Exposition of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 – Chapter 4

Exposition of Ecclesiastes · Chapter 3 – Chapter 4

p. 60CHAP. III.

Vers. I. To every thing there is a Season, and a time to every Purpose under the Heaven.

NExt to no difference from our Translation of this and the Seven following Verses, in the Original Hebrew, three Eastern Versions, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabick, or the Septuagints Greek Translation.

In this Scripture, to Verse 8th, Inclusive, have we the Character of Man, in his whole Personal Constitution, and Make, by the First Creation; or in whatever Flourish of the restor'd Wisdom, and Exercise of a First-Covenant Righteous Life, therein. In Body, Soul, and Spirit, no Life but Mortal, by Creation. And, the same kind of Life, restored in him, since, is much short of the perfection it was in, at First. Something of Filth of Flesh hangs about it, still; and Filth of Spirit, that's worse, is inseperable from it, since the fall. Life and all, therefore, must go, by a Holy Obedient death, in Sacrifice to God. If … spared, and Rebelliously kept, it will be an Unholy life, in unchangeable Enmity to God, doing despite to his Divine, and also, to his New-Creature, Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth.

In the Various Litteral Expressions, here, Relating to the Body, have we the Shadow of a great Mystical Truth, relating to the Spirit, living soul, or inner Man of Man, the life whereof also, being p. 61Mortal, is subject to (and therefore figured out by) the like changes, as are Incident to Bodily Life, in the Birth, Flourish, Decay, Death, and Resurrection thereof. First then, to the Figurative Shadow, knowable to all; and after, to the Mystical Truth, knowable to few; to none, aright, save such, as are of the same Spirit, Solomon was, when he Writ these Words.

1. There's a set time to all Visible things, under the Litteral Heaven and Sun, as the Answer and Accomplishment of God's most wise design and purpose, concerning them. There's a time alotted for their Appearance and Manifestation; and then, for their Disappearing and Vanishing, again. Both these general Dispensations of God, to them, do Minister Important Instruction to Man. The Positive Assertion of this Truth, in general (v. 1.) does Solomon prove, by particularizing the Various things, Circumstances and Occurrents, relating to Man's Bodily part and Life (in reference to which, the whole Visible Creation, in the greater World, without Man, was set up, before hand, as requisite for his entertainment; Gen. 1. and Ch. 2. 7.) and then, to the declinings and Death thereof, under the Various Dispensations of God, to this lower work of his own hand, in Man. And, hereby is signified the like Various Dispensations of God (and thence, a like Variety of Condition, Incident) to the Spirit or inner Natural Man, as to its but Mortal First-Covenant-Life, put into and … up in it, by Creation. Man therein, at best, was but a Mystical Tree of good and Evil, a changable thing, a Fading Flower. Since the Fall, this Fleshy Tree, is (in a manner) only, alway's Evil. Man's fallen nature, herein, is a Gursed Mystical Earth, bringing forth Thorns and Thistles, in Filth of Flesh or Spirit; Gen. 3. 17, 18. His Immortal Spirit, in its Unstain'd Mortal First-Covenant Life and State, before the Fall, with all, done, or possible to be done, in the Activity thereof (all Riches, Fruits, Righteous Works, Producible, or Performable therein) all was Vanity, … but Vanishing Shadows of durable substantial things, the Everlasting Righteous New-Creature Life, Wisdom, …, things of God. Man (with all his natural, First-Created Life and things) is, in another Sense, under Heaven, or below the Spiritual, Heavenly Life of Christ, the New-Creation Sun of Everlasting Righteousness, and things of God. Nor Man nor Angel, in p. 62Innocency, had any thing of that Life about them, or Fruits thereof. And, in that Life only, can any bring forth Fruit, unto God. They that say, Adam should have held fast that Righteous Life he was Possess'd of, by Creation; kept where he was (as Job, once, through a great mistake, said, he would hold fast his Restored Righteousness, of that sort) they that say this, what else must they say? This. That Man, Restor'd by the second Adam, to something of the lost Life of the First, must hold it fast, Establish himself there, never part with or let it go, again; and Heaven is his own; this is true Salvation, and Eternal Life. In their Lying Spirit of Divination, do such Teachers warrant their Deluded Hearers, safe and truly Blessed, here; causing them to hope, they will confirm their Word; Ezek. 13. 6. They follow (Heb. walk after) their own Spirit of vanity, see nothing of God's; they are vanity, and see nothing but vanity, the things of man, which they presumptuously call the things of God; and so, teach Rebellion against the Lord. They establish themselves and others in a life and Righteousness, that's but Vanity, a Fading Flower, for Salvation. And, Irrefragably Confident they grow, herein. All the World wonder and run after them, Rev. 13. 3. 1 Jo. 4. 5. Mean while, no Man, in the but Restor'd Worldly Spirit of Nature, the Life, Wisdom and Righteousness of man, receives Christ Gospel-Testimony, given by his Spirit of Truth, in himself or followers; Jo. 3. 32. That, which (indeed) is the very Unpardonable Sinning after the Similitude of Adam's Transgression, do Men Preach up, as their undispensable Duty, for Salvation. The holding fast, and keeping up what they received by the First-Creation (against the everlasting Creature-Life, Wisdom, Righteousness and things of God, cleerly shew'd and offered them, by a second) was the very Unpardonable Sin, that gave the Irrecoverable fall, to the Devil and his Angels. Their fall, evil Change, and Punishment, lies in this. They retain all the Natural Life, Glory, and Excellencies of their First-Created State, as by their wilful Folly and God's Righteous Judgment, turn'd into (and used in) unchangable Enmity to God. They kept not their first Estate, but left their own Habitation; Jude 6. What was that? A State of Unstain'd Natural Purity, and of changable Obedience (in their Wavering Natural Principle) to Spiritual Light, by which, cleerly shew'd and offered an Unchangably Righteous Creature-Life, by a New-Creation, p. 63on the Obedient-Surrender and loss of their Changable. The Lord was pleas'd to deal more favourably with Man (as of less Natural Capacity, and so, under lower Spiritual Conviction then Angels; and then also, as Over-reach'd and Overset by the Superiour Subtilty and Power of the Evil Angel) taking from him the Fading Righteous Life, Wisdom, Excellencies, and Corruptible Perfections of his Inferiour, Humane Nature; not leaving him them, to Fight with against himself, as he did, to the Evil Angels. But, when this Life (with the things thereof) is gradually Restor'd by the Redeemer, in Men, Satan is presently at the same point, with them, as with Eve (2 Cor. 11. 3.) that they shall not die, at all; they have Eternal Life. Though it was not so, in the first Adam; yet, when Restor'd by the Second, and Men Confirm'd or Establish'd therein, by him, it is. Indeed, this Fixing, Establishing Doctrine to (and work upon) them, is Satan's, not Christ's. For, it fixes them in unchangable enmity to Christ's Gospel-spirit, and all his Gospel-things or truths. Adam's attempt and design, for keeping up the Righteous Life he was Created in (and thence, Refusing to Surrender, and part with it, for what was Presented to him in the Tree of Life) was his very Sin. The Losing, or falling from the Righteous life he had, was his punishment. God took from him, What he had, his fading righteous Law-Life, for Preferring it to his Everlasting, New-Covenant Gospel-life. The day, he ate of the tree of good and evil (or pleas'd himself with his own changable righteous life, and the …, Meats, or Delights thereof, in preference to God's more excellent Creature-life and never-perishing meats thereof) he died (as threatned, Gen. 2. 17.) that is, lost that fading righteous Life; and so, with all his Posterity, became dead in trespasses and sins. Now, if Establishing our selvs in the restor'd Righteous Law-Life of our Nature (Called our own) be Asserted our duty, and security for salvation; then, a sinning after the similitude of Adam's Transgression (which done, thus, the second time, after all Experience of man, and Warnings from God, to the contrary, is as Unpardonable as the Devils first sin) must be the very way of Salvation. What-else, or less? And then, as to the second Adam; Let his original Creature-nature or Spirit (Set up by himself, in Personal Union with his divine, From Everlasting, Prov. 8. 23.) be denied; and the very Creation (in effect, or rather in the p. 64cause of it) is denied. For, this Living Creature (or all comprehensive Creature-nature, under the God of Israel (Ezek. 10. 20.) and in personal Union with him, comprehending in it, as a Polished shaft in God's Quiver, the very man Christ, that in the Fulness of time, was made flesh) was the very immediate hand by which God Made the Worlds. By this Creature-Wisdom and word of God, which is called God also, were all things made, Jo. 1. 1-3. and so, by the very man Christ, as comprehended therein, were made, both worlds, natural and spiritual, in a first and second Creation-workmanship of his, passing upon them; Heb. 1. 2. Col. 1. 13-16. The same WORD, also, by which all Angels and men were made, was the provided means, Mouth, or Prophet of God, to speak forth the whole Counsel of his Divine Mind, to them, when made; and to Mediate between them and Infinite Divinity, which, without this Interposing Creature-Vail would have been a Consuming fire to them all. This Word is also the Executer (as well as Declarer to them) of the whole Mind and Will of God, from first to last, on all Angels and Men, as Obediently Submitting to the Methods and Terms of his New-Creating Workmanship, or Incorrigibly Rebelling against it. He is the … Roll of Woes, to the one; the Book of Life and Mercy-Seat, to the other; in which are Treasured and Sealed up all the distinct Measures and Portions of Wrath for the one, amongst the distinct Portions and Measures of Grace and Love, for the other; Deu. 32. 34, 35. This Living Book (in which, all, they do towards God; and all, God will do towards and with them, are exactly Recorded and Registred; the Living Stone, that bear's and know's all, on all hands, God's Words to them, and theirs to him (Jos. 24. 26, 27.) by way of Covenant) will be the Infallible Witness for, or against them, and Irresistible Executor of the Mind and Will of God, towards and upon them all, in Everlasting Love or Wrath. See then the case of those that deny any Creature-Nature or Spirit in the Mediatour, of elder date, then his being made Flesh. And then, when in that Fleshy State, Crucified, they that narrow and consine his Crucisixion only to the Violent Death of his Body, and Exclude (or take no notice of) the Death he put his natural Spirit, to, as to the Spotless but Changable earthy, Law-Life thereof, by kindling upon it (and Offering it up in) the Mystical Fire of his Eternal New-Creature Spirit (Luk. 12. 49. Heb. 9. 14.) What Conformity p. 65to his Death, will they Preach? If the principal thing, he Crucified in himself, be denied, the principal thing that's to be Crucified in us, will be denied. And what then? Why then, the Subduing the Vile Affections of the Corrupt Spirit of Nature, must be Reckon'd Conformity to Christs Death, whereas he had no such things in him, to Crucifie. And then, Conformity to him, in the but gradually restored Righteous First-Covenant Life of the Law, Holy Flesh (call it what else we will) which he Crucified in himself, at best; must be reckon'd a State of true Salvation, the SAINTS EVERLASTING REST. And then, the Counter workings of (in part) restor'd nature, and the Corrupt, must pass for Flesh Warring against Spirit, and Spirit against Flesh ( …. 5. 17.) when indeed, all's but Flesh. Paul, when Eminent in Holy Flesh, was a fierce Fighter against Christ's Gospel-Spirit. Here's your Divinity and Anti-Gospel Teaching, in perfect Contradiction to the declared Methods and Words of God's Wisdom, for Salvation, in every point. Some care is taken to Preach down and Subdue the Brutish Lusts of Litteral Sodom, in the Corrupt Spirit of Nature; but, Mystical Sodomy, more criminal then Litteral, is Preach'd up, for Salvation; to wit, such establishment in Righteousness, as is unchangable enmity to God. Gross sins, in the dark, ignorant, corrupt Spirit of nature, are cried down; but all Mystical Uncleanesses, Adulteries, Idolatries, Thefts, Murders, Sacriledg, &c. are preach'd up, for Salvation. A hard saying! What is Truth? Said Pilate to Christ, not waiting the answer; Jo. 18. 38. Christ had told him beforehand, that he came into this world, to Bear witness to the truth; V. 37. What truth? That ther's nothing but vanity or vanishing shadow's in this World, the whole first-creation; my Kingdom therefore, say's he, is not of this World (or, to be managed in my worldly, law-spirit of nature, Holy flesh, where the Jews would fain have had him own himself a King Jo. 6. 15.) but (as is Implied) of the next, and to be manag'd in my new-Creation Spirit of truth. All things in the first-Creation state of Angels and men, are but vanishing shadows of the truth (all Substantial, durable, Eternal things or truths) in the second. This is the good confession, Negative and Affirmative, Christ Witnessed before Pontius … (1 Tim. 6. ….) as we find (Jo. 18. 36, 37.) the former Expressed, the other Implied p. 66in the Word, Truth. Christ Witnessed or Declared in his Infallible Spirit of Truth, that there's nothing of truth or substance, in God's sight; nothing unchangably good, no Eternal good things or Truths, but in the New-Creation State, and World; in, and over which he owned himself a King. They that will finally and conclusively be Reigning as Kings, in the but worldly restored First-Covenant-Life, Holy Flesh (as 1 Cor. 4. 8.) will be found Pseudo-Fift-Monarchists, in direct Hostility to the true Reign of Christ and all true Spiritual Saints, in his Holy Gospel-Spirit; and so, in a Flat contradiction to every tittle of his Gospel-Testimony. Christ's witnessed good Confession to Pilate, my Kingdom is not of this World, gives the dash, Solomon Proclaim's, on all First-Creation-Life of Man or Angel, with all the things and fruits thereof, as Vanities or but perishing Shadows of God's durable New-Creation substances, things, and truths, the Everlasting Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in his Spirit of Grace and Truth; with the Blessed Fruits thereof in Men, True Love, Joy, Peace, (&c.) to, from, and with God; and all right Fruits brought forth by them, therein, unto God. All these are Everlasting, Incorruptible things, the Spiritual Tree, Root and Branch, Fruits, Leaves and all; Psal, 1. 3. In this Spirit of Truth, have Men durable Riches, Life, Food, and Cloathing. In this Spirit of the Son, only, can they rightly Worship the Infinite Divine Spirit, or Father. He must be Worship'd in Spirit and in Truth; in a Spirit of Everlasting Righteousness and Truth. All Worshippers, in any other Spirit, Worship they know not what (Jo. 4. 22-24.) may be, the Devil, as God. For, he can deceive all Men, short of the Spirit of Grace and Truth, to Worship him, as so; above, and against God himself, 2 Thes. 2. 4.

