The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 198

II. THE COMPARATIVELY UNPROFITABLE THING. Two things are mentioned in Scrip- ture as being lawful, but as being of comparatively slight value-bodily indulgence and bodily exercise (see 1 Cor. vi. 13 ; 1 Tim. iv. 8). cc The house of feasting" ( ver. 2) is a. right place to be found in, as is also the gymnasium, or the recreation-ground, or the place of entertainment. But it is very easy to think of some place that is worthier. As those that desire to attain to heavenly wisdom, to a Christ-like character, to the approval of God, let us see that we only indulge in the comparatively unprofitable within the limits tl,at become us. To go beyond the bound of moderation is to err and even to sin. Fun may grow into folly, pleasure pass into dissipation, the traini~"' of0 the body become an extravagant athleticism, in the midst of which the culture of the spirit is neglected, and the service of Christ forsaken. It behoves us to " keep under" that which is secondary, to forbid it the first place or the front rank, whether in onr esteem or in our practice. III. THE DISGUISED BLESSING. It is not difficult to reach the heart of these para- doxes (vers. 2-5). There is pain of heart in visiting the house where death has come to the door, as there is in receiving the rebuke of a true friend; but what are the issues of ;it? What is to be gained thereby? What hidden blessing does it not contain? How true it is that it is "Better to have a quiet grief Than a tumultuous joy" I that the hollow lauahter of folly is a very poor and sorry thing indeed compared with the wisdom-laden ~orrow, when all things are weighed in the balances. To have a chastened spirit, to have the heart which has been taught of God great spiritual realities, to have had an enlarging and elevating vision of the things which are unseen and eternal, to have been impressed with the transiency of earthly good and with the excellency of " the consolations which are in Christ Jesus," to be lifted up, if but one degree, toward the spirit and character of the self-sacrificing Lord we serve, to have had some fellowship with the sufferings of Christ,-surely this is incomparably preferable to the most delicious feast or the most hilarious laughter. To go down to the home that is darkened by bereavement or saddened by some crushing diAAppointment, e.nd to pour upon the troubled hearts there the oil of true and genuine sympathy, to bring such spirits up from the depths of utter hopelessness or overwhelming grief into the light of Divine truth and heavenly promise,-thus cc to do good and to communicate" is not only to offer acceptable sacrifice unto God, but it is also to be truly enriched io our own soul.-C. Ver. 8.-Patience and pride. Patience is to be distinguished from a dull indis- criminateness and from insensibility, to which one treatment is much the same as another; it is the calm endurance, the quiet, hopeful waiting on the part of the intelligent and sensitive spirit. Pride is to be distinguished from self-respect; it is e.n overweeniug estimate indulged by a man respecting himself-of his power, or of his position, or of his character. 'l'hus understood, these two qualities stand in striking contrast to one another. l. PATIENCE IS A DIVINELY COMMENDED AND PRIDE A ¥Or.BIDDEN THING. Patic11ce (Luke xxi. 19; 2 Thess. i. 4; Heb. x. 36; 2 Pet. i. 6; Jas. v. 7, 8, 11; Rev. ii. 2). Pride (Ps. ci. 5; cxix. 21; cxx.xviii. 6; Prov. vi. 17; Isa. ii. 12; Mark vii. 22; Rom. xii. 3; Ja.a. iv. 6). II. PATIBNOE IS TlIE BEAT OF SAFETY, PRIDE THE PLACE OF PERIL. The man that is willing to wait in patience for the good which God will grant him, accepting what he gives him with quiet contentment, is likely to walk in wisdom, and to abide in the fear and favour of the Lord; but the man who over-estimates his strength is stand- ing in a. very "slippery place "-he is almost sure to fall. No words of tho wise man a.re more frequently fulfilled than those concerning pride and a haughty spirit (Prov. xvi. 18). The proud heart is the mark for many adversaries. III. PATIENCE IS A BECOMING GRACE, PRIDE AN UGLY EVIL, Few things are more spiritually beautiful than patience. When under long-continued bodily pain or weak- ness, or under grievous ill-treatment, or through long years of deferred hope and disappointment, the chastened e_pirit lives on in cheerful resignation, the Christie.a 186 ECCLESIA.STES; OR, 'l'HE PREA.OHER. [orr. vu. 1-29.