ungodly. Some have a fear that persons may he wanted for agricultural work ; but there will always be found many who stand in need of employment.]
2. Among the poor —
[These are tmivilling to forego the immediate earnings of their children. But in a little time they will earn much more than they now do. They will sooner find situations where they will live at free cost. They will probably be able at a future period to aid their parents, instead of bemg a grief, and perhaps a burthen, to them. They will have a far better prospect of heaven, by having their minds instructed, and their conduct regulated, than they would have had, if brought up in igno- rance and sin.]
We conclude with recommending the institution to your support —
[If self-interest alone were consulted, the rich should help forward such institutions: for, if extensively promoted, they would soon lower the rates. But if benevolence be allowed to operate, it has unbounded scope for exercise in such institutions as these ; since they render the lower orders of people more intelligent, more useful, more properous, and more happy.]
VOL. vir.
Eccl. i. 2. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of
va7iities ; all is vanity.
IF experience entitles a man to credit, and gives weight to his testimony, we derive great advantage as to the credibihty of the inspired writings : for respect- ing much of which the Prophets and Apostles wrote, they could say, " What mine eyes have seen, mine ears have heard, and my hands have handled of the word of life, that same declare I unto you." And if this be an advantage in reference to the excellency of religion, it may well be regarded as of some im- portance in reference also to the vanity of all earthly pursuits. That there should have been a man pos- sessed of such abundant means of gratification as Solomon was, and so ardent in the pursuit of it in every possible line, and at the same time so faithful in declaring his own experience in relation to it all, must be considered as an advantage to all subsequent generations, who should hear and receive his testimony respecting the things which he had so fully tried, and so invariably proved to be vanity itself. The words before us express a conviction that admitted not of doubt, and a decision that left no room for controversy. " The Preacher" who uttered them was inspired of God, at the same time that he recorded what, from personal knowledge, he was qualified to declare. And in considering his testimony, I shall, I. Confirm it —
The things of which he spake were, all that the world contains; its grosser and more common pursuits