Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Verse 2
Ver. 2. It is better to go to the houſe of Mourning, than to go to the houſe of Feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
SOlomon having commended Death, as preferable to ones Birth, he comes now to direct all, how to make timous preparation for Death. And for this end he commends the frequenting of theſe occaſions, and Societies, where Men are minded of Death, particularly the Houſe of Mourning, whereby is meant any place or object that occaſions Mourning, eſpecially the houſe where one is Dying, or hath been lately Dead: And where the Friends, or thoſe of near Relation, are ſuppoſed to be left behind ſad hearted; And preferrs the going thither, to the frequenting of ſolemn Feaſts, ſuch as uſe to be about the times of Birth, or Marriage.
And he proves the preference by two Reaſons, The Firſt is, that Death whereof Men may be minded by going to the Houſe of Mourning, is the end of all Men, not of Mens Being ſimply, but of their natural temporal Being; And therefore Men ſhould uſe all means to prepare for it. The Second is, That the frequenting of ſuch Societies, cannot but in Reaſon make Living Men, unleſs they be in a ſpiritual ſenſe, Dead and ſenſeleſs, lay to their own Hearts, or take to their ſerious conſideration (as the expreſſion imports) that that will be their own caſe next, to leave others Mourning behind them.
Hence Learn. 1. Mourning for the Death of Friends is very conſiſtent with true Piety, providing always it be in moderation, mixed with ſubmiſſion to God, and comfort drawn from the Faith of the Reſurrection. 1 Theſ; 4.13. Yea it is a neceſſary Duty thereby to teſtify our natural and Chriſtian Affection to our Relations, and ſenſe of our Sin either in Idolizing them, neglecting Duty to them, or not making good uſe of them while we had them, which calls the beſt to Mourn, when their Friends are removed by Death. For it is ſuppoſed here, that the Houſe where there is any lately Dead, is a Houſe of Mourning.
2. Men that are exerciſed even with outward Croſſes, ſhould not be, left alone to Mourn, particularly ſuch as are exerciſed with the Death of their …ear Relations or Friends, their Society ſhould be ſought after by others, for the comfort of the Mourners, and edification of thoſe who viſit them, that they may be minded of their own Death, and of the Death of their Friends, that they may ſhortly be in the caſe of Mourners, or may leave others Mourning for them: For it is here ſuppoſed alſo, that it is a Duty to go the Houſe Mourning.
3. It is not prejudicial to the true Comfort and Joy of a Chriſtian, to be frequently minding Death; nor ſhould he that would have true Chearfulneſs decline the thoughts thereof, as melancholious and prejudicial to his natural health, as Atheiſts and Epicures do, 1 Cor. 15.32.33. but ſhould uſe all means to entertain them, as promoving ſpiritual Joy, when the ſutable Comfort againſt Death is applyed: For Solomon who hath preſt frequently the chearful uſe of allowed Comforts, commends here the uſe of ſuch means as may keep Men mindful of Death, It is better to go to the Houſe of mourning.
4. Though Feasting, which is the liberal and chearful uſe of variety of the good Creatures of God, for intertaining mutual love among ſeveral perſons, and provoking one another to rejoice in God, upon occaſion of Benefits received from Him, be of it ſelf, and in the ſeaſon thereof Lawful, and a ſpiritual mind may at ſuch an occaſion have many profitable and heavenly Conſiderations ſuggeſted to it, provoking it to Admire and Praiſe the Lord's Bounty and Liberality, Pſ. 104.15. 16. His Providence in bringing ſuch variety of Creatures to mens hand, Pſ. 104.15 to Praiſe Chriſt for purchaſing liberty to uſe theſe Creatures, which ſometimes were unlawful to be uſed, 1 Cor. 10.27. and eſpecially by occaſion of theſe outward Dainties to be minded of the ſpiritual Dainties that Faith can feed upon in the mean time, Luk. 14.15. Yet ſo prone are the beſt at ſuch occaſions to forget God the Giver, while they are liberally uſing His Gifts, Deut. 8.10.11. to forget the affliction of others that are in miſery, Amos 6.3.6. to ſpeak raſhly or indecently of God, or others, Job 1.5. to contemn threatened Judgements, and put the evil day far off, Iſa. 22.13. that when it is in a Chriſtians option, To go to the Houſe of mourning, or to the Houſe of Feasting, he ſhould prefer the Firſt Voyage to the Laſt, It is better to go to the Houſe of Mourning, than to the Houſe of Feasting.
5. As there is no Man of whatſoever rank or condition in the World exeemed from Death, which will put an end to all his earthly Pleaſures and Enjoyments, ſo the conſideration of the certainty hereof, ſhould move Men to frequent theſe occaſions and ſocieties, whereby they may be minded of it, and ſtirred up to prepare for it: For this is an Argument for going to the Houſe of Mourning, rather than to the Houſe of Feasting: For this is the end of all Men.
6 No Man that is wiſe will put off the thoughts of Death, till he be a dying Man, but while he is living and hath Health and Strength, he will lay it to heart and prepare for it: For Solomon ſpeaks of minding Death, as a thing ſo equitable and ſutable for Men, that none Living, who hath the uſe of Reaſon can neglect it, and as if he were but a dead Man while he lives, who doth not mind Death ſeriouſly, and prepare for it.
7. Death is not rightly minded till the thoughts thereof be faſtened to a Mans heart, that go whether he will, or be doing what he will, he may never altogether loſe (at leaſt) the impreſſion which the ſanctified conſideration of his Death hath put upon his heart: For ſo the word ſignifies, The Living will lay it (or fasten it) upon his Heart, or give his Heart up to it.