Ver. S.-The i11satiability of sense. Man is on one side aldn to the brutes, whilst ho is on the other side akin to God. Sense he shares with the, inferior animals; but tho intellect and conscience by 'l'l"hich he may use his senses in the acquisition- of knowledge, :rnd his physical powers in the fulfilment of a moral ideal, these are peculiar to himself. On this account it is impossible for man to be satisfied with mere sensibility; if he makes the attempt, he fails. To say this is not to disparage sense-a. great and won'- derful gift of God. It is simply to put the senses in) their proper place, as th'e auxiliaries and ministers of reason. Through the exercise of sense man may. by Divine aid, 1ise to great spiritual possessions, achievements, and enjoymentll. • l. A.Ji; I!sFIKITE Y ARIET I: OF ODJECTS APPEAL TO TIIE SENSES OF BIGHT AND HEARING. These arc chosen as the two noblest of the senses-those by whose means we learn most of nature, and most of the thoughts and purposes of our fellow-men and of our God. Around, beneath, and abo,e us are objects to be seen, sounds and voices to be heard. The Yariety is as marvellous as the multiplicity, II. WONDERFUL IS THE ADAPTATION OF THE SENSES TO RECEIVE THE VARIED IMPRES· SIOKS PRODUCED DY NATURE. The susceptibility of the nerves of the-eye to the undula- tions of ether, of the ear to atmospheric vibrations, has only been fully explained in recent times. There is no more marvellous instance of design than the mutual adapta- tions of the voice, the atmosphere, and the auditory nerve; of the molecular·structure of coloured body, the ether, and the retinal structure of the optic nerve. And these are only some of the arrangements between nature-and sense which meet us at every turn and at eYery moment of our conscious existence, - :1 Ill. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT THE- MERE EXERCISE-OF SENSE SHOULD AFFORD A FULL SATISFACTION TO THE NATURE OF MAN. It is not to be supposed that any reasonable being should seek his gratification merely in the enjoyment of the impressions upon th~ senses. But even curiosity fails to find satisfaction, and those who crave such·satisfac~ tion make it manifest that their craving is in vain. The restlessness of the sight-seer is proverbial. When the impressions of sense are used· as the material for high intellectual and spiritual ends, the case is otherwise. But· it remains true as in the days of Koheleth, " The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the· ear filled wit~ ~~ • I IV. lT WOULD B~ AN ERROR TO REGARD TfilS FACT .AS A PROOF. OF THE INHERENT BADNESS OF THE SENSES. Such an inference has somenmes been·drawn by enthusiastic -minds; and mystics have inculcated abstinence from• -the exercise of 'the senses as essential in order to intellectual and spiritual- illumination. The error here 1ies in overlooking the distinction between making ourselves the slaves of' our' senses, and using the senses as our helpers and servants. • V. BUT TI' IS JUST TO REGARD THIS FAOT AB AN INDIOATION THAT MEN· SHOULD BEEK' THEIR SATISFACTION IN WHAT IS filGHER THAN BENSE. When the eyes are opened to the works of God, when we look upon the form of the Son of God, when we .hear the Divine Word speaking in conscience and speaking in Christ, our senses then become; directly or indirectly, the instrumentality by means_ of which our higher n~tuie is called into exercise and finds abundant scope. Our reason may thus find rest m truth; our sympathies may thus respond to the revealed love of the Eternal Father known by his blessed Son; our whole heart may rise into fellowship with him from whdm all our faculties and capacities are derived, and in whom alone his spiritual children- can :fi.nd1 a perfect satisfaction and an un.shaken repose.-T.
Vera. 9, 10.-Novelty. If, in the ancient days in which this book was written, men were already experiencing the weariness which comes from their familJarity with the. scenes of earth and the incidents of life, how much more must this ·be the case at th'e present time! It is, indeed, ever characteristic of the favourites of fortune, that they' "run through" the possibilities of excitement and of pleasure before ~heir ·c~pacity f~r enjoyment is exhausted, and cry for new forms of amusement and distraction, •It 1s remarkable how soon such persons are reduced to the painful conviction. that there' ia nothing new under the sun. . : , . • • • . I. THE LOVE AND QUEST OF NOVELTY ABE NATUBM, .TO'·MAN". When we exnmme human nature, we find there a deep-seated 'Interest' in change, What is called "rcbtivity," the passage from one experience to another, is indeed an essential con•' on. 1, 1-18.J ECCLESIASTES; OR, 'rIIE PREACHER. 19