Geneva Series of Commentaries - Ecclesiates

Book Description:

Charles Bridges' commentary on Ecclesiastes shows that this neglected book of Scripture is:

• Relevant for today. Our land needs to be awakened to the futility of seeking happiness without God.
• Clear when interpreted in the light of its overall theme.
• Suitable not merely for 'the light-hearted and thoughtless' but for 'the most eminent saint of God'.
• Necessary. 'On no account could we have spared this book from the canon. It has its own sphere of instruction and that of no common value'.
• Harmonious with the New Testament. 'We cannot fully enforce and apply Ecclesiastes except by the aid of Gospel light'.
• Sanctifying. The message of the book is designed to bring men to complete consecration to God, as Bridges declares: 'The men that we want are lively, warm, real men- men who have a daily contact with a personal living Saviour- men whose religion is the element in which they breathe, the principle by which they work- men who think of life as the seed time for eternity'.

Author:

Charles Bridges served as an Evangelical party leader in the 19th century for the Church of England, serving as vicar of multiple churches. Ordained in 1817, he was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, and was chosen to preach at important occasions-including alongside J.C. Ryle in 1858. He became better known, though, for his writings. Charles Bridges' most famous book was The Christian Ministry - a book that explored insufficiencies in ministries and proposes remedies to help ordained men serve God more faithfully. This title went through nine printings in just 20 years after its first publication. Other well known titles include Proverbs, a book that C. H. Spurgeon called the best treatment of this Biblical book, Ecclesiastes, which also received praise from Spurgeon, and Psalm 119, a book that Spurgeon claimed was worth its weight in gold.

Endorsement:

'The Scriptural method of exposition so well carried out by Bridges renders all his writings very suggestive to ministers. While explaining the passage in hand, he sets other portions of the word in new lights.'
--C.H. SPURGEON

Additional Information: