TE X TS CHIEFLY ALLUDED TO IN THE FIRST BOOK. The Words of the Preacher the Son of David King of Jerufalem. Ecclefiaftes, cap. I. ver. 1. Vanity of vanities, faith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Verf. 2. I communed with mine own heart, faying, lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wifdom, than all they that have been before me in Jerufalem yea my heart had great experience of wifdom and knowledge. Verf. 16. He fpake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyop that fpringeth out of the wall he fpake alfo of beafts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. I Kings, chap. iv. verf. 33. : I know, that whatsoever God doeth, it shall 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. Ecclefiaftes, chap. iii. verf. 14. He He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: alfo he hath fet the world in their heart, fo that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Verf. 11. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth forrow. Chap, i. verf. 18. And further by thefe, my Son, be admonished of making many books there is no end: and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Chap. xii, verf. 12. KNOW. KNOWLEDGE: THE FIRST BOOK. ARG THE ARGUMENT. Solomon feeking happiness from Knowledge, convenes the learned men of his kingdom; requires them to explain to him the various operations and effects of nature; discourses of vegetables, animals, and man; propofes fome queftions concerning the origin, and fituation of the habitable earth; proceeds to examine the fyftem of the vifible heaven; doubts if there may not be be a plurality of worlds; enquires into the nature of spirits and angels; and wishes to be more fully informed, as to the attributes of the Supreme Being. He is imperfectly answered by the Rabbins, and doctors; blames his own curiofity; and concludes, that, as to human fcience, ALL IS VANITY, YE fons of men, with just regard attend, Obferve the preacher, and believe the friend, VOL. II. B Thas That in this pilgrimage of seventy years, That from the womb we take our fatal fhares Of follies, paffions, labours, tumults, cares: } Sublime Sublime my court with Ophir's treasures bleft, Think, to be happy; to be great, be wife: I said; and sent my edict through the land; |