ame, as a preſignification of his future Incarnation ; and who. is, and was in a ſpecial manner preſent in all Religious Aſſemblies,and being Omniſcient and Omnipreſent, exattly knew and obſerved all Ps which men made,and whether they did perform or vio- late them. Or rather 3« the Prieſt or Miniſter of holy things, who was-ro require of the People the payment of their Vows; to whom all Sacrifices for fins of Ignorance or errors about Vows or other things were to be brought Lev: 5: 4, 5.For ſuch Perſons are oft cal- led Angels, or as this Hebrew word is commonly rendred, Meſengers,as Job 33. 23: Mal: 2: 7, Revel: 1: 20+ And this Title ſeems to be given to the Prieit here, not without ſome Emphaſis becauſe the Vow _ made to God was paid to the Prieſt as one ſtanding and aQting in Gods Name and Stead, and-it belonged to the Prieſt as Gods Angel or Ambaſlador, to diſcharge perſons from their Vows when there was juſt occaſion ſoro do. y I did fooliſhly and unadviſedly in ma- king ſuch a Vow,and therefore I hope God will excuſe me, and in- ſtead of that which I had vowed, accept of a ſacrifice for my igno- ranc?,according to his Law for ſins ofignorance, Levi. 4; 2. & 5, 15. Aunrb., 15:26. 2 Why wilt thou provoke God to anger? a Either 1, at the Vows which thou haſt haſtily uttered with thy Mouth, as he [aid above. Or rather 2, at theſe frivolous excuſes, wherzwith thou deludeſt thy own Conſcience, and vainly imagineſt that thou canſt deceive God himſelf. 6 Blaſt all thy contrivances,and Labours, and Eſtate gorren by tay Labours, and particularly that work or enter- prize. for the ſuccels whereof thou didſc make theſe Vows. which being, as thou thinkeſt, finiſhed, thou refuſeſt to pay thy Vows ; Tan that God can quickly undo that which thou haſt done, and. plentifully repay thine indignities and injuries offered to him into. thine own Botom.
7 For in. the multitude of dreams and many words,
there are alſo diverſe vanities c : but fear thou God 9. c There is a great deal of vanity and folly ,as in multitude of dreams ar hich for the moſt part-are vain and inſignificant, ſo alſo in many ,
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EECCLESIASTES.
words,i, e, in making many Vows whereby a Man is expoſed to ma» ny ſnares and temptations. d Fear the offence and wrath of God, and therefore be ſparing in making Vows, and juſt in performing theme Whereby he implyes that this raſhneſs in vowing,and ſlack- neſs in performing Vows proceeds from the want ofa juſt reverence and dread of the Divine Majeſtv, who is iwmediatly concerned in theſe matters.
8 It thou feeſt the oppreflion of the poor e, and vio.
lent perverting of judgment and juſtice in a province,
higheſt g regardeth 4,and there be higher than they ;.
e Here is an account of another vanity,and a ſoyereign Antidote againſt it» f As if it were inconſiſtent with Gods Wiſdom.and Ju- ſtice,and Truth,to: ſuffer ſuch diſorders,or a juſt cauſe for any Man to throw off that fear and ſervice of God, which I have now com- mended to thee, g The moſt High God who is infinitely above the greateſt of men, and therefore. if he /aw meer, could cruſh them in an inſtant. h Not like an idle ſpeCtator, but like a Judge, who dili. gently obſerves and records all theſe miſcarriages,& wil! ſo effe&u- ally puniſh them, that neither they ſhal have any cauſe of triumph in their former ſucceſſes,nor good men to be grieved at the remem. brance of them. 7 Either 1. the high and holy Angels, who are em- ployed by God in the Government of Kings and Kingdoms, as we read in th: Book of Daniel, and elſewhere, and for the defence of Gods People, Pſal. 34. 7. & 91+ 11. Heb.1: 14. Or 2. God: and ſo it 15 an Einpharical reperition of the ſame thing which is frequent in Scriprure, there is an higher than they. Or, as the words are by others fit'y rendred, the me# High( for Plural words are oft under« ſrood of God ſingularly ) is above them. and therefore can controul them,and will certain'y call themto an account.
9 Moreover, the profic of the earth & is for all /:the king himſelfis ſerved by the field m
k The fruits procured from theEarth by the skiland labour of the Husbandman. / Are neceſlary and beneficial to all men whatſoever; The wiſe man after ſome Interruprion, returns to his former ſubje& to diſcourſe of the vanity of great Riches,one argument or evidence whereof he ſeems to mention in this Verſe,to wit,that the poor La« bourer enjoyeth the fruits of the Earth as well as the greateſt Mo- narch,and that the richeſt Man in the World depends as much upon them as the pooreſt, 2 Is ſupported by the Fruits of the Field.Or as many others render it, ſerves of is # ſervant to the Field, depends up- on it, 1s obliged to ſee rhat his Ficlds be tilled and drefled that he may have ſubſiſtance for himſelf,and for his Servants and Subje&s;
Io He thar loveth ſilver, ſhal not be ſatisfied with ſilver 2 ; nor he that loveth abundance o with increaſe: this is alſo vanity.
7 The greateſt Treaſures of ſilver do not ſatisfie the covetoug poſſeffor of it, partly becauſe his mind is inſatiable and his deſires are increaſed by and with gains; partly becauſe ſilver of it ſelf cannor ſatisfie his Narural deſires and neceſſities as the Fruits of the Field can do, and the miſerable Wretch -grudgerh to part with his Silvec though it be ro purchaſe chings needful & convenient for him- : Or, that loveth it ( to wit, Silver ) in abundance, that defires and lays up great Treaſures.
1x When goods increaſe, they are increaſed that eat them p: and what good isthere to the owners thereof q, ſaving the beholding of :herz with their eyes r ?
p They require and are more commonly attended with a nume« rous company of Servants, and Friends, any Retinues to conſume them ; which is a greattorment to a covetous Man, of whom he here fpeaks. q What benefi: hath he above orkers who feed upon his Provitions,and enjoy the ſame comforts which he doth without his fears and cares, and troubles about them ? » Either 1. with a refle= tion upon his Propriery in them. Or 2. with unlimited freedom. He can go and look upon his Bags or Cheſts of Silver as long and as ofc as he pleaſeth,whereas other men are ſeldom admitted ro that proſpe&, and ſee only ſome few of the fruits or purchaſſes of it,
12 The ſleep of a labouring man is ſweet s, whether he eat little z, or much « : but the F abundance * of the
rich will not ſuffer him to ſleep.