sage the inscrutable nature of the Jaw that his eyes. This is o. parenthetical clause ex- directs God's moral government leads to the pressing either the restless, unrelieved labour advice to make the best of circumstances. that goes on in the world, or the ,leepless In neither instance need we trace veiled meditation of one who tries to solve the pro- Epicureo.nism. The result obtained is reached blem of the order and disorder in men's lives. by a.cute observation supplemented by raith In the latter case, Kohcleth may be giving in God. Under the sun. The phrase occurs his own experience. To " see sleep" is to twice in this verse and again in ver. 17, and enjoy sleep. The phrase is not found else- implies that the view taken was limited to where in the Old Testament, but commcn- man's earthly existence. To eat, and to drink, tRtors quote pamllels from classical sources. etc. This is not o. commendation of a greedy, Thus Terence, 'Heautontim.,' iii. 1. 82- voluptnous life, but an injunction thankfully " Somnum hercle ego hac nocte ocu'is non to enjoy the good provided by God without vidi meis." disquieting one's self with ihe mysteries of Providence. So it was said of Israel in its "No sleep mine eyes have seen this livelong palmy days (1 Kings iv. 20), "Judah and night." Israel were many, as the sand which is by Cicero, 'Ad Famil.,' viii. 30, "Fnit miri- the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, fica vigilantia, qui toto suo consulatn som- a?1d making merry." For that shall abide num non viuit." Of course, the expression with him of his labour; rather, and that is hyperbolical. The same idea is found this should accompany him in his labour. without metaphor in such passages a.a Pa. The Greek Version regards the verb as indi- c:uxii. 4; Prov. vi. 4. cative, not subjunctive, nor, as others, as Ver. 17.-Then I beheld all the work of jussive: "This shall attend (,ruµ.Trpord,na.,) God. TLis is the apodosis to the first clause him in his work." But it seems better to of vcr. 16. "God's work" is the same as the consider Koheleth as sayirrg that the happiest work that iB done under the sun, and means thing for a man is to make tLe best of what men's aotions and the providential ordering he has, and to take with him in all his work thereof. This a man, with his finite under- a cheerful and contented heart. standing, oannot find out, cannot thoroughly comprehend or explain (comp. eh. iii. 11; Ver. 16 - eh. ix. 10. - Section 7 (the vii. 23, 24). 11eoause though e. man labt.ur division in the theme cuused by the introduc- to seek it out. '.rhe Septuagint has, "O.,-ci &.P tion of o. new cho.pter is misleading). Man's µ.oxB~""'fl, " Whatsoever things a man shall wisdom is incapable of explaining the course labour to seek;" Vulgate, Quanto plus labor- of Goil' s providential governmBnt; death averit ad qwerendum, tanto minus ini·eniat. aioaits all without any exception, whatever be The interpreters we.ver between "how much so ever," and "wherefore a man le.hours." their condition or actions. These two con- The latter seems to be best. Though a wise sidcmtions conduce to the old conclusion, man think to know it, yet shall he not be e.ble that man had best enjoy life, only being to find it. It is the po.rt of wisdom to deter- careful to use it energetically and well. mine to know oil thot can be known ; but the resolution is baffled here (comp. eh. vii. 23). Vers. 16, 17.-No mortal wisdom, com- The two verses, with iheir repetitions ond bined with the closest observation and te.utologous expressions, seem to denote per- thought, can fe.thom the mydteries of God's turbation of mind in the author and his sense moral government. of the gravity of his assertions. He is over- whelmed with the thought of the inscruta- Ver. 16. -When I applied mine heart bility of God's jndgments, while he is forced (eh. i. 13). The answering member of the to fo.ce the facts. An exquisite cornrnentury sentence is in ver. 17, the last clause of the on this passugo is found in Hooker, 'Eccl. present verse being parenthetic11l. To know Pol.,' i. 2. § 2, quoted by Plumptre; and in wisdom. This was his first study (sPe on Bishop Butler's sermon ' On tbo Ignore.nee oh. i. 16). He endeavoured to acquire wisdom of Man,' where we read, "From it [the know- which might eue.ble him to inveslige.te God's ledge of our ignorance] we muy learn with doings. His second study was to see the what tewper of mind o mnn ought to inquire bnsiness that iB done upon the earth ; i.e. not into the subject of religion, namely, with only to learn what men do in their several what expectation of finding difficulties, 11nd sl11tions and callings, but likewise to under· with a disposition to take up and rest satis- stand whe.t all this means, what it tends to, fied with any evidence whatever which is its objecta.nd result. (For "business," inyan, real. A man should beforehand expect things see on eh. i. 13.) The Vnlgate here renders mysterious, and auch ea he will not be e.ble it distentianem, "distraction," which is like thoroughly to oomprehendor goto the bottom the Septuagint .,,,punra.a-fov. l!'or also th~re of. . . . Our ignore.nee is the proper 11uswer is tlrnt neither day nor night 100th sleep with to many things which ure co.lied objection, 206 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. [en. vm. 1-17,
ngainst religion, particularly to those which The conclusion is that in all lowliness of arise from the appearance of evil and irregu- mind we set lightly by ourselves; thnt we larity in the constitution of nature and the form our t.emper to an 1mplioitsubmission to government of the world. . . . Since the con- the Divine lllajesty, beget within ourselves stitution of nature and the methods and an absolute resignation to all the methods designs of Providence in the government of of bis providence in his dealings with the the world are above our comprehension, we children of men; that in the deepest humility should acquiesce in and rest satisfied with of our souls we prostrate ourselves before him, onr ignorance, turn our thoughts from that and join in that celeslinl song, 'Grea.t o.nd ·which is above and beyond us, and apply marvellous are thy works, Lo1·d God ourselves to that which is level to our capa- Almighty; just and true a.re thy we.ye, thou cities, and which is our real business and King of sa.ints. Who shall not fea.r thee, concern .... Lastly, let us adore that in- 0 Lord, a.nd glorify thy Na.me?' (Rev. xv. finite wisdom and power and goodness which S, 4)" (comp. Rom. xi. 33). is above our oomprehension (Ecclus. i. 6).