First from the Folly and Wilfulnesse of Kings v. 13 14. Secondly Through the levity and inconstancy of the people v. 15 16. The folly and wilfulnesse of Kings he argueth from the meannesse and basenesse of that estate and that he aggravateth by an argument à majori of a far better estate of a wise child though poore above a foolish king though old and so for age venerable Preferring the low estate of the one above the highest estate of the other v. 13. And this he proveth by the effects of both their estates for the poor wise child out of prison commeth to raigne the other born and waxen old in his Kingdome becommeth poor v. 14. In declaring the levity and inconstancy of the people he noteth it as a vanity found in the people of all the Nations under the Sun First That there is no end or stay or rest of the peoples affections to their Princes and Governours Secondly That the people wil wax weary of the young Prince that shall come after the old King after they have tried his government v. 16. And both these he proveth by his own observation of all the people living in all Nations under the Sun and comparing the peoples dealing with the second child that shal stand up in the old kings stead v. 15. Doctr. There is a vanity and vexation of spirit that befalleth the estate of Kings and Princes partly through their own folly and wilfulnesse partly through the levity and inconstancy of the people Reasons of their Vanity through their own folly and willfullness First from the preferment of a wise Child in his worst estate above such a Prince in his best estate Childhood is despicable in any Eccel 11.10 1 Tim. 4.12 much more in Poverty Eccel 9.16 Old Age is honorable in any Levit. 19.32 much more in Princes Yet when a King though old is foolish and willfull a poor wise Child is better then he yea though the Child were a Captive a Prisoner For such a poor Child or Youth may out of Prison come to reign as Ioseph Genes 41.14.40 David 1 Sam. 18.23 Daniel 6.3 whereas an Old King may by folly and willfullness become poor as Pharoah Exod. 10.7 Saul 1 Sam. 28.15 Ioram 2 Kings 6.25 7 13. Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4.33 Manasseh Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Jeconiah Zedekiah all of them Prisoners 2 Chron. 33.11 36.4 2 Kings 23.33 24.15 25.7 The occcasion whereof is 1 Gods delight to honour the humble and crush the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 Job 40.11 12. 2 Pride is the root of Willfullness Reason of their Vanity through the Levity of the People From their aptness to wax weary of any Prince or Governour 1 Sam. 8.7 2 Sam. 15.12 13. 1 Kings 1.11 And this springeth from want of attainment of their Ends in their Magistrates There is no end of all the People v. 16. Every thing resteth in the attainment of his End The End of Magistracy is set down 1 Tim. 2.2 This the People not Attending nor attaining they cannot rest Hence they are compared to waves of the Sea never still sometimes full Sea sometimes Low-water Psal 65.7 Rev. 17.15 Isa 57.20 Vse 1 To teach us that Royal state is no Sanctuary nor Preservative from folly and willfullness Not only wicked kings but all have had their Pangs and streins of folly Davids Numbring the People 2 Sam. 24.10 Adultery and Murder Solomons love of strange Wives and Toleration yea Countenance of Idolatry Asa his League with Benhadad Imprisonment of the Prophets and Trust in Physicians Jehoshaphat his affinity with Ahab and League with Idolaters Hezekiah shewing his Treasures to the Embassadors of Babell Josiah his War against Pharaoh-Necho Yea Willfullness found not only in Pharaoh Exod. 5.1 2. in Saul 1 Sam. 20.30 to 33. in Jeroboam 1 Kings 13.33 in Jehu 2 Kings 10.29 31. but sometimes in good kings in David 2 Sam. 24. 1 to 4. in Asa 2 Chron. 16.9 10. Causes hereof First Gods hand Psal 107.40 Secondly Satan 1 Chron. 21.1 Thirdly Great Places breed great Spirits whence Pride springeth that Leaveneth and hardeneth the whole lump Jer. 22.21 Fourthly Old Age is froward and stiff Fifthly Flatterers about Princes lead them into ill Ways for their own Ends and stiffen them in them Hos 7.3 5. Amos 7.10 to 13. 1 Kings 12.10 11. A Warning First To Princes to pray for a wise and learning heart 1 Kings 3.9 Secondly To People to strive with God for their Princes Psal 72.1.2 Vse 2. To refuse Admonition is a great folly even in a Prince even in an Old Prince 1 Kings 12.6 7 13. 2 Chro. 16 9 10. More hope of a fool then of such Prov. 26.12 12.1 It bringeth the Commonwealth into a snare Pro. 29.8 How much more foolish is this willfullness either in Meaner or Yonger People Vse 3. To teach us the Excellency of Wisdome which Youth yea Childhood and Poverty cannot Debase but it will arise to preferment And the Baseness of Folly and Stubbornness which Nobility and Age cannot honor Vse 4. To teach Parents to train up their Children to wisdome and therefore to Learning and Godliness and withall to break them of their willfullness that so they may be fit for preferment in the eyes of God and Men. Vse 5. To reprove the Inconstancy of People and the cause thereof their neglect of the right End of Magistracy 1 Tim. 2.2 Vse 6. To wean great men from Popularity the Peoples favor is unstable Joh. 5.35 Mattth 21.8 9. with 27.22 23 Eccles 5.1 2 3. Vers 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God and be more ready to heare then to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they doe evil 2. