Ecclesiastes 8

1. God is not bound to give an account of his actions to his creatures. If none may say to a king, what do you do (Ecclesiastes 8:4)? much less to God. It is sufficient, God is Lord paramount, he has a sovereign power over his creatures, therefore can do no injustice (Romans 9:2…

God can with the same breath that made us, dissolve us; his eyes are as a flame of fire; the rocks are thrown down by him (Nahum 1:6). Solomon says, Where the word of a king is, there is power (Ecclesiastes 8:4); much more where the word of a God is. O let us fear this mighty Go…

Neither needs it stumble any that this is attributed to the word of God, of which he seems to speak, for that is all one and to ascribe it to God. For as 'where the word of a king is, there is power,' says Solomon (Ecclesiastes 8:4), so where the word of God is, there is the pow…

He does oftentimes exercise great patience and forbearance, even then when vengeance might justly be expected and is called for; how long do you not avenge our blood? This commonly adds to the security of wicked men, and they learn to despise the threatenings of all the judgment…

And this is that property of God, without a due conception whereof we can never understand aright his righteousness in the government of the world. Ignorance of the nature of it and how essential it is to the Divine Being, is the occasion of security in sinning and atheism to un…

Men go on in sin from day to day and from year to year without repentance, nothing at all fearing the sentence of condemnation at the last day; like many who, for the obtaining of other men's goods, are neither kept in good order by the fear of arraignment or imprisonment. The o…

There is a grace dispensed in the way of God's providence which may be called, the grace of God, and is very liable to abuse; a word of that before I come to the main thing here intended. Thus we find the patience of God often abused, when the Lord keeps silence in heaven, and d…

Q. 2. What has been said in this, will also answer another question: why does God not immediately punish notorious offenders, since the best governments in the world are such as call the violators of the law to a speedy account to keep up the honor of justice? Thus the Epicures…

Now is the accepted time, the day of salvation, while you do enjoy the means of grace, while God is offering mercy in the Gospel it is the accepted time, therefore now is the time to seek the Lord. The misery of man is great upon him for not knowing his time, in Ecclesiastes 8:6…

First then, this point of doctrine is implied here, that coming to the grave is a thing common and certain to all men; I mean, that death, or a state of death and to be in the grave, in an ordinary way is common to all men; and whoever wants the privilege of burial, their condit…

The rich glutton (Luke 16) has the better life as to externals, and Lazarus had a poor, afflicted life — but when death comes, the rich glutton goes to hell, and Lazarus goes to the bosom of Abraham. This is laid down as a certain truth (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13): Though a sinner do…

Use 3. See here the necessity of making use of Christ's death, either you must do it, or die, and come under the curse of God yourselves; there is not a [reconstructed: middle way]; if you have sin, how will it be gotten put by and satisfied for? Not by your prayers; let be by a…

Stephen's mind was filled with such an incredible solace in the sense of God's love, that he showed no troubledness, but a mind so unconcerned and freed from all fear and sorrow, as if he had been among the angels of God in full glory, and not among his enemies who sought his bl…

For while men look to the outward appearance, and see the wicked have all they can wish, and the godly overwhelmed with miseries; they are troubled and doubt in themselves, whether the matters of this present life are governed by the hand of God, or whether all things are guided…

Some would put another sense on that expression of the Targumists, as though it intended nothing but God himself; and instances of the use of it in that sense have been observed. As (Ecclesiastes 8:17), If a wise man say [in non-Latin alphabet] in his word, that is, say in himse…

It is a sadder thing to have had a season and not to know it (that is, not to use it) than not to have had it. Solomon tells us (Ecclesiastes 8:6) that, because to every purpose there is a time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. Misery cannot be great t…

And first, it is called strong, in respect of its constraining power, whereby the person that loves, is led captive, and brought down as weak under it, so that he cannot withstand it: says she, love masters and will undo me, if it be not satisfied; love-sickness so weakens the s…

The Lord sees it better for them to be under ground than above ground; and therefore by a merciful providence sets them out of harm's way. Neither the corn nor tares can possibly resist the sharp and keen sickle, when it's applied to them by the reapers hand; neither can the god…

As to their understandings, they are foolish and perverse, they call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). As to their wills and affections, they are engaged (Ecclesiastes 8:11): "The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." They do nothing at all with a sinc…

It is evident, that neither good men nor evil men are in this life, openly distinguished in the observable providences of God, except in some special instances; love and hatred cannot be known by all that is before them (Ecclesiastes 9:1). Yes, the wise man has an observation, a…

He that in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost: that is, in Christian meekness and quietness of spirit, serves Christ, is acceptable to God and approved of men (Romans 14:17-18), and to whom else can we wish to recommend ourselves? Solomon (a very competent judge…

He hears and knows all that which is said against him, and against his truth and ways, and as a jealous God resents it. He has always power in his hands to punish the proudest of his enemies, nor would their immediate ruin be any loss to him, and yet sentence against these evil…

Amos 9. 8. Ecclesiastes 8:12. THE POEM.

