The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 230

even homely features an exquisite charm. 'l'he coarse, sullen, vacant starll of ignorance is transformed by the" sweetness and lietht" with which the soul is suffused. '!'here is a reference probably to the literal shini;g of Moses' countenance when he co.me down from the mount on which he had seen God face to face (Exod. xxxiv. 29). We must nil c>f us have known cases in which true piety and wisdom, such as is learned from t '.lirist-, have had this refining and transforming influence; persons of little ordinary l'ducation or culture, to whom religion has given really new intellectual power, o.nd whose tranquillity and peace of spirit has given au air of heavenly serenity to their whole bearing and manner. Aud, indeed, in e'Very case a holy disposition of mind has a refining effect upon those who cherish it. The face is an index to the character, and if the emotions that are expressed upon it are pure and worthy, they cannot fail in time to transform it in some measure-to tone down what may have been its natural harsh ness, and to banish from it all traces of coarse and sensual passions. An example of religion giving intellectual power, or rather of drawing out the faculties which but for it would have remained unexercised, we may see in the life of John Bunyan. The genius which is so marvellously displayed in his works, and which gives him a high place in the literature of bis country, would never have shown itself but for the wonderful cbange in his life, when, fro111 being a profane, careless, godless fellow, he became a true-hearted servant of Christ. The abruptness with which this chapter opens may, it has been supposed, have been intended to call the attention of the reader to the hidden significance of the words that are about to be spoken, as our Lord often emphasized his utterances by the saying, "He that bath ears to hear, let him hear." Something there is in what he is about to add to be read between the lines. And the probable explanation of the suggestive question, and the allusion to a wise man's understanding "the interpretation of a thing," is in the fact thnt the ~uiter veils a protest against despotism in the garb of the maxims of servility (Plumptre).-J. W. Vers. 2-5.-Allegiance of s'Ubjects. It is scarcely to be denied that the wisdom which the Preacher exhorts his readers to exemplify in their relations as subjects with their kings, has something very like a servile tone about it. • "There is not a trace of the enthusiastic loyalty of a Hebrew to a native sovereign, 'whose power loveth righteousness, who judgeth God's people with righteousness; in whose days the righteous flourish. and abundance of peace so long as the moon cndureth' (Ps. lxxii. 7). Nor do we find the freeman's boldnes~, with which au Elijah could confront an apostate or a tyrant king. That fire is spent I The counsels here, as where he recurs to the same subject in the last five verses of eh. x., are those of submission, forbearance, self-control, prudence in dealing with a power irresistible, overbearing, often oppressive, yet which carries within itself the seeds of decay. Such advice may well have been neel1cJ by a generation of Jews, proud, intractable, detesting foreign rule, and groaning uuJcr the tyranny of an alien monarch!> (Bradley). Loyal obedience to a duly con- stituted authority is declared to be (1) a matter of con.~cience (ver. 2); (2) a prudent course (vers. 3, 4, 5a); because by it we escape the punishment incurred by rebellion, and enjoy some tianquillity even under the worst rule. And as a consolation to those who are indignant at a tyrannous use of power, the reminder is given (5b) that punish- ment for evil deeds will be meted ont in due time by a higher hand than ours. I. OBEDIENCE A llfA'l"l:ER OF CONSCIENCE. (Ver. 2.) "I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God." Though the words " counsel thee" are not in the Hebrew text, no better have b~en suggested to fill up the gap. But the emphasis which is lai<l upon the I by the omission of the verb may be interpreted to mean that the writer is giving a personal opinion, and not epeak- iog authoritatively on a matter concerning which different men might form very diverse judgments. And we may compare with it St. Paul'& manner of speaking, "But to the rest say I, not the Lord" (1 Cor. vii. 12, llevise<l Version), as contrasted with " I command, yet not I, but the Lord " (1 Cor. vii. 10). If we interpret the words in this way, a cousiderable measure of what I have called the servility of their tone is taken away. '!'he writer is giving us prudential counsels, but of ~ourse the question still remains open whether there are not !n certain emergencies higher con- 1,iderations than those of prudence. He tells how tranquillity may be preserved even <ltt. VIII. 1-17.] ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. 219