ECCLESIASTES: OR, THE PR WHO HO writ this Book? Q. Why is it called by the Name of the Preacher? A. Because Solomon, by way of Exhortation, labours to inftruct all Men how to hate the Vanities of this World, and to affect nothing but heavenly Blef fedness. Q. What are the Pleafures of this Life? A. Vanity of Vanities, ver. 2. ? Q. Is there any Thing under Heaven that a Man may say, This hath not been before. A. Nothing, ver. 10. Q. Is Wisdom alfo Vanity? A. Yes, and Vexation of Spirit, ver. 17. C Q. What Wisdom doth be mean? 1.4. State Policy, and Skill of profane Arts and Sciences. ER. A. Travel and Sorrow, v. 23. Q. What only is to be defired in the World? 4. That fpiritual Joy which is the Gift of God. CHA P. III. Q. What is here fet down? A. The Mutability of Time. Q. What learn you by that? A. First, That nothing in this World is permanent. Secondly, Not to be grieved, if we have not all Things at once, nor enjoy them fo long as we would, from ver. 1. to 8. Thirdly, To pick out a Seafon for our Actions. Q. Why can we have nothing but by painful Travel? A. Because thereby the Lord will humble us, ver. 18. Q Are the Conditions of Men and Beafts alike? A. Yes, as touching the Death of their Bodies, ver. 19. Q How do they differ? A. The one is Partaker of Reafon, the other is governed by Senfe: The one perisheth Body and Soul, the other liveth eternally, QHow Q. How refts the poor La Q. How both Body and Soul? CHA P. IV. A. In that the Innocent are ftill oppreffed, and none comforteth them, ver. 1. Q. How is a poor Man preferred before a King? A. By Wisdom, ver. 13. A. His Sleep is fweet unto him, ver. 12. Q. Can Riches do the Owners Hurt? A. They can, and do. A. By the abufing or not ufing of them. Q. What doth the Worldling labour for? A. Oft times for nothing but of the Wind. Q. What is the Benefit of Society? A. Mutual Comfort, and help one Man to another, ver. 10, II, 12. CHAP. V. Q. In Speaking to God what must we avoid? A. Temerity and a Multitude of Words, ver. 1. Q. Who feeth the Oppreffion of the Poor? A. The Lord. Q. Who fall redress them? Q. What learn we by this? Q. When doth Wealth prove a Bleffing? A. When God that gives it gives also a Heart to enjoy it. CHAP. VI. Q. How is the rich Man miSerable? A. In that God hath given. him much Treasure and Wealth, and he wanteth Power to enjoy it, ver. 2. Q. How cometh that to pass? A. Either by Parcimony, Lofs, or fudden Death. CHAP. VII. Q. Why is the Day of Death better than the Day of Birth? A. Because our Birth is the Entrance to Sorrow and Affliction, and our Death a Gate to Joy Q. How is the Defire of the and Happinefs, ver. 3. Covetous. A. Infatiable, ver. 10. Q For what is the Night appointed? 4. For Reft unto all Creatures. Q. How refts the covetous Man? 4. Unquietly. Q. Why is it better to go to the Houfe of Mourning than to the House of Laughter? A. Becaufe in the House of Mourning we fhall behold the Judgments of God, and thereby learn to amend our Lives, v. 4mo Q. Why is it better to hear Q. Why is the Q. What is the Opinion of Epicures? A. They had rather be abject and live, than honourable and die, which is meant by the live Dog and dead Lyon, ver. 4. Q. Why are they of this Opinion?. A. Becaufe, after this Life they thought there was no other Being. Q. How does the World deceive her Favourites? A. By making them think they are bleffed of God when they have Wealth and good Succefs in this Life. Q. Are they not then the Bleffings of God? A. Yes, to them that ufe them to his Glory, and the Benefit of the Poor; otherways not. CHA P. X. Q. How are the Deeds of the Wife? A. Discreet. Q How are the Deeds of the Fool? A. Rafh and abfurd, ver. 4. Q. What Vanity doth Solomon note in this Chapter? A. That the Worthy are difplaced, and the Unworthy advanced, ver. 6, 7. That the Land is miferable whofe Prince wanteth Wifdom, and whofe Nubles are given to their own Lufts and Pleafures, ver. 