_A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine and the boldness of his face shall be changed._ THE HUMAN FACE In all the works of God there is nothing more wonderful than the human countenance. The face is ordinarily the index of character. It is the throne of the emotions, the battlefield of the passion... [ Continue Reading ]
_I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God._ OBEDIENCE TO THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT Notwithstanding men differ so much in their several opinions concerning human authority, and entertain such various notions about the rise and original foundation of civil gover... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where the word of a king ii there is power._ THE KING’S WORD The reference is, doubtless, to certain kings who lived in ancient times, perchance, for instance, to Solomon himself. But we speak to-day not of an earthly ruler, but of a heavenly. There is another King, one Jesus, who shares with His... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wise man’s heart disoerneth both time and judgment._ A WATCHNIGHT MEDITATION Of all seasons of the year the present one inclines us most to thought. If, when the old year is dying, or when the new is being born, men will not think, it is very doubtful if they will ever think at all. I. A man wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit._ DEATH AN UNPREVENTABLE EXIT OF THE SPIRIT 1. It is implied that man has a spirit. 2. Man’s power over his spirit is not absolute. He has some power over it; power to excite it to action, direct its thoughts, control its impu... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun._ THE CONTEMPLATION OF HUMAN LIFE The writer means, by “applying his heart,” the exercise of his attention and his judgment. He observed, thought, and formed opinions on the works of men spread over the earth. We... [ Continue Reading ]
_And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity._ THE WICKED MAN’S LIFE, FUNERAL AND EPITAPH I. In the first place, here is some good company for you; some with whom you may walk to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil._ PRESENT FORBEARANCE NO ARGUMENT AGAINST FUTURE RETRIBUTION Solomon had looked abroad, and had seen sin abounding;--men revelling in iniquity, vainly counting th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God._ THE CHRISTIAN’S WELFARE CERTIFIED In this verse the character and condition of sinners are contrasted with those of the righteous. However long the sinner lives in sin, and however prosperous he may seem to be, yet it shall be ill... [ Continue Reading ]
_There be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked._ APPARENT DISCREPANCY BETWEEN CHARACTER AND CIRCUMSTANCES There is doubtless a law for everything in heaven and on earth; a systematic connection between cause and effect, alike in the physical, moral and spiritual exis... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry._ THE BENEFITS OF WHOLESOME RECREATION Viewed by itself, and apart from its context and from the rest of the argument of the wise king, this sentiment might seem to partake very muc... [ Continue Reading ]