſſes a right uſe making of his former Doctrine, eſpecially concerning a right carriage under an hard lot in the World, neither cenſuring the Lord's Righteouſneſs or Wiſdom, in ſuffering the Godly to be oppreſt, nor taking evil Courſes becauſe of the proſperity of the Wicked.
And this he doth First, By commending the Courſe formerly preſcribed, as Good, that is, the way to ſweet communion with the Lord, wherein Mans chief Good conſiſts.
Secondly, By pointing out wherein the right uſe making of the former Doctrine doth conſiſt: To wit, 1. That Men ſhould take hold of it, whereby is meant the hearty imbracing of it, as it was branched out in ſeveral Directions, as the like Expreſſion applyed expreſly to the Doctrine Prov. 4.13. makes clear. 2. That they ſhould not withdraw their hand from it, that is, never intermit their Duty for any ſuffering can befall them for following of it.
Thirdly, By holding forth a ſweet Promiſe to the Man indued with the Fear of the Lord, which is the right principle of the Obedience which he preſſes, That he ſhall come out of them all, to wit, all his Sufferings in the way of his Duty, even theſe formerly mentioned, wherein he may periſh as to his outward Beeing and Concernments in the World, and out of all theſe Temptations or ſinful Extreams, from which he formerly diſſwaded, and to which Men void of the Fear of the Lord are driven by Suffering.
Doct. 1. The Miniſters of Chriſt may learn from Solomon's practice here, not to …atisfy themſelves with the ſimple preſſing upon people their Duty, and diſſwading of them from theſe Evils which they are in hazard to be carried away with, but to dwell upon the commending of the Truth, clearing the nature of peoples obedience to it, preſſing the ſame upon them, and holding out encouragements to them in ſo doing: For ſo doth this heavenly Preacher commend his former Doctrine, clear and preſs obedience to it, and encourage them who receive and obey it. It is good that thou ſhouldeſt take hold of this, alſo from this withdraw not thy hand, for he that Fears God ſhall come out of them all.
2. They that would rightly receive, and profit by the Truth of God, muſt take faſt hold of it, by bending their Witt to comprehend the ſenſe of it clearly, Prov. 2.2, 3. fixing their minds upon it by meditation, and pondering of it, Luk. 2.19. imbracing it by Faith, and ſpending their affections upon it. Heb. 11.13. So laying (as it were) Deaths grips upon it, reſolving never to part with it, as Men do with things that concern their Life, Prov. 4.13. and taking it to them, as their Poſſeſſion and Inheritance, as David expreſſes his taking hold of the Word, Pſ. 119.111. where this ſame word which is here tranſlated to take hold, is uſed: For in order to the right receiving of the former Directions, ſo as they may be truely profitable, he ſaith, It is good that thou ſhouldeſt take hold of this.
3. They that would rightly receive the Truth of God, ſo as they may find true Comfort and Profit by it, muſt put their Hand to the Duties which it preſſes, and follow them cloſely, notwithſtanding any temporal inconvenience that may follow thereupon, which is perſeverance in Wel-doing: For this Solomon preſſes upon them that have heartily received the Truth, Alſo from this withdraw not thine hand.
4. They that would ſo make uſe of the Truth, as to be led by it to their Happineſs, they muſt not ſeparat the Directions thereof, but muſt take hold of them all, and not withdraw their hand from the practice of any commanded Duty: For while he preſſes obedience to his former Doctrine, which doth contain ſeveral Directions and Diſſwaſives, he commends the receiving and practice of all as one, becauſe they muſt not be ſeparat, It is good that thou take hold of this, yea, from this withdraw not thine hand.
5. True Comfort and real Advantage is to be had by the hearty imbracing of the Truth, and walking in the practice of it, notwithſtanding of Sufferings for ſo doing, and there is neither Comfort nor Profit in any way elſe: For ſo he commends it here from the ſweetneſs and advantage of it, as the ſignification of this Word bears, It is good that thou take hold, &c.
6. They that by Faith take hold of the Directions of the Word, and are not by Sufferings driven from the obedience thereof, they give evidence that they have in their Hearts the true Fear of the Lord, as the principle, of their obedience: For having exhorted to the believing and obeying of the former Directions, and holding out a Promiſe to them that ſo make uſe of the Truth for their incouragement, inſtead of deſcribing the Man to whom the Promiſe belongs from his obedience, he deſigns him by that which is the principle of his obedience, and is evidenced by it, He that Fears the Lord ſhall come out, &c.
7. Whatever hazards Men incurr for fear of diſpleaſing God, and whatever temptations they be aſſaulted with, and do oppoſe, leſt by yielding to them they offend him, they ſhall be ſure to come out of them all: For both of the Sufferings and Temptations formerly mentioned, Solomon here ſpeaks, while he ſaith, He that Fears God ſhall come out of them all.