Vers. 2. A time to be Born, and a time to Die: A time to Plant, and a time to pluck up that which is Planted.

Vers. 3. A time to Kill, and a time to Heal: a time to break down, and a time to Build up.

Vers. 4. A time to Weep, and a time to Laugh: A time to Mourn, and a time to Dance.

p. 67There's an appointed time, for every Man to be Born, in a Fleshly Body, which is his personal appearance or Manifestation. The Body is an Essential Ingredient into the compleat Constitution of every Man, which, under all Temporary Vicissitudes, Alterations, and Changes, by Decay's, Death, and Resurrection, remain's for ever, the distinguishing part of Man, from other Created beings, in Heaven, and Hell. Angels are compleated in their personal Constitution, without any such thing as Man's Earthly Body or Life. The Spirit of Man (before it enters the Body, or after departed out of it) is not the Compleat Person of a Man. For, Man consists of Spirit, Soul, and Body, as distinct Essential parts of his being, which Paul distinctly Pray's, may, in Saints, be Preserved blameless, unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ; 1 Thes. 5. 23. The whole Spirit of Man Comprehends, in its make, a Dormant Souly, Animalish Life. So, has a Natural tendency of desire, to a Union with its fitly Organized Body, in order to bring its Latent Soul, or Souly Life, into actual Exercise and Operation. At the death of the Body, this Soul (or Souly Life) ceases, as to exercise; lies dormant, again, in the Spirit, as before it's entrance thereinto. So, till the Resurrection of the whole Man, the Spirits even of Just Men made perfect in Spiritual New-Creation Life, Act and Converse, as pure Intellectual Powers, Intuitively, after the manner of Angels, only. Now, as there's a time for the Birth of Man's Body; so, from the frail materials, and constituting Ingredients of it, is there an appointed time for its dissolution; and so, for the Death of the Man, by a Seperation of his essential parts. This is a truth, universally experienc'd and known by all. And, the like Vicissitudes and Seasons are appointed for other parts of this greater Visible World, without Man, as well as lesser World, the Sum and Abridgment of all, within him.

From the Moment of his Bodily Birth, may be Dated, the Building, Planting, Laughing, Dancing, Rejoycing, and Embracing season, during the growth, and Flourishing State of his Bodily Life. When this is at its height, Approaches God's appointed Season (from the perishing Materials thereof) for plucking it up, breaking it down, and Slaying it. This Season is attended with Man's Weeping and Mourning, as the Consequents thereof. These litteral truths are Experienc'd by Man, in the Decay's, Gray Hairs, Old Age, and Death, p. 68inevitably incident to his body. In the declining state thereof, is he reduced to a kind of equality with Childhood, as debilitated in the exercise of his rational Powers, in and by bodily Organs or Instruments, Brain, Animal spirits, &c. So, if he come to 70 or 80 years, his decayed strength affords him little but labour and sorrow (Psal. 90. 10.) as finding himself to have out-lived the brisk and vigorous exercise of that Reason, by which distinguished from brute Beasts. In this case, 'tis man's duty, and wisest course, to fall in, and comply with God's twofold dispensation upon his fleshly body, by willingly owning and submitting to the decay's thereof, in God's latter, demolishing work upon it, for pulling it down, as well as to be found rejoycing and delighting in his former planting and building up of the same. 'Tis man's gross folly, to struggle and contend for an impossibillity, even the keeping up of that, which he sees, by an inevitable Law of necessity, must be laid down. He is as sure to die, as he was born; yea, to go strip'd and naked out of the World, as he came into it; Job. 1. 21. God has determined the time, for both. Death comes as an armed man, on man's Body, and on all that sort of understanding, that's exercised in, and by it. There's no discharg in this War. The decay's of it, all along, from the turning, declining point, preach the death of it, and of that organical Understanding, exercised in and by it.

Come we, now, to the Mystery of all this. All the methods of God's wisdom in his dealings with man's body (or bodily life, the outward part of his natural man) are typical to the like methods and dispensations to his immortal spirit, considered in the but mortal, first-covenant, natural righteous Life thereof, planted in it, by the first creation. A birth, life, death, and buriall are incident to this also, as God's appointments to it. At the birth of the Body, the Spirit or inner natural man is dead, as to the mortal first-covenant life of the Law of Works, it was, at first, created in. But, a fresh birth of (or quickning up into) this shadowy Life and Image of the Earthy, wherein the first Adam was created, is offered to all, and may be actually received and experienced by all, as the common or general salvation, if they will. The far greater part of mankind, refuse to part with the corrupt life of their nature, for the righteous. And many that receive the righteous, as the common salvation (Jude: p. 693.) from the general Saviour of all men (1 Tim. 4. 10.) refuse the special (or eternal Salvation) receivable only by and in a spiritual Faith. This cannot be received, without the obedient surrender and death of all, received twice from Christ's own hand, by his first-creation and general-redemption-workmanship. Such death, according to the declared methods of God's wisdom, must undispensably be yielded to, and we become as fools, and little Children (as to all the restored wisdom, life, and glory of our own Nature) as the undispensable way to our receiving the Life, Wisdom; and Righteousness of God, in his Gospel-spirit of Grace, and Image of the Heavenly, which, alone, is Eternal. The former is but Reformation-Life, in restor'd, enliven'd naturals: This latter, a true Regeneration into spirituals, by the Birth of such a new Life in us, springing up from the quickned incorruptible seed thereof, as plants us together in the likeness of Christ's resurrection, on our obedient likness to his death; Rom. 6. 5. Nor Angel, nor Man, had any thing of this Life, in the Innocency of both, by creation: but only, as objctivetly presented to their understanding, in the Mediator. As God, at first, gave Man that that's natural, and call'd his own, offering him that which is spiritual, God's own; So, he first, restores something of the first-covenant-Light, or also Life, that's natural; and after, that that's spiritual. Paul, when eminent in restored naturals (holy flesh, by knowledg of, or conformity to Christ in the flesh, or righteous life of the Law) quitted such knowledg of Christ after the flesh (2 Cor. 5. 16.) in a righteous Law-Life, for the knowledg of him after the spirit, in his spiritual, Gospel-life, into which risen out of the Death of the former; Phil. 3. 7-10. This, according to his own advice, in the Holy Ghost; Rom. 7. 1-4. That which is born but of the Flesh of Christ, the Fleshly First-Covenant, Law-life, is but holy flesh, not Eternal Life: But that that's Born of his Gospel-Spirit, only; Jo. 3. 6. The former, when taken by himself, as made under the Law, he Crucified, as the only means and way of exalting our nature, in himself, into the second, in which he Lives for evermore. So must we. As there was an appointed time for him (and so for us, by his mean's) to be Born, or have this Righteous Law-Life brought forth in him; So, was there an appointed time for the death and loss of it, in him; and is, also, in us. By the fresh Gift and Birth of it, from him, is he the Healer, Planter, Restorer, and Builder p. 70up of Man, afresh, out of the Shameful, Bloody, Polluted State of Nature, dead in Trespasses and Sins, into the Fading Glory, Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of Man, the Goodliness of Holy Flesh, which yet is but as a Flower of the Field; Isai. 40. 6. This Restoring, Healing-work of Christ (as to the deadly Wound given to all Men, by the First Sin of the First) to the top-stone of this Renewed old Building, by his comlines or perfect Righteousness of the Law, imputed to, or put upon them, he warn's against the abuse of, by an over-value of it, over-considence in it, and doating love to it, so as to prefer it before his offered Spiritual Life and Everlasting Righteousness, in the Image of the Heavenly, the new Building. For, this is Mystical Adultery against him, as their true Spiritual Lord and Husband, worse then Litteral. Yea, and Murder also (as a Murdering Mind of Enmity against him, there, is Interpreted) for which, they are to be Judg'd, as the most Criminal Adulterers and Murderers; All this, we find; Ezek. 16. 1-15. and v. 38. Man, as Dead in Sin, is figuratively Charactred by the helpless condition his Body is Born in, as to any thing he can do for himself; v. 3-6. These Expressions Represent the Dark, Black, Dismal, Bloody Condition, and Desolate State of his Spirit, that none but Christ can help. Let him look within, without, and round about him, there's none to Pity or have Compassion upon him, that can help him. This disconsolate State, and Extremity, God declares to be a motive and opportunity to him, to help him, restore Life to him, Cleanse or Sanctify him, and by Imputation of another's Righteousness, justify him, and render him fruitful in his Restor'd Naturals, under the Fructifying Influences of Christ, as a Fleshy Bride-groom and Husband; who also puts the Mystical Ornaments, Bracelets, and Jewels of Supernatural, Spiritual Enlightning Gifts, upon him. And, he causes him to feed at his earthly, First-Covenant Table, on such Meats or Communications from him, as tend to Nourish, Strengthen and Build him up, into a Fruitful Flourish in that Life, to the Encreasing with the Encreases of Man; not of God; in the Wisdom aud Glory of his own Life; not of God's. So grows he exceeding Beautiful, prospering into a kind of Kingdom State (in his own Life and way) consisting in a Ruling Power of his Restored Spirit, over all the Inferiour Powers of Nature, in him. Such Kings, Paul found amongst the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4. 8. Multitudes p. 71refuse this common Salvation; love their Chains and Bondage under the Brutish Lusts of their fallen, degenerate nature, so as not to accept of deliverance there-from. And, Multitudes of First-Covenant Believers and Professors, that receive this Common Salvation, refuse the Special, the Crowning benefit of Christ's Death, his Spiritual, New-Creation or New-Covenant Life, his unspeakable Gift. Their Restor'd Spirit of Nature or the Law, is still a Spirit of Bondage, under the Law, and Curse (Gal. 3-10.) another State of Death, by Filth of Spirit, or Enmity to God's Spirit, in which alone they can be finally saved. Paul found his Holy Flesh or Restor'd Natural State, a Body, a Law of Sin and Death; as Phil. 3. 6. and Ro. 7. 24. 8. 2; compared, do Evidence. Man's Rational Powers and Free-Will, at best, are the Living, Holy Sacrifice, God requires, as their reasonable Service, and true Gospel-Free-Will Offering, unto him, by the death of all; Rom. 12. 1. Final refusing to do this, renders men Conformable to this World, v. 2. yea, to the Devil, the God of this World, who has set up his Superiour worldly life, wisdom and glory, in unchangable enmity to God. Thus, fall first covenant Saints, by refusing the second and crowning benefit of Christ's death, under greater Guilt and sorer Condemnation, then if they never had received the First. They refuse to listen to Christ's Heavenly, second voice and call to them, out of the Fading Life and Earthly Freedom of the Sons of Men, into the Everlasting Life and Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. Thus do Men sin away their First-Covenant Life, and second Covenant Light, again, after the Similitude of Adam's Transgression, by preferring such Life and Ornaments, to the very Gospel, New-Covenant, more excellent Life and way; 1 Cor. 12. 31. And so come they to a latter end, worse then their beginning, either in Innocency; or, as Born, dead in Sin; because now Irrecoverably, Unpardonably, and Unchangably dead.

