Exposition Upon Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Verse 3, 4
Ver. 3. Sorrow is better than Laughter, for by the ſadneſs of the Countenance, the Heart is made better.
4. The Heart of the Wiſe is in the Houſe of Mourning, but the Heart of Fools is in the Houſe of Mirth.
SOlomon having commended the ſerious Conſideration of Death, he doth now commend that Frame of Spirit, which the ſanctified conſideration thereof works the Hearts of the Godly unto, as a ſtep nearer to that true Joy and Peace, wherein Mans Happineſs here doth conſiſt; And this is that ſober, compoſed, and tender temper of Heart, ſtamped with Godly Grief for Sin, here called Sorrow, under which alſo may be comprehended moderat Grief, even for worldly Croſſes, which being ſanctified is turned into Godly Sorrow for Sin, This Sorrow (ſaith he) is better than Laughter, whereby he means all that Carnal Mirth and Joy which Men uſe to expreſs by Laughter, or ſuch like light carriage, eſpecially at their Merry meettings with others.
And that this Sorrow is to be preferred to Carnal Joy, he proves by Reaſons. 1. Becauſe by the ſadneſs of the Countenance (whereby he means the grave, humble, and ſober Deportment of the whole outward Man, which is the Reſult of Godly Sorrow within) the Heart is made better, i. e. It is wrought to a more mortified Frame, and prepared for ſpiritual Peace; and conſequently the Hearts of others may alſo be bettered by it, ver. 3. 2. Becauſe it is the diſpoſition of them who are endued with that Saving Wiſdom which is from Above, to have their Hearts much taken up with ſuch Objects, and converſant in ſuch places (whether their Bodies be there or not) as ſerve to increaſe and cheriſh an humble and ſympathizing Frame of Spirit: And upon the contrary, the Fool, or the wicked Man, who hath ordinarily this Name in Solomon's writings, even when he is reſtrained from the occaſions or places of Carnal Mirth, His Heart is still in them.
Hence Learn 1. When the Lord ſanctifies the thoughts of Death to Men, Godly Sorrow will be wrought, or promoved in the Heart, as the Reſult and effect of theſe thoughts, they will grieve, not becauſe they muſt go through Death, but becauſe they have done the Lord ſo little honour, and are ſo unable to do him more before they die, and becauſe they find themſelves ſo defective in preparing for Death: For ſuppoſing this Frame to be the Reſult of theſe Conſiderations, which may be had in the Houſe of Mourning, and by laying Death to Heart, he here commends it, Sorrow is better than Laughter.
2. However they that are Strangers to Godly Sorrow, eſteem the exerciſe of it comfortleſs and unprofitable. Mal. 3.14. yet according to the Truth of God, and the experience of his Saints, it is much to be preferred to the Carnal Mirth of the World, becauſe it makes way for true and ſolid Conſolation, Iſa. 61.3. it hath Joy and Peace intermixed with it. 1 Pet. 1.6. and always ends in ſpiritual Joy and Praiſe, Pſ. 126.5. whereas on the contrary, Carnal Mirth hath always, if the Conſcience be awake, a mixture of Sorrow, and always ends in heavineſs, Prov. 14.13. Therefore, ſaith Solomon (ſpeaking doubtleſs his own experience) at the direction of the Spirit of the Lord, Sorrow is better than Laughter.
3. The intertaining of a mournful Frame of Spirit for Sin, and ſympathizing with others in Affliction, is a ſpecial mean of attaining to that Happineſs, which is to be had in this Life, and to guard the Heart againſt theſe Vexations which eat up the Spirits of Men: So that Strangers to Godly Sorrow, muſt needs be Strangers to their own Bleſſedneſs: For Solomon pointing out ſome Remedies, of theſe ſinful Diſtempers which more Mens Happineſs, commends this as one, Sorrow is better than Laughter.
4. Godly Sorrow is not a ſudden motion, or flaſh, that evaniſhes, leaving no effect upon the perſon that hath it, but is a Frame that abides, and affects the Heart; So that it appears in the outward carriage, and ſo becomes viſible in the effects thereof, which are not a ſullen and auſtere behaviour, or retirement from lawful Society, theſe being rather the effects of natural Diſtempers, ſuch as Melancholy, exceſs of worldly Grief, &c. than of Godly Sorrow, but a ſober Grave modeſt Behaviour, and compoſing of the outward Man: For Solomon commending Godly Sorrow from the effects thereof, ſuppoſes that it will compoſe the outward Man to a modeſt and ſober Deportment, By the ſadneſs of the Countenance, &c.
5. That ſoft walking and humble deportment, which flows from Godly Sorrow, or a tender Frame of Spirit within, hath influence back again upon the Heart, to increaſe a good Frame and make it better, it being bleſt with Peace and Comfort, Iſa. 57.18, 19. and increaſe of every Grace, Jam. 4.6. For (ſaith he) By the ſadneſs of the Countenance the Heart is made better.
6. Levity in the outward Carriage, as it flows often from the want of Humility, and the exerciſe of Godly Sorrow, ſo it makes the Heart much worſe, caſting it open to many Temptations, making it more confuſed, leſs peaceable and familiar with God, and ſo more unfit for every Duty: As is imported by the contrary of this, if by the ſadneſs of the Countenance, the Heart be made better, than by the Levity or Inconſtancy of the Countenance, or outward Behaviour, the Heart is made worſe.
7. As Saving Wiſdom teaches Chriſtians to be Sincere, and not like wicked Hypocrites, Pſ. 55 21. and to bring their Hearts with them, when they go to the Houſe of Mourning, to ſignifie their ſympathy with, and deſire to comfort the Mourners there: So when theſe indued with it, are neceſſarly detained from the Company of Afflicted Ones, their Hearts will be with them, ſympathizing with, and ſupplicating for them; And this even when the Lord's Diſpenſations with themſelves afford them matter of Rejoicing, ſee 2 Sam. 11.11. For Solomon ſpeaks of this as the ordinary Frame and Temper of the Godly Man, or one indued with the Wiſdom that is from Above, whatever his own caſe be, and whether he be with the Mourners or not, The Heart of the Wiſe is in the Houſe of Mourning.
8. Even when wicked Men may be detained in Gods Providence, by ſome external Reſtraint, from their ſinful Pleaſures and Companions, as when they are by the Hand of God upon their Body or Spirit, put out of a capacity of taking their Carnal mirth, their Hearts are ſtill with their Idol Carnal Pleaſure, and they are approving of others and counting them Happy who have that Pleaſure: For this doth ſtill agree to a wicked Man ſold to his Carnal Pleaſures, as his ordinary diſpoſition, and that which proves him a Fool, void of Saving Knowledge, even though he were in a Priſon, or upon the Bed of Sickneſs, The Heart of Fools is in the Houſe of Mirth.