either toil or endurance, delight or disappointment. But in the hour of sober reflection we are constrained to admit that the pattern of the web of life is composed of many and diverse colours.. Our faculties o.nd capacities are many, our experiences are varied, for the appeals me.de to us by our enviroJ1.ment change from day to day, from hour to hour. "One man in his time plays many parts." I. IN LIFE THERE IS MYSTERY TO SOLVE. The works and the ways of God are too great for our feeble, finite nature to comprehend. We may learn much, and yet may leave much unlearned and probably unleamable, at all events in the conditions of this present state of being. 1. There are speculative difficulties regarding the order and constitution of things, which the thoughtful man cannot avoid inquiring into, which yet often baffle and sometimes distress him. "Man cannot find out the work that God bath done from the beginning even to the end." 2. There are practical difficulties which every man has to encounter in the conduct of life, fraught as it is with dis- appointment and sorrow. "What profH hath he that worketb in that wherein be laboureth?" II. IN LIFE THERE IB BEAUTY To ADMIRE. The mind that is not absorbed in pro- viding for material wants can scarcely fail to be open to the adaptations and the manifold charms of nature. The language of creation is as harmonious music, which is soothing or inspiring to the ear of the soul. What a revelation is here of the very nature and benevolent purposes of the Almighty Maker r "He bath made everything beautiful in its time." And beauty needs the aesthetic faculty in order to its apprecia- tion and enjoyment. The development of this faculty in advanced states of civilization is familiar to every student of human nature. Standards of beauty vary; but the trne standard is that which is offered by the works of God, who "bath made everything beautiful in its time." There is a beauty special 'to every season of the year, to every hour of the day, to every state of the atmosphere; there is a beauty in every several kind of landscape, a beauty of the sea, a beauty of the heavens; there is a beauty of childhood, another beauty of youth, of healthful manhood and radiant womanhood, and even a certain beauty peculiar to age. The pious observer of the works of God, who rids himself of conventional and traditional prejudices, will not fail to recognize the justice of this remarkable assertion of the Hebrew sage. Ill. IN LIFE THERE IS WORK TO DO, Labour and travail are very frequently mentioned in this book, whose author was evidently deeply impressed by the corresponding facts-first, that God is the almighty Worker in the universe; and, secondly, that man is made by the Creator like unto himself, in that he is called upon by his nature and his circumstances to effort and to toil. Forms of labour vary, and the progress of applied science iu our own time seems to relieve the toiler of some of the severer, more exhausUng kinds of bodily effort. But it must ever remain true that the human frame was not intended for indolence; that work is a condition of welfare, a means of moral discipline and development. It is a factor that cannot be left out of h111nan life; the Christian is bound, like his Master, to finish the work which the F"Lher has given him to do. IV. IN LIFE THERE IS GOOD TO PARTICIPATE. There is no asceticism in the teaching of this Book of Ecclesiastes. 'l'he writer was one who had no doubt that man was i::onstituted to enjoy. He speaks of eating and drinking as not merely necessary in order to maintain life, but as affording gratification. He dwells appreciatingly upon the happiness of married life. lie even commends mirth and festivity. In all these he shows himself superior to the pettiness which carps at the pleasures connected with this earthly existence, and which tries to pass for sanctity. Of course, there are lawful and unlawful gratifications; there is a measure of indulgence which ought not to be exceeded .. But if Divine intention is traceable in the constitution and condition of man, he was made to partake with gratitude of the bounties of God's providence. V, ALL 'l'HE PROVISIONS WHICH DIVINE WISDOM ATTACHES TO HUMAN LIFE ARE TO DE ACCEPTED WITH GRATITUDE AND USED Wl'l'H ~'AITHFULNESS, AND WITH A CONSTAN'l' BENSE OF RESPONSIDILITY. In receiving and enjoying every gift, the devout mind will exclaim, "It is the gift of God." In taking advantage of every opportunity, the Christian will bear in mind that wisdom and goodness arrange human life so that it shall afford repeated occasion for fidelity and diligence. In his daily work he will make it his aim to "serve the Lord Christ." 76 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. [CH, II[, 1-22,
ArrLIOATION. 1. There is much in the provisions and conditions of our earthly life which baffles our endeavours to understand it; and wheu perplexed by mystury, we are summoned to submit with all humility and patience to the limitations of our intellect, and to rest assured that God's wisdom will, in the end, be made apparent to nil. 2. There is a practical life to be lived, even when speculative difficulties are insurmountable; and it is in the conscientious fulfilment of daily duty, and the morlerato use of ordinary enjoyments, that a.s Christians we may adorn the doctrine of God our ::laviour.-'1'.