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in Heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few 3. For a dream commeth through the multitude of business and a fools voyce is known by multitude of words IN this Chapter Solomon declareth the vanity found First in the performance of Gods worship v. 1 to 7. Secondly in marvelling and murmuring at oppressions in men of place v. 8. Thirdly in Riches v. 9 to 19. In declaring the vanity found not in Gods worship but in mens manner of performance of it lest he might seem with the prophane Mal. 3.14 to esteem it a vain thing to serve God he rather directeth men how to prevent such vanities then declareth the vanities which they fall into in Gods worship His direction in these three verses is First in generall to take heed or look wel to our waies when we enter into holy publike assemblies v. 1. Secondly in particular To draw nigh to heare Whereof he giveth a reason from the folly of all sacrifices without drawing neer to heare v. 1. Which is amplified by the Reason thereof taken from the evil of such a worship and their ignorance of that evil who
things those outward things would be as treasure to him which Christ denieth Reason 1. From the corruption and changeableness of outward things Matth. 6.19 and therefore they cannot be certain evidences of an unchangeable and uncorruptible estate Reason 2. From the like events and successes and estates to all Eccles 9.2 Good name to Demetrius 3 John 12. as wel as to the false Prophets Luke 6.26 Wealth to the rich Epicure Luke 12.16 as wel as to Abraham Gen. 24.35 and to Isaac Gen. 26.12 Pleasure to the wicked Job 21.11 12. as wel as to the godly Eccles 2.10 Health and strength to Epicures Psal 73.4 as wel as to Caleb Josh 14.11 Beauty to Absolom and such 2 Sam. 14.25 Prov. 11.22 as wel as to Sarah Rebecca and Rachel Long life to Ismael Gen. 25.17 as wel as to Isaac Gen. 35.28 Learning wisdom to the Aegyptians Acts 7.22 as wel as to Moses Daniel Acts 7.22 Dan. 1.17 Crosses to Bastards Psalm 78.33 as wel as to sonnes Psalm 73.14 Hebr. 12.8 Sicknesse to the disobedient Deut. 28.59 60. as wel as to David Psalm 41.8 Poverty to Jobs scorners Job 30.3 as wel as to Lazarus Luke 16.20 Sudden death to the disobedient Psalm 55.23 Prov. 29.1 as wel as to Jeroboams good sonne 1 Kings 14.12 13. Violent death Jonathan died in the field and by the hand of the uncircumcised as well as Saul 1 Sam. 31 1 2. Reason 3. From the curse and vanity that lyeth upon all the creatures by the fall Gen. 3.17 It is a bondage to the creature to minister to the wicked not to minister to the godly Rom. 8.20 21. This is the reason of the former Reason Object Did not Cain know Gods acceptance of Abel above himselfe by an outward signe of fire from heaven or the like Gen. 4.4 5. Answ That was a miraculous event as was also the fire that fell upon Eliahs Sacrifice 1 Kings 18.38 But Solomon speaketh of ordinary common events Object 2. But is there not great difference of a godly mans bearing the events and estates that befall him and a wicked mans bearing his Answ Yes But Solomon speaketh not of outward fruits but outward events Object 3. Psalm 41.11 Answ David knew not the favour of God from the outward deliverance but from the grace of God secretly revealed in it So any benefits sprinkled with the blood of Christ may hold forth everlasting mercies Psalm 136.23 24 25. Vse 1. Against Papists First then outward prosperity is no certain sign of the Church though Bell trmin make it his fifteenth note De Notis Ecclesiae l. 4. c. 18. Secondly who abuse this place from the corrupt vulgar Latin Translation to undermine and destroy the assurance of faith of the love of God to a faithful soule against evident Scripture 1 John 3.14 c. 1 Cor. 2.12 Rom. 8.16 2 Pet. 1.10 It is a whorish Church that bringeth not up her children to know their father Vse 2. To teach us to judge wisely of the chastisements of the godly not to misconstrue Gods meaning in them to our selves or others lying under them Psalm 41.1 2 3. This mis-judging was the sinne of Jobs friends for which Gods wrath was kindled Job 42.7 Vse 3. To warn wicked men neither to blesse themselves in their prosperity as if that were a signe of Gods favour Zach. 11.5 Nor in their adversity to promise to themselves impunity in another world because they have their punishment in this world Vse 4. To exhort to look at things within us and from us for the knowledge of Gods love to us Within us 1. The testimony of the spirit Rom. 8.16 1 John 3.24 2. The gifts of the spirit accompanying salvation Acts 16.30.31 1 John 14 18 19. From us our election of God to be our God Psalm 73.25 Doctr. 