This then is Solomon's meaning, here; God has appointed a time for the Birth and Death, the Planting and Plucking up, the Building and Pulling down, the Healing and Wounding or Killing and Destroying Man, as to this mortal first-covenant-life of his own nature. The Birth of, the Planting and Building him up therein, is the ground and cause of his Laughing, Dancing, Exulting and Rejoycing in the Embraces of Christ, as a fleshly Bride-groom. The pulling down and destroying all p. 72this again, by his Gospel-Cross or spiritual Sword, is the cause of his Weeping and Mourning. All this, have we, Vers. 2, 3, 4.

Vers, 5. A time to cast away Stones, and a time to gather Stones together: a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

Christ has a set time for gathering together the stones of Man's ruined, desolated Building, in his own nature, and a time to pull down his rebuilt natural state, and cast away the stoues thereof, again, uot leaving one stone upon another in this fleshly Church-building. Thus serv'd he the first mystical Temple-building of our spotless nature in himself, figured in his Prophecy of the downfal of the litteral Temple, at Jerusalem, in Answer to his Disciples; Mat. 24. 1, 2. Christ has a time to embrace Men, as a fleshly Bridegroom, to them, and a time to refrain from embracing, on his dying and departing from them, there And he requires them to desire, expect, or look after him no more, there, for a knowledg of him after the Flesh, but wholly fix their Eye and Heart upon him, with Paul, in that Spiritual Life, into which … out of the Death of the former; and be Married to him, there, as their Everlasting, Spiritual Lord and Bride-groom; Ro. 7. 1-4. While Christ Pipes to Men, in First-Covenant Communications, as he did by John Baptist's Ministery, they are to Dance and Rejoyce. When he with-draw's, and call's them into the death of that State, they are to Mourn; else are they Immorigerous, and Undutiful; Mat. 11. 17. Their Natural Hearts will be filled with Sorrow, as the Disciples, when, as a Fleshly Bride-groom and Comforter, he departed from them; Mat. 9. 15. Jo. 16. 20-22. Right Obedient Mourners, in this case, are Blessed, and sure to hear of Christ, as a better Comforter and Bridegroom, in his Spiritual Life. The Death of Man, as to a Mortal, First-Covenant Life, is as sure as the Birth of it; as the case is, with the Birth and Death of the Body. And indeed, the House of Mourning, and Death, is better to Man, in the tendency of it, then the Birth and utmost Flourish of a First-Covenant Life, in him. For, though after Rebuilt in the Restor'd Righteous Life of his own Nature, and then pull'd down again, he be seemingly in a worse condition, and more hopeless, then before ever Christ medled with him, at all … yet is this the only way to Christ's House of Everlasting Feasting and Rejoycing. Those that refuse this way, and Laugh now, their … Joy will end in Everlasting Mourning; and Saints Transient p. 73Sorrow, in everlasting Joy; Mat. 5. 4. Luk. 6. 25. Jo. 16. 20. Christ came not to speak Peace, but War and Death, by his Spiritual Fire and Sword, to the earthly Life of Nature, at best, in himself and followers; Luk. 12. 49-51. We must follow the Suffering-Steps of this great Captain of our Salvation, or never come where he is. True Saints, with Paul, Glory in the Cross of Christ, Conformity to his death, and in bearing about them the marks of the dying of the Lord Jesus. So the Spiritual Life of risen Jesus, comes to be, more and more, manifested in their Mortal flesh; 2 Cor. 4. 10, 11.

Vers. 6. A time to Get and a time to Lose: A time to Keep, and a time to cast Away.

A time to seek after and recover the exercise of our nature, in the first-covenant righteous life thereof; and to heap up Riches, by a fruitfulness therein. And then comes a time to lose, and cast all away again, as dung and loss, with Paul, for the more excellent Life, Christ's unspeakable gift; Phil. 3. 6-9. And so, is there a time to keep up the exercise of our nature, in the restor'd first-covenant righteous Life thereof (so long as Christ own's that to be his Dispensation to us, by continuing as a fleshly Bride-groom with us) and a time to part with and cast it away again, for the second; in the same sense, with what is meant, in the former clause of this Verse.

Vers. 7. A time to Rent, and a time to Sew: A time to keep Silence and a time to Speak.

That which has been Sew'd, Heal'd, and made up again, after the sore breach, by the first Sin; and so, fitted (or fitting us) in its kind, to speak to, and instruct the dark, ignorant, corrupt Spirit of nature, in others, as a Teacher and Guide of such blind ones; all this healed, speaking State (in the Wisdom of Man, made Wise in Christ) must, in its season, be rent, broken down, and torn in pieces, again; silenc'd, and wholly laid aside, to make way for another, better Dictatour, Ruler, and Guide, the Infallible Spirit of Truth. The final refusal to submit to this chang of Ruler and Guide, lodges up first-covenant Saints in unchangable Enmity to God and the spirit of the second, under the guilt of the most Criminal Adultery, Theft, p. 74and Sacriledg; Ro. 2. 17-22. God speak's once, and he speak's twice, yet Man perceiveth it not; Job 33. 14. God call's Man out of his Death in Sin, into the righteous Life of a Man (or of the first-covenant Law) again: Then, by the voice of his second-Covenant spirit, into the death of the first, as his only pass into the Life and Righteousness of God, in the second. Under pretence of continuing in obedience to his first voice, does man Rebell against his second; and is found an Enemy to the Spiritual Cross of Christ. He prefer's the oldness of Letter, in his Living Soul, to Gods newness of Life, in his quickning Spirit. Man's Laughing, Dancing, Speaking time is over, in his own Wisdom and Righteousness, when shew'd the unprofitableness, as to true Blessedness, of all, done or said by him, therein. The right understanding and obedient Submitting to Christs Various Voices, and observing the several seasons of Speaking and Silence, is Mans safety; and he, therein, wel-pleasing to God. 'Tis a high point of true Wisdom, for Man to be more ready to hear (the voice of the Spirit of Christ, in himself or Saints) then to speak, and so, Offer the Sacrifice of Fools, in his own; Ec. 5. 1. Man, in his highest Wisdom, is a Fool, as to all spiritual things, his greatest concerns; the unreasonable Man Paul desir'd to be delivered from the Impertinent Trouble and Babbling Loquacity of, about Gospel things, that he has no discerning, in. The restor'd Law-principle of Life and Action in Man, is but a ceremony, to be abolish'd, and becomes an antiquated thing, with all the Fading Glory of it, when to be done away, to give room for a spiritual Principle of everlasting Righteonsness, as a new Root and Spring of his Desire, Thought, and Action. This refused, all Duties perform'd in the Law-spirit, are thenceforth, but Sacrifices of Fools, that do evil. What, in its appointed Season and day, was Obedience, in that Law-State, becomes then, direct Rebellion. As Man has Lived therein, to God; so, the Season come, is he to die therein, to him; that both living and dying, he may be the Lords; Rom. 14. 8. Passive Obedience is the utmost, requir'd of Man, in his own nature, to make way for the true spiritual principle of active Obedience, to God's wel-pleasing.

p. 75Vers. VIII. A time to Love, and a time to Hate: a time of War, and a time of Peace.

There's a time of Love and Peace (such as it is) to be found in a first-covenant Union with Christ, and such obedience as is performable, therein. But, at length, Christ speaks War and Death to this state; comes to break down, demolish and cast away all the stones of this old …-creation building.

And thus have we seen, in these eight Verses, God's twofold dispensation to Man's Body, and fleshly or natural Spirit, in all the fading, first-creation Life and Glory thereof. The Birth and Death of the Body; and so, of the natural Understanding, as exercised there in, and by; all this is Typical to the like twofold dispensation of mystical Life and Death to his Spirit, as to its first-covenant righteous state, under the temporary wrath of God, executed by the Cross, on obedient Saints; or, eternal wrath of God, by the same Cross, on incorrigible sinners. And so, are we brought by Solomon, to consider the Result from all this, which he declares, by way of Question.

Vers. IX. What profit hath he that worketh, in that wherein he laboureth?

