Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org

More documents

Recommendations

Info

too many evidences of mental energy to allow the supposition that in his declining age, after so deep a fall from God, he was capable of writing such a treatise. This opinion goes far towards destroying the Divine inspiration of the book; for if he did recover and repent, there is no evidence that God gave him back that Divine inspiration which he before possessed; for we hear of the Lord appearing to him twice before his fall, but of a third appearance there is no intimation. And lastly, <strong>Of</strong> the restoration of Solomon to the favour of God there is no proof in the sacred history; for in the very place where we are told that "in his old age his wives turned away his heart from the Lord," we are told of his death, without the slightest intimation of his repentance. See my character of Solomon at the end of #1Ki 11:43. Nothing, however, of this uncertainty can affect either the character, importance, or utility of the book in question. It is a production of singular worth; and the finest monument we have of the wisdom of the ancients, except the book of Job. But the chief difficulty attending this book is the principle on which it should be interpreted. Some have supposed it to be a dialogue between a true believer and an infidel, which makes it to the unwary reader appear abounding with contradiction, and, in some instances, false doctrine; and that the parts must be attributed to their respective speakers, before interpretation can be successfully attempted. I am not convinced that the book has any such structure; though in some places the opinions and sayings of infidels may be quoted; e.g., #Ec 7:16, and in some of the following chapters. In the year 1763, M. Desvoeux, a learned foreigner then resident in England, and who was in the British service, wrote and published a Philosophical and Poetical Essay on this book, in which he endeavours to prove, that the design of the author was to demonstrate the immortality of the soul; and that it is on this principle alone that the book can be understood and explained. As a late commentator on the Bible has adopted this plan, and interwoven the major part of this dissertation with his notes on the book, I shall introduce the whole of M. Desvoeux's analysis of its contents, the propositions, arguments, proofs, illustrations, corollaries, &c., on the ground of which he attempts its illustration:— The whole of the discourse (he says) may be reduced to the three following propositions, each of which is attended with its apparatus of proofs and especial observations. PROPOSITION I No labour of man in this world can render him contented, or give him true satisfaction of soul. PROPOSITION II Earthly goods and possessions are so far from making us happy, that they may be even viewed as real obstacles to our ease, quiet, and tranquillity of mind.
PROPOSITION III Men known not what is or is not truly advantageous to them; because they are either ignorant or unmindful of that which must come to pass after their death. The three propositions, with their proofs and illustrations, are contained in the following analysis:— PROPOSITION I Chap. Ver. I. 2, 3. No labour of man, &c. 4-11. First proof.—The course of nature. 12, &c. Second proof.—Men's occupations. 15-18. First head.—Wisdom or philosophy. II. 1, 2. Second head.—Pleasure. 3-10. Both jointly. 11. General conclusion of the second proof. A review of the second proof with special conclusions, relating to every particular therein mentioned, viz., 12-17. I. Wisdom. 18-23. II. Riches. 24-26. III. Pleasure. III. 1, &c. Third proof.-Inconstancy of men's wills. 9. Conclusion of the third proof A review of the second and third proofs, considered jointly, with special observations and corollaries. 10, 11. First observation.—God is inculpable. 12, 15. Second observation.—God is the author of whatever befalls us in this world. 16, 17. First corollary.—God shall redress all grievances. 18-21. Second corollary.—God must be exalted, and man humbled. 22. Third corollary.—God allows men to enjoy the present life. IV. 1. Fourth proof.—Men's neglect of proper opportunities, evidenced in several instances, viz., 1-3. I. Oppression. 4. II. Envy. 5, 6. III. Idleness. 7-12. IV. Avarice. V. 13-19. V. Misapplication of esteem and regard. N. B. 1-9 is a digression containing several admonitions, in order to prevent any misconstruction of the fore-going remarks. 10-12. VI. Expensive living.
