Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 12, 13
Ver. 12. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13. And alſo that every man ſhould eat and drink, and injoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
THe Sixth Conſideration ſerving to wean mens hearts from the beſt condition they can be in in this World, as their Chief Good, is, That the moſt favourable of the Lords outward Diſpenſations, have no further good in them to man, than to incourage him in following of his Duty to his Maker, and ſo fit him for a better life.
The Reaſon why we take Solomon here to ſpeak eſpecially of favourable Diſpenſations, is, that the Duties here commended are mainly ſuitable to theſe; and men living under theſe, are in the fitteſt Capacity for ſuch Duties.
The firſt of them is, That from the Lords bounty and goodneſs manifeſted in his favourable Diſpenſations, men ſhould draw matter of ſpiritual Joy, and chear up his heart in God I know (ſaith he) that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoyce.
2. That he ſhould expreſs the ſame by his activity in following commanded Duties, and what is well pleaſing in the ſight of God, and perſevere in the ſame while he hath any being, This is To do good in his life.
And 3. That in order to the former Two, he ſhould freely uſe the lawful outward comforts of this life comprehended under Eating and Drinking; Whereby muſt be meant only the Sober and Holy Uſe of the Creatures, ſeeing that only is conſiſtent with, and ſubſervient to ſpiritual Joy, and doing good formerly preſt; and this Uſe of favourable Diſpenſations he preſſes by Two Reaſons. Firſt, Becauſe ſo man ſhall injoy the good of his Labour, that is, he ſhall have a temporary reward of all his pains and toil in his Duty, even that which is truely good in order to a higher, the injoying of fellowſhip with God, while he is making thoſe Uſes formerly expreſt of the Lords favourable Diſpenſations, And Secondly, Becauſe this, to wit, the Power and Grace to uſe theſe outward comforts chearfully, and as incouragements in ſerving the giver, is a free gift of God, over and above the favours themſelves.
Hence Learn. 1. While the Lord deals favourably with men in His outward Diſpenſations, they are very prone to miſtake the good that is in their condition, and to apprehend ſome greater Happineſs therein, than they have ground, by taking their preſent ſweetneſs for their chief good, and the outmoſt that is to be deſired Pſal. 4.6. And rejoicing more in the ſame than in the Giver Deut. 8.14. Therefore the Wiſe-man doth not poſitively and ſimply aſſert the right uſe of theſe favourable Diſpenſations, but finds it neceſſary to deny that there is any other good deſervedly ſo called in things of that nature, than what is here pointed at; and confirms the ſame by oppoſing his own certain Knowledge and Experience to other mens Fancies. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice.
2. However the Lords People want not matter of rejoicing in their ſaddeſt condition 1 Pet. 1.6. Nor of Humiliation in their beſt in this life Pſal. 2.11. Yet when the Lord is dealing bountifully with them even in His outward Diſpenſations, they are then in a ſpecial manner called to ſpiritual Joy, whereby they comfort themſelves in Him as theirs, more than in His favours Pſal. 118.13.14. And go chearfully about His ſervice Iſai. 64.5. This being the end of all His Liberality Pſal. 30.10.11. And that which is mainly expected from them by others of His People Pſal. 142.7. For Spiritual Joy, as the principal Duty of one living under favourable Diſpenſations, is here recommended. There is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice. &c.
3. All the chearfulneſs and recreation of ſpirit that men get by the comfortable Paſſages of Gods Providence toward them, ſhould incite them to well-doing, eſpecially to Duties relating to the Lords publick Work in the World. 2 Chron. 24.16. Duties of Equity and Righteouſneſs in their dealings with men, that when their hearts are cheared and lifted up with favourable Providences they turn not to injuſtice and oppreſſion Mat. 5.44. And Duties of Charity and Beneficence to the poor and afflicted that are not ſo well dealt with 1 Tim. 6.18. All which the Scriptures cited make clear to be that doing good in Gods ſight which is here recommended as that whereby ſpiritual rejoicing, and chearfulneſs ought to be evidenced; There is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and do good in his life.
4. None can do any thing which is truely good in Gods ſight, unleſs he have firſt ſome meaſure of ſpiritual Joy, in God, flowing from the faith of acceptation with Him thorow Chriſt, which only begets true Joy, Rom. 5.1.2. And this Joy becomes the Souls ſtrength for every Duty Neh. 8.10, Therefore the Preacher expreſſes the right uſe of the Lords favourable Diſpenſations in this order, that man ſhould firſt Rejoyce, and then do good in his life.
5. They whoſe Hearts are cheared, by the proofs of the Lords bountie in His dealing with them, and do expreſs that chearfulneſs by their activity in Duties that may honour Him, they have found that true good which is attainable in this life; And when men either take not the comforts allowed upon them, or do not expreſs and evidence the ſame by well-doing, they get no good of their greateſt Mercies, but much hurt; For this muſt be the only true Good, which men can attain by all the comfortable Paſſages of Gods Providence in their Life, ſeeing as the Wiſe-man ſaith, There is no good in them, but that a man ſhould rejoice and do good in his life.
6. There is no ſhorter term of doing good, than the term of Life, nor is there any part of a mans Life to be otherwiſe employed, whereunto he ſhould be ingadged by conſidering that he will not have after this Life, opportunity or advantage to do good, as he hath here, by gaining and allureing others to Duty toward God; For, ſo ſaith the Preacher. That a man ſhould do good in his Life, to wit, along his whole time,
7. Although the Creature comforts are alwiſe to be uſed in a Holy and ſober manner 1 Tim. 4.4.5. And never as fewel to mens Luſts Deut, 6.11, 12. yet when the Lord is dealing more Liberally with men in outward things than at other times, he doth allow a more liberal, and chearfull uſe of the Creatures upon them, that ſo they may be the more ſtrengthned and incouraged for theſe weighty Duties which are ſuitable for ſuch Diſpenſations; For, ſeeing it is Gods allowance alwayes while he continues life, and the uſe of the Creatures for the maintainance thereof, that men ſhould Eat and Drink; This Eating and Drinking here recommended, muſt be meant of a more free and chearful uſe of theſe things, under His more favourable Diſpenſations, eſpecially conſidering that it muſt be ſubſervient to the former Two, Rejoicing, and Doing good, And alſo that every man ſhould eat and drink.
8. Although the Lord may give to his People abundance of outward things for which they have not laboured, Deut. 6.11. Yet it is His mind that every one who takes the comfort of the Creatures ſhould be imployed in ſome honeſt lawful Labour, while they have Ability, whereof their Eating and Drinking may be the fruit of reward, for while man Eats and Drinks he ſhould be enjoying the good of his Labour.
9. When men uſe the comfort of the Creatures, ſuch as Meat, Drink, and the like, and are thereby cheared in their hearts, and encouraged in Duty to God, then, and never but then, do they enjoy the good of their Labour, Without this their table is but a ſnare to them; For, this Enjoying the good of a mans Labour is brought in as the reſult of what is before. That a man rejoice and do good and eat and drink, and ſo injoy the good of his Labour.
10. Not only the plenty of Creature comforts, and the power to uſe them; but eſpecially the Grace to uſe them aright; by drawing matter of ſpiritual Joy from them, and incitement to Duty, is Gods ſpecial Gift, which ſhould be thankfully ackowledged by men, while they uſe them, And not taken as the Beaſts do, without minding the Giver: For, all the former, to wit, Creature comforts, the Power to uſe them, and to Rejoice, and Do Good, are here called The gift of God. And this is held out as a Reaſon why men ſhould take their allowance and uſe it as hath been ſhown.