Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Keep thy foot] Having searched and found, That neither humane Wisdome and Knowledge; nor Pleasures, nor Riches, nor Honours, or Crowns, can make men happy, but are all full of vanitie and vexation; and that it is a thing beyond the sphere and activitie of any creature for to do; He now ascends higher, to search for it in the worship and service of God. And discovers even here much vanity; not in the thing it self; but as it is performed by vaine and foolish men. And therfore for remedy of this, he prescribes sundry Caveats to prevent it: And first this in these words, Keep thy foot: Where the letters are plural, the Points direct to read it in the singular number. That all and every one should look well to his affections and inward man, that all be composed and in a right temper when he goes to worship God, Ps. LVII. 7, 8. and CIII 1. See Exod.

III. 5. and chap. XIX. 21. Josh. V. 15.

house of God] The Gate of Heaven, Gen. XXVIII. 17. Psal. CXVIII. 20. the beauty of holinesse, Psal. XCVI. 9. This the likeliest place where Felicitie is to be found. But here then our preparation before, and our deportment in this place, must be, as in the Presence of God, looking him full in the face.

ready to hear] As Acts X. 33. which includes obedience in it, Psal. LXXXV. 8. Job XXXIV. 32. 1 Sam. III. 10. Acts IX. 6. James I. 19.

the sacrifice of fooles] Outward services and ceremonies foolish sinners are apt enough to, to load God with, even to loathing, Esay I. 11, 14. So as their heart and inward man, in spirit and truth, may be free to themselves, and farre enough from God, 1 Sam. XV. 22.

that they do evil] In so doing; doubling their iniquity by a seeming sanctitie, Ios. XI. 12. Esay LXVI. 3.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

nor rash] In prayer to God, Rom. VIII. 26. nor hastie, precipitate, unadvised.

for God is in heaven] Job XXVI. 14. Esay LVII. 15. Come thou with all possible reverence, humilitie, and self-abasement, Job XLII. 6. Gen. XVIII. 27.

few] Luke XVIII. 13. Matth. XXVI. 39, 42, 44. Against battologie, Matth. VI. 7. Prov. X. 19.

Ecclesiastes 5:3

For a dream] Multitude of businesse produceth dreames; multitude of words, which usualy are rash, hasty, and sudden, produceth folly; specialy in Prayer to God, chap. X. 14.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

Vowest] Of vowes, see my Annotations on Jonah I. 16.

Ecclesiastes 5:5

Better] It is a voluntarie service to vow, Num. XXX. But being lawfully made, must be performed, Deut. XXIII. 21, 22, 23.

Ecclesiastes 5:6

neither say thou before the Angel] Exod. XXIII. 20, 21. that Angel of the Covenant, Mal. III. 1. Psal. II. 12.

Ecclesiastes 5:7

For in the multitude of dreams] Verse 3. Prov. X. 19. As in those are many Vanities, so vaine will thy many words and excuses be, in pleading an erroneous mistake, and extenuating the non-performances of thy vowes and promises to God.

but fear thou God] The true remedy against the former vanities, of rash vowes and prayers, and addresses to God. The fear of God is the foundation of all holy duties.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

Marvaile not] Be not amazed, or astonished; to doubt of God, or his Providence, or to forsake his service; Many are sorely tempted hereby.

for he that is higher] There lies an appeale to an higher Court. And wherein they deale proudly he is above them, Exod. XVIII. 11. Psal. LXXVI. 12.

higher then they] Higher here in the plural number, may relate to the holy Trinity or to Angels, by whom God doth punish Princes, Esay XXXVII. 36. Acts XII. 23.

Ecclesiastes 5:9

Moreover the profit of the earth] Is for all men, and uses; and above all other profits.

the King] 1 Chron. XXVII. 26. 2 Chron. XXVI. 10. Amos VII. 1. The commendation of tillage, and grasing. And this shewes the vanity of earthly felicity, When the highest stands in need of the lowest, to sustaine and support them.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Shall not be satisfied with silver] The loving and desiring doth increase with the having. It cannot therefore be mans chiefest good, seeing it doth not terminate and satisfie the appetite. They can never say, It is enough; but are like the grave, and barren womb, Prov. XXX. 15, 16.

Ecclesiastes 5:11

What good?] Little else; and that is small enough.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep] And herein he hath advantage over that great rich man. And this vanity of riches he pursueth in the five verses following.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

He resumeth in this, and the two next verses his former assertion touching the right use of Riches; And concludeth with it, as he did, chap. II. 24, 25, 26.