Bible Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 11:6 — and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good. In the morning sow thy seed, … — At all times be ready to every good work, Titus 3:1 as the bee is abroad as soon as ever the sun breaks forth. Sow mercy in the morning, sow it likewise in the evening, as those bountiful Macedonians did, to the shame of those richer but harder Corinthians, sending once and again to Paul’s necessities.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 — Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity. Ver 15. As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth. — It is with men as with counters, though in the account one stand for a penny, another for a pound, yet in the bag there is no difference; so here in the event all our wisdom is soon refuted with

Ecclesiastes 5:11 — those inutiles et ribaldi (Lyra’s words upon this text), useless, needless, ribaldry fellows. Heylin. Saving the beholding of them with his eyes. — To such a large retinue, such a numerous family; as Job, who had a very great household, Job 1:3 and Abraham, who had a trained hand in his family, but especially as Solomon, who had thousands of servants and work folk. Whereunto I may add Cardinal Wolsey’s pompous family, consisting of one earl, nine barons, knights and esquires very many,

Ecclesiastes 7:6 — herewith also very well suits that of the Psalmist, "Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath." Psalms 58:9 Fools themselves are but thorns twisted and folded together; Nahum 1:10 "briars"; Micah 7:4 "brambles." Judges 9:14 Their laughter is also fitly compared to thorns, because it chokes good motions, scratcheth the conscience, harbours the vermin of base and baggage lusts. And as themselves, like thorns,

Ecclesiastes 8:11 — αλεουσι δε λεπτον . Tarditatem supplicii gravitate compensat, he recompenseth the delay of punishment with an eternity of extremity, saith another. He hath "vials of vengeance," Revelation 16:1 which are large vessels, but narrow mouthed; they pour out slowly, but drench deeply and distil effectually. Caveto igitur, saith one, De Utroque Dionysio. Val., lib. i. cap. 2. ne malam dilatura fiat duplicatum. Get quickly out of God’s debt,

Isaiah 1:19 — If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: If ye be willing and obedient. — If ye love God and keep his commandments; Exodus 20:6 if ye love to be his servants; Isaiah 56:6 willing in all things to live honestly. Hebrews 13:18 Tantum velis et Deus tibi praecurret. Basil., Conc. de Prodigo. Say thou canst not open the door, yet be lifting at the latch; ever holding that of Augustine, Nolentem praevenit Deus ut velit, volentem subsequitur ne frustra velit. Enchir., id.,

Isaiah 1:21 — doleful! What a strange business is this! and how unworthily is this matter carried! Here is a city so altered that ye can scarce know her to be the same. Ye may seek Jerusalem in Jerusalem and not find her; tota est iam Roma lupanar. Mantuan. See Ezekiel 16:15 ; Ezekiel 16:23 ; Ezekiel 23:3-21 . Become an harlot? — In meretricem; not a privy harlot only, but a prostituted harlot, a very prostibulum meretrix meretricissima, utpote quae cubile dilatavit Isaiah 57:3 Tibias devaricavit Ezekiel 16:28

Isaiah 11:4 — Anabaptists of Germany called themselves, and said that now the promise must be fulfilled, "The meek shall inherit the earth"; whenas they by blood, rapine, cruel wars, seized on the possessions of others. And have we not now This was written May 1, 1657. among us many loaves of the same leaven, brats of the same breed, bloody in their positions and dispositions - the fifth monarchy men they call themselves. Christ Jesus (as he hath lately to his great praise, so still) preserve and bless us out

Isaiah 5:25 — not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still. Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled. — For contempt of the law, but especially of the gospel, "wrath came upon" that wretched people of the Jews "to the utmost," 1 Thessalonians 2:16 or until the end, as some read it. They are to this day a people of God’s wrath and curse, and become a woeful example of that rule, Atrocia delicta puniuntur atrocibus poenis, Heinous sins bring heavy punishments. This desolation

Isaiah 50:11 — sticks in Arabia together, aud then blows them with her wings, and burns herself with them. That compass yourselves about with sparks. — Away with those tinder boxes of yours. What are your sparkles but such as are smitten out of a flint, which (1.) Yields no warmth or good light; (2). Are soon extinct; (3.) Nevertheless, you are sure to "lie down in sorrow," to be "cast into utter darkness," where you shall never see the light again till you see the whole world all on a light