It convinceth them clearly also that in matters of deep concernment, it is an high point of wisdom, to apprehend and improve the right seasons and opportunities of them Proverbs 10:5. He that gathers in summer is a wise Son. Ecclesiastes 8:5. A wise man's heart discerns both tim…

Those sins of theirs, against which I have here engaged, are the Jonahs in your Ships: 'tis sin that sinks them, and drives them against the Rocks. One sinner destroys much good, Ecclesiastes 8:11. How much more a leud Crew of them conspiring to provoke God! The death of their L…

It may be learned from his constant way in governing the world; notwithstanding all provocations; yet he does good to men, causing his sun to shine upon them, sending them rain and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness. From this it was easy for them to c…

What egregious fools then are disobedient children: they regard neither God, their parents, nor themselves, but deprive themselves of their eternal happiness, hinder their welfare, and shorten their days. Fitly hereupon I may apply to undutiful children these words of the Psalmi…

To those that are in a state of sin, the continuance of life is a mercy, as it affords them time to repent and reconcile themselves to God. And the contrary is threatened as a curse, (Ecclesiastes 8:13) He shall not prolong his days, because he fears not God. For wicked men to h…

He could have said as Job (Job 29:3-4): His candle shined upon my head, by his light I walked through darkness, the secret of God was upon my Tabernacle. But alas now he must say, as (Ecclesiastes 8:6-7): because to every purpose there is a time and judgment, therefore the miser…

How the understanding is darkened and depraved, I showed above; that the heart is desperately wicked and deceitful beyond any knowledge but God's, the prophet assures us from God himself (Jeremiah 17:9), the mind and conscience is defiled (Titus 1:15-16). The will is become perv…

Set not upon this or that duty at a time when God calls to another duty. Tis said in Ecclesiastes 8:6, to every purpose there is a time and judgment. We may render all our duties like apples of gold in pictures of silver, by well timing of them.

Sinners are not only uninclined to that which is good, but wofully inclined to that which is evil. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11). The heart of a sinner is…

The believer's desires are seasonable, he desires grace in the season of grace, and seeks in a time when it may be found. The wise man's heart knows both time and judgment (Ecclesiastes 8:5). He knows his season, and has wisdom to improve it.

And it was too hard for all the art he had to help himself. The wise man makes it a conclusion, which is settled in the hearts of all the sons of men beyond all doubt (Ecclesiastes 8:11): Because sentence is not speedily executed, therefore the hearts of the sons of man are whol…

2. There are also cursed principles of corruption in natural men, that help to increase this barrenness. Original sin in man is not merely morally privative, or a disabling of man from doing good, by emptying him of the grace which he had at the first; but there is something mor…

Eighth, delay of the execution of justice. Ecclesiastes 8:11: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. God forbears punishing, therefore men forbear repenting.

We may as well stop the chariot of the Sun, when posting to night, and chase away the shades of the evening, as escape this hour of darkness that is coming upon us all. None has power over the Spirit to retain it, neither has he power in the day of death, and there is no dischar…

15. There is a froward heart (Proverbs 17:20) that perverts and is crafty [illegible] to pervert. 16. A wicked heart (Proverbs 26:23) set on evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11, 17); foolishness is bound to the heart (Proverbs 22:15); a dissembling heart, when seven abominations are in it (…

There is a fixed time for judgment, and if the Lord delays execution until then, you have little cause to comfort yourself. Ecclesiastes 8:11-12: 'Because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed, therefore the heart of people is set to do evil.' As if the wise man…

Let what will happen in the world, they that draw near to him are safe. The wise man says, surely I know that it shall go well with them that fear God (Ecclesiastes 8:12). Such as are very careful to walk with God, do sometimes experience wonderful temporal preservations: as we…

The Psalmist tells us (Psalm 146:4), in the day that the breath of man goes forth, his thoughts perish: he had many contrivances about sin, but now they are all cut off. So also (Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13): "Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged; yet su…

But they are like an herb that will flourish for a day or two with watering, although it have no root. For, a while after we see, that these men the more experience they have had of sin, the less they are afraid of it, as the Wise Man intimates (Ecclesiastes 8:11). And at length…

Men are very apt to abuse it to a quite contrary purpose, to the encouraging themselves in their evil ways. So Solomon observes (Ecclesiastes 8:11): Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do…

Now the reasons of this security are these. Because God pours not out the full measure of his wrath upon men, because he kindles not the pile of wrath that lies upon men, its reserved and concealed, not revealed from heaven, and so long, let God frown, ministers threaten, and sm…

Do you not see that such a man is an oppressor, and a profane person? yet grows rich and thrives in the world; and because God spares a wicked man still for the present, therefore he thinks all are but words, he shall be free from the punishment to come (as the Prophet says in t…

Let me open these particularly, that you may taste and try the truth of what now I deliver. I say the Lord Christ in this work of compunction lets into the heart of a secure sinner a marvelous fear and terror of the [reconstructed: direful] displeasure of God, of death, and hell…

Secondly, he leaves them to Satan (1 Kings 22:21, 22), because Ahab would not love Elijah nor Micaiah, therefore God justly gave them up to a lying fancy. Thirdly, sometimes God so far leaves men to themselves, as only to propound to them good objects, yet such as he knows they…

Or if like oil, the spirit is poured out to heal and bind up your wounds, and to make your heart cheerful (Psalm 104:15) (Luke 10:35). Grace makes the countenance shine (Ecclesiastes 8:1). God has acquainted you with his secret counsels (Acts 2:18).

Wisdom excels folly as much as light does darkness. There are some virtues and perfections that gain affection from men, as truth, and meekness, and kindness; but there are others that cause admiration and raise wonder, among these are knowledge and wisdom, which if they be in a…

Thus the Edomites here, they had been threatened, but they yet were in peace, and though the enemy was coming, they yet are secure. See also for this (Ecclesiastes 8:11; Ezekiel 12:22). Poor sinning man, though he might read the [illegible] of death in himself, yet is not willin…