BibleWare/BibWare.bin/bibref/mhc.exe/EC.TXT

Text File | 1996-06-12 | 37KB | 675 lines

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** The name of this book signifies "The Preacher." The wisdom of
God here preaches to us, speaking by Solomon, who it is evident
was the author. At the close of his life, being made sensible of
his sin and folly, he recorded here his experience for the
benefit of others, as the book of his repentance; and he
pronounced all earthly good to be "vanity and vexation of
spirit." It convinces us of the vanity of the world, and that it
cannot make us happy; of the vileness of sin, and its certain
tendency to make us miserable. It shows that no created good can
satisfy the soul, and that happiness is to be found in God
alone; and this doctrine must, under the blessed Spirit's
teaching, lead the heart to Christ Jesus.

* Solomon shows that all human things are vain. (1-3) Man's toil
and want of satisfaction. (4-8) There is nothing new. (9-11) The
vexation in pursuit of knowledge. (12-18)

#1-3 Much is to be learned by comparing one part of Scripture
with another. We here behold Solomon returning from the broken
and empty cisterns of the world, to the Fountain of living
water; recording his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his
disappointment, and the lessons he had learned. Those that have
taken warning to turn and live, should warn others not to go on
and die. He does not merely say all things are vain, but that
they are vanity. VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. This is the
text of the preacher's sermon, of which in this book he never
loses sight. If this world, in its present state, were all, it
would not be worth living for; and the wealth and pleasure of
this world, if we had ever so much, are not enough to make us
happy. What profit has a man of all his labour? All he gets by
it will not supply the wants of the soul, nor satisfy its
desires; will not atone for the sins of the soul, nor hinder the
loss of it: what profit will the wealth of the world be to the
soul in death, in judgment, or in the everlasting state?

#4-8 All things change, and never rest. Man, after all his
labour, is no nearer finding rest than the sun, the wind, or the
current of the river. His soul will find no rest, if he has it
not from God. The senses are soon tired, yet still craving what
is untried.

#9-11 Men's hearts and their corruptions are the same now as in
former times; their desires, and pursuits, and complaints, still
the same. This should take us from expecting happiness in the
creature, and quicken us to seek eternal blessings. How many
things and persons in Solomon's day were thought very great, yet
there is no remembrance of them now!

#12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found
his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh,
but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the
sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his
spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor
do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of
knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so
that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and
mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this
vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the
knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour.
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* The vanity and vexation of mirth, sensual pleasure, riches,
and pomp. (1-11) Human wisdom insufficient. (12-17) This world
to be used according to the will of God. (18-26)

#1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What
does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The
manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the
world, and their changing from one thing to another, are like
the restlessness of a man in a fever. Perceiving it was folly to
give himself to wine, he next tried the costly amusements of
princes. The poor, when they read such a description, are ready
to feel discontent. But the remedy against all such feelings is
in the estimate of it all by the owner himself. All was vanity
and vexation of spirit: and the same things would yield the same
result to us, as to Solomon. Having food and raiment, let us
therewith be content. His wisdom remained with him; a strong
understanding, with great human knowledge. But every earthly
pleasure, when unconnected with better blessings, leaves the
mind as eager and unsatisfied as before. Happiness arises not
from the situation in which we are placed. It is only through
Jesus Christ that final blessedness can be attained.

#12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable
to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will
not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a
stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most
ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the
body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just
men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we
might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation
of spirit.

#18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of
great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at
length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have
much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges
to the world, which affords a man nothing better than
subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this
respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof,
according to his rank and condition. But we must enjoy good in
our labour; we must use those things to make us diligent and
cheerful in worldly business. And this is the gift of God.
Riches are a blessing or a curse to a man, according as he has,
or has not, a heart to make a good use of them. To those that
are accepted of the Lord, he gives joy and satisfaction in the
knowledge and love of him. But to the sinner he allots labour,
sorrow, vanity, and vexation, in seeking a worldly portion,
which yet afterwards comes into better hands. Let the sinner
seriously consider his latter end. To seek a lasting portion in
the love of Christ and the blessings it bestows, is the only way
to true and satisfying enjoyment even of this present world.
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* The changes of human affairs. (1-10) The Divine counsels
unchangeable. (11-15) The vanity of worldly power. (16-22)

#1-10 To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must
end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life,
is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the
government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and
good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every
good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus
labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may
always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be
idle.

#11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us.
We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with
thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time
nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only
gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against
the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born
for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life,
which is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be
doing good, therefore we should redeem time. Satisfaction with
Divine Providence, is having faith that all things work together
for good to them that love him. God doeth all, that men should
fear before him. The world, as it has been, is, and will be.
There has no change befallen us, nor has any temptation by it
taken us, but such as is common to men.

#16-22 Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set that
aside, and judges will not use their power well. And there is
another Judge that stands before the door. With God there is a
time for the redressing of grievances, though as yet we see it
not. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive,
that by choosing this world as their portion