ever occurred of the vanity of human grandeur, this is the greatest : for Solomon's head was scarcely laid in the grave, before ten of the tribes out of the twelve revolted from his son, and, instead of beiwg his subjects, became his rivals and enemies^: and m the space (if five years afterwards, all the treasures, v/ith which Solomon had enriched both his own house and the Temple of the Lord, were taken away by an invading enemy 5 ^nd brazen shields were made by his son, to replace the golden shields with which the Temple had been adorned". How stronglv does this illustrate those words of David which immediately follov/ my text! " Surely every man vvalketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them." Assuredly, all our feelings, whether of hope or fear, whether of joy or sorrow, whether for ourselves or others, would be moderated, if only the thought of the transi- toiiness and uncertainty of human affairs were once duly im- pressed upon our minds : " those v/ho have wives, would be as though they had none ; those who v/eep, as though they wept not; and those who rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; those who buy, as though they bought not; ;ind tb.ose who use tliis world, as not abusing it:" the one thought, I say, how "transient every thing in this world is," would produce in us, if not an indifference to the concerns of time, yet at least a moderation in our regard for them*".]
2. To augment our diligence in preparing for eternity —
[Who that considered the uncertainty of life, would defer the concerns of his soul, which are of more importance tlian ten thousand worlds. It were rather to be expects 1 that such an one woidd give neither sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eve- lids, till he should have secured, beyond a possibility of doubt, the favour of his God. One would think that every hour spent in any other pursuit should be grudged by him; and that, what- ever efforts were made to divert his attention to any other subject, he should say with Nehemiah, " I am doing a great work, and cannot come down'." With what care, under such impressions, would a person read the word of God ! With what humility would he attend Divine ordinances ! With what strong crying and tears would he present his supplications at the throne of Grace ! How, in all that he did, would he resemble those who contended in the Olympic games, running, wrestling, fighting as for his very life ! The man with the avenger of blood close at his heels would not exert himself more to reach the city of refuge, than such an one would in " fleeing from the wrath, to come." It is only those who promise themselves days and
months ' 1 Kin. xii. l6, 19. 8 1 Kin. xiv. 25 — 27.
'■ 1 Cor. vii. 29— 31. 'Ndi. vi. 3.