ECCLES. IX. 5.

For the Living know that they shall die.—

T has not only been the Observation of those who liv'd before us, that all things in this World vary and are fubject to change, but every one experiences the Truth of it. And tho we have not had either the Capacity or the Opportunity, with which the wifeft of Men was favour'd, to fearch into the Nature of all thofe Creatures, which compose the vast Syftem of the World; yet there are fcarce any of us fo little acquainted with our felves, or the World we live in, but have reafon to pronounce with Solomon, that all we meet with here is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit.

We cannot find enough in our felves to render us happy, and 'tis impoffible that the Creatures which are fubject to Vanity fhould make us fo. Uncertainty is infcrib'd upon all things in this World; and as for Life it felf, one of the most valuable Bleffings, we are not fure of enjoying it for a moment to come: Bb 3

For,

Jam. 4. 14. For, as St. James obferves, What is your Life? 'tis even a Vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Does it not then equally deserve our Compaflion and Wonder, that the generality of People fhould ftupidly neglect their Prepara tion for Death? tho they know as certainly that they fhall die as that they now live, and that 'tis not in the Power of any Mortal to protract a fhort Life, or prevent a fudden Death. The Living know that they shall die; this is a Truth that Men need not have prov'd to 'em by a long train of Reasoning: The Records of the Grave are a standing Evidence of Man's Mortality; and every day convinces us, That Man in his beft Eftate is altogether Vanity; and that Men indefinitely, one as well as another, go to their long Home, and the Mourners go about the Streets. Yet many live at fuch a rate, as if this Life wou'd never have an end, and as if the other wou'd never begin; tho there is not a Man living but knows he fhall die. This is a Truth that the World has been acquainted with above five thousand years: and left any fhould be fo vain as to imagine that they are exempted from the Common Law of Mortality, God does frequently admonish 'em, by Difeafes and Decays in their Bodies, that this earthly House of their Tabernacle must shortly be diffolv'd and crumble into Duft. The Living know that they shall die.

The neceffity of Dying is equally invinciPfal.S9.48. ble to all; What Man is he that liveth, and Shall not fee Death? Shall be deliver his Soul from the Hand of the Grave? Selah. Your Fathers, where are they? And the Prophets, do they

Zech. 1. 5.

live for ever? As all things come alike to all, as Ver. 2. the Wife-Man obferves, and there is one Event to the Righteous and to the Wicked, as to the good and evil things of this Life: fo it is with respect to Death it felf; for the Holy as well as the Profane are subject to the Great Law of Mortality: They shall lie down alike Job 21. 26. in the Duft, and the Worms fhall cover them. The Living (however differenc'd and dif tinguish'd in their Characters while living) know that they shall die.

The Connexion of thefe Words with the Context, is not eafily difcern'd at the first View. But however, after the Wife-Man had afferted, that the Difpenfations of Divine Providence are promifcuous and dark; and that we are not capable of difcerning God's Favour or Displeasure by what happens to Men in this Life; he tells us, That this is an Evil a- Ver. 3. mong all things that are done under the Sun, that there is one Event unto all. The meaning of which Phrafe I take to be this, That 'tis very troublesome and fhocking to wife and good Men, that they thou'd be as much expos'd to Mifery and Trouble in this Life as the Wicked themfelves. Then he infinuates how apt bad Men are to abuse the Divine Patience: Tea, alfo the Heart of the Sons of Men is full of Evil, and Madness is in their Heart while they live. The Thoughts of the Divine Forbearance towards 'em, push them on violently in a course of Sin, as the Wife-Man elfewhere obferves: Becaufe Sentence against an Eccl. 8. 11. evil Work is not executed Speedily, therefore the Heart of the Sons of Men is fully fet in them to do Evil; and after that they go to the Dead. They fink into the Grave like other Mortals: Bb 4

for

Ver. 4.

Eccl. 4.2.

for Solomon lets us know, that Death puts an end to the Happiness, as well as to the Precipitancy and Madness of the Wicked: for he adds immediately, For him that is join'd to all the Living, there is. Hope. Melancthon translates the Words thus, What therefore is to be chosen? in one that is alive there is Hope: And in anfwer, fays he, to those who, being disturb'd at the Confufion of things, ask'd, Muft we then chufe to labour, when we meet with no Rewards? Solomon replies, by all means, follow your Callings, and leave Events to God. In one that is alive, there is Hope; which may be extended to the Mind as well as to our outward Concerns: there is Hope, Men may live to see their Follies, correct their Miftakes, amend their Lives, and recover the Favour of God, which is irrecoverably loft when gone from hence.

The

But he adds, A living Dog is better than a dead Lion; whereby he wou'd fignify the just Preference which ought to be given to Life, above any thing that is inanimate. meaneft Creature living is better than the nobleft dead. But fome may be ready to ask, Is not this inconfiftent with what the Wife-Man

has elsewhere advanc'd, in praifing the Dead which are already dead, more than the Living which are yet alive? To this I return, that in one Paffage he has regard to the Troubles of Life, and in the other to the Advantages of it; fo that taking him in these different Views, the feeming Contradiction is perfectly reconcil'd: and then follows the Text, But the Living know that they shall die.

* Vid. Dr. Patrick's Paraphrafe.

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