THEKE PAG& TUE MB PA.GD The Purposos of Providence 76 'l'he Picture ofa" Good and Comely" Man's Vu.righteonsness contrasted Life ... 123 with God's Righteousness 76 The Temple and the Worshippers ... 124 The Common Destiny of Death 77 Reverence, Reticence, aud Brevity in The Earthly Portion 78 Devotion 125 Opportnnity; Opportuneness; Ordi- The Law of the Vow 125 nation 78 The Oppressor's Accountability 126 "This Unintelligible World'' 79 The Earth and Man 127 The Conclusion of Folly or the Faith The Unsatisfying Nature of Riches 127 of the Wise P . . . 80 The Good Things appointed for Man Dirine Constancy and Human Piety 80 by God 128 Before and after Christ 81 Acceptable Service 128 Opportuneness . . . 82 Vowing and Paying 129 Desiderinm 1Eternitatis 83 Comfort in Confusion 130 Another Condition of Pure Happiness 83 l'he Difference at Death 131 A Present Use and Enjoyment of the Vanity in Religion: 1. Thoughtless• Gifts of God is Advisable 84 ness ... 131 The Darkness of the Grave 85 Vanity in Religion: 2. Rash Prayers 133 Vanity in Religion: 3. Broken Vows 133 A Misgoverned State 134 CHAPTER IV. A Well-ordered State 135 The Drawbacks upon Wealth 135 Two Pessimistic Fallacies; or, the Glory of being Born 92 Three Sketches from Life 93 CH.APTER VI. Two Better than One; or, Com- Sore Evils beneath .the Sun; or, the panionship vers'ILB Isolation 94 Misfortunes of a Rieb Man 142 The Vicissitudes of Royalty; or, the The Insatiableness of Desire 143, 152 Experience of a ,King .. . 95 Four Aspects of Human Life 144 The Oppressed and the Oppressor .. . 97 "Who can tell P " a Sermon on Human Pessimism 97 Ignorance 145 Envy 98 The Unsati~factoriness and Transi- The Handful with Quietness 99 toriness of Earthly Good 146 The Pain of Loneliness 99 The Gloom of Disappointment 147 The Advantages of Fellowship 100 Satisfaction Better than Desire 148 Folly a Worse Evil than Poverty 101 Contending against Power 149 Pessimism and Christian Life 101 What is Man's Good P 149 Practical Wisdom in the Conduct of The Insufficiency of Circumstance .. . 160 Life ... 102 Heroism ; Infatuation; Wisdom 151 Mntual Service ... 102 Life without Enj<lyment Va.lueless ... 151 A Threefold Cord 103 Inexorable Destiny 163 Circumstance and Character 104 Oppression of Man by his Fellows ... 104 Ambition and Indolence ... 106 CHAPTER VII. Friendship a Gain in Life... 107 .A Good Name Detter than Preoions Mortifications of Royalty ... 109 Ointment 167 The Day of Doath and the Day of Dirth... 168 CHAPTER V. 'fhe House of Mourning and the Vauities in Worship 119 !louse of Feasting 168 The Picture of an Ideal State 121 Counsels for Evil Times ... 170 A Sermon on the Vanity of Riches... 122 The End Better than the Beginning 171, 180 INDEX. iii
THEHB PAGE TBEHB PAGE "The Good Old Times "-e. Popular A Ha.sty and Foolish Inference 212 Delusion 172 The Certainty of Retribution 213 Wisdom and Wen.Ith 173 Man's Busy Life . . . 214 Crooked Things and Straight 173 The Impenetrable, Inscrutable Mys• Nothing in Excess; or, e. Caution tery ... 214 against Extremes 175 Death-our Power and onr Powerless- The Dangers and Defences of e. City 176 ness ... 215 A Great Quest, and its Sorrowful Sin in Power 215 &~u H7 The Perversion of God's Patience 216 Reputation 178, 184 "Sweetness and Light" 217 A Divine Paradox 179 Allegiance of Subjects 218 The :Mischief of Oppression and The Doom of Tyrants 220 Bribery 179 Unequal Lots 221 The Folly of Pride, Hastiness, and Retribution Certain 222 Anger 181 One Way ont of Perplexity 222 Landa.tor Temporis Acti 181 Vanity of Philosophizing . . . 223 'fhe Perplexities of Life 182 Moderation 182 CHAPTER IX. Perfection is not on Earth 183 Bad Women a Carse to Society 183 All Things alike to All 231 The Evil, the Unprofitable, and the "A Living Dog Better than a Dead Blessed Thing ... 184 Lion" 232 Patience and Pride 185 The Picture of an Ideal Life 232 Foolish Comparison and Complaint ... 186 Words to a Worker 234 The Irremediable 186 The Parable of the Little City 235 The Lower and the Higher Standard 187 The Antidote to Despondency 237 Degradation and Elevation 187 Life and Death . .. 238 The Charm of Goodness .. , 188 The Joy of Human Life ... 238 Compensations of Misery ... 189 Diligence 239 Patience under Provocation 192 The Powerlessness of Man 239 Wisdom and Riches 193 The Praise of Wisdom 240 Resignation to Providenoe 194 Life is Everything 241 Righteousness and Wickedness 195 The Day of Opportunity 242 Wisdom a. Protection 196 Prosperity-the Rule and the Excep• Woma.n... 197 tion ... 242 Wisdom and Strength 243 CHAPTER VIII. The Destructiveness of One Evil Life 244 Inexorable Destiny 24-lr A Wise Ma.n's Superiority-in wha.t Enjoyment of the Present... 24G does it consist P 206 Tiwe o.nd Chnnce 24G " Hononr the King" 207 .A.n .A.pologue 248 The Sorrowful Ta.le of Man's Misery upon the Earth 208 CHAPTER X. Before, at, and after Death; or, the Wicked and the Good-a Contrast 208 The Dispraise of Folly 257 Solemn Thoughts for Serious Moments 209 Gnomio Wisdom; or, o. String of A Misunderstood Providence and a Double-edged Proverbs .. . 258 Mistaken J ndgment 209 Good Thoughts fo1· Bad Times; or, "The Business that is done upon the Words from the Wise 2G0 Earth" 210 The Picture of a Ho.ppy Land 260 The Tokens of Wisdom 210 Folly Self-betrayed 2G l The Ruler and the Subjeot 211 .A. Pacifying Spirit 2li2 INDEX.