A like Question to that (Chap. 1. 3.) already spoken to. Who is this he that worketh? Man in the twofold perishing life of his Body and Spirit; both, inevitably falling under a twofold Dispensation of Birth and Death, from God. A vicissitude of building up, and breaking down, are unavoidable to both. For, Man, in the utmost flourish of both, is but a fading flower, altogether Vanity, lighter then vanity, less than nothing, Isa. 40. 7. 17. Psal. 39. 5. and 62. 9. The Life of both is mortal. So was that of Angels, in their innocency. So is this Question of great weight. What profit can Man have of all his Labours, in a Life that's Vanity? All his best Labours therein, do but encrease his heap of Vanities. And, what is he the better? Eccl. 6. 11. Both lives, in conclusion, vanish; and all the works, fruits, riches (litteral and mystical) all the things thereof, things of man, come to nothing. Man then, struggles under an impossibility, to keep up the said lives, or things thereof, in rebellion against God's declared order and Command, for surrender of all to him, in obedient sacrifice by death. p. 76If he refuse to give up all, as demanded in love, God will take away all, In final Wrath. 'Tis utterly impossible to avoid one of these two way's of losing all. No remedy. All striving against these unalterable Appointments of God, and fading nature of the things themselvs, renders the inevitable parting with all (and all Death-blow's of a tendency there-towards) more Heavy, Painful, Bitter, and Uneasy, to Man's sore disadvantage, and at last, totall, amazing disappointment. If he has no other ground to stand on, when all that is gone, where is he? What was his duty, and beautiful in its season (righteous performances in the activity of first-Covenant principles) when call'd to Passive Obedience, by the death and loss of all (in order to active Obedience in the new-covenant Spirit and Principle of Everlasting Righteousness) is Rebellion, as the Sin of Witch-craft, and Idolatry; 1 Sam. 15. 23. Tis a keeping that Amalekite, Law spirit of Bondage, alive, as Ruler, that God requires the death of. Under such Witch-craft, Paul found the Galatians; Gal. 3. 1. No saving natures head from the irresistible Sword of the spirit of Grace. No scaping in this War, for Fighters against God. Should the whole Creation, Angels and Men, lend their helping hand, set their Shoulders to Boulster up and Support any one Man, in this case, he is gone. They are all less then nothing to him we have to deal with. All proud helpers and helped, all final Resisters must stoop and fall under his Victorious, Flaming, Twoedged Spiritual Sword. Wherein any deal proudly (presumptuously keeping up the Life, it 'larum's them in, and summon's them to surrender) it will be above them. All, that submit not to it, in order to be made by it new Vessels of Honour and Fternal Life, it will make their old ones, Vessels of Dishonour and everlasting Contempt, in Eternal Death. To one of these two final Periods, will the Versatile, changable Spirit of Man, Infallibly come. The Obedient Saint, when he awakes out of the Marred Visage, and Death of the Earthy, will be satisfied with the Image of the Heavenly; Ps. 17. 15. And, when Christ shall awake or come forth in the Visibility of the Heavenly, he will despise or destroy, all self-exalters against him, with their Image of the Earthy; Ps. 73. 20. In the Morning of Christ's day of Appearance with all his Saints, in their Spiritual, Resurrection-life, (after the long Night of this World, under the Powers of Darkness) p. 77will they have Dominion over all their Enemies in the Earthy, and Consume all their Fading Beauty or Comliness; Ps. 49, 14. And, what profit then will they find of all their Labours, in a Law-Spirit of Bondage, Death, and Enmity to the Gospel?

Vers. X. I have seen the travel which God hath given to the Sons of Men, to be exercised in it; Heb. To afflict or humble them thereby.

Here's Solomon's experience and Conviction of the unprofitableness of all Man's Labour and Travel, for the gratifying and keeping up the Life of his Body, or Spirit, in the fading glory of a first-covenant state. God gives (or permits) this Travel to Men (in answer to, and pursuit of their own vain Desire and Thought) to humble or afflict them; even by that very self-exalting Labour, and State, they chuse, delight in, and please themselves with. They must, with Job, Solomon, and others, sit down at last, in dust and ashes, acknowledging the vanity of both the said Lives, and of all, done by them, in the activity of both. Happy they only, that are timely humbled, by the due consideration hereof, so as to be willing to cease from the same (quitting the folly of all their unprofitable Labours and false Confidences) to walk with God, in the more excellent Life and Way.

Vers. XI. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the World in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh, from the beginning to the end.

Man, by Creation, was made beautiful in the glory of a first-covenant Law-life, for God's appointed season to him, there. So again, when restor'd by Christ, while he continues a fleshly Bride-groom to them there, as his present dispensation. But, when by the convincing light of his new-covenant, Gospel-spirit, he discovers all this beauty to be but a fading Flower, a Glory to be done away, and that there's Enmity to God, under all; then does Man's unlawful use of the Law, or Rebellious keeping up his Law, against Christ's Gospel-Life, render that which was Beautiful, most Filthy, and Abominable to God; Spiritual Sodomy, worse then Litteral. Man's hardning p. 78himself in his Law-Life, against Christ's graciously shew'd and offered Gospel-Life, provokes him to depart, and Swear, he shall never enter his Rest; Heb. 3. 7. 11. Thus, does Man bring his matters to a desperate pass, by wilfully refusing so great Salvation as is offered; and so, is excluded, for ever, from it; shall never be offer'd it, more. Christ and his true Saints and Seers, will meddle no more with him, in their Gospel-ministry; nor intercede for (but against) him; Act. 13. 46. 51. 1 Jo. 5. 16. They'l shake the Dust off their Feet, against him, and away. If Men say to Christ's Seers, see not, Prophecy not unto us right things; They'l'a done. Their Commission is out. In Judgment on them, they shall be Dumb; Ezek. 3. 25, 26. I know God has determin'd to destroy thee, said the Prophet to King Amaziah, because thou hast not … to my Counsel; and so, on his threatning, forbare; 2 Chro. 25. 16.

T. Also he hath set the World in their Heart, &c.

When Men … six (or set up for themselves) in their worldly nature, and Life of the Law, and so set up the World in their Hearts, as the only Object of their desire and delight; then does God Judicially harden and six them there, or set the World in their Hearts. And then, is their highest Wisdom, a Black, Darkning Vail upon their Hearts, disabling them for ever finding out the Work of God, from the beginning of it, in the first-creation, to the Blessed end of it, in the second. The God of this World, fixing Mens hearts in the love of this World, that's Enmity to God, blind's their minds, that the light of the Glorious Gospel may not shine into them. They see not to the end of that which is abolish'd (2 Cor. 3. 13.) So, set up for Salvation, in that Law-Life that's to be abolish'd; that Glory, thats to be done away; v. 7. Fleshly … ts were not able to behold the spiritual Glory of Moses; his true face of Spiritual Saint-ship. He therefore put a Vail on it, that is, came forth in the appearance of the Righteousness of Man, or the Law, to them; They that set up in the Light and Life of the Law, for Salvation, set up in the Vail. Such, never see (to their comfort) the true Face, inward Beauty and Spiritual Glory of Moses or other Saints, nor the true inward Face, or spiritual meaning of any Scripture. All Spiritual things or truths, in p. 79Scripture; all spiritual Light, Life, Wisdom, Understanding; all things of God, in his Saints, lie quite out of their sight; as meer nothings, in their day, their Judgment. They no more skill or ken them, than a Beast the Rational Powers and things of a Man; 1 Cor. 2. 11. So, they absolutely deny all Gospel things and Truths; and positively assert there's no more excellent Creature-Life or things, Man is capable of, then what were set up in the first-creation-state of Angel and Man. What work will such make, at Gospel? specially, if fixed here; and so, hardned in unchangable Enmity thereto? Thus Christ found the Righteous Scribes, Pharisees, &c. in a Murdering Enmity to the truth, that is, the Gospel-Spirit; and so, of their Father the Devil, who abode not in that truth, or Obedience to the said Gospel-Light, in which Created, but quitted that his Habitation or first Estate; Jo. 8. 44. Jude 6. They that Rebelliously set up this Shadowy World in their Hearts, can't receive the Spirit of truth, nor words thereof; Jo. 14. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 14. They provoke God to give them their desire, in Wrath; to set up the World in them (or them in their worldly, Law-spirit of Enmity and Death) to chuse their Delusions (Isai. 66. 4.) send them strong delusion, that they should believe Stan's Lie, and be damn'd; because they chose rather to beleeve that, than his Spirit of truth; 2 Thes. 2. 10-12. So, God, Christ, Themselves, and the Devil, all concur and center in one point (the setting the World in their heart, or fixing them in their own worldly spirit) but, upon very differing accounts. Then is their case as desperate as that of the Evil Angels; Heb. 10. 26, 27. Though yet highly Esteemed of Men, as owners, yea, Ministers of the Gospel, are they most abominable to God, Mystical Sodomit's, the most Criminal Sinners in the whole World. By being set or fixed in their worldly Spirit, they become wholly Strangers and Enemies to the spirit of the World to come, which will be upon them, at last, in Irresistible Wrath.

Vers. XII. I know that there is no good in them, but for a Man to rejoyce, and to do good in his life.

Solomon, at a dear rate, had experienc'd, that there's no durable, unchangable good to be found in all first-creation Life, and most p. 80Righteous Actions or things thereof. No true Joy or Happiness, to be had, in this World, but by doing what is truly good in God's sight, in the Life and Spirit of the next. True Godliness (or power of …, exerciseable only in the Gospel-spirit of Christ) is profitable to all things, having the promises of this, and the Life to come (1 Tim. 4. 8.) that is, it comprehend's the promised Spiritual Life of Christ, and Comforts thereof, in this, and the World to come; the daily encreasing first Fruits of it, here; and fulness, there. Yea also, the promises even of this life, or worldly things thereof, such as … seek, belong to true seekers of the Righteousness of God, in … Kingdom spirit. All these shall be added to you, say's Christ himself; Mat. 6. 31-33. The only right rejoycing in, and doing good (in its kind) with such things of this Life, is, as receiv'd on the said account, and manag'd in the Kingdom-spirit of the World to come.

Vers. 13. And also, that every Man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his Labour, it is the gift of God.

'Tis in the unspeakable gift of God, only (the spirit of Christ) the inmost man of the Saint, in the Life hid with Christ in God, can feed upon the hidden Manna, the divine Glory, as vailed by that Spirit of Christ, and thereby also unvailed, or rendred visible, in a sutableness only to …, not natural understanding, in Man or Angel. The never-perishing Meats and Drinks, the Bread and Wine of the Kingdom, the divine and creature-glories of God, in the Mediator, are the things, true Saints, eat, drink, feed, and live upon; enjoy, rejoyce and delight in; even in the peculiar delights of the Sons of God, divine, spiritual, heavenly, substantial things, things eternal. All this is the comfortable fruit of all their right labours in that Spirit, that's the peculiar gift of God, distinct from the natural spirit, or state of Life, with all the Fruits brought forth by Man's utmost, and best labours, therein.

Vers. XIV. I know that whatsoever God doth, it shall be for ever: Nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: And God doth it, that Men should fear before him.

