Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:1

The words] Solomons Ethicks, his Sapiential Tractate of the Sovereign good; his Retractations and Penitential Sermon; his Experiments.

of the Preacher] Or of a preaching soul. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being Foeminine, hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the soul understood. The penitent convert; gathering himself to the Church. He again gives himself this title, chap. I. 2, 12. and VII. 27. and XII. 8, 9, 10. Yet in those places it is construed with a Masculine. And so the foeminine is sometimes used for the Common gender, which is wanting with the Hebrews. The Greeks and Latins render it in the Masculine, Ecclesiastes. David published his Repentance in Psal. LI.

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Vanitie of vanities] Psal. CXLIV. 4. and XXXIX. 5. All Adam is all, Abel even at his best estate, altogether vanitie. And all worldly things are so, an heap, a nest of vanities; vanitie in the abstract. This the last issue and result, the upshot of all his curious critical enquirie, search, and experiments.

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what profit] A chief point in the wise mans Compasse, is, cui bono? Who will shew us any good? Thus worldly men look after this, Psal. IV. 6. Yea, wicked men in their overtures of Religion, Mal. III. 14. No profit, towards the attainment of true happinesse.

Labour which, &c.] A labour in order to things above the Sunne will profit, Phil. III. 20. Colos. III. 1, 2. John VI. 27. No toilsome labour in earthly things will do so. Nothing remaineth or abideth with him, nothing more is added to him by it; it addes nothing of real worth unto him at all. That we shall finde to be truth, which is in Habak. II. 13, 6.

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One generation] Ecclesiasticus XIV. 18. Meere man is but the dream of a dream, a curious picture of nothing. Mortalitie is the stage of mutabilitie: The inward principles of change and alteration are alwayes working. The children thrust out the fathers.

but the earth] Whereon as on a stage, the several Generations act their parts, and go off, others come on.

abideth for ever] Till its time of change, in the end of all, 2 Pet. III. 10. See my Observations on Deut. XV. 17. The duration of the earth, opposed to every mans duration, not the motion or standing of it, is here intended.

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The Sunne] Psal. XIX. 3. There is one constant course in Nature, and its actings. Of the Sunne, see my Observations on Psal XIX. 5. See Job XIV. 7, 12. Here the earth stands, and the Sunne moveth round about it.

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The winde] Thus whirleth, and returneth: though in some parts of the world in some moneths of the year, they have a very regular and uniforme motion.

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Rivers] Runne thither whence they come through pores and passages of the earth, whereby they lose their saltnesse. Thus which way ever we cast our eyes, we every where meet with evidences of inconstancie and mutability here below, as testimonies of that vanitie which all things under the Sunne are subject unto; so that man cannot finde fatisfaction and full content in them.

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full of labour] All these things are sweeter in the ambition, then in the fruition, Prov. XXVII. 7, 20. After our utmost endeavours for plenarie satisfaction in the things of this world and this life, we are still to seek, because it is not in them; we do so but seek for the living among the dead, as Luke XXIV. 5. And they tyre us in the search, and toylesome labour after them; and cloy us in the use.

man cannot utter it] If not Solomon, then surely no man, chap. II. 12. As on the other side our happinesse in God, to our joy, is unutterable, 1 Cor. II. 9. 2 Cor. XII. 4.

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The thing] Happinesse cannot be extracted out of the creature; never was, nor ever can be.

no new thing] Though some kinde of new inventions be, as Gunpowder, Printing, the Mariners Compasse, &c. yet but of the old stamp, as to this maine use and purpose; they come still from defective and insufficient principles of happinesse, chap. III. 15. no new thing out of which man can extract real content, comfort, and satisfaction, or any principle of true happinesse and blessednesse, more then out of old and former things. And indeed Solomon speaks here of natural things, and their natural actions.

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This is new?] Such new things as may so farre surpasse the discoveries before, as to be able to satisfie the heart, and make man happie? They are indeed new-nothings.

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There is no remembrance] If some new things be found out, as many old things are forgotten. How many things never Recorded? How many ancient Records totaly perished? How many fragments remaining? And so shall it be of things hereafter. No new thing is, or shall be more pregnant of satisfaction to mans heart and happiness, then hath beene heretofore. No such thing on earth, or in the creature can be found. Only it is in God, and in the new creature from him, when he gives us a new heart, and a new spirit, Ezek. XXXVI. 26. puts a new spirit within us, Ezek. XI. 19. and a new name upon us, Esay LXII. 2.

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I the Preacher] None had more abilities, and helps to extract happinesse out of the creatures, and these worldly things, then Solomon had. And therefore his verdict may be credited.

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And I gave my heart] Solomon made this point his task; and that in the extent and utmost employment of his great wisdome, chap. II. 3, 9. chap. IX. 10.

all things] 1 Kings IV. 33. and chap. X. 23, 24. the several kinds of them, all natural causes and effects; all humane counsel and events.

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and vexation of spirit] Active enough hereunto; far enough from making him truly happy, Chap. XII. 12. chap. I. 18.

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That which is crooked] Chap. VII. 13. The most excellent natural knowledge will not do either the one, or the other; rectifie what is amisse, or supply what is defective.

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I communed] And this without vaine boasting, 1 Kings III. 12. and chap. IV. 30. and X. 7, 23. 2 Kings III. and IV. and V. and X. none can out-do him herein.

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and to know madnesse and folly] Chap. II. 12. and VII. 23. experimental knowledge he did practise himself in. He found by experience that neither course could quiet or settle the heart of man, chap. XI. 8, 9. 1 Cor. I. 20.

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In much wisdome is much grief] Many wayes, and upon manifold occasions, Verse 14.