£ Who can more freely and fully enjoy the Comforts of this Lifg than I did? | foregning Verſe from his own Experience, which was the more theſe matters, none could either have more Creaturz-comforts, .or more addi& himſelf to the enjoyment of them, or improve them to better advantage than he did what wasthe greateſt good to be found in them, and whether they were able of themſelves, wichout Gods ſpecial gift, to yield a man farisfation, u*To wit, to the procuring and enjoying of them. W ho can purfue them with more diligence, or obtain them with more ſpeed and readineſs, or embrace them with more gretdineſs and alacrity ? +
26 For Ged giveth to a man that is good | in his Gehtz, wiſdom and knowledge y, and joy: but to the fiuner he giveth cravel,to gather and to heap up [|, that * he may give to him that is good beforeGod F. This al-
ſo is vanity, andvexation of ſpirit.
x Who not only ſeems to be good to Men, as many bad Men do, bur is really and ſincerely good. Or, who pleaſethhim, as this Phraſe is rendred,Ecclej; 7: 26: and oft elſewhere, Whereby he ſeems to intimate the Reaſon why he found no more comfort in his La- bours, becauſe his ways had been very diſpleaſing to God, and therefore God juſtly denied him that gift. y To dire& him how to uſe his comforts aright, that ſo they may be bleſſings, and not ſnares and curſes to him. - z A thankful and contented Mind with his portion» |. He giveth him up to inſatiable deſires, and weart- ſom 1bours, to little or no purpoſe. + That he may have no com- fort in rhem, bur leave them ro others, yea to ſuch as he leaſt ex-
<&ed or deſired, to good and virtuous men,into whoſe hands his tare falls by the wiſe and all-diſpoſing Providence of God, CHAF. MUG
Every thing hath its time:1n which to enjoy it and therewith do good to others, # ourgood, 1 13. God doth all according to his Decree that we ſhould fear him, and there 15 nothing new, 14, 15, The Vanity of unjuſt Fudge ment ; God 1s the great Juage of all, 16, 17: know, that they are here hut as brute Beaſts, 18 22,
"5 every thing there is a ſeaſon s, anda time to eve-
ry purpoſe 5 under heaven. |
a A certain time appointed by God for its being and continuance, which no humane Wit or Providence can prevent or alter- And by virtue of this Appointment or Decree of God, all the viciſſirudes and changes which happen in the world, whether comforts or ca- Jamities, do come to paſs. Which is here added partly to prove what he laſt ſaid, Chap. 2: 24,26: that both the freeand comfortable Enjoyment of the Creatures which ſome have, and the Croſſes and Vexations which others have with them, are from the Hand and Counſel of Gods partly to prove the principal Propoſition of the Book, that all things below are vain, "and Happineſs 1s not to be Found in them, becauſe of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and tranſitorineſs, and becanſe they are ſo much our of the reach and power of Men, and wholly in the diſpoſal of another, to wit God, who doth either give or take them away, either ſweeten or imbitter them, as ir pleaſeth him: and partly to bring the minds of men intoa quiet and chearful dependance upon Gods Providence and ſubmiſſion to his Will, and a ſtate of preparation for all events. b Or, will or deſire, to wit, of man. To all mens deſigns, attempts and buſineſſes. Not only natural, bur even the free and voluntary ations of men, are ordered and diſpoſed by God to accompliſh his own purpoſe. Butit muſt be conlidered, that he doth nor here
ſpeak of a time allowed by God wherein all the following things pi
may lawfully be done, which ;s wholly beſides his Scope and Buſj- neſs, but only a time fixed by God, in which they would or ftould be done-
2 Atime Þ to be born, and a time to die c; a time to plant 4,and a time to pluck up that which is planted:
c A certain period unknown to Man, bur fixed by God, in which a man muſt unavoidably die ; of which ſee Job 14: 5: Joh: 13: 1, 4 Wherein-Godenclines a mans heart co planting.
3- A time to kille, anda time to heal f: a time to break-down g, and a time to build up : |
eWhen a man ſhall die x violent death, either by chance,” as
This Verle is added co. confirm what he ſaid in the |
| i war, and a timeof peace. | conliderable, becauſe no Man ever was a more capable Judge of : 3 P
and therefore he could beſt tell -
And he will make men |
Al i
STASTES,
either by the fancy ofthe owner, or by the-rage of other men, or otherwiſe. ; 4 A time to weep, and a timeto laugh s a time to hy mourn, and a time co dance : : þ When men ſhall have juſt occaſion for weeping and mournings. ' F A time to caſt away ſtones i, and a time to ga-
ther ſtones together : a time to embrace &, anda time | 7 to refrain from embracing 1: _.. | 1 { Which were brought together in order to the building of aWall ons or Houſe, but are now caſt away;either becauſe the man whe gathe- red them hath changed his mind,and deſiſts from his proje&, or b other cauſes or accidents. k When perſons ſhall enter into Friend- ſhip, and perform all friendly offices one to another, 1 Either thfough alienation of affeQions,or grievous calamities: See Joel 2: 16: 1 Cor: 7t5, | | L | 6 Atimeſ| to get, and a time to-loſe ws: a time to keep, and a time to caſt away ». | 7 m When Men ſhall loſe their Eſtates, either by Gods Providence, or by their own choice. » When a man ſhall caft away his Goods voluntarily, as ina ſtorm to ſave bis Life, as Jonah 1: 5: Af; 27: 18, 19. orout of Love and Obedience to God, as Matuo. 37, 39iHeb: 10; 34. 7 A time to rent 0, and a time to ſew : a time to keep ſilence p, and a time to ſpeak : | a When men ſhall rend their Garments, as they did in great and ſudden griefs, as Gen: 37: 29; Joel 2: 13, p Wherein men will or ſhall be filenr, eicher through grief. as 706 3; 12, 13: or by ſickneſs or weakneſs, or becauſe God denies a man abilicy to utter his mind: 8 Atime to love 9g, anda time to hate: a time of
Chap. 1
| | n 4 If
2 When God ſhall ſtir up the affe&ion of Love, or give occaſion for the exerciſe or diſcovery of it to others. £7, 9 * What profit hath he that worketh,in that where- * Ci: in he laboureth 7 ? | ;