Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6:1

An evil] Another and another, one still after another, our lives full of them. And yet we vainly dote on this life, which is indeed but a lingring death.

common] Usual among all sorts of men; an epidemical evil disease.

Ecclesiastes 6:2

God hath given] In way of Providence: as he maketh his Sunne to shine, and raine to fall, on the good and bad.

Wanteth nothing] That he can justly and reasonably desire; though indeed this covetous mans desires are bottomlesse and boundlesse; And he wants all things, not having power to make use of any thing.

but a stranger] Hos. VII. 9. Jer. V. 17. Lam. V. 2.

Ecclesiastes 6:3

many years] And many children; not like him, chap. IV. 8. But filled both with children, and years; and yet not filled with good, with the comfortable use and fruition of his blessings and estate; lives beside it, is not master of it, but mastered by it.

no burial] Deut. XXVIII. 26. Jer. XXII. 19. through enemies; or greedy heirs to such covetous caitifs, and niggardly misers.

an untimely birth] An abortive, that comes from birth to burial, from womb to tomb, Matth. XXVI. 24.

is better then he] He is in rest; having never had sense or reason, to feel losse or pane, ver. 4, 5.

A thousand years] Which never man yet did.

Ecclesiastes 6:6

yet hath he seene no good] Better then to have beene without those years; they did but lengthen his misery, Prov. XV. 15. Job XIV. 1.

to one place?] The house appointed for all living, Job XXX. 23. Esay L. 11. Thus he findes in the end all to be vanity, and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 6:7

For his mouth] For food, and rayment for his body. This is all he can have, of all his worldly labours. And a little of this would suffice him.

appetite] Yet that is never filled, it is insatiable, chap. V. 16. nor can be filled with these worldly things, much lesse his soul can: Riches have no suitablenesse with it, no proportion, either in excellency or in duration unto it.

Ecclesiastes 6:8

Wise more then the foole?] Speaking with relation to wealth, and the event of outward things. These things promiscuously happen to all, without peculiar prerogative to any: and beyond their own natural use they are not able to supply a wise man more then a fool: and the fool may have as much, and as much also of them, as the wise.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes] To enjoy quietly and contentedly what a man hath in present possession; then to wander and rove up and down in desire and pursuit of what we have not, and cannot hardly attaine; but endlesly weary our selves in hawking and hunting after them, which never will, nor can satisfie.

Ecclesiastes 6:10

That which hath beene, the name] And nature of it is known already. That which is hoped for hereafter, is yet unknown.

That it is man] Man still, earthly Adam, sorry man, be his wealth or greatnesse what it will. And God will make him know himself so to be, Psal. IX. 20. Ezek. XXVIII. 6, 9. Esay II. 22. and XXXI. 3.

Contend with] To enter plea against God, or require a reason of his judgements, or strive against this streame, thinking to alter or break through the order & bounds of his Providence or decrees, Esay XLV. 9. Job IX. 2, 3, 12. and IV. 17. and chap. XXXIV. 23. Jer. L. 44. Rom. IX. 20.

Ecclesiastes 6:11

Seeing there be many things] A solemne conclusion of all the former discoveries of vanities in the Creatures; averring that first set down, chap. I. 3. which is the maine matter of this Book.

What is man the better?] In regard of sound and solid happinesse, for any, or for all the former vanities.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

For who knoweth] The animal creatures by instinct of nature know what is good for them, to maintaine their being, and well-being; to remedy their maladies. But man knoweth not what is good for him, What is best for him in this life, as to the things of this life; Whether to be rich or poor, &c. Achitophel might have lived longer with lesse wisdome: Nabal with lesse riches: Herod with lesse pride and praise, &c. God is pleased to shew man the only good, Mic. VI. 8. and Solomon, chap. XII. ver. 13, 14.

vaine life] This life it self, a vaine shadow, Psal. CXLIV. 4. and XXXIX. 6. Job XIV. 2. and chap. VIII. 1 Chron. XXIX. 15.

What shall be after him] He cannot promise to himself, when he is gone, any satisfactorie content, in name, family, and posterity, no more then he could in his life-time, to himself, chap. II. 18, 19. Nescis quid serus vesper vehat.