of all is comprised in these two words, fear God, keep his commandments; this is all man needs, to lead a happy life." Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.] This is an exordium to stir up attention. "I will in two words give you an abridgement of all that can be said; therefore take special heed to remember them." The verse begins with a great letter in the original, which is, as Buxtorf, in his Tiberias, notes, to excite the more heed and attention, the whole. sum of the duty of man being contained in this short saying, wherein he observeth the right order: for First, he begins with the internal root of all obedience and worship, which is, a filial, reverend, awful, and loving fear of God and his goodness, in the heart. (Hos. iii. 5. Prov. i. 7) Secondly, He proceedeth unto the fruit, which groweth out of this root of filial fear and love, shed abroad in the heart; which is an equal, uniform, constant, universal observing of his commandments; of all of them without partiality; of all of then, as his, in obedience to his authority, in the acknowledgment of his holiness in them, and of his dominion and sovereignty over us. Keep his commandments, out of fear to displease him; out of conscience to approve yourselves unto him; out of care to bring glory to his name, to testify your thankfulness for his mercies, and your conformity to his will. Thus to fear God, and to keep his commandments, is the whole of man; about this should he spend all the strength of his thoughts and cares: this is the sum of all, which man can, after all his writing, reading, studying, inquiring, in order unto happiness, attain unto: this is the whole happiness of man, or, all the means which man can use, to come unto happiness at the last: this is the basis, and bottom of all that perfection which man is capable of: it is the whole duty of man, and the duty of all men that will be happy. (Job xxviii. 28) This, necessarily, takes in the doctrine of faith in Christ, because without him we can do nothing. By faith in him, the heart is purified to fear and love God; and, by that fear and love, it is inclined to obey his commandments. (1 John iii. 5. John xiv. 22) Ver. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.] This is a strong motive unto fear and obedience: if the ex cellency of the doctrine do not persuade, let the terror of God's judgement drive unto duty; because he hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness." (Acts xvii. 31. 2 Cor. v. 9, 10. Rom. ii. 16, and xiv. 10) With every secret thing.] It is the day of the revelation of God's righteous judgement. Hypocrisy shall be disclosed; sincerity shall be rewarded; because nothing is hidden from him. (Heb. iv. 13) All other things are vain; but it is not vain to fear the Lord. They that do good, their works will follow them into heaven; and they that do evil, their works will hunt and pursue them into hell. END OF COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES. VOL. IV. |