The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 64

~vill perscvC're in it; and he is not only sustained by the approbalion of his conscience he is satisfied with the fellowship of his Master, Christ.-'!'. ' Vers. 18-23.-0oncem/or posterity. It is distinctive of man that he is a being that looks before and after; he cannot be satisfied to regard only the present; ho investigates the former days, and the ancestry from which he bas derived life and circumstances; he speculates as to the days to come, and "all the wonder yet to be." J t appeared to the " Preacher" of Jerusalem that too great solicitude regarding our posterity is an element in the "vanity" which is characteristic of this life. J. IT IS NATURAL THAT MEN SHOULD ANTICIPATE THEIR POSTERITY WITH INTEREST AND soJ.IcITUDE. Family life is so natural to man that there is nothing strange in the anxiety which most men feel with regard to their children, and even their children's children. Men do not like the prospect of their posterity sinking in the social scale. Prosperous men find a pleasure and satisfaction in "founding a family," in perpetu- ating their name, preserving their estates and possessions to their descendants, and in the prospect of being remembered with gratitude and pride by generations yet unborn. Iu the case of kings and nobles such sentiments aud auticipations are especia.!ly powerful. • Il. IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT IN MANY INSTANCES lll.EN'S ANTICIPATIONS REGARDING POSTERITY ARE DISAPPOINTED. The wide and acc.urate observations of the author of Ecclesiastes convinced him that such is the case. 1. . The rich man's descendauts scatter the wcal~h which he has accumulated by means of labour and self- denia.l. It need not be proved, for the fact is patent to all, that it is the same in this respect in our own days as it was in the Hebrew state. In fact, we have an English proverb, "One generation makes money; the second keeps it; the third spends it." 2. The wise man's descendant proves to be a fool. Notwithstanding what has been maintained to be a law of" hereditary genius," the fact is unquestionabfo that there are many instances in which the learned, the accomplished, the intellectually great, are succeeded by those bearing their name, but by no means inheriting their ability. And the contrast is one painful to witness, and humiliating to those to whose disadvantage it is drawn. 3. The descendants of the great in many instances fall into obscurity and contempt. History affords us many examples. of such descent; tells of the posterity of the noble, titled, and powerful working with their hands for daily bread, etc. IlI. THE PilOSPECT OF AN UNFORTUNATE POSTERITY OFTEN DISTRESSES AND TROUDLEB MEN, ESPECIALLY THE GREAT. The" wise man" knew what it was to brood over such a prospect as opened up to his foreseeing mind. He came to hate his labour, and to cause bis heart to despair; all his days were sorrow, and his travail grief; his heart took not rest in the night; and life seemed only vanity to him. Why should I toil, and take heed, and care, and deny myself? is the question which many a man puts to him- self in the sessions of silent thought. My children or my children's children mny squander my riches, alienate my estates, sully my reputation; my work may be undone, and my fond hopes ;may be mocked. What is human life but hollowness, vanity, wind ? IV. THE TRUE CONSOLATION BENEATH THE PRESSURE OF SU0H FOREBODINGS, It is vain to attempt to comfort oursolves by denying facts or by cherishing unfounded and unreasonable hopes. What we have to do is to place all our confidence in a wise aud gracious God, and to leave the future to his providential care; and at the same time to do our own duty, not concerniug ourselves overmuch as to the conduct of others, of those who shall come aftllr us. It ia for us to '' reijt in the Lord,'' who has not promised to order and overrule all things for our glory or happiness, but who will surely order and overrule them for the advancement of his kingdom and the honour of his Name.-T. Ver. 24.-.All good is from God. Revelation ever presents to man a standard of conduct equally removed from selfish gratification and from proud asceticism. It con- demns the habit, too common with the prosperous and fortunate, of seeking all satis- faction in the pleasures and luxuries of the world, in the enjoyments of sense; and it at the same Lime condemns the tendency to despise the body and the things of timo and sense, ll.'i if such independence of earth were of necessity the means to spiritual enrich- ment and blessing. On the ono hand, we are invited to partake freely and gladly of CH, II, 1-26.] ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. 47