An exposition of Ecclesiastes, or, The preacher

Vers. XVIII. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comly for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour, that he taketh vnder the Sun, all the days of his Life, which God giveth him: for, it is his portion.

Having, in some former Verses, finish'd the Character of the incor∣rigibly wicked, as to their dreadfull condition, Solomon proceed's here, to declare the blessed condition of all, that are of a perfectly contrary temper of Spirit, to that of unchangable enmity, above-said; of another Spirit, with Caleb and Joshuah, who wholly followed the Lord; Numb. 32. 12. 'Tis the Spirit of Faith, only, the law of the Spirit of Life, and true Liberty, the Gospel-Spirit of Truth, in which the Lord can be rightly own'd, fully follow'd, and acceptably worship'd, in Spirit and Truth. Sure, none of these things can ever be done in man's own spirit, will, and way, that, at best, is enmity to God. True Saints bring forth all the fruits of their labours, unto God the Father, in this Spirit of the Son, which makes them free indeed; in this newness of Life, and Law of true Liberty, the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. And they reap the benefit or fruit of all their such labours in the Lord, which never are in vain; 1 Cor. 15. 58. All labours in our own Spirit of nature, uncircumcis'd or circumcis'd, that is, corrupt or righteous, are in vain, as to eternal Life; Gal. 6. 15. Nothing but the new creature, and its actions, are conducible, or of any tendency towards that. There, God work's all our works for us; and we, all our works, in him, as co-workers with God, in his own Spirit; Isai. 26. 12. Joh. 3. 21. Without me, or my Gospel-Spirit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 can do nothing in the way towards true Life, say's Christ to all; Joh. 15. 5. These Gospel-works of the Spirit of Faith, in Abraham, justified him (Jam. 22. 21) not law-works, in his own Spirit of nature, or principle of the covenant of works; Rom. 4. 2-6. By the

works of the Spirit of Grace, not nature, are we justified and saved; Eph. 2. 8, 9. One of the works, by which Abraham was justifyed, was the sacrificing death-work upon his Spirit of nature, at best, typed by Isaac. And Abram, therein, with Isaac, were both of them Types of Christ, as the Gospel high-Priest and Sacrifice. Works and re∣ward, in man's dealing with God, on the terms of the first-covenant, in his own spirit, will, and way, are of debt; in the second, both and all, on all hands, are, of Grace; works and reward. True Saints can say, not I live, walk, speak, work, but Christ, or his Gospel-Spirit lives and does all, in me; Gal. 2. 20. 'Tis his Spirit of Grace, in and by which, they are what they are, do what they do, say what they say, 1 Cor. 15. 10. All, done in the participated creature-Spirit of the Son, exactly answers the very divine mind and will of the Father. All's after his own heart. By eating and drinking at Christ's heaven∣ly Table, feeding on his never-perishing meats (Bread of Life, and Wine of his Kingdom, his divine and creature Glories) do they en∣joy the good of all their labours in the Lord. They eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Act. 2. 46.) with joy unspeakable and glorious, in unchangable union with God; whereas others are feed∣ing at the Serpents Table, in a Spirit of darkness, death, and unchang∣able enmity to God, with him. Avast difference. There's a fix'd, unpas∣able Gulf between these two sorts of feeders, eaters and drinkers. The generation of God's Children, born of his Spirit, to whom he has given his heavenly riches, and power to eat thereof, do truly rejoyce in all their labours, even while in their mortal Body, on earth, under the litteral Sun; This is their happy Portion, and Gift from God; as follow's.