Sundry observations

Before

PROVERBS.

Lemuel's lesson of chastity. 4 Who hath dascended up into heaven, or de- if thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth. CHST scended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? 33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butwho hath bound the waters in a garment? who hathter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth

cir. 700

d John 3,

13.

established all the ends of the earth? what is his
name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
5 & Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto
them that put their trust in him.

thee. and thou be found a liar.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he

7 Two things have I required of thee; them not before I die :

reprove

deny me

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me Mat. 6, 11. neither poverty nor riches; feed me with * food convenient for me;

1 Deut. 8, 12.

& 31, 20.

& 32 15.

Neh. 9, 25.

Job $1, 25.

1 John 5, 10.

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10a Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he

m Psal. 125, curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

3.

11.

1 Sam. 22,

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their

• Luke 18, own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eye-lids are lifted up.

p Titus 1,

15.

Phil. 3. 3.

Heb. 12, 15.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords,

4 Ps. 131, 1. and their jaw-teeth as knives, to 'devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

r Exod. 1,

15, 16.

15 The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying, * Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire, that saith not, It is enough.

17 The eye that "mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; hshe eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I

23 For an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise :

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29 There be three things which go well, yea, four

Heb. An are comely in going:

I ECCLESIASTES, or the PREACHER.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that Mark 4,30

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, & cometh after the king? even that which hath been which was before us.

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo,
I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wis-{ is
dom than all they that have been before me in Jeru-

18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken b Jon. 4, 1.

leb. 5, 14. salem; yea, my heart had great experience of wis-under the sun; because I should leave it unto the dom and knowledge.

a Gal. 4, 4.

This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
CHAPTER III.

The excellency of God's work..

10 every thing there is a

TO

season, and a time to

every purpose under the heaven :

2 A time to be born, and a time to die: a time b Heb. 3,27. to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted: 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal: a time to break down, and a time to build up :

c 1 Cor. 3, 8.

d Isa. 5, 5.

e Ex. 21, 13.

1 Mat. 9, 15.

g Rev. 19, 1.

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance:

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gath er stones together: a time to embrace, and a time to

4.1 Cor. 5, k refrain from embracing.

6 A time to get, and a time to lose: a time to keep, and a time to cast away:

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew: a time to

(Amos 5,13. I keep silence, and a time to speak :

m Luke 14,

26.

n Mat. 6, 27.

Ps. 11, 2.

p Isa. 29,16.

8 À time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 P He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart; so Rom. 11, that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 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 should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which * is to be hath already been: and God requireth that which is past.

16 And, moreover, I saw under the sun the place y Micah 7, of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

3, 4.

Of oppression, envy, &c. for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

CHAPTER IV.

Vanity is increased unto men by oppression.

a

SOI returned, and considered

are

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

f1 Tim. 6, 6, 7.

all the oppressions a Ps. 41 1.

under sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no bisa. 59, 16. comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 Wherefore I praised thedead which are already dead, more than the living which are yet alive.

1,2

2 Tim. 4, 16

c Mat. 11, 6.

12, 16, 21

3 Yea, better is he than both they which hath not d Jobs, 11, yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

41 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 71 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone and there is not ha a second;

16 There is no end of all the people, even of all
that have been before them: they also that come after Pr. 14, 28.
shall " not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity Rev
and vexation of spitit.

CHAPTER V.
Vanities in divine service, and in murmuring against op-
pression.

K

a

u Isa. 57, 20

33.

EEP thy foot when thou goest to the house a Acts 10, of God, and be more ready to hear than to give 1 Peter 2, the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that 1,2 they do evil.

Ps. 49, 12. they might see that they themselves are beasts. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy • 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befall-heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for eth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one

dieth so dieth the other; yea, they have all one b Phil. 3, 21. breath. so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

4 When thou 'vowest a vow unto God, defer not Num. 30, 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth up-to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that g Mal. 2, 14.

ward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth down-
ward to the earth ?

which thou hast vowed.

5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, thanh Acts 5, 2,

22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing bet-that thou shouldest vow and not pay. ter, than that a man should rejoice in his own works;

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin;

5.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under 1 Kings the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof Mat 13. 22. to their hurt. Luke 12,20.

21, 4.

u Job 1, 21. Prov. 23,

Tim. 6,17.

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wan dering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Before CHRIST cır. 977

m1 Tim. 6

n John 6,

26.

• Mat. 5, fa

1 Cor. 2, 9.

10.

10 That which hath been is named already, and PoNum. 23, it is known that it is man: neither may he with him that is mightier than he.

11 Seeing there be many things that vanity, what is man the better?

contend 1 John 3, 2.

q Isa. 45, 9.

increase r Rev. 3,17.