Whatever is the immediate Divine Workmanship, shall be for p. 81ever; that is, the new-creature Spirit, set up by the Divine, from everlasting (Prov. 8. 23.) in personal union with it, and also called God, that made the worlds, Jo. 1. 1-3. Heb. 1. 2. Both Worlds, Natural and Spiritual, and all in both, were comprehended in it, and brought forth by it. This Fountain creature-Spirit in Christ (and Streamings forth of the Living Waters thereof, into Saints) is of an unchangable nature. The Gift thereof to Men, or heavenly call of them into The Life thereof, is without Repentance, Variableness, or chang. The natural first-covenant principle of life and action, set up in Man and Angel, by the first-Creation, is a Starting, Variable, Wavering thing; Ps. 78. 57. Man breaks that Covenant with God; and then God, his Promise, therein, with him; Numb. 14. 34. Though Men be Children and Spouses to Christ, therein, (Jer. 3. 14.) they break with him; and then, he departs; Jer. 31, 32. In this sense, God Repents, (Gen. 6. 6.) that is, changes his dispensation towards Back-sliding Man. If Man turn his changable Righteous Life, in the first, into unchangable Enmity to God, and his second-Covenant Life, Christ will turn from a changable Husband and Saviour to them in the first, into an unchangable Enemy to them, in the second; Isai. 63. 8. 10. If a Back-sliding people return to him, he returns to them, and repents of the Evil, threat'ned them; Exod. 32. 14. Jer. 26. 19. Jonah 3. 10. But, he overthrew Sodom, &c, And Repented not of the evil of Punishment, Threat'ned, because they Repented not of the evil of Sin, by them Committed; Jer. 20, 16. On Man's obedient chang of his sickle Life and freedom of the Sons of Men, for the unchangable Life and Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, all this Starting, Repenting doings, is past, on all hands. What God does for, and in Man, by his New-Creation-Workmanship, will continue for ever; and they, in an everlasting Covenant Union with him, Establish'd in all things, and sure. They'l never depart from him, nor he from them, to do them good; Jer. 32. 40. No breach, incident to the new-covenant (Jer. 31. 33, 34.) because manag'd in a Spirit, on God's part and Man's, too, that can never err, Sin, or miscarry. Tis infallible Truth, and Ever-lasting Righteousness, in Christ and his Saints. Whatever God (yea, or Man) doth in this Spirit, shall be for ever. All the Fruits, Labours, Works, produced or done therein, are Incorruptible, Everlasting; will be for ever. As the new p. 82Root and Tree, so are the Fruits and very …. The Incorruptible Gospel-Tree, will be known by its fruits, in distinction from the Mystical Fleshly, Law-Tree, and Corruptible Fruits thereof.

T. Nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it.

God's offring and setting up his new-creature Life, with the glory, Wisdom, and Righteousness thereof, in the room of Man's obediently surrendred old, is the main design and scope of all Scripture. This, …, where are Men, with all the words of their Foolish Wisdom? Setting up Law-Life, for Salvation, and Calling it a Gospel-State, is directly Satan's Gospel-Work, his Mystery of Iniquity, with its hidden Works of darkness, under the Form of Godliness and Righteousness of Man. All the Mystical, Spiritual sense of Scripture, is, by such, excluded out of all their Teaching. Those that thus take away or deny a spiritual Creature-Life in Christ, the Whole Living Book and Word of God (and so, the Character, Doctrin, and declaration thereof, in the Scriptures, or Written Oracles of God) do take, not only some, but all the principal intended things, Engraven by God himself, in the former, or by his Holy Inspired Pen-men, in the latter. And then, will God take from them any part of the truly good things, in either; and Inflict on them all the Plagu's, Written in both; Rev. 22. 18, 19. Sure, 'tis no small, retail-heresy, that exclud's all Gospel Truth, and the whole Doctrine of Salvation. This, does Man's Wisdom, that's Foolishness to God's, and reckon's all the Word's of God's, and whole Gospel-Doctrin of his Cross upon nature, at best, Foolishness, 1 Cor. 1. 18-25. It shuts up the Kingdom of Heaven; excludes all Kingdom-Life, and sense of Scripture. But, though Gospel-undertakers, herein, not only derogate from, and diminish; but (what in them lies) utterly Deny, Despise, and Destroy all true Gospel-Life and Doctrin, in Christ, Scriptures, and Saints, 'tis not by all their or Satan's …, Wiles, and Skill, that any thing can be taken from it, or added to it. All the Opprobrious Titles of Hereticks, Enthusiasts, or Phanaticks, Blasphemers, Mad-men, that they bestow on Christ (Jo. 10. 20.) and true Saints (Hos. 9. 7.) belong intirely to themselvs. This will be undeniably Evidenc'd, at Christ's second appearing, and final Decision of all Controversies between true Spiritual Zion-Saints and these Hypocritical … in Zion (Isai. p. 8366. 5. and 34. 8.) that in the worded-dress of Spiritual Saint-ship and New-Covenant Principles, are but a Law-spirited Generation, that only personate and would pass for the true Heirs, and so labour to … them out of their right, and take their Inheritance from them. These are the Ravenous Wolves in the Spiritual Sheeps Clothing, that bestow no other Titles on them, but Devil, and Mad (as Inquisitors, on Lutherans) and so Kill them, as not fit to live upon the Earth; Act. 22. 22. The determining this Controversy, will give an amazing Consternation and Disappointment to Hypocritical Sinners in Zion, and unspeakable Joy to the (all along this World, under Satan's Reign, and in Man's day) oppressed Sion-Saints; Is. 33. 14. This will be, when Christ arises, or comes forth, to Judg Enemies, and have Mercy upon Zion; Psal. 102. 13. In his new-Creature-Spirit and Life, God does whatsoever he will, and Enables Saints to do so, too; even whatsoever he will's; as universally Obedient to him, in every thing. No Man or Angel, in single, First-Creation-Light or Understanding, can discern this Spirit of Life, or any of the things thereof; and therefore, would make nothing, of them all. Proud Man and Angel, will needs have any thing they can't see, to be nothing. But, God hath so order'd his matters, as to the final Salvation of Man, that Men should fear before him, yield to his term's of saving them, and not Proudly and Presumptuously exalt themselvs against him, in that Life and Wisdom, the Death and utter abolition of which, according to the declared Methods of his Wisdom, is absolutely necessary to their being saved. So only, can any receive that Life, in which, infallibly to know and declare the whole Counsel, and to do the whole Will of God, after his own Heart. Solomon having declared this Incorruptibly perfect New-Creature-Life (that admits to Chang, Addition, or Diminution, for ever, when compleated; being above all Death, Dangers, Enemies, or Fears) proceed's to shew the Weakness, Insufficiency, and unprofitableness of all other Life or things, First-Creation Vanities, compared therewith; saying,

Vers. XV. That which hath been, is now; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God requireth that which is past;

Somewhat like what is said; Ch. 1. 9. That which hath bin (in p. 84former Generations) is now; a gradually Restor'd First-Covenant Righteous Life. And that which is to be (set up again in full perfection, at Christ's second Comming, for the Restitution of all things; Act. 3. 21.) hath already bin, in Primitive Innocency. But, still, still, what is this that has been, at first; and shall be, at last, in full Perfection; and in the gradual Renewals of it, all along, between? A Starting, Labile, Versatile thing, a fading flower, altogether Vanity; liable, not only, to such a fall, as happen'd to Man, at first, into changable; but also, into unchangable Enmity to God, and Eternal Death to Man. This is a latter end worse then the beginning, in Innocency, or, as Born dead in Trespasses and Sins; This Life then, at best, is of no … …, or everlasting advantage to Man, however conceitedly confident he be, that it is. True happiness is to be found only, in New-Creation Life, the one and only thing necessary, still wanting to man, till the Obedient Surrender of all his old things, for God's new.

T. And God requireth that which is past; Heb. that which is driven away; Chal. and Syr. will seek out him that suffers Persecution. God will call all those Men and Angels, to an account, who have finally chosen a known changeable Life of Vanity, for their Rest and Habitation, in wilful Rebellion against all his manifold Warnings, and convincingly shewed and offered Spiritual Life of everlasting Righteousness. They ought to have come trembling before him, and lay down all their heap of Vanities, with their vain Hopes and false … therein, with themselves, as Old Bottles, to be made new ones, and filled with the Mystical Wine of his Spirit, in which there can be no excess; nor they, ever, too confident (or bold to appear before him) therein. Those that, in stead of fearing and trembling before him, Exalt themselves against him, must prepare (as well as they can) to meet him, that can declare all their thoughts (Amos 4. 12, 13.) and find out all their hidden works of Dishonesty and Rebellion. So, in his method and way of dealing with them, will he require an exact account of all done in their natural Body or State of Life. He will make a strict Inquisition, as to all that's past, in that First-creation State of Vanity, in it self; and Enmity, to himself. They'l be call'd to give an account of every Idle word (Mat. 12. 36.) Thought, and Action, therein; as all Words, Thoughts, and Actions, in that p. 85Life of Vanity, turn'd into Enmity, will be found. All Preachings up of that Life, for Eternal Salvation, will be found the Idle, Vain, and Lying Words of Man's Wisdom, in direct contradiction to God's. To Preach up a Fixure there, is to Preach up a State of unchangable Enmity to God, for Salvation. Let them palliate their Doctrin of Devils, with what good Words and fair Speeches, they will, 'tis but their own Righteousness, they warrant Salvation, in.

This last Clause, in the Hebrew, Chalde, and Syriac reading (God requireth that which is driven away; and, will seek out him that suffers (or has suffer'd) Persecution) may import, the Inquisition, God will make, for the Innocent Blood of his Saints, shed by this confounded World of Enemies and Rebells, from Cain, downwards. Then, will there be a sad reckoning for all the strong Bulls of Bashan (Ps. 22. 12.) Rich, Flourishing, First-Covenant Cattel, that have thrust with Side, Shoulder, and Horns, all the Diseased, Lean, Impoverish'd little ones of Christ, when Christ comes to Judg between the fat Cattel and the lean. He will search out his Meek, Suffering Sheep, in his day, that have bin scatter'd in Man's day (as Weak, Fools, and despicable, with Paul, and the off-scouring of all things) by the Fat, Rich, Wise, Strong, and Honourable First-Covenant Cattel (1 Cor. 4. 8-13.) who have made havock of them, in the cloudy and dark day of this World, under Satan. He will Strengthen and Establish his Sick, broken-spirited, scatter'd Sheep, and destroy the fat and the strong; feed them with Judgment; but, his delivered Sheep, in a fat and good Pasture, upon the Mystical high Mountains of his Spiritual Israel. So shall they be, no more, a Prey to their Enemies, for ever; All this, we find; Ezek. 34. 11-24. This will Christ do for his Saints, when the set time to favour Zion, is come. When the day of the Lord's Vengeance, the Year of Recompences for the Controversy of Zion, is come, wo to all wilfully blind Incorrigible Enemies, that have (all along this World) molested, Push'd at, and scatt'red them.

Vers. XVI. And moreover, I saw under the Sun, the place of Judgment, that Wickedness was there; and the place of Righteousness, that Iniquity was there.

