Ecclesiastes 1:1
_Jerusalem. This clearly designates Solomon. See ver. 12., and chap. xii. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jerusalem. This clearly designates Solomon. See ver. 12., and chap. xii. 8._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vanities. Most vain and despicable, (Calmet) and frustrating the expectations of men. (Menochius) --- St. Augustine reads vanitantium, and infers that this vanity of sublunary things is an effect of man's sin. Yet he afterwards discovered that he had read incorrectly. (Retractions i. 7.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Labour. People fight for a mere point; for such is the earth compared with the universe. (Seneca, q. Nat.) Hoc est punctum, &c., Matthew xvi. 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ever. Its substance remains, though the form be changed. (Calmet) --- At the end of time, it will be purified to continue for ever. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Place daily. Its annual motion is then mentioned. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spirit. The sun, (St. Jerome) which is like the soul of the world, and which some have falsely asserted to be animated; or rather (Calmet) the wind is meant, as one rises in different parts of the world when another falls. (Pliny, [Natural History?] ii. 27.) (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again. The sea furnishes vapours, &c. Homer (Iliad Greek: Ph.) expresses himself in the same manner._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearing. In all sciences there are many difficulties. If a man had arrived at perfect knowledge, his researches would cease._... [ Continue Reading ]
_New. Such vicissitudes have occurred before, though we must not infer that the world is eternal; or that there have been many others before this, as Origen would suppose. (Prin. iii. 5., &c.) (Calmet) --- Men's souls, which are created daily, are nevertheless of the same sort as Adam's was; and cre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Things. Otherwise we should read of similar events to those which we behold. The same cause naturally produces the same effect._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. This was the case with none of Solomon's descendants. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vexation. Hebrew also, "food of wind;" (Symmachus) or "choice of the spirit." (Septuagint) People are eager to become learned, and yet find no satisfaction. (Haydock) --- All natural things are insufficient to procure felicity. (Worthington) O Curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! (Persius.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Perverse. Habitual and obstinate sinners. (Calmet) --- Fools, who follow the broad road. (Haydock) --- Hebrew and Septuagint, "the defect cannot be numbered." We know not to what a height the soul of man might have risen, if he had continued faithful._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Learned. Solomon was blessed both with a natural genius, which he improved by study, and also he had the gift of supernatural wisdom. Yet he declares that all is vanity and pain._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Errors. Septuagint, "parables and science." But to discern the mistakes of men is a part of wisdom, (Calmet) and Grabe substitutes "wanderings," instead of "parables," after Theodotion, as Hebrew ealluth (Haydock) means "errors," (Calmet) or "follies." (Montanus)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Labour. He is bound to do more for heaven, as he is convinced of his own defects, and of the strict judgments of God. Wisdom is not true happiness, but the means to obtain it. (Worthington) --- The more a person knows, the more he is convinced of his own ignorance, (Calmet) and filled with grief, t... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER I.... [ Continue Reading ]