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A. C. 980 to 975.

k Ps. xxxix.

2 k Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

5,6. & Ixii. 9. ously by different commentators.

& cxliv. 4. ch. xii. 8.

The more usual division is that of Dr. Wells, into two general parts. The first shewing that all things relating to this world are vain and perishing, and can afford no true or lasting happiness; the second proving that the fear of God alone is real and permanent satisfaction and wisdom. Many passages in this book have been misunderstood: it has been supposed to savour of irreligion and immorality. The passages, however, in question, do not express the opinion of the king: they contain the false arguments which he puts into the mouth of the imaginary interlocutor whose opinions he opposes. The best analysis of this book, excepting, perhaps, that of Diodati, which is too long to be inserted here, is that by Mr. Des Voeux, which is given in Horne's Critical Introduction, and which I have extracted as an useful illustration of its various obscurities and difficulties.

"Mr. Des Voeux," says Mr. Horne, "reduces the whole discourse to three propositions, every one of which, when properly reflected upon, yields a strong proof of a state of future rewards and punishments."

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2, 3.

THE FIRST PROPOSITION:-"No labour or trouble of men in this world can ever be so profitable as to produce in them a lasting contentment and thorough satisfaction of mind."

4-11. 1st proof. The course of nature.

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Ch. iv.

9.

10, 11. 12-15.

16, 17. 18-21.

22.

3. Pleasure.

3d proof. Inconstancy of men's will.

Conclusion of the third proof.

A review of the second and third proofs considered conjointly, with special observations and corollaries.

1st observation. God is inculpable.

2d observation. God is the author of whatever be-
falls us in this world.

1st corollary. God shall redress all grievances.
2d corollary. God must be exalted, and man hum-
bled.

3d corollary. God alloweth men to enjoy the pre

sent.

1. 4th proof. Men's neglect of proper opportunities evi

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3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he A.C.980 taketh under the sun?

to 975. 1 ch. ii. 22. &, iii. 9.

5, 6. 7-12.

Ch. v. 13-19.

Ch vi.

Ch. vii.

10-12.

13.

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whatever we can acquire by our utmost trouble and
labour in this world, are so far from making us last-
ingly happy, that they may even be regarded as real
obstacles to our ease, quiet, and tranquillity."

14-17. 1st proof. Instability of riches.

18-2. 2d proof. Insufficiency of riches to make one happy.
3—6. Corollary. The fate of an abortive is preferable,
upon the whole, to that of one who lives without
enjoying life.

7-9. 10, 11.

12.

3d proof. Men's insatiableness.

General conclusion from the first and second proposition.
THE THIRD PROPOSITION:-" Men know not what is or
is not truly advantageous to them: because they are
either ignorant or unmindful of that which must come
to pass after they are dead."

1-8. 1st proof. Wrong estimation of things.

9-12.

13. 14, 15. 16-20. 21, 22.

A digression intended (like that in ver. 1-9.) to pre-
vent any misconstruction of the foregoing observa-
tions, and containing several advices, together with
a strong commendation of him who gives them, in
order to enforce the observation of the rules laid down
by him.

1st advice. Not to blame Providence.

2d advice. Not to judge of Providence.
3d advice. To submit to Providence.
4th advice. To avoid excess.

5th advice. Not to mind idle reports.

23-25. Commendation of the foregoing advices, from the author's
application to examine every thing, and especially

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A.C.980

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4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

m Ps. civ. 5. & 5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and * hasteth to his place where he arose.

cxix. 90. * Heb.

eth.

pant.

10. Ps. civ. 8,

9.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

n Job xxxviil. 7 " All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they + Heb. return + return again.

to go.

o ch. iii, 15.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

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9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Cho xi. 11–15.

3d proof. Judgments that are seemingly right, yet truly false.

16, &c. 4th proof. Little regard paid to wisdom.

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Cho xi.

1. Past services are forgotten.

2. The least fault is taken notice of.
3. Favour gets what is due to merit.

A caution, to prevent the abuse of the foregoing re

marks.

PRACTICAL INFERENCES.

1-4. 1. From the first proposition: We must give unto earthly goods that stability which they are capable of.

5, 6. 2. From the first and second proposition: We must, in our conduct, conform to the design of Providence concerning us, and leave the success to God. 7-10. 3. From the three propositions; but especially from the third: we must seek for happiness beyond the grave. Commendation of the work, from several considerations.

1-8.

xii.

9-12.

13, 14. THE CONCLUSION of the whole :-That there must be a state of true and solid happiness for men in a future state. In other words, the fear of God, and keeping his commandments, is the whole of man, that is, his chief good, his whole interest, privilege, honour, and happiness, as well as duty: for, after this vain life is past, another scene will succeed, and men shall be judged and recompensed according to their conduct, secret as well as open, and whether it may have been good or evil.

Vide Horne's Crit. Introd. vol. ii. p. 185, &c.

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11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither A.C. 980 shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12¶I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this

sore travail hath God given to the sons of men * to be ex- *Or, to afflict ercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun;

and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

them.

+ Heb. defect.

q1 Kings iii. & x.7, 23.

12, 13. & iv.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and pch. vii. 13. † that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of & spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

ECCLESIASTES II.

1 The vanity of human courses in the works of pleasure. 12 Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event. 18 The vanity of human labour, in leaving it they know not to whom. 24 Nothing better than joy in our labour; but that is God's gift.

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

it?

2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth

30.

ch. ii. 9.
+ Heb. had

seen much.

r ch. ii. 3, 12.

vii. 23, 25.

(Heb. to draw

3 I sought in mine heart § to give myself unto wine, ch. i. 17. yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold my flesh with on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of wine. men, which they should do under the heaven || all the days | Heb. the of their life.

4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood

that bringeth forth trees:

number of the days of their life.

e

7 I got me servants and maidens, and had * servants born * Heb. sons of in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small my house. cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

A. C. 980 to 975.

t 1 Kings ix. 28. & x. 10, 21, &c.

*Heb. musical instrument and instru

ments.

1

8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as * musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with

me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, uch. i. 3, 14. behold, all was " vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

x ch. i. 17. & vii. 25.

+Or, in those

things which have been already done.

Heb. that

there is an excellency in

12 ¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, * and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? † even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool wisdom more walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

than in folly,

&c.

y Prov. xvii.

24. ch. viii. 1.

15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, Heb. hap- so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more peneth tome, wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

to me.

Il Heb. Jabour

ed.

16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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18 ¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which I had || taken Ps. xlix. 10. under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laHeb. give. boured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

*

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