Ecclesiastes 9

So by our exact Bible-conversation we glorify God; though the main work of religion lies in the heart, yet our light must so shine, that others may behold it; the chief of building is in foundation, yet the glory of it is in frontispiece, so beauty in the conversation: when the…

It is a lesser hell: in the heart are legions of lusts, obdurateness, infidelity, hypocrisy, sinful aestuations, it boils as the sea with passion and revenge. Madness is in their heart while they live (Ecclesiastes 9:3). The heart is Officina Diaboli, the devil's shop or work-ho…

2. Their purity; the magistrates among the Romans were clothed in white, ergo called candidati, to show their integrity: Thus the queen, the Lamb's wife, is arrayed in fine linen pure and white, which is the righteousness of the saints (Revelation 19:8). 3. Their joy: white is a…

I now enjoy him whom my soul loves, I am possessed of a kingdom, my labour is over, but my joy remains. 11. If you do not take pains for the kingdom of heaven now, there will be nothing to be done for your souls after death: This is the only fit season for working, and if this s…

We must distinguish between chance and mere chance. Chance is, when any thing comes to pass, the cause thereof being unknown not simply but in respect of man: and therefore in regard of men which know not the reason of things, we may say there is chance: and so the spirit of God…

Thus Satan most horribly dallied in the death of souls through the Pope, and therefore is the Papacy a slaughterhouse of consciences, and the very kingdom of the Devil. Now, to establish and confirm this pernicious and cursed error, they alleged the saying of Solomon (Ecclesiast…

That which Paul did in his religion, we must do in ours. The good things, that we are to do, we must do them with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Our duty is to keep our hearts in the fear of God, and we must do it with all diligence (Proverbs 4:24).

Third, by pressing into the kingdom of God is signified greatness of effort. It is expressed in Ecclesiastes 9:10 by doing what our hand finds to do with all our might. And this is the natural and necessary consequence of the two things before mentioned; where there is strength…

We may say of them, as it is, Job 23. 8, 9. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there: and backward, but I cannot perceive him: an the left hand where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him. If Providence in it self be a…

Let them be cast down, that have no God in trouble to turn to. (4.) Why should they be sad, as long as no outward dispensation of Providence, (be it never so sad) can be interpreted as a mark or sign of Gods hatred or Anger, Ecclesiastes 9. 2, 3. There is one event to the righte…

And first, Let it be considered, that we cannot know from the matter of the things before us, whether they be sanctified or unsanctified to us; for so consider'd, all things come alike to all; and no man knows either love or hatred by all the things that are before him. Ecclesia…

Misery cannot be great to a man, because there is a time for every purpose, but because men are either so blind that they cannot see, or so sluggish that they will not make use of the proper time for every purpose. Thus the preacher himself expounds it (Ecclesiastes 9:12): For m…

In such cases we perswade men to acquiesce in the Judgement of their skilful Physitian, not alwayes to be wasting themselves in and by their own tainted imaginations, and so despond upon their own mistakes; but to rest in what is informed them by him, who is acquainted with the…

You have but your appointed time, and all your times are in the hands of God, and if once lost, they are lost for ever; the dead and damned can say, we have only heard the fame thereof with our ears, but alas are past the hopes of time-enjoyment or improvement. When your glass i…

This violence concerns men as Christians. Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it (Ecclesiastes 9:10). What your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

Shall we admire the gift, and forget the giver? Solomon speaks of a generation of men — madness is in their heart (Ecclesiastes 9:3). Sure they who draw near the world, and leave God, madness is in their heart.

Happy is the soul that is in such a case (Psalm 144:14-15). The words of such wise men are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that rules among fools, and this wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:17-18). This is the quietness we should every one of us labor…

The grave is a quiet place, there the wicked cease from troubling (Job 3:17). Those that were most troublesome are there bound to the peace; and their hatred and envy (those great troublemakers) are there perished (Ecclesiastes 9:6). Whether we will or no, in the grave we shall…

And then lastly, to name no more, I pray you consider, that a custom of vain words and prophane Oaths, is as plain an indication and discovery of an unregenerate Soul, as any in the world. This is a sure [•]ign you are none of Christs, nor hast any thing to do with the promises…

And surely, it is every way as highly reasonable, that Men should mortifie, cast out, and cut off their dearest Lusts, rather than their Immortal Souls should sink and perish in the Storm of God's wrath. Life, indeed, is a precious Treasure, and highly valued by Men: You know wh…

I fear there are but few that own, act in submission to it, and are careful to return according to received benefit. Men do not consider, That their works are in the hand of God, Ecclesiastes 9:1. And even those that have the most immediate dependence upon Providence, as Merchan…

