Ecclesiastes 3

For flesh and blood in scripture, signifies sometimes the original sin and corruption of nature, and sometimes man's nature subject to miseries and infirmities, or the body in corruption before it be glorified, and so it must be understood in this place. Lastly it is objected, t…

So truly it is with every natural man, he is a natural idolater, he worships something besides God, he feeds upon ashes, some dry and unsavory, and unwholesome meat, which cannot profit him in the day of wrath, which gives not his soul any nourishment, for the soul of man is an…

Now if this be true of a word spoken in due time, it is much more true of a reproof delivered in due season. There is a time for all things (Ecclesiastes 3:1). And surely if everything that comes to pass in the world has its set time, and opportunity, reproof must needs have its…

It is as high a point of prudence to know when, as to know what to advise a distressed friend. Solomon tells us in general (Ecclesiastes 3:7), there is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; let me advise this for one particular time or season, to keep silence, namely the…

Is our Lord Jesus appearing for us in heaven, pleading our cause there, pleading it with his own blood, and shall not we be ready to appear for him on earth, and plead his cause though it were with the hazard of our blood? As it is then a time to keep silence, when we ourselves…

Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive: God will begin with them first. Solomon tells us, Ecclesiastes 3:4. There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: Only (as Master Trap notes upon the Text) we must not inver…

Ecclesiastes 8:5. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. There is a season to every purpose, Ecclesiastes 3:1. namely A nick of time, an happy juncture; when if a Man strikes in, he does his work effectually, and with much facility. Such Seasons Conscience convincet…

And (Leviticus 26). you will find a distinction between bread, and the staff of bread: we may have bread, yet not the staff of bread. Many have worldly comforts, but not with a natural blessing: (Ecclesiastes 3:13). That every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all…

All things are at the beck and signification of his will. But, (1.) Partly with respect to his own glory, he will do things in their proper season (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Every thing is beautiful in its time.

He does all things well. (Ecclesiastes 3:5) He has made every thing beautiful in its time, or in the true and proper season; therefore we that look upon providence by pieces, stumble at the seeming confusion, and uncertainty of what falls out, as if the affairs of the world were…

2. That moderate delight and contentment that we have in our earthly blessings is his allowance. The creature without God is like a deaf nut, when we crack it we find nothing (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; Ecclesiastes 3:13). It is the gift of God, and it is one of the chiefest earthly…

Christ may dearly love his own, and yet delay to help them even in their extremity, till the fit time comes, wherein the mercy may be the more conspicuous. It is said (Ecclesiastes 3:11): "God has made every thing beautiful in his time." Before its time, God's work seems harsh a…

Brutish and foolish are synonymous and parallel expressions, as was hinted before; a heart void of understanding, is the heart of a beast, as is clear (Daniel 4:16, 34-36). 2 Sinful man is like the beast in sensuality, as if he were only belly-wise, and had no soul to mind, or a…

The fourth thing is to show you when this spiritual wisdom is in season. Answer: At all times, spiritual wisdom is never out of season; Solomon says, there is a season to every thing, and a time to every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Yet there are two things he allots…

Hence again (to descend yet lower) there is a special period, a appointed time, for every part of this life, and so many courses (as I may term them) and frames of occasions which belong to any; so many seasons and several limits of time has he allotted to each particular. Thus…

What a little time we have to stay here — and let that hasten the cure. Solomon says there is a time to be born and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:2), but mentions no time of living, as if that were so short it were not worth naming. The body is called a vessel (1 Thessalonians 4…

A good Christian brings forth seasonable fruit (Psalm 1:3): he that brings forth fruit in his season. Everything is beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11); that may be good at one time which at another may be out of season. There is a great deal of skill in the right timing o…

FIrst, he shows his subtilty in choosing the most proper and advantagious seasons for tempting. To every thing there is a season, Solomon says, Ecclesiastes 3:1. that is, a nick of time, which taken gives facility and speedy dispatch to a businesse; And therefore the same Wise m…

(2) What if God see not? (Ezekiel 9:9). (3) What if man perish as the beasts? (Ecclesiastes 3:19). It may be there is no heaven, nor hell.

And they do very ill wrest to this purpose that testimony of the Preacher which they have often in their mouths: No man knows whether he be worthy of hatred or love (Ecclesiastes 9). For (to speak nothing of how this place is in the common translation corruptly turned) yet very…