Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 5
Ver. 5. A time to caſt away ſtones, and a time to gather ſtones together: a time to embrace, and a time to reſtrain from embracing,
THe firſt Two of theſe Inſtances, concerning the Time of Casting away and Gathering ſtones, may be taken for a proverbial kind of ſpeech, made uſe of 1. To ſignifie the Duty of dependance upon Gods Providence, and acknowledgment of Him, who hath the timing of mens undertakings, even their ſmalleſt matters in His hand. 2dly. The expedience of mens obſerving according to the revealed will of God, the fitteſt ſeaſons for their Actions. And 3. To check and reprove the folly of men who ſlight Him, and the obſervation of theſe ſeaſons even in their ſmalleſt matters. They may be alſo underſtood of the time of mens preparing materialls for any enterpriſe, as minding them, that they are ſo under dominion of Gods Providence, that he can in His time, make them undo what they have formerly done, and either of theſe ways, the ſenſe is ſubſervient to the ſcope to make men conſtant in dependance upon, and acknowledgment of Him, who hath the Time of all Events in His hand, and doth direct men to time their undertakings aright.
As for the other two, concerning the time of Embracing and refraining therefrom, they are to be underſtood of the expreſſions of love, whether from the Lord to His people, which he gives and withholds only in His Own Times Cant. 2.6, Or among His People themſelves Gen. 29.13. 1 Cor. 7.5. It is ſafe to comprehend both, ſeing the Scriptures cited expreſs both in ſuch termes, and both are agreeable to the Scope, for working the heart to ſubmiſſion under the changes of His Diſpenſations, whoſe love is conſtant, and to teach men Dependence upon Him for direction when to expreſs their love to others, and when to refrain therefrom.
Hence Learn. 1. Men ought not only to depend upon God, as the carver out of the times of their more weighty undertakings, and theſe which ſeem to them of greateſt concernment in the World; and to obſerve carefully the right timing of theſe; but they ought to do the ſame in the ſmalleſt matters, For even of ſuch may theſe inſtances be underſtood, and ſo taken literally, God muſt be looked unto even in ſuch things as theſe, There is a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather ſtones together:
2. When men are imployed in preparing materials for any of their Enterprizes in this World, they ſhould conſider that they are ſo under the dominion of Gods Providence, that He may ſoon make them meet with the time when they ſhall be neceſſitate to undoe what they have done of that kind, that ſo they may keep their hearts from exceſs of delight in Worldly things; For this leſſon makes to Solomons Scope, and ſo is intended by theſe inſtances There is a time to gather ſtones, and a time to caſt them away.
3. The Lord hath His Own times ſet, for Embracing of, or manifeſting His favour to His People, by His ſpirit, clearing to them the work of His Grace 1 Cor. 2.12. Strengthening their faith to Embrace the promiſes Heb. 11.13. And ſo filling them with joy unſpeakable, and full of Glory. 1 Pet, 1.8. Which ſeaſons though they be abſolutely in His own Power, and particularly known to Him alone, yet doth His People ordinarly meet with them, when they are moſt deeply humbled in the ſenſe of their ſins Iſai. 61.3. when they are under ſaddeſt ſufferings, eſpecially for His name Act. 16.25. And when they have been at the ſoreſt battel to maintain the faith of His love, while they wanted the ſenſe of it Jer. 21.18.20. For in reference to the Lords Diſpenſations with His People, may this be underſtood, There is a time to embrace.
4. Though the Lord never ceaſe to love His own Joh. 13.1· yet doth he ſee it fit ſometimes to reſtrain Himſelf from the manifeſtations, and expreſſions of His love, that they may be corrected and humbled for undervaluing the ſame, and incited to greater diligence in ſeeking after new manifeſtations thereof Cant. 5.3.6. For with the Lord alſo There is a time to refrain from embracing of His People.
5. As there are ſeaſons to be obſerved and made uſe of, for expreſſing of our affection to others, ſuch as the time of their diſtreſs, and deep affliction 1 Sam. 23.16. and when they are ready to be diſcouraged by Jealouſies of our affection to them Gal. 4.19. So upon the other hand, there are times of refraining from, and keeping up theſe expreſſions, even when love it ſelf is intertained, as when our refraining ſerves to humble others for their former unkindneſs to us, or when we have ground to think they will make a bad uſe of the expreſſions of our reſpect Gen. 43.31. In which and the like caſes There is a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.