The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 112

confidence, renlizing that, should a moment come when he bas need of a second to help him up, that second will be beside him in the person of his friend. "When two together go, each for the other Is fir.t to think what best will help hi. brother: But one who walks alone, tho' wise in mincl, Of purpose slow and counsel weak we fincl." (Homer, 'Iliad,' x. 224-226.) The application of this principle of mutual helpfulness to almost every department of life, to the home and to the city, to the state and to the Church, to the workshop and to the playground, to the school and to the university, is obvious. 2. Mutual stimulus. Illustrated from the case of two travellers, who on a cold night lie under one blanket (Exod. xxiii. 6), and keep each other warm; whereas, should they sleep apart, they would each shiver the whole night through in miserable discomfort. The counterpart of this, again, may be found in every circle of life, but more especially in the home and the Church, in both of which the inmates are enjoined and expected to be helpers and comforters of each other, considering one another to provoke unto love and good works (Heh. x. 24). 8. Efficient protection, The writer notes the peril of the pilgrim whom, if alone, a robber may overpower, bnt whom, if accompanied by a comrade, the high- wayman would not venture to attack. So multitudes of dangers assail the individual, against which he cannot protect himself by his own unaiuetl strength, but which Lhe friendly assistance of another may aid him to repel. .As illustrations will at once present themselves, cases of sickness, temptations to sin, assaults upon Lhe youthful believer's faith. In ordinary life men know the va!ue of co-operation a~ a means of defence against invasions of what are deemed their natural rights; might the Christian Church not derive from this a lesson as to how she can bl•st meet and cope with the assaults to which she is subjected by infidelity on the one band, and imruorality on the other? 4. Increased strength. As surely as di vision and isolation mean loss of power, with consequent weakness, so surely do union and co-operation signify augmented might antl multiplied efficiency. Tbe Preacher expresses this by saying, "The three- fold cord will not quickly be broken." As the thickest rope may be snapped if first untwisted nnd taken strand by strand, so may the most formidable army be defeated, if only it can be dealt with in detached battalions, and the strongest Church may be laid in ruins if its members can be overthrown one by one. But then the converse of tl,i~ is likewise true. .A.s every strand twisted into a cable imparts to it additional strength, 60 every grace added to the Christian character makes it stronger to repel evil, and gives it larger ability for Christian service; while every additional believer incorporated into the body of Christ renders it the more impregnable by sin, and the more capable of furthering the progress of the truth. LESSONS. 1. The sinfulness of isolation. 2. The duty of union. 3, 'l'he value of a good companion. Vere. 13-16.-Tlie vicissitudes of royalty; or, the experience of a lcing. I. WEL- co:mm IN YOUTH. The picture sketched that of a 11olitical revolution. "An old and foolish kiu;.:, no longer understanding how to be warned," who has fallen out or touch with the times, and neither himself discerns the governmental changes demanded by the exigencies of the hour, nor is willing to b1;1 guided by his ftate councillors, is deposed in favour of a youthful hero who has caught the popular imagi11ati,,n, perceb·ed the necessities of the situation, learnt how to humour the fickle cruwd, contrived to install himself in their affections, and succeeded in promoting himself to be their ruler. 1. Climbing the ladder. Originally a poor man's son, he bad raised himself to be a leader of his countrymen, perhaps as Jeroboam, the son of Nobat, did in the days of Rehoboam (1 Kings xi. 26-28), interesting himself in the social and political condition of his fellow-subjects, sympathizing with their grievances, probably acting as their spokesman in laying these before the aged sovereign; and, when their demands were unheeded, possibly fanning their discontent, and even helping them to plot insurrection-for which, having been detected, he was cast into prison. Neverthe- less neither his humble birth nor his forcible incarceration had been sufficient to deg;e.de him in the people's eyes, 2, Standing on the summit. Accordingly, when the D6 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. [OH, IV, 1-16,