CHAPTER III _Every thing has its time and season_, 1-8. _Men are exercised with labour_, 9, 10. _Every thing is beautiful in its season_, 11. _Men should enjoy thankfully the gifts of God_, 12, 13. _What God does is for ever_, 14. _There is nothing new_, 15. _The corruption of judgment; but t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:2. _A TIME TO BE BORN, AND A TIME TO DIE - PLANT_] "As in its _mother's womb_ the _embryo_ lies A _space determined_; to full growth arrived, From its dark prison _bursts_, and _sees the light_; So is the period fix'd when man shall drop Into the _grave_. - A _time there is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:3. _A TIME TO KILL, - HEAL, - BREAK DOWN, - BUILD UP_] "The healing art, when out of season used, Pernicious proves, and serves to hasten death. But timely medicines drooping nature raise, And health restore. - _Now, Justice_ wields her _sword_ With wholesome rigour, nor th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:4. _A TIME TO WEEP, - LAUGH, - MOURN, - DANCE_] _________________ "When private _griefs_ affect The heart, _our tears with decent sorrow flow_; Nor less becoming, when the _public mourns_, To vent the _deepest sighs_. But all around When things a _smiling aspect_ bear, our... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:5. _A TIME TO CAST AWAY STONES, - TO GATHER STONES, - TO_ _EMBRACE, - TO REFRAIN_] "One while _domestic cares abortive_ prove, And then _successful_. Nature now invites _Connubial pleasures_: but, when _languid_ grown, No less _rejects_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:6. _A TIME TO GET, - TO LOSE, - TO KEEP, - TO CAST AWAY_] ___________________ "_Commerce_ produces wealth, Whilst _time of gaining_ lasts; from every point Blow prosperous gales. Now heaven begins to lower, And all our hopes are blasted. Prudence bids, One while, our _treas... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:7. _A TIME TO REND, - SEW, - KEEP SILENCE, - SPEAK_] _______________ "Intestine broils And factions _rend a state_: at length the _breach_ Is _heal'd_, and rest ensues. Wisdom _restrains_ The _tongue_, when _words_ are vain: but _now_, 'Tis _time to speak_, and silence woul... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:8. _A TIME TO LOVE, - HATE, - OF WAR, - OF PEACE._] "_Love_ turns to _hatred_; interest or caprice _Dissolves_ the firmest knot by _friendship_ tied. O'er rival _nations_, with _revenge_ inflamed, Or _lust of power_, fell _Discord_ shakes awhile Her _baleful torch_: now smi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:9. _WHAT PROFIT HATH HE_] What real good, what solid pleasure, is derived from all the labours of man? _Necessity_ drives him to the principal part of his _cares_ and _toils_; he _labours_ that he may _eat_ and _drink_; and he _eats_ and _drinks_ that he may be preserved _alive_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:10. _I HAVE SEEN THE TRAVAIL_] Man is a sinner; and, because he is such, he suffers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:11. _BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME_] God's works are well done; there are order, harmony, and beauty in them all. Even the _caterpillar_ is a finished beauty in all the _changes_ through which it passes, when its structure is properly examined, and the _end_ kept in view in which each c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:12. _I KNOW THAT_ THERE IS _NO GOOD IN THEM, BUT, C._] Since God has so disposed the affairs of this world, that the great events of providence cannot be accelerated or retarded by human cares and anxieties, submit to God make a proper use of what he has given: do thyself _no ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _I KNOW THAT WHATSOEVER GOD DOETH, IT SHALL BE FOR EVER_] לעולם _leolam_, for _eternity_; in reference to that grand consummation of men and things intimated in Ecclesiastes 3:11. God has produced no being that he intends ultimately to destroy. He made every thing in reference to eternity;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _THAT WHICH HATH BEEN IS NOW_] God governs the world _now_, as he _has governed_ it from the beginning; and the revolutions and operations of nature are the _same now_, that they have been from _the beginning_. What we see _now_, is the _same_ as has _been seen_ by those before us. _AND G... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _THE PLACE OF JUDGMENT_, THAT _WICKEDNESS_ WAS _THERE_] The abuse of power, and the perversion of judgment, have been justly complained of in every age of the world. The following paraphrase is good: - "But what enjoyment can our labours yield, When e'en the _remedy_ prescribed by heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _FOR_ THERE IS _A TIME THERE FOR EVERY PURPOSE_] Man has _his time_ here below, and God shall have _his time_ above. At his throne the judged shall be rejudged, and iniquity for ever close her mouth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _THAT THEY MIGHT SEE THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE BEASTS._] The author of _Choheleth_ has given a correct view of this difficult verse, by a proper translation: "I said in my heart, reflecting on the state of the sons of men, O that God would enlighten them, and make them see that even they th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR THAT WHICH BEFALLETH THE SONS OF MEN BEFALLETH_ _BEASTS_] From the present comparison of _great men_ to _beasts_, the author takes occasion to enforce the subject by mentioning the state of mankind in general, with respect to the _mortality_ of their _bodies_; and then, by an easy tra... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _ALL GO UNTO ONE PLACE_] "Man was born To die, nor aught exceeds in this respect The vilest brute. Both transient, frail, and vain, Draw the same breath; alike grow old, decay, And then expire: both to one grave descend; There blended lie, to native dust return'd."-C.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _WHO KNOWETH THE SPIRIT OF MAN_] I think the meaning of this important verse is well taken by the above able writer: - The nobler part of _man_, 'tis true, survives The frail corporeal frame: but who regards The difference? Those who live like beasts, as such Would die, and be no more,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 3:22. _A MAN SHOULD REJOICE IN HIS OWN WORKS_] Do not turn God's blessings into sin by perverseness and complaining; make the best of life. God will sweeten its bitters to you, if you be faithful. Remember this is the _state to prepare for glory_; and the evils of life may be so s... [ Continue Reading ]