Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25300

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 8KB | 145 lines

25303
 #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.

25309
 #18-26 Our hearts are very loath 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.
25318
 * 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.

25328
 #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.

25333
 #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, they brought
 themselves to a level with the beasts, without being free, as
 they are, from present vexations and a future account. Both
 return to the dust from whence they were taken. What little
 reason have we to be proud of our bodies, or bodily
 accomplishments! But as none can fully comprehend, so few
 consider properly, the difference between the rational soul of
 man, and the spirit or life of the beast. The spirit of man goes
 upward, to be judged, and is then fixed in an unchangeable state
 of happiness or misery. It is as certain that the spirit of the
 beast goes downward to the earth; it perishes at death. Surely
 their case is lamentable, the height of whose hopes and wishes
 is, that they may die like beasts. Let our inquiry be, how an
 eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment? To
 answer this, is the grand design of revelation. Jesus is
 revealed as the Son of God, and the Hope of sinners.
25340
 * Miseries from oppression. (1-3) Troubles from envy. (4-6) The
 folly of covetousness. (7,8) The advantages of mutual
 assistance. (9-12) The changes of royalty. (13-16)

 #1-3 It grieved Solomon to see might prevail against right.
 Wherever we turn, we see melancholy proofs of the wickedness and
 misery of mankind, who try to create trouble to themselves and
 to each other. Being thus hardly used, men are tempted to hate
 and despise life. But a good man, though badly off while in this
 world, cannot have cause to wish he had never been born, since
 he is glorifying the Lord, even in the fires, and will be happy
 at last, for ever happy. Ungodly men have most cause to wish the
 continuance of life with all its vexations, as a far more
 miserable condition awaits them if they die in their sins. If
 human and worldly things were our chief good, not to exist would
 be preferable to life, considering the various oppressions here
 below.
25343
 #4-6 Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to
 well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose
 efforts are crowned with success. They often become great and
 prosperous, but this excites envy and opposition. Others, seeing
 the vexations of an active course, foolishly expect more
 satisfaction in sloth and idleness. But idleness is a sin that
 is its own punishment. Let us by honest industry lay hold on the
 handful, that we may not want necessaries, but not grasp at both
 hands full, which would only create vexation of spirit. Moderate
 pains and gains do best.
25346
 #7,8 Frequently, the more men have, the more they would have;
 and on this they are so intent, that they get no enjoyment from
 what they have. Selfishness is the cause of this evil. A selfish
 man cares for nobody; there is none to take care of but himself,
 yet he will scarcely allow necessary rest to himself, and the
 people he employs. He never thinks he has enough. He has enough
 for his calling, for his family, but he has not enough for his
 eyes. Many are so set upon the world, that in pursuit of it they
 bereave themselves, not only of the favour of God and eternal
 life, but of the pleasures of this life. The distant relations
 or strangers who inherit such a man's wealth, never thank him.
 Covetousness gathers strength by time and habit; men tottering
 on the brink of the grave, grow more grasping and griping. Alas,
 and how often do we see men professing to be followers of Him,
 who, "though he was rich, for our sakes became poor," anxiously
 scraping money together and holding it fast, excusing themselves
 by common-place talking about the necessity of care, and the
 danger of extravagance!

25348
 #9-12 Surely he has more satisfaction in life, who labours hard
 to maintain those he loves, than the miser has in his toil. In
 all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the
 union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or
 friendly reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they
 converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his
 praises. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian
 fellowship. In these things all is not vanity, though there will
 be some alloy as long as we are under the sun. Where two are
 closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Christ will by his
 Spirit come to them; then there is a threefold cord.