Page images
PDF
EPUB

A

CHAIN

OF

THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES, &c.

APHORISM I.

MAN's blessedness consisteth not in a confluence of worldly accommodations, which are all vanity of vanities; but in the fruition of God in Christ, who only is the strength of our hearts, and our portion for ever.

EXERCITATION I.

1

PSALM 144. end opened. Blessedness what. Solomon's scope in Ecclesiastes. Why he stiles himself Coheleth. His testimony concerning the creatures. Their threefold transcendent vanity. Intellectual accomplishments brought under the same censure, by reason of the folly, enmity, anxiety, and insufficiency that attend them. An apostrophe to the world.

1. THIS is a case which hath long since been determined by the Prophet David, who in Psalm 144th, after he had twice charg

A

ed those whom he calls strange children, with a mouth speaking vanity, once in the 8th and again in the 11th verse, goeth on to record (as good interpreters,* ancient and modern do conceive) the substance of their vain talk in a way of boasting about their flourishing condition in reference to the thriving of children, Our sons, say they, are as plants grown up in their youth, (not wishing they might, as we read it, but boasting they were) our daughters as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace; to plenty of provision, Our garners are full, affording all manner of store; to increase and usefulness of cattle, Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets; our oxen are strong to labour; to peace and tranquillity of estate, There is no breaking in, nor going out, no complaining in our streets. Hereupon they applaud themselves, and as placing their happiness in such outward accommodations, say, (as it is in the former part of ver. 15.) Happy are the people that are in such a case.† (Which sense is extremely favoured, not only by the vulgar Latin, inserting Dixerunt, but also by the Septuagint, who render it by managar, both concurring to have it read, They pronounced the people blessed that were in such a case.) Then come in the last words according to this

*

Augustin. Genebrard. Ainsworth. John Baptist. Folengius in Psalm 144.

† Beatum dixerunt populum cui hæc sunt.

interpretation, as the Psalmist's resolution in the point, by way of epanorthosis, or in express con tradiction rather to so gross a mistake, yea blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God..

$2. There is one centre in which the desires of all men meet, however distanced in the circumference; one port, for which they are all bound, although embarked in several vessels, and affecting different winds to sail by. That centre and port is blessedness, which may admit of this description. It is the acquiescence of rational appetites in an object so full of real and durable goodness, as to be able fully to satisfy all their longings. The question debated in Ecclesiastes is, whether any thing under the sun be such an object. The Preacher resolves it in the negative, by reason of that universal vanity which overspreads the whole creation. Therefore it is, that the eye (as he telleth us) is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing.* because these two senses of discipline, when they have given their utmost intelligence, cannot present the soul of man with any created accommodations perfectly good without defect, and perpetually good without decay. Solomon was one that had both men and money at command, to assist him in making difficult and costly experiments; a wise heart able to dive into nature's secrets; a peaceable reign, in which he met with nothing to take

* Eccles. 1. 8.

him off from the work, or disturb him in it; strong inclinations and constant endeavours to find out the utmost of what could possibly be discovered in any creature; yet he it is that concludes, upon trial, not upon hear-say, or conjecture, Vanity of vanities, saith Coheleth, vanity of panities, all is vanity.*

[ocr errors]

§ 3. Coheleth, which is the style he gives himself in that book, comes from a root, that signifies to collect and gather, and, though it be of a feminine termination, is, for want of a common gender, in the Hebrew tongue, (as other words of the like form) capable enough of a masculine construction. To him it may be thought agreeable upon four different notions, each whereof contributeth much validity to what he testifies. First, as a Preacher, who having gathered sundry arguments to convince the sons of men of the insufficiency of all things below. God himself to render them happy, in that discourse speaks as to a Congregation; whereas in the Proverbs he had spoken as to one man, frequently using this compellation, My son. So Hierom, and Cajetan. Secondly, as a writer, who had collected into a Synopsis all the opinions of those, who had been taken for wise men by their several followers concerning happiness, confuting such as were erroneous. So Grotius. Thirdly, as a student, who had gathered much wisdom by observation

+ Eccles. 1.1.

and experience, of which he there gives demonstration. So Broughton. Broughton. Lastly, as a penitent, who having by his gross idolatry and other sins fallen from communion with the people of God, and being desirous to have his return stand upon record, and to testify his repentance in that book, for the church's satisfaction gathers together many experiments of his own personal folly, and makes an humble confession of them: whereupon he was restored, and again gathered into the bosom of the Church. So Cartwright and Junius. The witness we see is beyond exception,

$4. In his testimony, vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity, the assertion is repeated as in Pharaoh's dream, to shew its certainty ; and the term of vanity doubled, partly to manifest the transcendency thereof, as the most holy place was styled The Holy of Holies, and the most eminent Canticle The Song of Songs: and partly to note the multiplicity, as Scripture calleth that the Heaven of Heavens, which, being highest, contains many heavens within its circumference. For there is in the creatures a threefold transcendent vanity; as may appear in that they are,

First, so unprofitable, as to be hurtful withal. Upon this the Preacher seems to have had a special eye, because after all is vanity, he subjoins immediately, What profit hath a man of all his labour, which he hath taken under the sun?* He

* Eccles. I. 3.

« PreviousContinue »