Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/4_600.lzh/4_621.TXT

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things of the like kind, should be left with God.
Some understand this of the work of grace and conver-
sion, which is a secret and difficult work, only wrought
by the power and grace of God; and may be begun, or
shortly will, in a poor person, judged an unworthy
object of charity for supposed want of it, a tiring
tinknown.
Vet. 6. In the morning sow thy seed, &c.] Do all
good works early and diligently, wh:,ch is expressed
by sowing in righteousness, Hos. x. l2. particularly
alms-deeds, often signified by sowing seed, Psal. exit.
9. e Cor. ix. 6--1O. this should be in the mor
youth, that persons may be inured to it
as Obadiah was; and in the morning of prospe-
rity, as soon as ever Providence smiles on men,
and puts it into the power of their hands, who
should honour the Lord with the first-fruits of their
increase. And in the evening withhold not thine hand;
from sowing seed, from doing good, particularly acts
of charity, in the evening of old age, as Jarchi, like old
Barzillai; an age in which men are apt to be more
tenacious and covetous, and withhold more than is
meet; yea, in the evening of adversity do not leave off'
doing good as much as can be; but do as the Mace
doninn churches, whose deep poverty abounded to the
riches of their liberality in a great trial of affliction,
2 Cor. viii. 2. in short, good is to be done at all times,
as opportunity offers, throughout the whole of lfie, and
in all conditions and circumstances. For thou kaowest
not whether shall prosper, either this or that; the seed
sown in the morning or in the evening, which good
work shall best succeed; therefore do both, try all
ways, make use of all opportunities. Or whether they
both shall be alike good; acceptable to God, and useful
to men; and if so, a man will have no occasion to
repent of what he has done both in youth and old age.
Ver. 7. Truly the light is sweet, &c.] Here begins
a new subject, as most think; and some here begin
the twelfth and last chapter, and not improperly.
This is true of natural light, which is exceeding plea-
sant, useful, and beneficial;by which men discern
objects, behold the things of nature with pleasure,
walk in the way without stumbling, and do the work
and business of life: and also of civil light or pro-
sperity; for, as afflictions are expressed by darkness,
and adversity by night; so the comforts and good
things of life by light and day, which are very de-
sirable and delectable: and here life itself may be
meant, for light is sometimes put for life, which is the
light of the living; and what sweeter and more desira-
ble than that, especially a life attended with prospe-
rity and peace ? see Job xxxiii. 28, 30. and iii. 20. and
ii. 4. Psal. xxxiv. I2. The Targum and Jarchi inter-
pret it of the light of the law; and which is indeed a
light, and so is the whole word of God, Prov. vi. S3.
Psal. cxix. 105. 2 Pet. i. 19. but may be better applied
unto the Gospel, which is a great and glorious light,
Isa. ix. 2. 2 Cot. iv. 4. and a means of enlightening
dark minds; not only of shewing men their sinfulness,
as the law does; but the insufficiency of their righte-
ousness, of all their own goodness and good works to
justify; it reveals Christ, and the glories of his person;
it sets him forth evidently, as crucified and slain, for
the worst of sinners; it makes manifest his fulness,
ability, and willingness, as a Saylout; righteousness,
peace, pardon, and salvation by him; it makes known
s not to be discerned by the light of nature, even
s wonderful and marvelIons, as well as what is
way a man should walk in: and this light is sweet
pleasant, not to a blind and carnal man, who de-
ses it, and reckons it foolishness, but to those who
are enlightened by the spirit of God; and to these it
is very delightful, even to all their senses; it is sweet
to their taste, a joyful sound to their ears, and beauti-
ful to their sight are the feet of them that bring its
good tidings. The light of grace, which appears in
first conversion, and Comes from God suddenly, which
at first is small, but increases, is exceeding pleasant,
strikes the soul with delight and wonder; it is marvel-
Ionslight, 1 Pet. ii. 9. and so is the light of joy and
gladness to believers, when it arises to them after a
time of darkness, or the light of God's countenance,
Psal. iv. 6, 7. and such will be the light of the latter-
day glory, and more especially the light of the hea-
enly state. And a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to
the sun; the natural sun, shining at noon-day,
which is a luminous and glorious body, communi-
caring light and heat to all the world: which is so
glorious and so pleasant to behold, that Anaxagoras,
ilosopher, being asked what he was born for, an-
'' to see the heavens, the sun, and the moon t ;,,
and Eudoxus, another philosopher, said," he could
"be content to perish, could he get so near to the sun
"as to learn the nature of it "." To see the sun, in the
language of this book, is to live in this world, and to
enjoy the light of the sun, and the comforts of life; sea
ch. vii. I1. and now a life, attended with outward pro-.
sperity. and inward peace, that is spent in doing and
enjoying good, is a very desirable and delightful one;
though such a man should not think of living always,
but of death, and the days of darkness,. as in the fol-
· verse. This may he applied to Christ, the sun.
righteousness, Psal, lxxxiv. 11. Mal. iv. 2. the
of all spiritual light and heat; the brightness
of his father's glory; and who is superior to angels
and men; and is to be beheld by faith, and in his own
light, as the sun is; and whom to look upon with an
eye of faith is exceeding pleasant and delightful, and
fills with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. i. 8.
Ver. 8. But ira man live many years, &c.] Enjoy-
ing light and life, and beholding the sun with much
delight and pleasure. The days of men on earth, or
under the sun, are but few at most; but some live.
many days, in comparison of others; they come to a.
good old age, as Abraham did; and to their graves
like a shock of corn fully ripe; and arrive to, or beyond,
the common term of human life. And rejoice in them
all in and throughout the many years he lives, even
all his days; that is, is blessed with a plentiful portion
of the good things of life, and enjoys them in a free
and comfortable manner,. with moderation and thank-
fulness; partakes. of the good of his labour, and re-
joices in his- works, in the fruit and effects of them,
through the blessing of divine Providence; not only


{t} Laert. in Vita Anaxag. p. 95. Lactant. de Fals. Sap. l. 3. c. 9.
{u} Plutarch, vol. 2. p. 1094.