All this can he do, if he find the work stick, and meet with rubs and difficulties; yet does he not act to the utmost of his skill and power, at all times and with all persons; neither indeed need he so to do, the very propounding of an object, is enough to some, without any fur…

Death may challenge a part in our Fear. 1. Because it is such a serious thing, it is the in-let to eternity: and puts us into an unalterable estate. 2. Because of it's Proximity: it is nearer to us than we are aware : it may be within a few hours march of us. God may this night…

In fact (I say) you will most fearfully grieve his Spirit, if you parley with the conceived suggestions of it at unseasonable times. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, says Solomon (Ecclesiastes 9). Therefore when you are to pray, confer, or meditate, do it with all you…

We have no other plea to evidence our sincerity but this. Use. It presses us whatever we do for the great God, to do it with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). There is no weighty thing can be done without diligence; much more the keeping the commandment.

1. Either because of the storm of trouble raised by them, or persecution from them; and so it would note the outrageousness of those who have cast off the yoke, all fear of God, and respect to his law: and so also the imbecility and weakness of the saints, who are not able to st…

But alas now he must say, as (Ecclesiastes 8:6-7): because to every purpose there is a time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him, for he knows not what shall be, and who can tell him, when or how it shall be? And (Ecclesiastes 9:12): Man knows not his time…

As it is the best of comforts to have assurance of the love of God, and to be sealed to the day of redemption; so it is the saddest of judgments to be given up (as it is three times in one place, Romans 1) to their lusts, to a hardened heart, a seared conscience, a reprobate min…

In this world there is a door of hope, a day, an offer and means of grace, space for repentance, a Mediator in Heaven, a patient God, possibility of being blessed; but when once damned, the door is shut, it is in vain to knock; the day, offers, and means of grace are at an end;…

What could you say more wherein you may aggravate your fault in a most heavy manner? Is not this the express will of God, that a man should do with all his might what his hand finds to do (Ecclesiastes 9:10)? That he should abide in the calling to which God has called him (1 Cor…

But now in Christ God accepts us. Ecclesiastes 9:7: Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God now accepts your works. As Joseph presented his brothers before Pharaoh and brought them into favor with the king (Genesis 47:2), so the Lord…

Religion is a business of the greatest importance; the soul, which is the more noble and divine part, is concerned in it; and as we act our part here, so we shall be forever happy or miserable. The advice of Solomon in this case is most seasonable: whatsoever your hand finds to…

The body is called a vessel (1 Thessalonians 4:4); this vessel is filled with breath; sickness draws out its contents, and death empties it. Hasten your soul's cure; death is on its swift march, and if it surprises you suddenly, there is no cure to be worked in the grave (Eccles…

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…

But because I have appointed one place properly for the discussing thereof, therefore I will speak no more of them at this present, especially for as much as it is plain enough, that there is nothing more contrary to faith, than either conjecture or anything near to doubting. An…

Christ says, Swear not at all, Matthew 5:34. And a godly man is said to fear an Oath, Ecclesiastes 9:2. Truly it is a matter of tears, we can hardly go in the Streets, but our ears are crucified with hearing of Oaths and Cursings.

Neither is any to think this strange. For Solomon says: all things (in outward matters) come alike to all, and the same condition is to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the pure, and to the polluted, and to him that sacrifices and to him that sacrifices not (Eccles…

I know not how to gratify your kindness; therefore, pray, as a token of my respect to you, accept of this small mite. So she put a gold angel in his hand; and he made her a low obeisance, and said, “Let your garments be always white; and let your head want no ointment.” (Ecclesi…

If you die in your impenitency, there is no repenting in the grave. If you leave your work at death half done, there is no finishing it in the grave, Ecclesiastes 9:10. There is no work nor device, nor wisdom in the grave whither you go.

Yet this is not said, but the contrary is implied in that it is said of those only who are Christ's or are Christians, that all things are theirs. 20. I argue from those words of the wise man (Ecclesiastes 9:10): Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there i…

Use 1. It is comfort to the believer — all things are possible; faith has omnipotency at its service, the sword and wars are gone, the enemies of the Lord broken, the temple built, Babylon plagued at the nod of faith, devils cannot stand when Christ's mandate charges them to fal…

Sixthly, please not your fancy too much with vanities and curious sights, this engenders vain thoughts; therefore Job says (Job 31:1) that he made a covenant with his eyes, lest he should think of a maid (Proverbs 4:25) — let your eyes look right on. Seventhly, be diligent in yo…

So when we are hearing the Word, how do our minds ever and anon run out of the church, and come [back] again, and so do not hear half that is said? So when we are at our callings, which God bids us to be conversant about with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10), yet our minds like…