_Above him. We are intent on things which regard us not, while we neglect the important concerns of heaven. Hebrew may be joined with the preceding. (Calmet) --- Protestants, (11.) "seeing there are many thing which increase vanity, what is man the better? (12.) for who knoweth?" &c. (Haydock) --- S... [ Continue Reading ]
_Name. "It is necessary for the sake of others," (St. Augustine, de B. Vid. xxii.) particularly for those who have to direct souls. (St. Gregory in Ezechial) (Calmet) --- In this second part is shewn that felicity is procured by a good life. (Worthington) --- Death. Speaking of the just, for death i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come. While at birth-day feasts (Genesis xl. 20., and Matthew xiv. 6.) people give themselves up to joy, and cherish the idea of living long. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Anger. That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil, (Challoner) is preferable to a misguided complaisance, Proverbs xxvii. 6. (Calmet) --- Anger, when rightly used, helps us to correct our faults. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mourning. They submit willingly to correction, (St. Jerome) or think seriously on the dangers of sin and God's judgments._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wise man. Much prudence is requisite to correct with fruit, and to persuade the sinner that he is under a mistake. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Laughter. It is loud and soon over, Ecclesiasticus xxi. 23., and Luke xxvi. 5. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Oppression. Literally, "calumny." The most perfect can hardly bear it. Hebrew, "oppression (or calumny of others. Calmet) will make the wise insane, and a present will ruin the heart." (Montanus) --- Avarice blinds us. (Haydock) --- Deuteronomy xvi. 19., "a corrupt judge examines ill the truth."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speech. Hebrew, "thing." The best projects often are seen to fail. --- Beginning, as the auditor is on longer kept in suspense. --- Presumptuous. Rashness must not be confounded with courage. (Calmet) --- Hasty and immoderate anger is hurtful. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bosom, as in its proper place. The wise may feel its impressions, but he immediately makes resistance._... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VII. _ Foolish. Men endeavour to excuse themselves by the manners of the age. But there have always been both good and evil, chap. i. 10. (Calmet) --- Corruption was prevalent in former times as well as now. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With. Hebrew also, "above, or much as riches." (Calmet) --- These are impediments in the hands of the reprobate, while they promote virtue in the good." (St. Ambrose, Luke viii. n. 85.) --- The man who has only wisdom, cannot do as much good as those who are also rich. (Calmet) --- The moderate use... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them. Money may procure necessaries for the body; (Haydock) but wisdom gives a long and happy life, Proverbs iv. 10., and Baruch iii. 28. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Despised. God never neglects first. (Council of Trent, Session vi. 11.) --- He detests sin, and at last abandons the obstinate, though he never fails to offer sufficient graces. A person who is of an unhealthy constitution, or involved in sin, cannot be cured by man alone. Yet we must not cease to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Complaint. Prosperity and adversity succeed each other, that we may be neither elated nor dejected too much. (St. Bernard, ep. xxxvi.) --- If we enjoy the advantages of nature, we must be thankful; if we feel pain, we must cheerfully submit to God's will. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vanity, during this miserable life. --- Wickedness. This seemed more incongruous under the old law, when long life was promised to the just, (Calmet; Psalm lxxii. 3., and Exodus xx. 12.) though it chiefly regarded heaven. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Over just, viz., By an excessive rigour in censuring the ways of God in bearing with the wicked. (Challoner) --- Give not way to scruples, (St. Bernard) nor to self-conceit. (Alcuin.) --- Become. Hebrew, "perish," being oppressed with majesty. (Lorin.) (Tirinus) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Overmuch. No sin can be tolerated. (Calmet) --- But as all offend in many things, (ver. 21.; Haydock) they are encouraged to rise again with diligence and sorrow._... [ Continue Reading ]
_From him. Who is otherwise withdrawn, &c. Hebrew, "take hold of this, and not neglect that: for he who feareth God, will walk with all them." He will avoid all extremes both of virtue and vice. (Calmet) --- Protestants and Montanus, "he shall come forth of them all," and advance towards heaven. (Ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_City. It has the advantage over more strength, chap. ix. 16._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not. 1 John i. 8. Crates said it was "impossible to find one who falls not." (Laertius vi.) (Haydock) --- We must not flatter ourselves with impeccability, ver. 18. (Calmet) --- See Seneca. Clem. i. 6. Peccavimus omnes, &c., and de Ira. i. 28. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy. We must be satisfied with a good conscience, as we cannot control the thoughts and words of all. (St. Ambrose, Of. i. 1.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Me. This is a proof of having made great progress in wisdom, since the half-learned are the most presumptuous. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Much. Protestants, "the which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?" (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reason. Of all things. In this natural wisdom consists. Septuagint, "and number." He examined the pretensions of philosophy, which attempted thus to predict future events; but found that it was all deceit, like a harlot. (Olympiod.) --- He explored the qualities of different things, as an arithmeti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her. He speaks by experience, (St. Jerome) as none perhaps ever fell more terribly victims of impure love. (Calmet) --- Though a plurality of wives was then permitted, Solomon did wrong in marrying strangers; and in suffering himself to be deluded by them, so as to erect temples to their respective... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man. The superior part of the soul rarely thinks of good; but the sensual part always inclines to evil. (Worthington) --- Solomon found danger from all women, (St. Jerome) and there is none who may not prove fatal to those who are off their guard. (Calmet) --- Yet some are doubtless innocent, like... [ Continue Reading ]
_Right. He fell by his own free-will. (St. Augustine, City of God xiv. 11.) (Worthington) --- The great corruption of the world is not, therefore, to be attributed to God, Ephesians iv. 23. Our first parents were led by curiosity to examine whether the fruit was good, &c., (St. Cyril, Cat. ii.; Chal... [ Continue Reading ]