The litteral Sun, all along this Book, does figuratively signify the p. 86utmost light and perfection of Man's day, or judgment, in his own Wisdom, distinct from God's day of Judgment, in the infallible Light and Wisdom of his yet sevenfold brighter, mystical new-creation Sun, his Gospel Spirit of Grace. Solomon's seeing (in the infallible light of the new-creation Sun, the true spirit of Prophecy) what he tell's us of, here, may take us off, from wondring at his observation. He saw wickedness and iniquity in the highest evil angelical and humane I …, Dominions, Principalities and Powers of this World. In the highest respective natural wisdom of such … Men and Angels, are they both found in a direct contrariety to the divine, and infallible creature-wisdom and judgment of God, contesting with and fighting against both. Paul, in holy … (an eminency of first-covenant light and life) was at the same dangerous work, for a season, ignorantly. He imprison'd Gospel-saints, for the life and words of God's Wisdom; punish'd them … in every Synagogue, compelled them to blaspheme, gave his voice to put them to death, and was exceedingly mad against them. But Christ, on a sudden, converts this outragious Persecutour into a signal Preacher of the very Gospel, he persecuted; Act. 26. 9-19. Gal. 1. 23. One would think, such a patern should convince the stoutest self-confident, in the utmost flourish of a first-covenant law-life, though not convert his obstinate will into obedience to the like Heavenly vision or discovery. But, in stead of convincing (and appeasing) the professing Jews, with this true narrative of his Gospel-conversion, in his speech from the Castle-stairs, to them, at Jerusalem, they grew more exceedingly mad against him, cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the Air, saying, away with such a fellow from the earth; for, 'tis not … he should Live; Act. 21. 40. and, 22. 1-23. Thus say all, of the like sowre, legal-spirited, leavened temper, with the Pharisees, concerning all or any true Gospel-Saints, and their testimony. … is not fit they should live. Who? even those, God reckon's not the World worthy of; Heb. 11. 38. See you the differing, contrary Judgment of God, and wise, righteous men? Who will be judg, at last? God himself. The earth (man in his earthly wisdom) denies; but, the heavens will declare his righteousness; Psal. 50. 6. The sowre legalist character's Gospel-Saints, as the worst of malefactors (Christ himself was so handled by them) worse then Papists or Mahumetans, the filth of the World, the off-scouring of all things, 1 Cor. p. 874. 13. But, think ye this will alwayes be so? If Satan's reign, and Man's day or Judgment may take place, for ever; it will. But, run and read the contrary; Psal. 50. 20-22. Isai. 66. 5. Mat. 7. 21 — 23. with abundance of other most harmonious scripturetestmonies, in this point. Search the scriptures. Resign up your selvs to the teachings of that spirit, that dictated them. Be in earnest, about your salvation. Let your principal enquiry be, after the kingdom-spirit and righteousness of God. Ye never find it, else, or enter it. … from your own understanding. Consult not (or conferr with) flesh and blood, in your selvs or others, what ye shall do to be saved. That principle will never own one right word, towards eternal life. T'is a flat enemy to every word of God's Wisdom, about it. They that despise (and wonder at) such words, will (everlastingly) perish; Acts. 13. 41. Those that gad abroad (in a spirit of vanity, enmity, and death) to chang their way, from form to form, in Religion; toss'd and Tumbled up and down by every Wind of Satan's and Man's Doctrin, or other Gospel; who can help them? That that dieth, say's God, let it die: and that that is to be cut off, let it be … off. Zec. 11. 9. Litteral and Mystical Sodom, do seem to carry all before them, in this most Antichristian-day and Perillous Season. A Gospel-Testimony is (almost) universally rejected. When Christ himself Preach'd, he met with Multitudes of Wilfull, Proud, Heady, Traiterous, Contradicting, and Blaspheming first-covenant Saints; Wise, Righteous, Holy Men, in the form of godliness in the first, denying the Power of it, in the second-Covenant Spirit, the Gospel-Principle. This was, alway's, the case: And, even so is it now; 2 Tim. 3. 1-5. Gal. 4. 29. Who but Professours, in Holy Flesh, urg'd Christ's Crucifixion, when Pilate and his Heathen Party would have freed him? They'd rather, a Robber, a Murderer, any Malefactor should scape, then he. Wise, Righteous, Holy Men, and a Currupt, Dark, Profane, Grosly Idolatrous Party, are in a contesting Scramble: But, both have had their season, to speak Lies at one Table, against the Saints of the most High. Are we at a loss, for an instance? The Vizard will flie off. The guilty Shedders of Innocent Blood, will be unpalliated, at last, and forc'd to appear in their more then Ethopian hiew, that yet lies hid, under the form of Godliness. God exercises long-suffering towards them, and lets them think him such a p. 88one as themselvs, till he set their Sins in order before their Eyes; and so, tear them in pieces, that none can deliver; Psal. 50. 20-22. His long-suffering towards Enemies, is with design to compleat and fulfill the Patience, or Sufferings of his Saints, by their hand, for their unspeakable advantage, and their Enemies final Destruction. A Comfortable Consideration! True Saints ought to Comfort themselvs and one another, with such right Words, and Thoughts. In conclusion, Christ will appear to their Joy, and their Enemies shall be asham'd (Isai. 66. 5.) Yea, lie down in Sorrow, and Everlasting Contempt, as Vessels of Dishonour. Eternity will be a long day, to pay their full reckoning in. God, in the exercise of his infinite Justice and Mercy, will bring all to rights, give every one their due recompence, for Obedience to, or Rebellion against him.

New-covenant, Gospel-Saints are more odious to the legal, first-covenant professour, then is the common sinner of the Gentiles, in the corrupt spirit of nature. The wisdom of this world, in the most enlightned first-covenant Saint (Wise strong, and Honourable in Christ, there) is … to God's,; and God's, in his new-covenant Saints, to theirs. Was not Paul a fool, weak, and despicable, in Christ's Gospel-spirit, to but such wise, strong, and honourable ones, in Christ? 1 Cor. 4. 10. Flesh and Spirit, or Man's spirit and God's, are directly contrary to each other, in all their designs, desires, and thoughts, about true Salvation. The former, fixed in, is the carnal mind of enmity to God (Rom. 8. 6, 7.) that will prove eternal death to man. The latter, becomming the principle of life, desire, thought, and action, in Man, is eternal life to him, and in him. The carnal mind of enmity, was not found in Man or Angel, the day they were created; Ezek. 28. 15. Neither of them, as they came out of their Creator's hands, were found in enmity to God, or the life of his spirit of Grace (though they had it not) till they both sinn'd, and fell. The voluntary evil, rebellious use of their own mind, introduced this enmity to God's. Changable enmity, in man, is now inseperable from his life. Unless therefore, life and all, at best, be parted with, he will become unchangable therein, as Devils are; and so, be found in a state of eternal death. No wonder then, if in the place of Judgment, and Righteousness, or in the most enlight'ned Righteous state of the natural spirit, in fallen Man and Angel, be found (by the al-searching spirit of Christ, in himself and p. 89Saints) the deepest and most Criminal (Mystical) Wickedness and Iniquity, hidden works of Darkness, rendring them most abominable to God, unchangable Enemies to the Saints of the most high; and to ths most High himself. But, what? Have Gospel-Saints all truth, and First-Covenant Saints, none? Can any believe this? Yet, most true. Let but the Scripture-sense of truth, be duly considered, as the Character of the Gospel Spirit and words thereof, in distinction from the Law-Spirit of this World (in all its variety) and words thereof, the Wonder at (and unbelief of) this, would cease. But, does the wise, first-Covenant Holy Man, receive nothing of a Gospel-Testimony? Not one word. No man, in the Spirit of nature, corrupt or righteous, rightly receives such Testimony, in any point. That Spirit is a Spirit of total darkness, and Universal Errour, an absolute Heretick, as to all Gospel-Life and truths. This seem's hard. What then? The Jews were for Moses; who, but they? Christ found, they took not the Mystical truth of one word of Moses; So, told them, they were Infidels as to the principal intendment, and main scope of all his Writings. For, says he, had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: But if ye believe not his Writings, how shall ye believe my Words? Jo. 5. 46, 47. The Scriptures are own'd as the Words of God, by all, under the name of Christians, but how do they read, hear, or understand them? In the litteral Shadow, only, or Mystical truth, also? As teaching and preferring the Righteousness and Wisdom of Man, to the dark, ignorant State, and Vile Affections of the corrupt Spirit of nature, only; or, as also, farther declaring the everlasting Life, Wisdom, and Righteousness of God, in his Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth? For this latter, nature, at best, is to suffer death, the right way; Viz, by the death of the guilty Sinner, and so, death of Sin, in Men; whereas by the fall, Men became dead in Sin; Sin alive in them, and they dead; now they alive, and Sin dead; and that, for ever. This, by the death-work of the Cross, or Gospel-Spirit, on the natural. Men (in their own confused Spirit of Darkness, as to all Gospel-Truths) have much variety of thought, and Opinion: But all, as one Man, are against every tittle of Gospel-truth, words of God's Wisdom, which the Holy Ghost teaches. Though they all read all the Words of God's Wisdom, in the Letter, they do not read them in the sense of Christ's p. 90Question to the Lawyer (or teaching Legal-Spirited Professour) how …, that is, understandest thou, what's Written in the Law? Luk. 10. 26. Let any come in the true spirit of Prophecy; King, Princes, Priests, and People, in the once only Professing Nation of the whole World, all against him; Jer. 1. 18, 19. So, when Christ Preach'd, …, Pharises, Sadduces, &c. with all their differences of Judgment, all against all his right Gospel-words, to a tittle. And, so is it now; as much, shall I say, or more then ever? Why not the latter; if these be the latter (and therefore worst of) times?

Solomon, having thus declared, goes on, to acquaint us with his thoughts in the Holy Ghost, What the most high will do with all these litterally righteous workers of Mystical Iniquity; how he will handle them, at last; as follow's,

Vers. XVII. I said in mine Heart, God shall Judg the Righteous and the Wicked: For, there is a time there, for every purpose, and for every work.

