DISCOURSE: 833 THE HOUSE OF MOURNING TO BE PREFERRED Ecclesiastes 7:4. _The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth_. IN order to learn what loss we have sustained in our intellectual powers through the introduction of sin into the world, it is... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 834 CONTENTMENT RECOMMENDED Ecclesiastes 7:10. _Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this_. IN the writings of Solomon we find many maxims, which, if uttered by an uninspired man, would be controverted;... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 835 THE EXCELLENCY OF SPIRITUAL WISDOM Ecclesiastes 7:12. _Window is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it_. TO have our minds well regulated in reference to religion, is most desirable. There is, in reality, n... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 836 AGAINST AN OVER-RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT Ecclesiastes 7:16. _Be not righteous orermuch_. THIS is the sheet-anchor of ungodly men. They hate to see a zeal for God and therefore endeavour to repress it. From the dlays of Cain to this hour, they who have been born after the flesh, have persecu... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 837 MAN’S ORIGINAL AND PRESENT STATE Ecclesiastes 7:29. _Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions_. THE whole scope of this book is, to shew the vanity of the world, and all things in it. As in the earth itself there is a visibl... [ Continue Reading ]