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in * Job 11,12. this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow for who can tell a man what shall t Ps. 39, 5. be after him under the sun ?

CHAPTER VII.

Remedies against vanity are, a good name, patience, and

a

AG

wisdom.

GOOD name is better than precious oint- a Pr. 22, 1. ment; and the day of death than the day of bi John 3,

one's birth.

2.

Rev. 14, 13.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than
to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end c Jer. 18, 2.
of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. d Daniel &
3. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sad-2

14 But those riches perish by evil travail; and he
begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15" As he came forth of his mother's womb,
naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall { ness of the countenance the heart is made better.

x Ps. 51, 5. take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away

y Job SO, 8.

5 & 5, 13.

in his hand.

16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and * Esther 3, he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. 18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it

10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the for- o Judges t mer days were better than these? for thou dost not Jer. 44, 17. inquire wisely concerning this.

11 I Wisdom is good with an inheritance; and P Job 1, 11 by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a qJob 1, 10 defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that r Pr. 14, 20. wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

34.

13 Consider the work of God: for who can s Ps. 107,
make that straight which he hath made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the Isa. 14,27

day of adversity "consider: God also hath set the
one over against the other, to the end that man
should find nothing after him.

u Deut. 28,

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: x1 Kings there is a just man that * perisheth in his righteous- 21, 18. ness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth Isa. 57,10. his life in his wickedness.

Z

z Phil. 3. 6.

3.

b Mat. 23,

16 Be not righteous over-much; neither make tny- a Kom. 12, self over-wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over-much wicked, neither be thou 32 foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

c Mat. 27,4

d Heb. 4, 2.

e Jer. 32.10 Dan. 4. 27

9

2 Cor. 13

1

The difficulty of getting wisdom.

Before CHRIST

cır. 977.

g Rom. 3,

23.

h 2 Sam.

16, 10.

i Titus 3, S.

2.

ECCLESIASTES.

God's providence over all. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that { 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; doeth good, and sinneth not. that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth CHRIST

21 Also take no beed unto all words that are spo-according to the "work of the wicked: again, there ken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth
that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom : I said I

Mat. 7,1, will be wise; but it was far from me.

24 That which is " far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness :

Before

u Daniel

1 Cor. 11,

be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to 11,35 the work of the righteous. I said, that this also is $2 vanity.

x Ps. 37,1 L

1 Cor. 10,

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath Acts 20, 21 no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to y ch. 2, 14. drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him st. of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth z Job 9, 10. sleep with his eyes :)

Jer. 12, 1.

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman
whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as
bands: whoso pleaseth God shal! escape from her; } cannot find out the work that is done under the sun;
but the sinner shall be taken by her.

17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man a Ps. 93, 5.

27 Behold, this have I found, (saith the Preacher,) { shall not find it; yea, further, though a wise man & counting one by one, to find out the account;

8

28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but 'a woman among all those have I not found.

29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made

u Gen. 1,26. man "upright; but they have sought out many x Gen. 3,6, ventions.

7.

* in-and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before boRom. 8, them.

It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked

HO is as the a

in prosperity.

* wise man? and who knoweth

20.

5

W the interpretations and the clea

Mark 6, dom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of

Acts 6, 15.

his face shall be changed.

2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

3d Benot hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power;

and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel 1 Kings 18, no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth Job 34, both time and judgment.

18.

g Ex. 1, 17.

Hos. 5, 11.

h1 Sam. 25,

96.

i Luke 19,

42, 44.

6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment; therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be ?

8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit, k Num. 14, to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day

42.

Jer. 10, 23.

I Isa. 28,15.

nmi Kings 11, 31.

n Luke 16,

22.

3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and † madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

e

4 For to him that is joined to all the living there Mal. 3, 13. is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. d Esth. 6,3 5 For the living know that they shall die : but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any e Luke 2, more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.20

4,9. Ezek. 29, 19.

6 Also their love and their hatred, and their envy, f Job 14,21 is now perished; neither have they any more ha por- 1 Cor. 15, tion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

19.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink g Isa. 49, 4 thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accept- h Ps. 17, 14

of death; and there is no discharge in that war; nei-eth thy works.
ther shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto
every work that is done under the sun there is a
time wherein one man ruleth over another to his

mown hurt.

8. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

1 Pet. 1, 4, 5.

i Luke 12,

18, 19.

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest
all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath k Pr. 9, 5.
given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: 1 Acts 5,21
for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour m Rom. &,

10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had
come and gone from the place of the holy, and they } which thou takest under the sun.

c Ps. 82,1. were P forgotten in the city where they had so done.
p Pr 10, 7. This is also vanity.

11 Because sentence against an evil work is not knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou Eph. 5, 16.

q Ps. 50, 21. executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sonsgoest.