John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 8:15

Verſ. 15. Then I commended mirth] A lawful lightſomeneſſe, and chearfulneſs of heart, which maketh comforts to be much more comfortable, and troubles to be farre leſſe troubleſome.Bucholc. Beſides, acceptior eſt Deo grata laetitia quam diuturna quaſi querula triſtitia. Cheerfulneſſe is better pleaſing to God, than ſowreneſſe and ſullenneſſe: this provokes him to anger, Deut. 28.47. as that which puts a man under the reign of continual unthankfulneſſe (Is any man merry? let him ſing, Jam. 5.13.) makes him exceeding liable to temptations and perplexities, diſableth him to make benefit of Ordinances, indiſpoſeth and unfitteth him for duties of active or paſſive obedience, takes off the wheels of the ſoul, and it makes as awkward, as a limb out of joynt, that can do nothing without deformity and pain.

Than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry] Although it bee the bread of ſorrow that thou eateſt, and the cup of affliction that thou drinkeſt, eat it, and drink it merrily. The Epicures held that a man might bee cheerful amidſt the moſt exquiſite torments. 1 In conſideration of his honeſty and fidelity, that hee ſuffered for. 2 In conſideration of thoſe pleaſures and delights that formerly he had enjoyed, and now cheered up himſelf with the remembrance of. How much better may Chriſtians doe it in conſideration of thoſe unutterable joyes and delights that they expect and hope for? Mendicato pane hic vivamus, &c. ſaith Luther. Wee may well bee content, nay merry though wee ſhould beg our bread here, to think that we ſhall one day feaſt with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven.