there is also an haryest time of reaping even in this world Prov. 11.31 As if a man shall be loath to cast his bread upon the waters for feare of sicknesse old age store of children growing on the unsetledness of the times c. Such an one shall both lose his seed his good work and his harvest of reward from God As the Husbandman that keepeth his Corn in his Garner or Barn for fear of sowing in doubtfull weather shall both lose his crop and in time vermin and other casualty wil consume his grane in his barne Reason 1. From the uncertainty of the events of all endeavours in an ordinary course Text v. 6 Act. 20.22 God so providing that the godly should live by faith and the wicked should either first grow unprofitable in their Talents because God is an hard master Matth. 25.24 Secondly grow hardned either in pride if they prosper Amos 6.13 Habac. 1.16 Or in discontent if they be crossed Isai 8.21 Reason 2. From the sorrow and affliction that God hath annexed to all the labours of our calling Gen. 3.19 Reason 3. From Satans readinesse and watchfulnesse to stir up and aggravate dangers and discouragements to any goodness Rev. 12.4 Reason 4. From the trials which God puts upon us by causing many dangers and evils to hover over us though not to bring them upon us but to try our obedience So the people in the wildernesse feared thirst and famine and the Anakims but it was onely to try their obedience For God was ever ready with supply Deut. 8.2 Reason 5. From our own faithlesse and sluggish hearts which are ready to imagine feares of evil where none be Prov. 26.13 Lions are as much afraid of Streets as men of deserts Vse 1. To teach us wisely to consider what good duties God requireth of us in our Christian course and calling and set upon it without feare or forlorne discouragement Every man in his place The Magistrate Neh. 6.9 11. The Minister Acts 20.22 23 24. Luke 13.31 32. Yea the wife 1 Pet. 3.6 Yea children and servants feare not turning to God for feare of carnal parts Masters Fellowes c. Quest But may not a man for feare of danger hold off his hand from some duty in some cases Answ Yes in case two things concurre First The dangers be certaine not as windes and Cloudes which may as well blow over as bring foul weather Secondly The dangers be of greater dammage then the duty can be of use to my felfe and others Thus David spared Joab 2 Sam. 3.39 and the Jewes forbore the building of the Temple Ezra 4.23 24. Otherwise feare not their feares 1 Pet. 3.14 Prov. 29.25 Luke 12.4 5. Vse 2. To look at all good duties as sowing of seed Gal. 6.7 8. As therefore a man would make choyce of precious seed So doe every worke in the best manner let sacrifices be of the fattest Gen 4.3 4. Vse 3. To expect an harvest a reaping time according to our seed Gal. 6.7 to 10. Eccles 11.5.6 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones doe grow in the womb of her that is with child even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all c. IN these words Solomon exhorteth to fruitfulnesse in good duties the duties of our calling especially those that are most behooveful in ill times by removing the impediments which are three First From the hazzard and danger yet uncertaine danger that may befal our selves of which was spoken in verse 4. Secondly From the difficulty which may be in sundry duties needful to be performed in ill times especially in case a mans calling require him to seek reformation of publick evils verse 5 Which he removeth by the unknowne helpe and successe that God will cast in afford such hard attempts which exceed the skill and strength of man This he setteth forth by the like helpe of God ordinarily put forth in producing two great works both of them farre exceeding the strength and skill of man First As thou knowest not the way of the spirit to wit of its conveyance into the childe bred in the wombe and its worke there Secondly As thou knowest not the way of the bones in the wombe of her that is with childe So thou knowest not the worke of God which worketh all verse 5. Thirdly From the uncertainty of prosperous or good successe from whence Solomon gathereth rather a motive to continual fruitfulnesse in good duties upon all opportunities verse 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thy hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper c. The expression is an Allegory taken from Husbandry sow in all seasons Morning Evening in Winter in the Spring for thou knowest not whether seed time shall prosper c. Doctr. 1. As is the way of the spirit and of the bones of the woman with childe so is the way of God in working our workes for us secret and hidden from us yet when he pleaseth carry them on effectually The way of the spirit is the way of enterance of it into the infant conceived in the wombe To beget a soul is beyond the skill or strength of the Parents yea or to frame the body in the wombe yea we know not how God worketh it Whether First By Creation of nothing If so whether God maketh it pure then how commeth it to be defiled the body being without sin as a carcasse after death cannot defile the soul with sin If impure then how is not God the Author of sin Secondly By Propagation If so then it is made either of the whole soul of the Parents and then the Parents would dye or of part of the soul and then the soul were partible or divisible and the soul of the Parents would be maimed or of the seed of the soul but it hath no excrement as having no superfluity of nourishment Thirdly By transfusion as one candle transfuseth the like candle light into prepared matter If so then why doe not acts of generation often speed in couples most suitable and why are the souls of children so often unlike to Parents Fourthly By efformation as the Potter formeth a vessel out of Clay which of all the rest is most probable to wit that God formeth the soul though not of nothing which is properly Creation but of pre-existent matter whether of the spirituous part of the seed which is easie for God to doe or of the souls of the Parents as of Adams rib he made his wifes body which no man can doe but only God it being more then God hath given to nature to produce such a worke Hence God is said to be a Former of souls Zach. 12.1 as a Potter of a vessel of Clay Or the way of the spirit may be meant the manner of its fashioning the Organs of the body in case it be thought instrumental to God in being as they say it is
Lords and wil come no more at him Dear Friends he hath not been so to you v. 31. even your enemies being judges and your own experience wil beare witness for him that his Gospel even in point of ontward advantage hath paid for its entertainment These thick cords of love therefore I hope wil binde you close to him and strongly draw you off from whatever may be a means of drawing you away from him and so by your continuing to be planted in the house of the Lord and by you still flourishing in the Courts of our God you will proclame to all that he is upright Psal 92.13 14 15. and that there is no unrighteousness in him These Dearly beloved are my affectionate desires hopes of you and yet in regard of the unsetledness of these times and the wildnesse of many mens spirits in them you wil pardon me if I be be jealous over you with a godly jealousie and that having this fit opportunity I take the boldness by putting you in remembrance of what sometimes you were 2 Pet. 1.13 Rev. 2.4 5 Rev. 3.2 2 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 6.17 to stir you up to keep warm your first love and to do your first works to be watchfull to strengthen the things that remain especially if any be ready to die To hold fast the form of sound words whereto you have been formerly delivered and to hold up the power of godliness In your selves by the constant exercise of Faith Repentance self-examination and humiliation self-denial and mortification c. In your publique government by reviving your ancient care and zeal for the sanctifying of Gods Sabbaths countenancing his Ministers and Ordinances and discountenancing whatever Doctrines or practises are contrary to the truth as it is in Iesus and the power of godliness In your Families by private prayer singing of Psalms catechizing your children and servants training them up in Gods feare and restraining them from that pride wantonness and stubbornness which your faithful Pastor now with God was wont much to complaine of and which in these looser times I wish you had not cause much more now to bewaile Now the good Lord help you to stand up for God in your severall places and so to serve your generations Act. 13.36 2 Kings 20.19 that peace and truth may be in your daies that in them your Sun may not go down but when ye are gathered to your fathers in your hopefull and happy posterity it may rise with greater strength and glory as drawing neerer to a more glorious day now approaching that then another generation may not arise after you which shal not know the God of their fathers Judg. 2.10 and so the ages to come may be to seek for Samnium in Samnio old Boston in New But on the contrary That your seed may be so known among the Gentiles Isai 63.9 and your off-spring among the people that all that see them may acknowledge them to be the seed which the Lord hath blessed That this may be the everlasting covenant which God shall make with you and them Isai 59.21 that his Spirit and word shal not depart out of your mouth nor out of the mouth of your seed nor out of the mouth of your seeds seed from hence forth and for ever But that your Congregation may be a Zion which God hath chosen and desired for his habitation of which he may say Psal 132.13 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Is and God enabling me shall be the most hearty desire and prayer of him Who desireth to have no dominion over your faith but to be an helper of your joy ANTHONY TVCKNEY From St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge July 7. 1654. A BRIEFE EXPOSITION UPON ECCLESIASTES THis whole Book is a Discourse not unseasonable for this Countrey wherein men that have left all to enjoy the Gospel now as if they had forgotten the end for which they came hither are ready to leave the Gospel for outward things which are here lively and clearly demonstrated to be vanity yea vanity of vanities Obj. But were not something of Christ more proper for a Minister of the Gospel to handle Ans The way to stir us to seek after Christ is to behold and be convinced of the vanity of all things here below When Eve brought forth Cain she hoped she had got the Promised seed Gen. 4.1 with 3.15 But when she saw by his spirit and carriage that she was deceived in him she called her next sonne Abel Gen. 4.2 which signifieth vanity And so she must see all things to be before she bring forth Seth the Father of the promised seed Now Abel or vanity expresseth the state of all the creatures by the fall And Solomon taketh up Eves word and amplifieth it vanity yea vanity of vanities So this whole book is a Commentary upon the state of corruption Rom. 8.20 A fit Introduction to Christ in the Canticles ¶ CHAP. 1. Ver. 1 2. Ver. 1. The words of the Preacher the sonne of David King in Jerusalem 2. Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanity THe chiefe good of the sonnes of men which the morall Philosophers amongst the Heathen sought after but found not Solomon in this book truly and fully openeth to us The Philosophers being vain and wicked themselves how could they finde or teach the true chiefe good but this wise and good King upon his own experience both found it himselfe and taught us to finde it after him The summe of his discourse standeth upon these two points 1. That the chiefe good of the sonnes of men is not to be found in all the creatures under the Sun nor in mens labours and waies about them For they are all vanity and vexation of Spirit 2. That it is to be found in the feare of God and keeping his Commandements Chap. 12. v. 13. These two verses contain First the Title of the book wherein the book is set forth 1. By the Authour 2. And he by 1. His condition Coheleth 2. His Linage the sonne of David 3. By his Office a King 4. The place of his government in Hierusalem v. 1. Secondly the Argument or sum of his discourse or at least of the former part of it v. 2. Wherein is set forth 1. The condition of all things by the Adjunct of vanity all is vanity And this vanity is amplified by many ornaments of Rhetorique 1. An Hyperbole vanity it selfe for vaine 2. Polyptoton vanity of vanities 3. Epizeuxis the like sound continued in the same sentence vanity of vanities 4. Anadiplosis the same sound repeated in the end of one sentence and the beginning of the other vanity of vanities vanity c. 5. Epanalepsis the same sound repeated in the beginning of the sentence and in the end vanity c. all is vanity 6. Anaphora the same sound repeated in the beginning of the sentences
without quotations Vse 5. To exhort to the diligent reading and hearing of Scripture even Solomons books they are studiously written they are words of power delight uprightnesse truth Eccles 12.11 11. The words of the wise are as goads and as nailes fastned by the masters of assemblies which are given from one shepheard COherence see in verse 9. Doctr. 1. The Penmen of Scriptures and Teachers 〈◊〉 Gods people were for their spirit or gifts wise men for their place in the Church masters of the Assemblies and for their calling given by one shepheard Prov. 11.30 Reason 1. From their immediate carriage by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 Reason 2. From their discerning between the percious and vile Jer. 15.19 applying a fit word to either sort Isai 50.4 Reason 3. From writing and teaching unchangeable rules for all persons in all ages to which nothing can be added nor ought taken away Deut. 12.32 Reason 4. From fitnesse to withstand all oppositions Luke 21.15 Acts 6.9 10. Masters of Assemblies as being first some of them Magistrates though Prophets also as Moses Joshuah Samuel Daved Mordecai Nehemiah Secondly Some Priests as Jeremy Ezekiel c. Thirdly all of them Prophets immediately inspired by the Holy Ghost and so watchmen set over the flock Jer. 1.9 10. Ezek. 3.17 Object But their place in the Church is ministeriall not masterly 2 Cor. 1.24 4 5. 1 Pet. 5.3 Answ True because they command nothing in their own name but Christs 1 Cor. 4.1 but for the Churches good 2 Cor. 13.10 2 But yet in the name of Christ they call the Assemblies together Acts 6.2 and they rule them being gathered with commandments tebukes and with all authority Tit. 2.15 One shepheard is Christ John 10.11 16. 