that to the weariness of the flesh there is added the sadness of the spirit, that finds, in the memorable language of Pascal, the larger the circle of the known, the vaster is the circumference of the unknown that stretches beyond.-'!'. , Vers. 13, 14.-Religic,n, rightcO'll,sness, and rttrioution. After all the questionings and discussions, the doubts and perplexities, the counsels and precepts, of this treatise, the author winds up by rest.'lting the first, the most elementary, and the most important,-principles of true religion. There are, he felt, in this world many things which·we cannot fathom, many things which we cannot reconcile with our convictiuns and hopes;· but there are some things concerning which we have r,o doubts, and these are the things which .most. nearly concern us personally and practically. Thoughtful men niay weary and distress themselves with pondering the great problems of existence; but,, after all, they, in common with the plainest and most illiterate, must come back to ,the essentials of the religious life. I. THE GREAT SPRING AND OENTBE OF llELIGION. This is the fear of God, reverence for the Divine character and attributes, the habit of mind. which views everything in relation tu him who is eternally holy, wise, just, and good: This Book of Eccle:iiastes is, upon this, point, at one with the whole of the Bible and with all deeply based religion. We cannot ,begin with man ; we must find an all-sufficient foundation for the religious life in God himself, his nature, and his Law. II. THE GBEA'l: EXPBESBION OF RELIGION. This is obed.ience to the Divine command- ments. Our convictions and emotions find their scope when d.irected towards a holy and merciful God; our will must bend to the moral authority of the eternal Lord. Feelings and professions are in vain unless they are supported by corresponding actions. It is true that mere external compliance is valueles~; acts must be the manifestation of spiritual loyalty and love. · But, on the other hand, sentiment that evaporates in words, that does not issue in deeds, is disregarded in the court of heaven. Where God is honoured, and -his will is cheerfully performed, there the whole duty of the Christian man is fulfilled. It is the work of the mediation· of the Divine Saviour, of the 011erations of the Divine Spirit, to bring about such a religious and mornl life. III. THE GREAT TEST OF RELIGION. For this we are bidden to look forward to the future. Many things, whioh are significant as to the religious state of a man, are now bidden. They must be brought to light; secret deeds, alike of holiness and of iniquity, must be made manifest before the throne of judgment. Here, in this world, where men judge by appearances, the wicked sometimes get credit for goodness which docs not really belong to them, and the good are often maligned and misunderstood. But, in the general judgment hereafter, the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, and men shall be judged, not according to what they seem to be, but according to what they actually nre. With this solemn warning the Preacher closes his book. A.nd there is no person, in whatsoever state of life, to whom thi3 warning does not apply. ·well will it be for us if this earthly life be passed under the perpetual influence of this expectation; if the prospect of the future judgment inspire us to watchfulness, to diligence, and to prayer.-T.
Ver, 1 ( with eh. xi.10, latter part).-The vanity and glory of youth. I. THE VANITY OF YOUTH. There is an aspect in which it is true that "childhood and youth are vanity." 1. Its thoughts are, very simple; they are upon the surface, nnd there is no depth of truth or wisdom in them. 2. Its judgments are very mixed with error; it has to unlearn a great deal of what it learns; the young will have to find, later on, that the men of whom and the things of which they have made up their minds are different from what they think now; their after-days will briug with them much disillusion, if not serious disappointment. Much that they see ia magnified to their view, and the colours, as they see them to-day, will look otherwise to-morrow. 3. Itself is constantly disappearing. Few things are more constantly disturbing, if not distressing, us than the rapid passage of childhood and youth. Sometimes the young life is taken away altogether-the flower is nipped in the bud. But where life is spared, the peculiar beauty of childhood or of youth-its. simi,licity, its trustfulness, its docility, its eagerness, ite ardour of affection, its unreserved delight-this is perpetually pas8ing 316 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER, [crt. x1t. 1-14. •