Isaiah 6:5 — a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then said I, Woe is me. — The ordinary fear of the faithful, when they had seen the Lord in his majesty. Genesis 16:13 Deuteronomy 5:24 Hebrews 12:21 Judges 13:22 How shall the wicked then be able to stand before him at the last day? For I am undone. — I am a dead man, since no man shall see God and live. Exodus 33:20 Because I am a man of unclean lips, —

Isaiah 63:1 — from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Who is this that cometh from Edom? — It had been said, in Isaiah 62:11 , "Behold, thy salvation (thy Saviour) cometh." Here, therefore, by an elegant hypotyposis, Vivid description of a scene, event, or situation, bringing it, as it were, before the eyes of the hearer or reader. the Sionidae, or saints, are

Jeremiah 24:1 — by him, and accordingly sentenced. After that Nebuchadnezzar. — This then was showed to Jeremiah about the beginning of Zedekiah’s reign. Had carried away captive Jeconiah. — Who was therefore and thenceforth called Jeconiah Asir, 1 Chronicles 3:16 that is, Jeconiah the Prisoner. He was a wicked prince, and therefore written childless, and threatened with deportation. Jeremiah 22:30 Howbeit, because by the advice of the prophet Jeremiah he submitted to Nebuchadnezzar (who carried

Jeremiah 3:1 — there were no law to inhibit it, as one here paraphraseth. Shall not the land be greatly polluted? — Great sins do greatly pollute, that of adultery especially, for this is a heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. Job 31:11 But thou hast played the harlot; yet return to me. — Haec est Dei clementia insuperabilis; God’s mercy is matchless. No man, no god, would show mercy as he doth. Micah 7:18 Malachi 3:7 Zechariah 1:3 He followeth after those that run from

Lamentations 5:22 — Hard and scarce; and yet he comes oft when they have even done looking for him. He is seen in the mount; he helpeth those that are forsaken of their hopes: hallelujah. Sure it is that God cannot utterly reject his people whom he hath chosen. Romans 11:2-5 Tremellius rendereth it - and so the margin of our Bibles hath it, and I think better - For wilt thou utterly reject us, or be extremely wroth with us - scil., supra modulum nostrum - according to thine infinite power, and above all that we are

Ezekiel 9:4 — conscience, as the houses of the Israelites in Goshen were with the blood of the paschal lamb, they are sure of safety here and salvation hereafter. The election of God is sure, and hath this seal, "The Lord knoweth who are his," 2 Timothy 2:19 and it shall appear by them. Psalms 91:1-16 Tau is the basis of the Hebrew alphabet, saith one, and marking by Christ is the basis of all true comfort and sound profession. Tau endeth and closeth up the alphabet, saith another; so he who persevereth

Daniel 12:4 — many, it is retarded? He concludeth well, howsoever: God will one day give us a clear vision - viz., when he shall bring back our captivity, then shall we understand things as they are. Even to the time of the end. — The time appointed. Daniel 12:9 Many shall run to and fro. — For increase of divine knowledge they shall spare for no pains, care, or cost, as the Queen of Sheba, the Ethiopian eunuch, … See Proverbs 18:1 Acts 17:11-12 . Increase of knowledge is promised only upon

Hosea 12:5 — with his hand what he hath spoken with his mouth, to the thousandth generation of those that return unto him. Concerning God’s name, Jehovah, See Trapp on " Malachi 3:6 " Concerning his title, God of hosts, See Trapp on " Malachi 3:17 " Doct. 1. The Lord is his memorial — Jehovah is that nomen maiestativum (as Tertullian hath it), that holy and reverend name of God, Psalms 111:9 , whereby he will be known and remembered, Exodus 3:15 , which place doth notably illustrate

Hosea 7:7 — that calleth unto me. They are all hot as an oven — That none might post it off to others, all are accused of this mad desire to do mischief; as all the Sodomites, full and whole, young and old, came clattering about Lot’s house, Genesis 19:4 . ( Dedit haec contagio labem, Et dabit in plures. Juven. Sat. 2.) And have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen, … — sc. being slain with the sword of those that succeeded them in the throne, as may be read, 2 Kings 15:8-9

Amos 5:12 — they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right]. For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins — I know them, and can easily set them in an order before your eyes, Psalms 50:21 , bring them out (as they did the vessels of the sanctuary) by number and by weight, Ezra 8:34: make you answer for all with flames about your ears, lay open your many transgressions, and mighty sins, fortia peccata. The Hebrew hath it, your bony, or