Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 · Verse 8
Ver. 8. A time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace.
THe firſt Two of theſe Inſtances may be underſtood of the ſeaſons which God hath fixed for manifeſting His dominion over the paſſions and affections of men ſometimes by turning them to Favour whom and when he pleaſeth; Exod, 3.21. At other times again in His Holy Providence turning their hearts to hate theſe ſame Perſons; Pſal. 105.25. And ſo conſequently of theſe ſeaſons which He hath ſet for manifeſting His love, and juſt diſpleaſure, againſt the Children of men, ſeeing the Scripture attributes to Him, ſpeaking of Him after the manner of man, and in regard of His Diſpenſations. A time of Love; Ezek. 16.8. And of Hatred, or Indignation, Ezek. 22.24. The ſame Inſtances may be alſo underſtood of theſe ſeaſons, which men ought to obſerve for manifeſting their Love, and expreſſing their Indignation, not againſt the perſons, but the ſinful courſes of others. As for the other Two Inſtances of War and Peace, They are to be taken for theſe ſeaſons, which the Lord hath ſet for manifeſting His Diſpleaſure againſt the ſons of men, by ſending War, and the conſequents thereof upon them, and for manifeſting His Mercy toward them in reſtoring Peace to them again: And likewiſe for theſe ſeaſons which men ought to obſerve, wherein to prepare themſelves for, and ingadge themſelves in War, and wherein again to apply themſelves, and condeſcend unto terms of Peace with their enemies: The due obſervation, and uſe-making of all which, contributes much to that which is the Preachers ſcope, to work the hearts of men to contentment under all changes of Diſpenſations, conſidering that the Timing of all theſe is in Gods Hand.
Hence Learn. 1. The Lord is to be acknowledged, and depended upon as having abſolute dominion over the paſſions and affections of all Men, ſo as they cannot Love or Hate, but at the times that He hath ſet, nor can they manifeſt either Love or Hatred, but as He pleaſes, who doth by their Love or Hatred manifeſt His Own free favour, or Juſt diſpleaſure as He thinks fit, and therefore His favour is to be ſought above all things; Pſal. 63.3. and His Diſpleaſure only to be feared Pſal. 76.17. who hath fixed theſe times wherein men ſhall manifeſt their Love or Hatred, and His Majeſty ſhall thereby ſignifie duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page His Own favour, or Diſpleaſure; For, There is a time to Love, and a time to Hate:
2. Although it be never lawful to Hate the perſons of any; no not of our greateſt enemies Matt. 5.44. Yet there are ſome ſeaſons wherein it will be lawful and neceſſary to expreſs Hatred of their courſes; viz. when they are found hateful before the Lord, and ſome ſeaſons alſo wherein we will be called to carry our ſelves, even toward theſe of our neareſt relations as if we did Hate them; to wit, by forſaking them for Chriſt, when we cannot injoy Him and them both Luk. 14.26. In which and the like caſes, There is a time to Hate.
3. However the Lord be free of the ſinfulneſs of mens undertaking and proſecuting of Wars, ſeeing they do often propoſe other ends, and take other means and ways for them than He approves of in His Word Iſai. 10.7. Zach. 1 15. Yet He is Commander in chief of all Armies, and hath the Time of the riſe and continuance of War in His Hand; And that Time in Reference to His People, is eſpecially when they have much abuſed His Love and Goodneſs in peaceable times; Hoſ. 11.4.6 When they turn oppreſſors one of another, and Covenant-breakers even in Civil Affairs; Jer. 34.17, When they come to avow and defend their wickedneſs Ezek. 21.9.24. When they content themſelves with the outward forme of Religion; Jer. 6.20, 21, 25. When they ſight the offers of the everlaſting Covenant Lev. 26.25. And yet remain fearleſs of threatned Judgment, Jer. 12.4.12. Theſe being in Scripture made the procuring cauſes of War upon Peoples part, may ſafely be taken for the ſigns of the time here ſpoken of There is a time of War. viz. in reference to Gods inflicting of it as a Judgment.
4. As there are ſeaſons wherein War may be lawfully undertaken by the Lords People; As when their Religion, lives, and liberties are unjuſtly invaded; 2 Chron. 20.10.11. And ſo the ground or cauſe of ingaging in War is juſt and neceſſary; Jud. 2.12, 13. And when they have probable means of proſecuting the ſame Luk. 14.21. So is it the Duty of the Lords People to obſerve theſe ſeaſons, and not to delight in War, ſo as to anticipat the ſeaſon thereof, Pſal. 68.30. Nor ſo to love their eaſe, as to refuſe to ingage therein when Gods time comes; Judg. 5.16.23. For of the ſeaſon wherein men may and ought to undertake War, this may be underſtood There is a time of War.
5. As the Lord hath His appointed ſeaſons wherein He maketh Wars to ceaſe, Pſal. 46.4. And ſo makes Peace in His Peoples borders, Pſal. 147.14. which are eſpecially when He hath humbled His People for theſe ſins which have procured ſuch a Judgment; Iſai. 57.18.19. And ſets them about the Reformation of their ways. Hoſ 2.16, 17, 18. When the cup of Their iniquity, who made War againſt His People, is full: Gen. 15.16. And Gods work intended by them is wrought: Iſai. 10.12. So there are ſeaſons alſo to be obſerved, and made uſe of by the Lords People, wherein they ought to condeſcend to terms of Peace with theſe againſt whom they did juſtly undertake War, to wit, When the end of their undertaking is gained, and they may with Peace injoy truth and theſe outward liberties and priviledges which God hath allowed upon them: For, this hath reſpect both to the Lords Diſpenſation, and to mans Duty There is a time of Peace.