A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that late pious and worthy divine, Mr. John Cotton ... ; published by Anthony Tuckney ...

Eccles. 8.14.15.

• 14. There is a vanity which is done upon the Earth, that there be just men unto whom it happeneth ac∣cording to the worke of the wicked: againe, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the worke of the righteous; I said, that this also is vanity.
• 15. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the Sun, then to eate, and to drinke, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the dayes of his life, which God giveth him under the Sun.

IN these Verses, to the end of the twelfth verse of the ninth Chapter, Solomon declareth and setteth forth another va∣nity

which he observed in the world, the promiscuous suc∣cesses and events that befal good men and bad, chiefly by the mis-government of Princes.

In this Fourth verse he propoundeth one kinde of it,

That there be just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked: and on the contrary there be wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous.

This promiscuous event he amplifieth: First, By the ad∣junct vanity of it, there is a vanity done upon the Earth, I said this is also vanity, vanity ushereth it in, and waiteth upon it after; verse 14. both are vanity, both that the just finde, according to the work of the wicked; and that the wicked finde according to the work of the just. Secondly, By the effect it wrought in Solomon, which is the use he made of it, to commend mirth. And that he proveth; First, By the equality of the goodnesse hereof, the free and cheerful use of the good things of this life, being equal to any other course which a man can take in such a case. Secondly, By the Permanency of this good with him as a sauce to sweeten all his labour in the dayes of his life which God giveth him, verse 15. The coherence of these words with the former, is, that Solomon saw some wicked Rulers honourably buried, the punishment of some offenders prolonged, and thereby to outward view it might appeare that the estate of wicked men was better then the estate of the godly (save only that saith knoweth the contrary) verse 10. to 13. He thereby ta∣keth occasion to observe and set forth this vanity more di∣stinctly and fully, the promiscuous estate and successe of good and bad men in these, and in the following verses. The promiscuous events are of three sorts: First, That the good men fare as the evil should fare, and that evil fare as good should doe, Text. Secondly, That sometimes both fare alike: If good men fare well, so doe the wicked; if the wicked fare evil, so doe the good: Chap. 9.1, 2, &c. to 10. Thirdly, That men of best ability and dexterity are disap∣pointed of their hopes and meanes, verse 11, 12.

Doctr. 1. It is a vanity to be observed upon the earth, that sometimes it befalleth just men according to the worke of the wicked: and it sometimes befalleth the wicked accor∣ding to the work of the righteous, Luke 16.25. Psal. 73.12, 13, 14.

Reason 1. Through the wickednesse or weaknesse of ru∣lers in Commonwealth and Church, Psal. 12.8. Isai. 59.15. Malach. 3.15. 2 Sam. 16.3, 4. Ezek. 13.22.

Reason 2. Through the wise Providence of God, Dispen∣sing good things to the wicked, To lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4. Or else to harden them in impenitency, Rom. 2.5. Dispensing evil things to the righteous: First, For chastise∣ment and mortification of sin, 1 Cor. 11.32. Secondly, For Tryal, Dan. 11.35. Isai. 27.9. Thirdly, For our good at the latter end, Deut. 8.16. Heb. 5.8. Job 23.10. All these three ends are co-incident.

Reasons of vanity, there is a fourfold vanity in it: 1. Of uncomelinesse, Prov. 11.22, & 26, 1, 8.

Reason 2. Of unprofitablenesse; The wicked make an ill use of it, Psal. 55.19. So doe the godly, Psal. 73.13, 14.

Reason 3. Vanity of uncertainty, Acts 20.22. not know∣ing what shall befal me.

Reason 4. Of Confusion, following the fall, and the con∣dition of all earthly things after the fall, Rom. 8.20. Not that there is any vanity in Gods administrations of it selfe: All his acts are wisdome and righteousnesse, but First, In men it is a sinful vanity, to wit, of unprofitablenesse in the sufferers, and of folly in the doers of it, viz. In such as exalt the wicked, and discourage the good. Secondly, In other creatures, I meane in the disposal of them in this manner, It is a penal vanity.

Ʋse for the wicked, Not to account themselves righteous though it happen to them according to the work of the righteous. Either thence learne to repent, Rom. 2.4. Or look for wrath upon wrath, verse 5. This Ʋse is gathered from the verse before the Text, Eccles. 8.13.

Ʋse for godly men, To commend mirth to a godly heart, as here Solomon doth. Then I commended mirth or joy, verse 15. That is, First, A free use of the creatures, Meat, Drink, and the like, verse 15. & Chap. 9.7, 8, 9. Secondly, Content∣ment in a mans estate. Thirdly, Delight therein.

Reason 1. If it fare well with us, It is better with us then many other just men.

Reason 2. It abideth with us, or cleaveth to us of our la∣bour, it is the result of our labour through mercy.

Reason 3. Joy is as Oyle to the wheeles, it strengtheneth us to all the duties of our calling, or maketh them easie Neh. 8.10.

Reason 4. If it goe ill with us, yet we have conveniency, yea much more then we deserve, Gen. 32.10. Lament. 3.20. and mourning for crosses doth more hurt then good, 2 Cor. 7.10.

Object, But ought not a man to be humbled under cros∣ses?

Answ. 1. Yes, but when we have been humbled, then bear all cheerfully and thankfully, 1 Sam. 1, 7, 18. 2 Sam. 12.20, to 24. 2 Cor. 12.7, 8, 9. Abandon therefore sullennesse and discon∣tentment under crosses. 2. To follow diligent labour in our calling. It is that whereto joy and mirth is joyned: the same word with that, Gen. 29.34. Eccles. 5.12. 3. To Reckon our lives by dayes, as the wise man here doth, Psal. 90.12. Gen. 47.9. It will help us, First, Not to promise our selves multitudes of yeares, Psal. 39.5. Secondly, To prepare to give account for each day, Psal. 90.12. Thirdly, To Im∣prove and make use of present opportunity, Heb. 3.15. Fourthly, To forecast provision for the day, Matth. 6.11. 4. To look at every day as a new gift of God, Text, verse 15.