Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 4
Verſe 4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
WE have here the effects of the former Diſpenſations, upon the Spirits, and carriage of men, the timing whereof is aſſerted to be in the hand of God, no leſs than the Diſpenſations themſelves.
And for the underſtanding of theſe, and the time of them, it would be conſidered firſt, That this Weeping and mourning here ſpoken of, cannot be underſtood of Worldly Sorrow which cauſeth Death 2 Cor. 7, 10. And conſequently the Laughter here ſpoken of, is not to be underſtood of Carnal Mirth, or the expreſſions thereof, which the Lord hath threatned with much woe Luk. 6.25. Eſpecially when His Diſpenſations call to Mourning Iſai. 22.13.14. Nor is this Dancing meant of the the laſcivious carriage of men at Feaſts Mark. 6.22. Or Idolatrous Worſhip. Exod. 32 19. For, though the Lord, give up men to the former, as a ſad puniſhment of their ſins, Amos 5.16. And leave them to the other as a forerunner of further Judgment Amos 6.5. Yet there is no time allowed in the Word of God for ſuch things: And therefore they are mainly to be underſtood of moderate grief and and Godly ſorrow, with the expreſſions thereof, ſuitable to the Diſpenſations of Killing, breaking down &c. formerly mentioned, and of lawful Mirth, and ſpiritual rejoycing ſuitable to the Diſpenſations of Healing, and Building up.
Next, That the difference between the firſt two Inſtances and the laſt, is only (according to the force of the Words in in the Original) in meaſure and degree, for though all of them ſignifie the outward expreſſion of theſe paſſions of grief and joy, yet Weeping is that which is more moderate, expreſſed by ſighs and tears, Mourning again, according to the ſignification of the Word, is that degree of grief, which hath higher expreſſions than the former, ſuch as ſmiting of the breaſt, and the like. The Laughter here ſpoken of is joy appearing in the countenance, and voice only. And Dancing is that which is expreſt by the whole outward man.
Thirdly, That the time of theſe paſſions or affections, here ſpoken of, is both to be underſtood in reference to the Lords Diſpenſations, and likewiſe to mans Duty, and the Lords putting him to it, viz. That as the Lord hath ſet times wherin He giveth matter and occaſion of Grief or Joy, more or leſs in His Diſpenſations, ſo it is Peoples Duty to obſerve when and in what meaſure, His Word, and Diſpenſations call them to expreſs the ſame.
Fourthly, That however theſe inſtances be applicable to all men, who live under ſuch change of Diſpenſations, yet it is ſafeſt to apply them in ſpecial, to the Church and People of God, among whom the Diſpenſations formerly mentioned are mainly remarkable.
Hence Learn. 1. The Lord hath the ſad and mournfull times of People ſet and fixed from Eternity, when He ſees it fit ſo to work, that they ſhall have much matter of Mourning, and when He intends to frame their ſpirits for it, by ſuſpending comfort, or by pouring out the ſpirit of Grace and ſupplication that they may be prepared for comfort here, and may long for the time when tears ſhall be wiped from their eyes There is a time to weep.
2. There are degrees of the ſad conditions of the Godly, He doth not alwayes give them alike matter of Grief, nor when they have, doth He ſuffer their hearts to be alike weighted therewith, for the One of theſe Words doth expreſs a higher degree of Grief, than the Other, There is a time to weep, and a time to mourn.
3. The World, and all the comforts of it, can neither prevent nor mitigate the Mourning and Grief of People, when the Lord ſees it fit to exerciſe them therewith: Nor can men bring it on, for all their malice and power, till the Lords ſett time come, which is here ſpoken of, There is a time to mourn, and a time to weep.
4. It is the Duty of the Lords People to obſerve the time, when He by His Word, and Diſpenſations calls them to Mourn and Weep, that they may rationally and willingly apply their hearts to that exerciſe, it being a high provocation of Him, and a forerunner of much woe to them, not to Mourn and Weep when he calls them to it, Iſai. 22.12. For this may be alſo underſtood of the time to be obſerved, and made uſe of by His people There is a time to mourn, and a time to weep.
5. It is ſometimes neceſſary for the Lords people, eſpecially when there is much terrour in His Diſpenſations of killing, plucking up, and breaking down, formerly mentioned to expreſs their Grief ſo as it may appear to others, by their abſtinence and chaſtening of their fleſh Dan. 10.2, 3. by their humble walking Iſai. 38.15. For the Words, as was cleared in the Expoſition, ſignifie ſuch ſorrow, as breaks out in ſignes and expreſſions, ſo as it cannot be hid, There is a time to weep, and a time to mourn.
6. The Lord hath alſo His own times ſet and fixed, wherein he will fill the mouths of his People with Laughter, and turn their Mourning into Dancing, by making them ſee the performance of theſe promiſes which they could hardly believe Gen. 21.6. Healing their ſpiritual diſtempers, Iſai. 2.5, 6. Guarding their hearts againſt the vexation of affliction, Job, 5.22. giving them ſuch clear foreſights, and ſweet foretaſtes, of their future Happineſs, that they cannot but skip for joy, even in the midſt of the worſt that men can do to them Luk. 6.23. And ſometimes by giving them deliverance from their troubles Pſal. 126.2. And when His time for making His People Laugh and Dance cometh, the World cannot hinder it; For There is a time to laugh and to dance.
7. It is the Duty of the Lords People, eſpecially when His Diſpenſations are eminently comfortable, to make conſcience of rejoicing, and of expreſſing the ſame in their words, and carriage, by their chearful walking, running the way of His Commandements, and inciting others to His praiſe, for this concerning the time of Laughter and Dancing, is alſo to be taken in reference to our Duty, that the Time of His Healing, Building, and Planting formerly ſpoken of, is to be obſerved and made uſe of by His People, who ſhould then expreſs their joy, as the Words ſignify, There is a time to laugh and a time to dance.