Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 14
Verſe 14. I know … be …
HEre are T…e… further conſiderations offered to the minde of the Lords People for quieting them under all the changes of His Diſpenſations.
The Seventh in order is, Concerning the unchangeable and permanent courſe of the Lords Working according to His eternal purpoſes, and this is confirmed from Solomons own Experience, I know that whatſoever God doth, it ſhall be for ever: Which is not to be underſtood of Gods Works of Creation; ſeeing the moſt part of theſe muſt be diſſolved 2 Pet. 3▪ 7. And yet the Words hold out a truth concerning theſe Works, as to their permanency, while time endures, which is ſometimes expreſt by this Word for ever: Nor is it to be underſtood of His Works of Providence, conſidered in themſelves, ſeeing theſe are tranſient, and one of them ſuccedeth to another, as War, and Peace, and the reſt which he inſtanced before, and ſo cannot be for ever, ſimply: But the meaning is, that all His Diſpenſations ſhall be for ever, in regard of the effects of them, which are the main ends intended by Him in them, to wit. His glory and the good of His Elect; and that all theſe changes of Diſpenſations ſhall conſtantly and unchangably fall out in theſe Periods of time, which he hath ſet for them in His Eternal Councel; whereof, every thing that He doth in time is a part of the Execution, ſo as all the wit and endeavours of men cannot hinder or interrupt a Work of His, or put it out of His Time: but whatever He pleaſes to do ſhall always fall out in His appointed time, and therefore it is every mans Duty contentedly to undergoe theſe Diſpenſations, taking what comfort the Lord allows for incouraging his heart in Duty to Him.
The Eight is Concerning the abſolute perfection of all His Works Nothing can … taken from them▪ Which is not to be underſtood of God abſolute Power, who could manifeſt more diſpleaſure … to men in His Diſpenſations than he doth: But upon ſuppoſition of His decrees there can be no change, and in reſpect of men, whoſe wit, or power can neither add to, nor diminiſh from what His Providence intend… to bring forth, and conſidering theſe Diſpenſations of His, whether ſuch as are comfortable, or terrible to men, in regard of their ſubſerviency to His holy Ends, the manifeſtation of His Glory, in puniſhing, Trying, or comforting the Children of men, they are abſolutely perfect, and compleat, nothing can be added to, nor taken from them, to make them fitter for attaining theſe ends, Therefore ought men to acquieſce in them as perfect, and not to be Cenſured, or Murmured at.
The Ninth is, Concerning the great ends of all Gods Diſpenſations, to wit, that men conſidering themſelves ſo compleatly under the dominion of His irreſiſtible Providence, may make it their great Study under all changes, to keep their hearts in fear of offending Him, ſo ma… they injoy true contentment under them all.
Hence we may Learn. 1. That amidſt all the changes of Diſpenſations, and ſeeming confuſions that are in the World, all things are infallibly, and unchangeably carried on, according to the wiſe predetermination of God, ſo that His purpoſes are always in executing, and his pleaſure always in fulfilling, and He ſtill gaining His holy ends, which he hath propoſed to Himſelf, even by theſe things which men act contrary to His revealed will, and what ever be mens ſinful ends and miſcarriage, who are Inſtrumental in the carrying on of theſe things, for (ſaith the Preacher) I know that whatſoever God doth, it ſhall be for ever.
2. The believing conſideration of this infallibility of eve… according to the Lords Eternal purpoſe, and the ſtanding under wherein He hath ſet them, is a powerful … …o wo…k the hearts of men … and … obedience to the Lord, under all the changes of their life; For, Solomon offers it for this end as a …rac… experimentally known to himſelf, and which ha… that effect upon him, I know that what God doth, it ſhall be for ever.
3. However man being dark concerning the Lords Working Job. 38.2. an… yet conce…y of his own wit Job. 11.1…. hath a quarrelling humour, ready to cenſure what God doth, and would have more mitigation in his tryals, more ſweetneſs in his comforts, and ſomewhat of the Duration, and weight of his Croſſes taken away from them Job. 7.19. Yet all the Lords Diſpenſations taken as they are without Addition or Diminution, ſerve moſt for attaining His holy; and wiſe Ends, and if they were in the leaſt changed, they could not be ſo ſubſervient as they are, for attaining of them; For in reference to the ends intended by the Lord, the Preacher thus commends the perfection of His Working, Nothing can be added to it, nothing can be taken from it.
4. Not only ſhall the Lords Diſpenſations for the ſubſtance and kind of them, fall out unchangeably according to His mind but even for the quality, and circumſtances thereof, they muſt be as He hath reſolved: There cannot be the leaſt ingredient of more bitterneſs added to any of His Diſpenſations, nor a grain weight of His allowed conſolation taken from them by any creature; For of the quality, and circumſtances of His Working, may this alſo be underſtood, Nothing can be put to it, nothing can be taken from it.
5. Man can never contentedly ſubmit unto, nor chearfully follow his Duty under the changes of the Lords Diſpenſations untill he do in ſome meaſure apprehend the abſolute perfection of them, in order to the Lords ends intended by them; and when the ſame is ſeen, it is ſufficient for Working the heart to that frame; For, that they may be contentedly undergone, and Duty followed under them all, this is here held out to be conſidered, that nothing … be taken from them, nothing put to them.
6. One of the great Ends intended by the Lord in all His Diſpenſations, eſpecially His manifeſting o… this, that neither His Diſpenſations can be altered, nor His Ends intended by them fruſtrate by man is, that the fear of His name may be wrought in the hearts of men, that under …urable Diſpenſations they may fear to abuſe His Goodneſs by turning it into wantonneſs Hoſ. 3.5. Deut. 32.14, 15. And under ſad Diſpenſations, if upon themſelves, they may fear their own weakneſs, leſt they repine, on fain… and ſo make their hands ſtronger Iſai. 8.13. And if upon others for their ſins, they may fear the like ſins, and the like ſp…ake for them Pſal. 110.120. Act. 5.11. For ſaith the Preacher, God doth it, that is, He times all theſe Diſpenſations, and ſuffers them not to be altered in any thing, and manifeſts the ſame here to men That men may fear before him.
7. That fear which God intends to be wrought in His Own by His Diſpenſations, is not a fear ariſing from the conſideration of the bitterneſs that is in His Diſpenſations, or the terror of inſtruments imployed in them; but ſuch as ariſes from the conſideration of the Lord Himſelf ſet before the face of the ſoul, in His Power, Goodneſs, Love and other properties of of His, manifeſted in His Dipenſations: For He doth all that men ſhould fear before him.
8. Men that deſire to be truely happy ſhould be ſo deſirous to have the fear of the Lord ſtamped upon their heart, that they ſhould chearfully ſubmit … the hardeſt of His Diſpenſations, which he intends, and may bleſs for Working and promoving that frame▪ For this is to be looked upon as a motive to chearful ſubmiſſion eve… to hardeſt of Diſpenſations, God doth it, that men may fear before him.