4. All the sonnes of men are ranked into two sorts Righteous or wicked good men or sinners clean or unclean Malac. 3.18 1 John 5.19 Reason 1. From Gods eternal purpose to make all the vessels of the house of the world either to honour or dishonour Rom. 9.21 Reason 2. From the different original root of all men either flesh or spirit John 3.6 Reason 3. From the two different waies that all men take Matth. 7.13 14. 1 John 3.7 8. Reason 4. From the largenesse of the two covenants dividing all men between them Gal. 3.10 4.24 c. Rom. 6.14 c. 8.1 5. Reason 5. From the integrity of the whole man required in Gods service which being wanting men serve the divel Matth. 6.24 Acts 26.18 Colos 1.13 Vse 1. Against purgatory for presuppose the truth of the doctrine and there be but two places for these two sorts to be bestowed in after this life Matth. 25.32 c. Vse 2. To try what our estate is every one of us belongeth either to one of these sorts or to the other Marks of difference besides the former difference mentioned in the reasons 1. What people doe we belong to to such we are gathered after death Numb 20.24 Gen. 25.17 2. Where is all a mans delight Psalm 16.3 Psalm 26.5 139.21 22. and communion Psal 120.5 thither shall he be gathered after death and not with the contrary Psalm 26.9 If we delight in men for righteousness sake then the more righteous they be the more we delight in them Psal 16.3 Doctr. 5 All the righteous in the world are also good and clean offering Sacrifices and fearing Oaths And all the wicked are also unclean sinners negligent Sacrificers and fearlesse swearers Good as first filled with good Treasure Matth. 12.35 Secondly bringeth forth good fruit Matth. 7 18 and so fitted for good uses 2 Tim. 2.21 Not so the wicked Matth. 12.35 Tit. 1.16 Clean First by imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ Ezek. 36.25 Secondly by sanctification of the spirit Esay 43.3 Psalm 73.1 The wicked are neither Matth. 7.23 The sinner erreth first from the rule or way Psalm 14.3 Secondly from the mark or end Prov. 16.25 Sacrificing as first observing Gods stratute-worship Psalm 119.5 Secondly setting their hearts and delight and cost upon it 1 Chron. 29.3 21.24 Gen. 4.4 This the wicked either neglect altogether 2 Chron. 15.3 Psalm 119.155 Or perform perfunctorily Malac. 1.7 c. The Righteous fear an oath first As not daring to take it in vain Secondly as observing it religiously when taken Josh 9.19 2 Sam. 9.1 Not so the wicked Hos 4.2 Jer. 23.10 Ezek. 17.18 19. Vse For triall of our estates whether we be righteous or wicked by these fruits Eccles 9.3 to 6. This is an evil among all things that are done under the Sun that there is one event unto all yea also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil and madnesse is in their heart while they live and after that they goe to the dead 4. For to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope for a living dog is better then a dead lyon 5. For
lesse desirable before another which to men doth commonly seem to be much more desirable The house of feasting is commonly preferred amongst men as more desirable to be gone unto above the house of mourning but here the day of mourning even the greatest mourning mourning for the dead is preferred before the house of feasting Better it is saith he to go to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting whereof he giveth two reasons First from the property of the house of mourning to wit for the dead It is the end of all men Secondly from the good use which the living will seriously make of his house of mourning and of the cause of mourning which he there beholdeth the death of some friend or neighbour The living will lay it to his heart Doctr. 1. It is better or a more desireable good thing to go to an house of mourning for the dead then to an house of feasting for the solace of the living Of feasts there be three sorts 1. Civil feasts where a fourfold solace First Eating the fat and drinking the sweet Secondly Loving and neighbourly company Thirdly Pleasant discourse and sometimes Musick Fourthly Increase of mutual neighbourly love 2. Prophane or riotous where the former comforts are abused and perverted First by Excesse in eating and drinking to gluttony and drunkennesse Secondly The Company swaggering and debaucht Ruffians Swearing and roaring Boyes Thirdly Instead of pleasant discourses Ribaldry wanton songs and dances abusing of the name of God or man Fourthly fallings out and quarrellings or else linking in conspiracy to doe some mischiefe 3. Holy feasts where First Gods institution or special mercies invite to thankfulnesse and meat and drink as before God Exod. 18.12 Secondly Christian company Thirdly Holy conference Luke 14.1 to 8. and so to the end Fourthly Increase of childlike love to God and brotherly love one to another Of this last sort of feasts the comparison is not put for Gods ordinances are more edifying then his providences Nor it it to civil especially to godly men put of the second sort of feasts Riotous For to honest and good men It is an house of mourning to be in such an house of feasting Psal 120.5 But here he speaketh of such an house of feasting as is contrary to the house of mourning Reason 1. From the nature of the occasion of that mourning it being the death of some or other desirable person in the family that death is the end of all men If the person dead were not desirable there is little or no mourning for him 2 Chron. 