_A.M. 3027. B.C. 977._ The title of this book, Ecclesiastes 1:1. The general doctrine, All is vanity, Ecclesiastes 1:2; Ecclesiastes 1:3. Proved from the shortness of life, and the perpetual changes of all the creatures, Ecclesiastes 1:4. From the unsatisfying toil of men, and the return of the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
_The words of the Preacher_ Or, _discourses._ The Hebrew word קהלת, here used, may either signify the person who assembles the people, or the person that addresses them when assembled. “We must not suppose that Solomon was like the common or ordinary preachers among the Hebrews; yet it is certain he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vanity_, &c. Not only _vain_, but _vanity_ in the abstract, which denotes extreme vanity. _Saith the Preacher_ Upon deep consideration and long experience, and by divine inspiration. This verse contains the general proposition, which he intends particularly to demonstrate in the following book. _Al... [ Continue Reading ]
_What profit_ What real and abiding benefit? None at all. All is unprofitable as to the attainment of that happiness which all men are inquiring after. _Of all his labour_ Hebrew, _his toilsome labour_, both of body and mind, in the pursuit of riches, or pleasures, or other earthly things; _under th... [ Continue Reading ]
_One generation passeth away_, &c. Men continue but for one, and that a short age, and then they leave all their possessions, and therefore they cannot be happy here, because the source of happiness must needs be unchangeable and eternal, and the certain knowledge of the approaching loss of all thes... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sun also riseth_ The sun is in perpetual motion, rising, setting, and rising again, and so constantly repeating its course in all succeeding days, and years, and ages; and the like he observes concerning the winds and rivers, Ecclesiastes 1:6; and the design of these similitudes seems to be, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sea is not full_ So as to overflow the earth, which might be expected from such vast accessions of waters to it. Whereby also he intimates the emptiness of men's minds, notwithstanding the abundance of creature comforts. _Unto the place from whence the rivers come_ Unto their springs or fountai... [ Continue Reading ]
_All things_ Not only the sun, and winds, and rivers, but all other creatures; _are full of labour_ They are in continual restlessness and change, never abiding in the same state. _The eye is not satisfied_ As there are many things in the world vexatious to men, so even those things which are comfor... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no remembrance_, &c. This seems to be added, to prevent the objection, that there are many inventions and enjoyments unknown to former ages. To this he answers, This objection is grounded only upon our ignorance of ancient times, which, if we exactly knew or remembered, we should easily fi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I the Preacher was king_ Having asserted the vanity of all things in the general, he now comes to prove his assertion in those particulars wherein men commonly seek, and with the greatest probability expect to find, true happiness. He begins with secular wisdom. And to show how competent a judge he... [ Continue Reading ]
_I gave my heart_ Which phrase denotes his serious and fixed purpose, and his great industry in it. _To search out by wisdom_ To seek diligently and accurately, by the help of that wisdom wherewith God had endowed me. _Concerning all things_, &c. Concerning all the works of God and men in this lower... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have seen all the works_, &c. Diligently observed, and, in a great measure, understood them; _and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit_ Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or breaking to a man's spirit. _That which is crooked_, &c. All our knowledge serves only to discover our m... [ Continue Reading ]
_I communed with mine own heart_ I considered within myself in what condition I was, and what degrees of knowledge I had gained; and whether it was not my ignorance that made me unable to rectify those errors, and supply those wants of which I complain; and whether wiser men could not do it, though... [ Continue Reading ]
_In much wisdom is much grief_ Or displeasure to a man within himself, and against his present condition; _and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow_ Which he does many ways, because he gets his knowledge with hard and wearisome labour, both of mind and body, with the consumption of his sp... [ Continue Reading ]