God will be even with all his Enemies, both sorts of Satan's Subjects, the righteous and the Wicked. In righteousness and truth will Christ Judg and make War upon them both; Rev. 19. 11. And, have they an arm, like God? What then will become of them? The righteous sort of Sinners, will be found most Heretical Enemies to Gospel; and so, the most loathsome to God, of all; the very Spiritual Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon. The sixed litteral, in the corrupt Spirit of nature, will have bad enough on't, in Dooms-day-work, and what follow's. Neither of them can escape the Damnation of Hell. If Judgment begin at the First-covenant House or People of God (that, by fixing there, in Enmity to the second (and so, not obeying the …) become no People of God, but a Synagogue of Satan) where shall gross Sinners appear, that are fixed in Enmity to all …, God's and Man's too, with Elymas the Sorcerer? 1 Pet. 4. 17, 18. The Light or Law of nature, restor'd in every Man, … Damnation to themselvs, as fixed in the vile affections of corrupt …. And, the al-searching Light of Christ's Gospel-Spirit … … of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus) Preaches absolute p. 91Damnation, to fixed first-Covenant righteous Men, who have rend'red any Repentance or Change of their Mind to the better, Impossible; Heb. 6. 4-6. and 10. 26, 27. and 12. 17. This is the case of wilful Sinners against the Holy Ghost, or Gospel-Spirit, and all its counsels; its Reproofs of Death, upon their Spirits; and, Instructions of Life, by their being transform'd into, and built up in its own Life of everlasting Rightoousness. Esau's Morsel of Meat (for which he sold or parted with the offer'd Birth-right, or new-Creation Life and never-perishing Meats of Christ) comprehend's all sorts of first-Creation Vanities and Shadows, from the highest part of the Dust of this Mortal World (all Humane and Angelical Excellencies, natural) to the lowest, the gratifying delights of Brutish Men. The particular Books of all Wicked Men's Consciences, shall be open'd (by the setting up of Spiritual Conviction-Light, in Wrath, therein) and found to agree with that other, general, Living Book or Word of God (Rev. 20. 12) Christ's Gospel-Spirit; and so, shall the inward parts of the very righteous Sinners, be found very Wickedness, unchangable Enmity to God. All the most hidden works of darkness, in the Mystery of Iniquity, shall be Proclaim'd upon the House tops, manifested to all Angels and Men, good and bad. Then shall it be seen, there is a Reward for the Righteous (and Wicked, too) because he is a God that Judgeth in the Earth; Ps. 58. 11. All sorts of Sins shall then be brought into Judgment, and reckon'd for, even the most hidden works of Dishonesty, Mystical, Spiritual Wickednesses; the most secret Intents of all Wicked Men and Angels. All will be manifested and laid open, before that Judg, whose Judgment-Seat they'l be Summon'd (and irresistibly forc'd) to appear, before; Heb. 4. 12, 13. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Then shall it appear, there is a time for every purpose, and for every work (desire, thought, and intent of the Heart, in the corrupt or enlightn'ed Spirit of nature (fix'd in Enmity to God and his Spirit of Grace) to be brought into Judgment, and laid open, before all.

Vers. XVIII. I said in my Heart, concerning the Estate of the Sons of Men, that God might Manifest them, and that they might see that they themselvs are Beasts.

In this and the four next Verses, Solomon Summ's up, in a manner, p. 92all, insisted on, before, in this and the two former Chapters. Men, made by God, rational being's, good, in their kind, have made themselvs Beasts, by their Sin and fall. In the corrupt spirit of their nature, are they Beasts; by loss of their changable goodness, Created in, they Inherit a Brutish Spirit or principle of sensuality. Bestial Powers Rebell against, and insult over their rational. And, the predominant Power, Denominates. This, Solomon saw, and desires God would manifest to them, that they may see what a deplorable condition they have brought themselvs into; and clear God, as having no hand therein. And this yet, is but one part of the consideration, in which they are like Beasts. Man, restor'd out of the dismal, dark, … Life of his corrupted nature, into the clean, enlight'ned, righteous state thereof, as to filth of flesh, and taking up there, for Salvation, is yet, but another sort of Mystical Beast; yea, a worse Beast then before, in the unfix'd corrupt state of nature, because now, fix'd in Enmity. His Carnal Mind, and Earthly Wisdom thereof, that, at best, is but sensual (in Scripture-Language) when fix'd in, becomes Devilish; Jam. 3. 15. This brings Man into the same condition, with fallen Angels, or Devils, in unchangable Harmony with them, against Christ and God. Man, in the highest Honour, Wisdom, Righteousness and Glory of his own restor'd nature, is but as a Beast, and altogether Vanity; Ps. 39. 5. and 49. 12. 20. From a self-ruining mistake, he puts himself under the conduct of a spirit of unchangable Enmity to God. Man, also, in his bodily part, is like a Beast. Of this, a larg account is given; v. 19, 20.

Vers. XIX. For, that which befalleth the Sons of Men, befalleth Beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a Man hath no pre-eminence above a Beast: for, all is vanity.

Solomon, here, speaks of the Bodily, sensual part of Man; consisting of the like corruptible ingredients, and feeding on the like perishing Meats, with meer Brutes. So, the same dissolution befalls them. All alike, in birth, life, and death. Dust, both, and all, and turn to dust, again. This is positively asserted of Man's Body, in distinction from his Spirit; Gen. 2. 7. and 3. 19. God breathed into his p. 93nostrils the breath of Life; Heb. the spirit of Lives (one Soul, with sundry faculties and operations, vegetal, sensual, and rational) Cald. a speaking, reasonable Soul, different from Beasts. So, in Man are found all sorts of mortal, first-creation Life, with the operations thereof; intellectual and intuitive, with Angels; sensual, with beasts, birds, and fishes &c. Vegetal, with plants, trees, &c. And then, has he bodily parts, made of elementary materials, with all inanimate compounds. Every individual man therefore is fitly call'd a Microcosm, or little World; an Epitome or Compound of all, found in the greater, without him. And, all these Lives in him, are mortal; All, vanity. The very righteous first-covenant Life of his immortal spirit (whether in the intuitive, inorganical; or rational, organical operations thereof) is mortal too. All men are witnesses of this, by the death and loss of it in all, for the first sin of all, in, and with the first. Yet farther; One sort of Life, Man has, that's not found in the whole Macrocosm, or greater World, without him; a Life of rational-sense, exercised in and by his Body. Neither Angel, nor Beast have this; no Creature, above or below him. The Result, from God's uniting Man's Spirit, and fitly organiz'd Body, is called a living Soul; Gen. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 45. The Soul (Souly or animalish Life) sleep's (or remain's dormant and unexercised) in the Spirit, when departed, till a re-union with its Body, at the Resurrection, whether of Life or Damnation; John 5. 29. The essentials of Man, Body, Soul, and Spirit (whatever suspension of exercise, or temporary alteration be incident to any of them) make up the discriminating form of Man, from all other Creatures, in both Worlds, for ever, in Earth, Heaven, or Hell. Man's corruptible Body, at first, made of dust, receiv'd an additional frailty by his sin, in the degenerate state of his whole Nature. The Spirit departed out of it, it soon moulder's into dust. Then does Man cease from the exercise of Bodily Life, as well as the Beast, when he dies. In this, therefore, Man has no pre-heminence above a Beast. For, he is made of the same materials, has the same Breath in his Nostrils, and comes to the same end. The Beast receives his animation, by the quick'ning up of a meer sensual Life in his Body. So, his Spirit never has its Body again; nor any Life above, and without it: but ceases for ever. Brutified Atheists would fain perswade themselvs and others, out of the immortality p. 94of their Spirits; and, that Man has no other kind of Life or Being, than the Beast; but only, a superiority to the Beast, therein; as Angels have to Men, in intellectual Life, though man had the same kind of Life, by Creation; and that, perfect too. See the Apocryphal Wisdom of …, sor a Character of these Atheistical Reasoners; Wisdom 2. 1-9. Plenty of these brutish disputants (that labour to out themselvs and others, of all the Prerogatives of man, above the Beast) find we, at this day. Having wickedly made themselves Brutes, fain would they perswade themselvs, God made them so. And, if others think themselvs better, they set themselvs to prove their thought, a whimsical Imagination; and that, we have no being or Life, for ever, after the dissolution of our Body. What's Eternal death? Annihilation? No. That's the thing they plead for, and seek after, but will never find. The incorrigibly vile, will be most exquisitely sensible, under everlasting Burnings, in every particle of their beings.

The Righteous Life, Man had before the fall, he lost by his first Sin. That was but mortal, and a perishing Vanity, as well as the Life of the Beast, though of a more excellent sort. But, he has degraded his nature, into a kind of Equality with the Beast. He may know the insignificancy of his lost Life, as to true Blessedness, by its being lost. But, in stead of looking upwards, for a better, he chuses rather to sink down into a worse (the meer Brutish Life of the Beast) hating all Discourse, Counsel, or Instruction, of the least tendency towards a Gospel-Life of immortality, suited to the immortality of his being. This appear's the case of most Men, by the following Words;

Vers. XX. All go unto one place: All are of the Dust, and all turn to Dust again.

Here's the condition of all Men, as to the Mortal Life of Body and Soul; the Mortal, first-creation earthy righteous Life of their Spirit, turn's also to dust again. Their Spirit, indeed, as an Immortal being, is distinct from, and Superiour to the meer sensual Spirit of the Beast. This appears,

p. 95Vers. XXI. Who knoweth the Spirit of Man that goeth upward, and the Spirit of the Beast that goeth downward to the Earth? Or,

Who knoweth and rightly consider's the Spirit of Man, in its distinguishing Prerogative, from the Beast? What is said (v. 18-20.) may seem to countenance the mistaking sensualist's foremention'd Atheistical Doctrin. But, this pulls him back, to another Lesson. Man, in his bodily part, Life, and Breath, was like the Beast, even before the fall. But, his sinful doting on the same sensual delights, with Beasts, (and so making his whole Man, a Beast) this was not his case, by Creation. God made him a Man: He has made himself a Beast. And, the Beast has vastly the start of him, herein: Sin's not, in his delights; has no principle of Life, desire, or palate, in his nature, to which, any thing above meer sensual Objects, is calculated; Is not subject to the Judgment, Man is; nor, has any Immortality of being, to sufler the pains of eternal death, in. The Spirit of the Beast goes downward to the Earth, as well as his Body. There's an end of him. He never hear's of himself, more. Such death, incorrigibly Wicked Angels and Men, will vainly seek, but never find. It will ever flee from them. They'l find themselvs in a fix'd hatred to what is eternal Life. And, they'l find themselvs dreadfully Tormented, in eternal death. What then can be their desire, but insensibleness, or annihilation? They'l never find either. Being will stick closse to them; and most exquisite sensibleness, never depart, one Moment, in Eternity, from them. They must lie by't, for ever, in Sorrow; Tormented in every particle of their make.

Man, by the Right use of his rational Powers, in law or first-covenant-light, ought to Perform active obedience to god's law; and when call'd to it, yield himself up in passive obedience to his Cross, and so, receive his Gospel spirit and principle of eternal and wellpleasing active Obedience. Thus ought Man to live to the Lord, and die to the Lord (Ro. 14. 8.) in his Law-Spirit of nature, that he may live for ever to the Lord, in his Gospel Spirit of Grace. Thus is Man to obey God, in a Law, and Gospel-state, successively, one after another; in the Life of his own Spirit; and then, of God's. This is the Method and Doctrin of God's Wisdom, for Man's Salvation. p. 96tion. Man's unbelieving, contradicting Wisdom, will (if persisted in) bring him to Weeping and of Gnashing of Teeth, for ever; the Just Portion of all his … company (Luk. 12. 46.) the Just Punishment of all wilful Mistake, Unbelief, and Rebellion, in this matter. The aggravated madness of Man, lies herein. He chuses rather to lay his Ruling rational Powers, under the sensual, in his own person, then Submit to God's terms and way, for the bringing them, by way of Death and Resurrection, into eternal Subjection to the ruling Powers of Spiritual Life; and so, unchangable Obedience to God most high. Man chuses rather to be like a Beast, then God. He is offered an advance into a kind of Equality with the new-Creature-spirit, in Christ, by personal Union with it. And this, in Christ, is in a kind of equality with the infinite Divine Spirit, by personal Union with that; the Man God's fellow; Zee. 13. 7. True Saints are personally one with this Man, as he and the Father are one; Jo. 17. 21, 22. What Words, what Tongue of Men or Angels can express this Folly; Man's chusing the Life of a Beast, to his eternal Damnation, before all this, that would be his eternal Salvation? God has made Man, Lord of the visible Creation (Ps. 8. 5-8) and he alone, of all visible Creatur's, walks unsutably to his principle, in Rebellion against his Creatour. Man's Wisdom is capable of receiving Conviction, by the right-Gospel-opening of the Word's of God's: But, his will may not be trusted, for Gospel-Conversion. That's to die, by the way. It likes not that. Every thing would live. His understanding can tell his will, it must die; cease from all its own Activity, Life, Desire, and Motion, as the only possible way for the final Salvation of his whole person. Man, abusing his rational Powers, to fetch in gratifying Provisions for his sensual, only, turn's his earthly nature upside down; perverts the whole course and order of it; serves, what he ought to rule over: So, makes himself a Beast, by the very Verdict of his own Conscience, and all mankind. When he suffer's the Bestial Powers, within him, to rule over him, 'tis Just with God, to give the litteral Beast, without him, Power over him, so as to kill him, for Rebelling thus against God; Deut. 32. 24. Ezek. 14. 15. Man, by yielding Obedience to the Law (but, much more, when to Gospel) shall be freed from Beasts destructive p. 97Dominion over him. They shall not devour, nor make him afraid; Ezek. 34. 28. Solomon had sadly experienc'd the boundless Ramblings of his Bestial Powers, after whatever was gratifying to the inordinate Lusts and vile affections thereof. But, as the Face of Man's Body, so of his Spirit, is fitted to look upward, to a Life, a Glory that excell's; and so, to God most high. Man and Angel, by Creation, had abundantly the ascendant over the Beast. But, the best things corrupted, become the worst. The Devil, with all the Glory, Wisdom, Power, and Righteousness of the First-Creation, turn'd into (and us'd in) unchangable Enmity to God, is, in God's sight and thought, the most contemptible varlet, in the World.

