Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9:1

FOr all this] Hee gives a reason of what hee had said concerning Gods unsearchable providence: because that he himselfe, though endowed with so much wisedome, could not conceive his intentions towards the good and the wicked, in the chances of this life No man knoweth] Namely by his owne bae understanding, by the naturall light, and by the bare consideration of the chances of this world, without the guide of Gods Word and spirit All that is] It seemes that, goods and evills doe meet confusedly and by chance before the one and the other in the course of this world.

Ecclesiastes 9:2

That sweareth] Falsly, or in vaine That feareth] Because of the respect hee beareth to Gods holy name, he forbeareth to heare, unlesse it be in cases of necessitie.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

While they live] By reason of this indifferencie of events, worldly men doe daily in their wickednesse, whereby they die in the state of damnation.

Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joyned] The Italian, For he that is chsen] I speak so of men in generall, for the number of Gods elect which are redeemed from sin and death through his grace, is but very small There is] Whilest life doth last, the gate of hope and repentance is open; but men doe not make use of this opportunity to their owne salvation A living dogge] That is to say, a great sinner, is happier whilest God grants him life, and gives him time to bee converted, then hee that is not so great a sinner (compared to a Lion, which is a more Noble, and not so uncleane a beast as a dogge) that dieth in his sin.

Ecclesiastes 9:5

Know] And through the feare of death may bee induced to repent Know not] Not that their soules doe lose all knowledge and remembrance: which would bee no otherwise then if they did perish quite; but because it availeth them nothing to salvation A reward] Set downe for vertue, as there is in this world, which is the place appointed for us to labour and runne our race in The memory of them] God hath for ever cast them off, sa. 88. 5.

Ecclesiastes 9:6

Is now] They and their worldly desires are enfolded in eternall perdition: and have no more fruition of the world, especially in respect of repentance.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Goe thy way] Hee now turnes his speech to the faithfull, exhorting them to sweeten the bitternesse of this life, and the remembrance of death, by a sweet fruition of the goods of this world in holinesse, temperance, chastitie and purenesse of life For God now] The Italian, If God]If God gives thee cause so to doe, by blessing thee in the exercising of thy vocation.

Ecclesiastes 9:8

White] According to the custome of the ancients, at their rejoycings, and banquets.

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Of thy vanity] Namely of this thy poore transitory life.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatsoever] Namely that is lawfull according to God, and that hee gives thee meanes to doe.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

And saw] I have observed that though a man bee endowed with good gifts and qualities, yet it is not in his power to produce alwayes the like effects; which depend upon the free concurrency of Gods action. And therefore the wise man must not hope to be alwayes happie in the world, but must prepare himselfe for sinister chances. See Eccles. 3. 1. and 7. 14.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

His time] Namely the time of calamitie which God hath prepared for him.

Ecclesiastes 9:13

Have I seene also] As wisedome doth not alwayes produce its proper effects, so doth it at some times worke beyond all humane apprehension, through the assistance and co-operation of Gods power.

Ecclesiastes 9:14

There was] It is not certainely knowne whether this bee a parable, or a true history, as Proverbs 7:6. See somewhat like unto this, 2 Samuel chap. 20. ver. 16.

Ecclesiastes 9:15

Yet no man] Though before by reason of his povertie, no man made any account of him; and that he lay obscure, and his name was not taken notice of. Others, and none remembred him: Namely after they had received that benefit from him.

Ecclesiastes 9:17

In quiet] That is to say with reverence and attention; without any contradiction. See Job 29:1-25. ver. 21, 23.