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Nor is any thing better to be expected from new discoveries, since 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] 10 no new [thing] under the sun. Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. This is not an universal proposition; nevertheless many of the things we value ourselves upon as new discoveries, were known to former ages ; and men's labours and enjoyments are the same in general now as formerly. No new expedient can be found out to secure the happiness of mankind in earth11 ly things. [There is] no remembrance of former [things;] neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after; the names and memories of the inventors of many things are lost, so will the names and memory of their successors: their inventions did not answer their expectation, they still complained of vanity, and so shall we. In the rest of the chapter the preacher shows the vanity of human wisdom and learning, and its insufficiency to make men happy ; 12 though it bids fairest for it of all natural things. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem I was in circumstances

which gave me every advantage for pursuing knowledge : 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 man to be exercised therewith he must search for knowledge with great labour, and ob14 tain it by slow degrees. I have seen all the works of this kind that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit; we know little, and that little is not of much service 15 to us. [That which is] crooked cannot be made straight and that which is wanting cannot be numbered; there are many things uneasy and disagreeable in life, which all the wit and wisdom 16 of men cannot fully rectify. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotton more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem : yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge; the distinguished circumstances in which God hath placed me, gave me greater advantages for searching into wisdom than 17 others. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; I applied my mind closely to search into the nature and reason of things, the causes and effects of men's follies and vices; and here likewise I found disappointment, I perceived 18 that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom, or speculative knowledge, [is] much grief; there is a great deal of trouble in getting, pursuing, and keeping it: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow: the more he knows, the slearer views he has of the vanity of human life; and the more vexation he will find, unless his knowledge be improved to religious purposes. Beside attending to the general purport and design of this book, there are particular passages that may afford us some useful instructions..

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REFLECTIONS.

E here see, that it is no dishonour to the wisest and best of men to be preachers, but much to their glory; for Solomon, so renowned for wisdom, wealth, and dignity, assumes this character. This should teach us, that it is every man's duty to employ what talents God gives him, for the instruction and refor mation of the world; and that those especially to whom God has given peculiar wisdom, should communicate it to others for their edification. If they have rank, wealth, and influence, these may help to recommend their instructions, and add weight to all the advice they give.

2. The abilities and circumstances of Solomon should engage our peculiar attention to what he says, especially about the vanity of the world. He was the wisest, the richest, and the greatest of men; of all men that ever lived, he had the greatest advantage for making the experiment; the result of which, he in this book informs us. It was the issue of a deliberate judgment, founded upon close inquiry and large experience, and therefore worthy of our highest regard.

3. Let us endeavour to impress our hearts with the changeable nature of all earthly things. This is Solomon's first and strongest proof of their vanity. All nature is in continual fluctuation. Generation after generation passeth off; men are engaged in the same pursuits as their ancestors; the same follies are acted over and over again. Old arts are recovered; old fashions restored; the disorders, corruptions, and complaints of every age are much the same. Let this therefore abate our pride in our own discoveries and attainments; restrain the folly of despising former ages; and teach uз particularly, that what is so changeable can never afford substantial happiness to an immortal spirit.

4. The vanity of speculative knowledge should teach us to pursue that which is practical, useful, and satisfactory. Solomon's design is not to discourage us from pursuing knowledge. It has its difficulties, arising in a great measure from our wrong choice; but it has its pleasures too. Those whose business in life it is to increase in speculative knowledge, as subservient to something better, feel the truth of Solomon's observation, v. 18. in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow: but never more sensibly, than when they meet with ill returns from those for whose service they pursue it; and with the best returns they find little satisfactory in it. May we all therefore, those of us especially who have little time for reading and study, apply our minds chiefly to that which will make us wise to salvation. He that increaseth in the knowledge of God and divine things, will increase in joy; and find in the end that this is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent.

CHAP. II.

In this chapter are further experiments, how far happiness is to be found in earthly things.