1 Pet. 2.25 5.5 Reason 1. As laying downe his life to purchase us Joh. 10.11 Reason 2. As providing food for us leading us into green pastures by still waters Psal 23.1 2. Reason 3. As healing our diseases and seeking us out in our wandrings Psal 23.3 Ezek. 34.16 Luke 15.4 he giveth the masters of the Assemblies Jer. 3.15 Ephes 4.8 11. Reason 1. As instituting their callings Ephes 4.8 11. Reason 2. As furnishing them with gifts Reason 3. As opening a doore for their entrance Joh. 10.9 Acts 20.28 Vse see after the next Doctrine Doct. 2. The words of Scripture are as goades and nailes fastened or implanted by the masters of the assemblies given by one Pastor As Goads to stirre up the people to duty 2 Pet. 1.13 3 1. and to subdue an enemy like Shamgars Goad Judg. 3.31 2 Cor. 10.4 5 As Nailes sticking fast in the foule Psal 119.93 and fastening us to God John 15.7 To our brethren and to our duties Neh. 10 29. Fastened or planted as Gen. 2.8 as if they were not dead as doore nailes nor dry pegs or stakes or nailes but living plants James 1.21 where his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may seem to allude to Solomons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place Ministers are Planters not onely in the first gathering of Churches 1 Cor. 3.67 but also in carrying on the rest of the worke as in building Implanted implyeth First The heart is pierced and cut by the word as in graffing or planting Acts 2.37 Secondly The word taking root in the heart wanting in the stony ground Matth. 13.21 not shaken out by wine musick merry company building businesse c. Thirdly Living in us Heb. 4.12 Fourthly Growing in us Acts 19.20 Fifthly Fruitful in us Luke 8.15 Col. 1 5 6. By the Masters of the Assemblies Implyeth they have a Ministerial worke in implanting and driving these nailes to the head 1 Cor. 3.6 2 Pet. 1.13 These words and the exciting and fastening power of them are given by one Pastor to wit by Christ as was opened in the former Doctrine Psal 68.11 Reason 1. The word is revealed by his spirit 2 Tim 3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 Reason 2. His spirit sharpneth and pointeth it as a Goad Psal 45.5 Reason 3. His spirit implanteth and fasteneth them Both the Doctrines may be thus comprised in one Doctr. The words of Scripture are the words of the wise quickning like Goads and fastened like Nailes implanted by many Masters of the Assemblies yet given by one Pastor Vse 1. See here what manner of persons the penmen of Scriptures and the Preachers of them be to wit 1. For their gifts wise 2. For their office Masters of Assemblies 3. For their calling given by one Pastor as in the former Doctrine Vse 2. To teach the Masters of Assemblies how the word should be handled wisely according to the sense of Scripture and to the estate of the people As Goades 1. Sharply piercingly Titus 1.13 quickning a dull spirit Psal 119.93 2. Subduing and wounding an enemy whether lust or gainsayer as Shamgars Goad Judg. 3.31 2 Cor. 10.4 5. Titus 1.9 As Nailes 1. Driving at first the sharp but smal end into the heart things that may most easily sinke and take place and enter Heb. 5.11 12 13. 2. Following the word with stronger matter which may hold the heart strongly and closely to God to Brethren and to Duty Implanted this done by dispensing the word 1. In faithful simplicity Jer. 23.28 29. Humane wit and authorities added to it doe but adulterate it like as Paint doth marble or as honey and wine in childrens milke as painted glasse windowes darken the light as a bumbasted sword hindreth cutting 2. In manifestation of the spirit breathing and speaking in the Scripture and breathing and speaking in the hearts and words and lives of Ministers Hence power 1 Cor. 2.2 3 4. 2 Cor. 13.3 4. Vse 3. To teach us the state of the people without Masters of the Assemblies to be wanting first in heavenly wisdome Jer. 4.22 Secondly in forwardnesse hence need of a goad to prick them forward Heb. 5.11 Thirdly in stedfastness hence need of nailes to fasten them Eph. 4.14 Vse 4. For triall when the word hath had his kindly and true effect and work in us to wit first when it quickneth us secondly when it strengthneth us thirdly when it is implanted in us Vse 5. To teach us to make use of Christ as our shepheard whether we be masters of Assemblies or sheep fed by them Eccles 12.12 12. And further by these my sonne be admonished of many books there is no end and much study is a wearinesse of the flesh IN these words as in the former Solomon exhorteth his sonne and in him all his subjects and in his subjects all Christians yea all men to be admonished by these books of Scripture whether penned by Solomon or other masters of the Assemblies See this former argument in v. 9. In this verse first from the sufficiency of these books by these my son be thou admonished Secondly from the unprofitablenesse and wearisomnesse of making and studying many other books Of making many books there is no end and much study a wearynesse of the flesh Doct.