16. Q. What Treafon doth God condemn in a Subject against his Prince? CHA P. XI. A. He doth it in Derifion (as Q. To whom must the Rich be if he would fay) Go to, ye Worllliberal? A. To the Poor. A. In this Life; becaufe, after many. Q. By what Examples are we taught to be charitable? A. By the Cloud that poureth Rain; by the Sea that caiteth up her Increafe; by the Sun that cafteth out his Beams from Eaft to Weft: All which are not thus ferviceable and gracious for themfelves, but for the Benefit of others. Q. How shall the charitable Man be rewarded? A. With Plenty on Earth and Treafure in Heaven. Q. If Vanity be forbidden, why doth Solomon in the ninth Verfe of this Chapter counfel us to follow the Lufts of our own Hearts? lings, glut yourselves with all manner of Vanity; but remember that one Day you shall come to Judgment for all, ver. 9. CHA P. XII. Q. To whom muft we dedicate our Luth? A. To the Lord. A. Becaufe in Age we fhall be more unapt, ver. 4. Q. Why Shall we be more un apt? A. By reafon of the Weaknefs of the Body, which is fet down in the 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Verses. Q. Whither returns the Soul in Death? A. To him that gave it, v.7. Q. What is the main Reafon bat we should fear God? A. Becaufe he will bring every Work and every fecret Thought to Judgm t wherein he fheweth the which he had found by found the Works of Solomon in this Book calleth himself the Preacher; Vanity of human Courses in the Works of Pleasure, Experience in the Studies of Wisdom: But, after all, God unfearchable, and that like things happen to the Good and to the Bad, directing Men to be charitable in this World, by the Example of the Clouds full of Rain, which watereth the Earth. To be rich is nothing; for Man fpendeth as a Shadow, and who knoweth what fhall be after him. All that cometh is Vanity, and this Solomon found, That God hath made Man upright, but they have fought out many Inventions. Remember now thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth, while the Evil Day come not, nor the Years draw nigh, when thou shalt fay, I have no Pleasure in them: Then fhall the Duft return to the Earth as it was, and the Spirit to him that gave it. And thefe are the acceptable Words which was written, even Words of Truth; Fear God, and keep his Commandments ; for this is the whole Duty of Man, chap. 12. CHA P. I. Q. WHAT is contain'd in the Song of Solomon? A. A lively Delcription of the mutual Love between Chrift and his Church, under the Names of Bride and Bridegroom. Q. Doth it only concern the Church in general? A. No, it is applicable to every faithful Soul. Q. To whom doth the faithful Soul compare her Bridegroom Chrift Fefus in this first Chapter? A. To the Savour of fweet Ointment, because of his gracious Benefits towards her, ver. 2. To the Chariots of Pharaoh, becaufe of his Power and Strength, ver. 8. To a Bundle of Myrrh, because of his Holinefs, ver. 13. To the Grapes of Engedi, for his Saving Health, ver. 14. Q. Can the Soul approach near unto Chrift of her own Accord? A. No, not except the be drawn; that is, incited by his Holy Spirit, ver. 14. A. First, For her Beauty and Pleafure. Secondly, For her Excellency above all other things, in that all other things, in refpect of her, are but as Thorns, . 2. Q. How doth fhe figure the Coming of Chrift? 4. Under the Name of a Roe, or a young Hart, looking thro' the Grates of a Window. Q. What's understood by that? A. The Divinity of Chrift fhining through his Humanity, ver. 9. Q. Cannot be then be perfectly known in this Life? A. No, no more than one that ftands behind a Grate can be wholly or perfectly feen to our bodily Eyes. Q: What did Christ after he came? beloved A. Called to his A. No, fhe hid herself in the A. Becaufe of her Sins. come, ver. II, 12. Q. What is the Church compared unto? A. To a Dove. Q. Why? A. Becaufe of her Meeknefs, ver. 14. Q. What |