21.19 20. But if there be mourning all useful men will see their own end in his which is very wholesome to our spirits Deut. 32 29. Lamen 1.9 In feasting men are apt to put the evil day far from them Isai 56.12 Amos 6.3 to 6. Secondly In the house of mourning we shall be occasioned to take to heart what we see yea to lay it as a plaister to our heart Text Not so readily in an house of Feasting Object But doth not the house of feasting offer to our hearts many serious and savoury meditations Doth it not set before us First A spectacle of Gods bounty leading to Thankfulnesse Psal 145.16 and Repentance Rom. 2.4 Secondly The variety of Gods goodnesse dispersed in the several creatures Acts 14.17 Thirdly The wisdome of Gods providence preparing and gathering the meat and company from sundry quarters of the world Psal 145.15 Fourthly The large extent of Christian liberty purchased by the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.27 Fifthly The fatnesse and sweetnesse of spiritual and heavenly food a minori Luke 14.15 Sixthly A spurre to enlargement of fruitfulnesse after a Feast we expect our horses after well meating should travel better Answ It is true a Feast setteth before us many spiritual advantages But yet First A mans spirit disposed to cheerfulnesse is more exposed to lightnesse Secondly Sad objects make deeper impression upon our affections Thirdly The company at a Funeral are not so apt to draw our minds away by cheerful discourse as at a Feast Vse 1. To reprove Funeral Feasts for it maketh the house of mourning and feasting all one Vse 2. To teach us the estate of our nature God seeth it better for us to meet with sad and mourneful Occurrences then cheerful Vse 3. To teach us so to lay to heart the death of others that it may be better to us then the best meals meat better then a feast If thou art a living man lay sad objects to heart especially this of death more distinctly lay to heart First Death it selfe Secondly the causes of it Thirdly The effects of it Fourthly The manner of it Fifthly The subject of it In death it selfe see a spectacle of thine own mortality Josh 23.14 1 Kings 2.2 Wait therefore for a change Job 14.14 In the causes of it First Moral or deserving look at sin Gen. 2.17 Rom. 5.12 especially original sin Learne to mortifie that kill that which else will kill us soul and body Secondly Natural diseases see the evil of corrupt nature and life Rom. 6.23 Thirdly Violent 1. From Magistrates First Justly learne to feare such wickednesse Deut. 17.13 Secondly unjustly learn constancy to the death Rev. 2.10 Secondly from thieves and robbers and then learn 1. to walk regularly with God who else may and wil deliver into such hands Ezek. 21.31 2 If the man slain were godly learn to avoyd the misconstructions which are wont to be made of it Prov. 25.26 Thirdly from selfe either through 1. Distresse as Saul 2 Disgrace as Achitophel 3 Despaire as Judas Hence learn patience in affliction with faith to prevent all such evil In the manner of it First some die 1. suddenly Job 21.13 23 24. Hence learn first preparation for sudden changes secondly submission to reproofs Prov. 29.1 2. Lingringly Job 21.25 Hence learn not patience only but long-suffering Secondly some die distracted Learn hence 1. To commit our senses and understanding to God 2. Settle peace of conscience which wil keep our minds in Christ when not in our senses Phil. 4.7 In the subject 1. some die in sinne carnall persons and they die first Either as stones 1 Sam. 25.37 38. Hence learn weanednesse from worldlinesse which stupifieth the heart Secondly or presuming Matth. 7.22 Hence learn to build on a rock Matth 7.24 to 27. Thirdly Or despairing as Judas Hence learn to beware of sins against conscience 2. Others die in Christ and that first either troubled in mind conslicting with desertions Matth. 27.46 Hence learn To live by faith against sense Job 13.15 Luke 23 46. Secondly Or comfortably 1. Expressing their joy and confidence 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. 2 Instructing and exhorting others Gen. 49. Hence learn first to live uprightly and justly Psalm 37.37 Secondly Boldnesse in Christ against death Rom. 8.38 39. Eccles 7.3 4 5 6. 3. Sorrow is better then laughter for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made