THE THIRD BOOK. THE ARGUMENT. SOLOMON confiders man through the several stages and conditions of life; and concludes in generals that we are all miferable. He reflects more particularly upon the trouble and uncertainty of greatnefs and power; gives fome inftances thereof from ADAM down to himself; and ftill-concludes that all is VANITY. He reafons again upon life, death, and a future being; finds human wisdom too imperfect. to refolve his doubts; has recourfe to religion; is informed by an angel, what shall happen to himselfi his family, and his kingdom, till the redemption of ISRAEL: and, upon the whole, refolves to fubmit. his inquiries and anxieties to the will of his Crear TEXTS chiefly alluded to in this BOOK. Or ever the filver cord be loofed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, Ecclefiaftes, Chap, XII. ver. 6. The fun arifeth, and the fun goeth down, and hafteth to his place where he arose. Chap. I, ver. 5. The wind goeth towards the South, and turneth about unto the North. ver. 6. from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.. ver. 7. Then fall the dust return to the earth, as it was; and the fpirit fhall return unto God who gave it. Chap XII. ver. 7. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and confumed the burnt-offering, and the facrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the houfe, II. Chronicles, Chap. VII, ver. I. By the rivers of Babylon, there we fat down: yea, we wept, when we remembered Sion, &c, Pfalm CXXXVII, ver. 1. 1 faid of laughter, it is mad; and of mirth, what doeth it? Ecclefiaftes Chap. II. ver. 20 No man can find out the work that God maketh, from the beginning to the end, Chap. III, ver. 11. Whatfoever God doeth, it fhall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men fhould fear before him. ver, 14, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. Chap. XII. ver. 13. THE THIRD BO O K. NOME then, my foul: I call thee by that name, Thou bufy thing from whence I know I am; For knowing that I am, I know thou art : Since that must needs exift, which can impart, But how thou cam'ft to be, or whence thy fpring: For various of thee priefts and poets fing. Hear'st thou fubmifhive, but a lowly birth, Some fep'rate particles of finer earth, With it condemn'd for certain years to dwell, Whate'er thou art, where e'er ordain'd to go As temp'rance wills, and prudence may perfuade: Be thy affections undisturb'd and clear, Guided to what may great or good appear; And try if life be worth the liver's care. What thro' the whole creation has excell'd: The life and growth of plants, of beafts the fense, } Say from thefe glorious feeds, what harveft flows:: Recount our bleffings, and compare our woes.. In its true light let cleareft reafon fee The man dragg'd out to act, and forc❜d to be; Wounded, and flying from unpractis'd day ;. } |