Ecclesiastes 7

Notes

Ver. 1. A good reputation is of more advantage for rendering us useful and happy than all the riches, pleasures, and honours of this world: and the day of death, which frees men from the miseries of this world, is preferable to the day of birth, which introduces into a life in which the enjoyments do not sufficiently balance the evils of it. 2-6. It is far safer and more profitable to attend occasions of mourning and faithful reproof, which conduce to make men thoughtful of death and eternity, and render them wise unto salvation; than of revelling, mirth, and folly, which seduce men into heedless dissipation. 7. Grievous oppression will provoke even wise men to unseemly rage and behaviour; and bribes received will corrupt the judgment and pervert the affections of the best. 8. We ought more to regard how a thing turns out at last, than what promising appearances it has at first. 10. In bewailing the evils of our times, we ought carefully to avoid all murmuring at the dispensations of Providence, as if they were not equal. 11. When rich men are truly wise, they may do much good to others with their wealth in this world; 12. For both wisdom and wealth may be laid out for our protection and safety; but it is true piety and prudence that promote spiritual comfort and eternal happiness. 13, 14. To prevent murmuring, we ought carefully to observe how wise, just, and powerful God's operations are, and consider ourselves incapable of changing, even the most afflictive events of Providence, to our liking. In the time of prosperity we should therefore acknowledge God's goodness, and enjoy the benefit of it; and in the day of adversity we ought to consider the nature, author, and end of our afflictions, so as to make a good use of them: for God has disposed them in such variety, that none might be able to foresee future events in his particular lot. 15. I have often observed the most pious men sorely afflicted, and apparently miserable in this world; and the most wicked long enjoy an outward prosperity. 16-18. It is therefore necessary that men should avoid all needless scrupulosity and rash zeal not warranted by God's Word, lest it bring them into unnecessary troubles;—and especially should we avoid, with the utmost care, presumptuous sinning, lest, however he bear with others, it should provoke God quickly to cut us off, and send us to hell in our wickedness.—It is of great use to receive heartily and practise carefully this advice: for it is the true fearer of God who, by a circumspect regard to his law, shall escape both the extremes and their evil consequences. 19, 20. True piety and prudence tend more to direct, help, and protect men, than all human helps; even though the best are liable to manifold failings.—24. Human wisdom may judge of things present and obvious, but not of things future and mysterious. 25. I attempted a most careful and comprehensive search into God's providences, and men's counsels, conduct, and sinfulness; 26. And with grief and shame, I find that nothing more effectually entices and fixes men in guilt and ruin than a whorish woman. It is only by the remarkable mercy of God, and the most earnest and watchful piety, that one can either avoid or escape from her temptations; and often it is that those who have otherwise offended him are ruined by her influence. 27, 28. Here and there a truly honest man may be found among my courtiers: but a modest, plain-hearted, humble, and sincere woman have I not found among all my thousand wives and concubines.

Ver. 1. Precious ointment. Many unguents were of very great value among the Jews, as appears from Jn. 12. 3, where a single pound was estimated at about £9, 13s. 6d. British. Taking then a Roman penny at 7½d. or 7¾d. for the daily wages of a labourer, Mat. 20. 12, 13, and comparing it with modern wages in the neighbourhood of cities, the price of the ointment will be greatly in-creased.—Note, There is no name really good but that of a 'son of God,' 1 Jn. 3. 1; and to such a one, but to no other, the day of death is better than the day of his birth, Job 3. 5. C.

Ver. 15. Solomon prophetically foresees, and in this verse describes, Christ the only Son of man that ever had righteousness, ver. 20; Ro. 3. 10; and, by necessary consequence, the only one that could perish in 'his righteousness.' The second clause of the verse foresees and describes Antichrist, 2 Th. 2. 8. C.

Ver. 16. Be not righteous over-much. Be not a justifier over-much—that is, a self-justifier. Ro. 1. 17; 3. 22, 26; 5. 18, 19, 21; 10. 4; 1 Co. 1. 30 will discover what is the only true and sufficient righteousness; while Lu. 18. 9-14; Ro. 10. 3; Phi. 3. 9 will discover the basis of that 'over much' righteousness upon which Pharisees built of old, and upon which the Romanists have raised their acts of supererogation—works even beyond what were necessary for the workers' own salvation, and therefore applicable to the salvation of others. C.

Ver. 28. The 'one man' found, being perfect Christ; the woman sought is a perfect church. See Ga. 4. 26, 27, 31; Re. 12. 1, 6, 14-17. This scriptural interpretation, ch. 8. 1, of Solomon's parabolic inquiry, presents no splenetic record of his own experience; no harsh and more than questionable sentence on the relative intellectual and religious attainments and character of the sexes; consequently no unfilial stricture upon his own mother; no cruel and unfounded satire on half the population of the earth. C.

Reflections.—A truly good character is very valuable, and ought to be sought for and maintained with the greatest care. Happy is the death of those who die in the Lord! Let us then live much in the serious consideration of our last end. Christian reproofs are highly requisite to make or keep us grave and serious, amidst so much folly and so many flashes of vain mirth as take place in the world. The very worst of things effectually work for the good of the saints. And a humble and patient resignation to the will of God makes us easy under the most grievous adversity and oppression. Christian wisdom and prudence tend greatly to our direction, safety, happiness, and strength.—They teach us to view God's hand in all that befalls us; to accommodate ourselves to every providence as it comes; and neither to be offended with the prosperity of the wicked nor the adversity of the godly in this life; to guard against all extremes: and, under a deep sense of our own faults, to carry ourselves mildly toward others who are overtaken in a fault. How short-sighted are the wisest of mortals with respect to the most important objects! But great is the mercy if they are brought to see their own leading follies and crimes, and, by the sight thereof, are led to repentance, to a deep sense of the riches of God's grace, and to search out the sinfulness of their heart and nature, till they apprehend themselves utterly vile before God.