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SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure; come on, indulge all lawful delights, and try every agreeable scene: and, behold, this also 2 [is] vanity. I said of laughter, [It is] mad; it transports men beyond the bounds of reason, prudence, and sobriety: and of mirth, 3 What doeth it? it is soon over, and leaves a man unsatisfied. I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life; I sought for happiness in entertainments and banquets, yet kept myself within the bounds of sobriety; but here I met with so much disappointment, that I hate to dwell any longer upon the mention of it. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vine5 yards I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees. 6 in them of all [kind of] fruits: I made me pools of water, 7 to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got [me] servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house, whom I could educate as I pleased; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before 8 me: 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; I in a manner drained the kingdoms and provinces subject to me of all their curiosities. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me; my genius enabled me to carry these things to greater perfection, than a person of equal substance but not equal abilities could have done. 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; It is true I found entertainment in these things; the forming of plans, and scing their rising beauties, gave me some pleasure; but this as all my portion, the pleasure ceased with the novelty, and. 11 I quickly wanted some fresh object. Then I looked on all the

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works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had. laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; I returned to the examination of wisdom and its opposites, particularly as applied to worldly business; and no man can try the experiment more fully than I have done; for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath 13 been already done. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as

far as light excelleth darkness: the result was, that a discreet;` prudent, regular conduct for this world has greatly the advantage of its contrary. The wise man's eyes [are] in his head, where they best serve him to look about him, to see his danger, and guide his way; but the fool walketh in darkness; rash, imprudent men blunder on into mischief and vexation: and I myself per15 ceived also, that one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth unto the fool, so it happeneth even to me; we are subject to the same painful events; and why was I then [more] wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also 16 [is] vanity. 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. The wise die as well as fools, and each are quickly forgotten: he must be a person of extraordinary character 17 that is talked of for ages. Therefore so far from finding satisfaction, 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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Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun : because I should leave it unto the man that shall be af 19 ter me. 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 showed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity. Rehoboam, who was forty years old when his father died, so that he must have seen his weakness 20 and folly, is doubtless here referred to. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun; instead of pursuing former schemes, I gave them up, as one utterly tired with them; nor is this peculiar to me, it is often 21 seen in lower circumstances. For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein, to a man whose character is just the reverse of his own, shall he leave it [for] his portion. This 22 also [is] vanity and a great evil. For what hath man, such a man as above described, of all his labour, and of the vexation of 23 his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days, or, although all his days, [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night; though he hath obtained what he has with so much care, labour and fatigue, yet it must be left to he knows not who. This is also vanity.

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[There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God: the best way therefore, is not to engage in many schemes, and perplex himself with much business; but contentedly to sit down and enjoy the good things God has given him with pleasure 25 and thankfulness: but this is not in a man's own power; For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto,] more than I? or, as it may be better rendered, who can cat or hasten thereunt

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without him? This depends on the divine blessing, and the turn he gives to the mind, though the materials may be in a man's own 26 possession. For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight, that is, to a pious man, wisdom and knowledge to make a good use of his substance, and joy in the using of it but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God; he gives up the wicked to an insatiable discontented spirit, so that they afflict themselves with many cares and sorrows, to heap up what in the course of his providence he often gives to the righteous. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

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REFLECTIONS.

E here see the vanity of expecting happiness in mirth and pleasure, grandeur and luxury. In spite of all Solomon's reasoning and experience, the present age is trying the experiment over again; but they will at last join in his conclusion. It is a dangerous experiment; for few can make it and yet their wisdom remain with them. Therefore it is better to desist and take Solomon's word. Remember that these things cannot quiet a guilty conscience, comfort a drooping spirit, ease a dying body, or save an immortal soul.

2. There are many things which are excellent in themselves, and of great use in life, that will not make a man happy. Prudence, diligence, and regularity in business, are things highly commendable, and favourable to men's worldly interest, therefore many place all their religion in them; but they are not the one thing needful. Let us be careful that we are not mistaken; and while we study the arts of prudence and economy, forget the weightier matters of the law, and continue destitute of the love of God.

3. We are here taught the importance and necessity of true reli gion to make a man comfortable even in this world. Men may slave and toil ever so much, gain ever such abundance by sagacity, diligence, and frugality, it will not prolong their lives or their memories; it will not insure them a worthy heir; nor even a comforta ble use of their own substance. The cheerful enjoyment of what we have must come from God. It is therefore to be sought by fervent prayer; and is generally given to good men ; and this they may have with a little. So that upon the whole, Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

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