Vers. 7, 8.-Light and darkness. The alternation of day and night is not only contributive to human convenience, it is symbolical of human experience. I. Tmm.E IS APPOTh'TED FOR MEN THE LIGHT OF YOUTH, HBALTH, AND PROSPERITY, He who rises betimes, and, turning to the east, watches for the sunrise, ancl then beholds 1.be glorious orb of day rise from the plain or from the sea, and flood hill and ,alley, corn-field and pasture, with the rnrliant splendour of the morning, can enter into the language of the preacher, "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant. thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun." .And if then be looks into the face of a companion, a noble and generous youth, unstained by sin, undimmed by care, untouched·by disease, he can well understand what is meant by the morning of life, the lustre of youth, and can thank God that such a period, and such strength,' joy,, and hope, have been appointed as a part of human experience. In youth and bounding health and high spirits, how fresh and winsome is the present! bow alluring the future I Who would wish to cast a shadow upon the brightness which God himself has created? !I. THERE 16 APPOINTED FOR MEN THE DARKNESS OF AGE, INFIRMITY, ADVERSITY, AND DEA~'H. The same individua.l whom we have regarded in tho prime of his powers and the beauty of his joy will, if hie life bo prolonged, pass through quite other experiences. Clouds will gather about his head, the storm will smite him, the dark midnight will shroud him. '.l.'herc is no discharge in that war__:_no exemption from the common lot. He may lose hie health, hiH powers of body or of mind, his property, his friends. He must walk through tho valley of death-shade. In some form or other trouble and sorrow must be his portion. Ill. 'fHE DUTY AND THE WISDOM OF REMEMDERING THE APPROAOH OF THE TIME OF DARKNESS. It may he objectc:d that it will be time enough to think of the afflictions of life when they are actually present, and that it is a pity to cloud the sunny present by gloomy forebodings. Those who know the young_ and prosp~ro11:s are, ~owever, well aware that their uatural tendency is altogether to ignore the hkcl1hood ol a great OH. Xl, 1-10,] ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. 287
chAnge in circutnstances and experience. And to remember the providential appnint- ment that our life cannot be eternal snashine is, in many respects, a most desirable and profitable exercise. Thus shall we learn to place a due value, and no more than a due value, upon' the pleasures, the diversions, the congenial pursuits of youth and prosperity. And, what is still better, thus may we be led to seek a deeper and surer foundation for our life-to acquire spiritual treasures, of which we cannot be deprived by lapse of time or change of circumstances. And thus shall we, by God's mercy, find that the darkness through which we needs must walk is but for a season, and that through it the people of God shall pass into the blessed sunshine of eternal day.-T.
Vera. 9, 10.-In ;'oy remember jiidgment ! There is certainly no asceticism in the teaching of this book. On the otlier hand, there is no commendation of worldliness and voluptuousness. Human nature is prone to extremes; and even religious teachers are not always successful in avoiding them. But we seem in this passage to listen to teaching which at once recognizes the claims of human nature and of the earthly life, and yet· solemnly maintains the subordination of all our pleasures ancl occupations to the service of our Master, and to our preparation for the great account. I. Tm: DIVINE PROVISION OF LIFE'S JOYS. If this langunge be not the language of irony-and it seems better ·to take it as sober serious truth,-then we are trnght that the delights of this earthly existence, however they are capable of abuse, are in themselves not evil, but proofs of the Creator's benevolence, to be accepted with devout thanksgiving. In dealing with the young it is especially important to avoid warring with their innocent pleasures. These may sometimes seem to us trivial and unprofitable; but a juster view of human nature will convince us that they are wisely appointed to fulfil a certain place and office in human life. II. THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT OF FUTURE JUDGMENT. Conscience suggests that we are responsil;>le beings, and that retribution is a reality. What conscience suggests revelation certifies. '!'he Bible lays the greatest stress upon individual accountability. ,ve are taught iii the text that we are not only responsible for the ~ork we do in life, but for the pleasures we pursue. Certainly it is of the greatest advantage that men should recollect in the days of happiness the assurances of Scripture, that God shall ere long bring them into judgment. Such recollection will check any inclination to unlawful enjoyments, and will prevent_ undue absorption in enjoyments which are in themselves lawful, but to which a disproportionate value may be attached. There is a sense in which, 11s we are here reminded, "youth and the prime of life are vanity." They will prove to be so to those who imagine that they will last, to those who prido themselves in them and boast of them, to those who use them only a.q the opportunity of personal pleasure, to those who forget their Creator, neglect his Law, and despise his Gospel. ' III. THE POSSIBILITY OF ACOEPTtNG Gon's GIFTS AND OF USING THEM UNDER A BENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, ANJ) WITH A VIEW TO THE GREAT ACCOUNT. If every blessing in this life be taken as coming directly from the great Giver's h;md, ns II token of his favour, and as the result of the mediation of his blessed Son, then may the very enjoyments of this life become to Christians the occasion of present grace and the earnest of fulness of joy.-T.
Vera. 1--4, 6.-Incentives to Ohristian work. These ere not the words of some very young man who has much fervour and little experience; they are those of one who has known the disappointment and disenchantment of life. They come, therefore, with the greater force to us. We gather from them- I. THAT IT IS WELL WORTH WHILE TQ SPEND OUR WHOLE STRENGTH IN LOVIKG BEHVIOE. "Cast thy bread upon the waters "-scatter the precious bread-corn, drop it iuto the flood; that is not the act of a fool, but of a wise man. "Give a portion to seven;" ay, go further than even that in your liberality--,---spencl your whole strength in that which is good and beneficent, lavish your resources, let there be a generous over- flow rather than a cool calculation in your service ; and this whether you a.re acting as a citizen, as a neighbour, or as a member of the Church of Christ . • II. 'l'HAT, IF WE ARE WlSE, WE SHALL LET OUR VERY IGKORANCE STll,IULATE US TO EXERTION. Is it worth while to sow when we cannot be sure that we shall ever 288 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. [on. xr. 1-10.