Solomon, in this interrogatory, bewail's the wilfull ignorance, folly, and inadvertency of Man; his Brutish unwillingness to take any right notice of his prerogative-difference from the spirit of the beast. He is ready, even to deny the Immortality of his Spirit. They would gladly die like Beasts, that live like them. If they own their …, they suspect a sad reckoning, behind, for the abuse of it. Man, in his natural Creation, had (and is, since the fall, capable of recovering) the intellectual, intuitive, inorganical exercise of his mind, after the manner of Angels, by which, immediately to see, what organical reason call's hidden essences, qualities, and properties of things; all which, still, are Vanities, and that, of the lower order. Organical reason, discourses, or, run's from one thing to another, from what is seen, to prove, gather, and guessingly conclude something not seen or known, before. This way of getting the knowledg of things, by sensible species, taken in by the outward, and presented or convey'd by inward natural senses, to the understanding, was Aristotles low, conjectural way of gaining knowledg, far short of the Soaring, Intuitive Platonist. But, no Spiritual, Eternal things are the Objects of either of these ways of natural understanding, in Men. These are wholly out of all their reach. Now, what a wretched wicked self-denial are they guilty of, that neglect all these advantages of their nature, to level themselves with Beasts? To throw up all rational and Intellectual pleasures, and betake themselvs wholly to Bestial? Their Practice Inclines them to Judg, or, at least, declare, they have no other principles p. 98of Life, but Bestial. Their Immortality is a tormenting consideration, to them. For, this renders them, by their own madness, fit Subjects and fewel of God's unquenchable Wrath. Man's great fault of all, is the wilful refusal of God's convincingly discovered and offered new-Creation Life. When this Gospel-Life of Immortality is brought to light, in his Immortal being, all's his own. For, then he is Christ's, and Christ is God's (1 Cor. 3. 22, 23.) one with Christ, as he with the Father. So, comes Man to be an Infallible seer and doer of the whole Will of God, for ever. Man, in his whole natural being, Body, Soul, and Spirit (all his essential parts, and Powers of natural Operation) is to be considered, as distinct from a first or second Covenant Spirit, or Life, by Christ (as Creator, or Redeemer) put into him; by which, he is found in a shadowy changable righteous State, and Earthy Image of God; or unchangable Heavenly Creature-Life and Image of him. The former is but a fading slower, and Man therein, at best, altogether …, Principles and Operations. By Christ's second, new-Creating Workman-ship, attains he a State of Everlasting Righteousness and true Holiness; Eph. 4. 24. So, has he the Kingdom of Heaven within him, and … Life abiding in him. He lives and walk's in that Spirit, Christ, with his Saints, will Reign in, and Judg the World.

Vers. XXII. Wherefore, I perceive, that there is nothing better, then that a Man should rejoyce in his own works; for that is his Portion: for, who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

What works? deeds or works of the Law, wrought in his own Law-Spirit of nature, such as Paul excludes from (Rom. 4. 2-6.) or, such as are wrought in Christ's Gospel-Spirit of Grace, which James, in the same Spirit, with Paul, own's as Ingredients into Abraham's Justification, before God? Jam. 2. 21-24. Own works, here, which the Holy Ghost, by Solomon, commands (and commends) Man's rejoycing in, as his Portion from God, can't be any thing, done in his own nature, that, since the fall, in its highest renewals, is found in direct Enmity to God. This State of Man (with all possible Labours therein) is so far from being his happy Portion from p. 99God, that he lies directly under the Curse and Wrath of God, in and with all this, which is altogether Vanity. But, can right Gospel-works, which God work's in Men, be called their own works? Yes; as own'd by God, co-workers with him, in his spirit; living and walking therein. He that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God (Jo. 3. 21.) Deeds, wrought by God in Man; and Man, in God. Thus God Judges of, and calls such works; the Labours of Man, in Christ's Gospel-Life. See what is said, in this case, on Ch. 2. 24. and, v. 12, 13, of this Chap. Solomon does not here countenance Man's rejoycing in such Labours of his own Spirit, as he reckon's vain in themselves, and unprofitable to himself (Ch. 1. 3.) as to any final good to him, therein, or by. Nothing, short of the new-Creature-State, and Man's Labours therein, signify any thing, towards eternal Life; Gal. 6. 15. Neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, righteous or corrupt nature, or any thing done by Man, in either, can be of any avail, or … thereunto. So have we found out these works of Man, he is to … in; done in that Life, which is his peculiar portion, and new-Creation Birth-right gift, from God. If works, wrought in Man's own spirit, will, and way, were meant, t'would be a Flat contradiction to the main scope of this whole book, which Proclaim's the absolute Vanity and insignificancy of all first-Creation Life and things, at best, as to Man's pleasing God, or finding true blessedness, for himself. Such works are meant, as Man may, ought, will, cannot but rejoyce in, with Joy unspeakable and Glorious. Here's Man's inward Summum bonum; a Life, wherein he can do all things, after God's own Heart, Steddily, Infallibly, Eternally; and so, enjoy the transcendently yet higher Summum bonum, without him, the Divine Glory, in Favour and Love, shining upon him, for ever. First-Covenant Divines (as well as Evil Angels, and Heathen Philosophers) place Man's Summum bonum, in but first-Creation excellencies (whatever other title they give it) within the compass of natural Objects, and in the activity of their natural State, that's a fading flower, altogether Vanity. The Spirit of truth, by its Penmen, acquaints us with other matters, for hapiness; another Life, other excellencies, objects, and works, Man is capable to be found in the possession and exercise of. The spiritual Man's Joy and delight, p. 100meets and center's in the same works or things, with God's. True Saints are in a Union with his Divine Spirit, in Will, Understanding, Desire, Thought, Love and Hatred. They love what he loves, with a perfect love: Hate what and whom he hates, with a perfect hatred; Ps. 139. 21, 22. All Man's Labours are vain, in his own Spirit of Vanity: Not so, in the Lord; 1 Cor. 15. 58. Paul rejoyc'd in that Gospel-Life he had, by the Faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2. 20.) and his Labours therein: but found his Law-Life and best works therein, Dung, when touching the Righteousness which is the Law (or to be found in that Law-State) blameless; Philip. 3. 6. Enmity to God Tinctur's, Sullies, and desiles all that Life and Works, at best, with filth of Spirit.

T. For, who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

If Man Submit not to God's terms for receiving his new-Creation-Life, who can bring him to see, what shall be after him? Either what will become of good or Evil Angels or Men, in Eternal Life or Death, after their fading Life of Vanity (with all the things thereof) is over, and gone? These grand and most concerning futurities (things, no natural Eye, Heart, or Understanding can see or imagine, on all hands; the things provided in Heaven, for those that truly fear God; or, in Hell, for incorrigible haters of him) lie quite out of the reach of Man or Angel, in their natural, first-Creation State of Enmity and Vanity, Darkness and Death. The Spiritual Man, in the true Preaching Spirit of Prophecy, discern's or judges all things (1 Cor. 2. 15.) and can declare, Infallibly, what all Men and Angels will come to, as finally Obedient or Disobedient to God's term's of receiving Eternal Life. He (knowing the Terrours of the Lord (2 Cor. 5. 11.) and, what a fearful thing it is, to fall into the hands, or under the final Wrath of the Living God) does, Might and Main, Labour in the Spirit of Christ, to warn and caution Men, as to the only way of entring into the Joy, and escaping the Wrath of the Lord; the Wrath to come. By refusing so great Salvation, as God offers them, come they to Eternal Death, Want, and Vexation of Spirit; Prov. 8. 34-36. They'l want every thing that's good, and have every thing that's evil, in and upon them, in Extreamity, for ever; unchangable p. 101Wickedness in them, and positive Inflictions of God's Wrath (as Punishment) upon them, without any Interruption, or Relief (Luk. 16. 24, 25.) to Eternity. They have chosen rather (in the declar'd, known causes and way thereto) to be Vessels of Dishonour and Everlasting Contempt; then, on God's term's, to be made Vessels of Glory, Honour, Immortality, and Eternal Life. By Enmity to God's Divine and New-Creature Holy Ghosts or Spirits, do they bring siery Indignation, on their unpardonably guilty heads; Heb. 10. 26, 27. Ro. 2. 6-10. These great things, that will be found and felt hereafter, do evidence the great weight of these Words of Solomon; and grand concern of Men, to be circumspect, in taking the true meaning of them. Who, but the awak'ned Spiritual Saint, can foresee and tell, the unutterable Confusions, final Refusers of God's Counsel, will be found in, for ever? The Cares and Pleasures of this Life, choke Mens understandings, as to any right and hearty enquiry after their grand concerns, in the next. The Noble Bereans did set themselvs to search the Scriptures, for the Gospel-Kingdom and Righteousness of God. Who does so, now? Those that, in this World, seek not the Kingdom and Righteousness of God, in the next (Mat. 6. 33.) will never find it; let them flatter themselvs in their Loose, Negligent, Inadvertent course, while they will. The most trifling, outward Vanities of this World, do universally amuse, and take up Peoples time and thought, so as to detain them in a deep oscitancy, and regardlesness, as to the unutterable Woes, prepar'd in Tophet, for Incorrigible sinners; or unspeakable Joys, in the Kingdom of God, for Spiritual Saints. Believe not your own Thoughts, O ye Sons of Men, about Salvation. Lean not to your own Understandings. Conferr not with Flesh and Blood. Regard not the Voice of Strangers, the Words of Man's Wisdom, about it.

p. 102CHAP. IV.