Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11:1

Cast thy bread] It must be thine, well gotten, Ephes. IV. 28.

upon the waters] Where it may seeme clearly cast away, as if it were throwne into the Sea: lost, because the poor cannot recompence thee againe, Luke XIV. 12, 13, 14. Yet lend in that manner, looking for nothing againe, Luke VI. 35. God will repay it, Prov. XIX. 17. Esay LVIII. 7. Yet some by water here do understand moist and fertil soile; well watered, or grounds on the sides of waters, such as on the banks of Nilus, which yeeld increase very abundantly: And, that so plen¦tifully God will reward thy almes to the poor.

In the former Chapter, as the Great Annotations do well observe, Solomon shewed the excellent use of true wisdome, as a means of tranquility of minde, and Remedy against the vanity and vexation of outward things, in Ordering our behaviour aright toward Superiours, for prevention of those dangers which their displeasure might subject us unto. In this Chapter he further discovereth the use thereof, unto the same end of comfortable living; so still pursuing his principal argument touching tranquility and comfort of life, in Ordering our behaviour towards Inferiours, those especially that are in want.

shalt finde it after] Gal. VI. 9. Prov. XI. 25. and XIX. 17. James V. 7. 2 Cor. IX. 6,—10. Matth. XIX. 21. Deut. XV. 9, 10.

Ecclesiastes 11:2

to seven, and also to eight] Micah V. 5. To many: as waters formerly, in the plural number, may likewise intimate. The necessity of a man may require it, when his person doth not deserve it. And thy ability must guide thee to Give with discretion, Psal. CXII. 5. Luke VI. 30. Prov. XXXI. 20.

thou knowest not what evil] Therefore sowe whilest thou hast it: work while the toole is in thy hand, James IV. 14. Prov. XXVII. 1. By bounty evil of punishments and judgements is prevented: by unmercifulnesse to the poor, it is procured.

Ecclesiastes 11:3

If the clouds] They emptie themselves in showers for the good of the earth. So should rich men do, Psal. CXII. 9. And the showers fal upon all the ground, this as well as that. And so should the full and rich, not too solicitously enquire who it is to whom they give; He is a man, and needie man.

and if the tree fall] Fall it must; and man must die. And as death leaves him, judgement findes him; and sentence goes upon him, for the right hand, or the left, according to his carriage towards the poor, Matth. XXV. 33,—46. Or, This seemes a vulgar Proverb touching things of small concerment, care, or choise. And to imply that our ordinarie almes should fall upon any, this or that poor, and be distributed as it were with a blinde hand, or hood-winkt eye, without any over-curious choise.

He that observeth the winde] We must not stand scrupling and casting perils and objections and pretences to hinder or delay our Alms-giving; and come with our Talent tied up in a napkin. Whereas any pertext serves the covetous miser, not to give.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

What is the way of the Spirit] Of the winde, say some, John III. 8. Of the Soul rather how it comes into the body, and quickens it.

Nor how the bones] Psal. CXXXIX. 14, 15, 16. Job X. 8,—13.

Knowest not the works of God] The works of his Providence; how he may dispose of thy life, and state, and ability of doing good: And therefore thou must take the present season and opportunity, and not delay and defer it lest the Lord haply will put thee out of all capacitie and meanes to do it. Neither knowest thou by what secret and wondrous wayes he may recompence thy liberality.

Ecclesiastes 11:6

In the morning] At all times, upon every occasion and opportunity, chap. IX. 10. John IX. 4 Begin betimes, and continue to the end, lose not a day.

Whether shall prosper) Though sometimes thy bounty prove misplaced; and it be ten to one if any cured Leper returne to give thanks; yet thy reward is sure from God, Heb. VI. 10. Matth. X. 41, 42. 1 Kings XVII. 13,—16.

Ecclesiastes 11:7

The light is sweet] The light of life, as appears in the opposition, verse 8. And specialy a lightsome joyful life is such, Job II. 4. 1 Kings XX. 32. Esther VII. 3. Life was given as a prey and reward to Ebedmelech and Baruc, Jer. XXXIX. 18. and XLV. 5. Yet consider it will end in death; dayes of darknesse will come. Therefore unto compleat happinesse there is yet more to be done; not only to gaine and secure the comforts of this life, and tranquility of minde here amidst all the vanities and vexations of it; In which search and point Solomon had hitherto laboured; But also to get the assurance of a better life after this; which is the businesse of Solomon in the remaining part of this Book.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

But if a man live] And sit in the worlds warme Sun-shine, and say he shall never be moved, Job XXI. 7,—13.

yet let him remember] That the light will be turned into darknesse, the dark dayes will come of old age and death, chap. VI. 4. Job X. 21. Psal. VIII. 12, 13. and CXLIII. 3. and they so many, as that the lightsome days of life will seeme but a warm gleame, a momentanie glance; which remembrance should coole our hot desires after the vanites of this life, and lay our lusts a bleeding and a dying at our feet, 1 Pet. II. 12. All that cometh, every man, every thing that hapneth, is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Rejoyce O young man] No encouragement; but a scoff and ironie, derides his folly, Like that of Elias to the Baalites; and many more in Scripture.

and walk in the wayes] Go on in the choise and chase of thy hearts desires.

But know thou] To thy cost, though such would faine baffle their knowledge, and blinde the eye of their understanding; yet it will not be. As Esay XXVI. 11. 1 King. XXII. 25. 2 Pet. III. 5.

that for all these things] This mars the mirth; leavens all; is sowre sauce to his sweet meats.

God will bring thee] Whether thou wilt, or no, when thou shalt in vaine call to rocks to hide thee.

into judgement] If not in this life; yet at thy death, thy doomesday; and at the judgement of the great day, Jude 6. called The terror of the Lord, 2 Cor. V. 10. Acts XVII 30. See Esay XXVIII. 17.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow] Sinne, which is the true cause of sorrow, as the end will prove, Prov. XIV. 13. and the true cause of Gods indignation. Or, particularly this sinne of thy indignation, and all inordinate passions, thy swelling and storming at the will and wayes of God, or at any serious advice given thee. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Remember] 1. Chron. XXVIII. 9. Prov. XXIII. 17.