Page 1 and 2:
WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library Commentar
Page 3 and 4:
ON THE DESIGNED AS A HELP TO A BETT
Page 5 and 6:
Those nations with which we are bes
Page 7 and 8:
affection, and piety towards God. T
Page 9 and 10:
Equity] mesharim, rectitude. The pu
Page 11 and 12:
will shall be free; or, rather, tha
Page 13 and 14:
to turn, because he was of the peth
Page 15 and 16:
Verse 9. Then shalt thou understand
Page 17 and 18:
PROVERBS CHAPTER III An exhortation
Page 19 and 20:
Some have rendered the last clause,
Page 21 and 22:
Verse 19. The Lord by wisdom hath f
Page 23 and 24:
PROVERBS CHAPTER IV The preceptor c
Page 25 and 26:
steps are not straitened; he sees h
Page 27 and 28:
in pace producet. "For himself will
Page 29 and 30:
her own husband for the sake of her
Page 31 and 32:
PROVERBS CHAPTER VI Exhortations ag
Page 33 and 34:
Verse 15. Suddenly shall he be brok
Page 35 and 36:
Verse 34. Jealousy is the rage of a
Page 37 and 38:
endangering himself by cohabiting w
Page 39 and 40:
wounded, also signifies soldiers or
Page 41 and 42:
human race. As Jesus Christ tasted
Page 43 and 44:
shophetey tsedek, "righteous judges
Page 45 and 46:
heavens in the course of a single h
Page 47 and 48:
egotten, nor proceeding, more than
Page 49 and 50:
PROVERBS CHAPTER IX Wisdom builds h
Page 51 and 52:
myrrh, mandragora, opium, and such
Page 53 and 54:
PROVERBS CHAPTER X It is impossible
Page 55 and 56:
Think much, speak little, and alway
Page 57 and 58:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XI A parallel of t
Page 59 and 60:
Verse 21. Though hand join in hand]
Page 61 and 62:
times the women in Judea did some o
Page 63 and 64:
Verse 21. There shall no evil happe
Page 65 and 66:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XIII Various moral
Page 67 and 68:
mekor chaiyim, the great aorta whic
Page 69 and 70:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XIV Various moral
Page 71 and 72:
2. He shall be satisfied from himse
Page 73 and 74:
But the righteous hath hope in his
Page 75 and 76:
Verse 13. By sorrow of the heart th
Page 77 and 78:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XVI Man prepares,
Page 79 and 80:
Verse 6. By mercy and truth iniquit
Page 81 and 82:
Verse 27. An ungodly man diggeth up
Page 83 and 84:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XVII Contentment.
Page 85 and 86:
Verse 26. Nor to strike princes for
Page 87 and 88:
Verse 4. The words of a man's mouth
Page 89 and 90:
Verse 20. With the fruit of his mou
Page 91 and 92:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XIX The worth of a
Page 93 and 94:
Verse 26. He that wasteth his fathe
Page 95 and 96:
Verse 9. Who can say, I have made m
Page 97 and 98:
And after vows to make inquiry.] Th
Page 99 and 100:
Verse 9. In a corner of the houseto
Page 101 and 102:
PROVERBS CHAPTER XXII A good reputa
Page 103 and 104: "The docile colt is form'd with gen
Page 105 and 106: 4. They must not only be heard, but
Page 107 and 108: Verse 23. For the Lord will plead t
Page 109 and 110: PROVERBS CHAPTER XXIII Sobriety in
Page 111 and 112: Verse 27. For a whore is a deep dit
Page 113 and 114: Thy strength is small.] tsar cochac
Page 115 and 116: Verse 18. And he turn away his wrat
Page 117 and 118: paid no attention to it. He alone w
Page 119 and 120: Verse 3. The heaven for height] The
Page 121 and 122: Verse 15. A soft tongue breaketh th
Page 123 and 124: PROVERBS CHAPTER XXVI Honour is not
Page 125 and 126: Verse 20. Where no wood is, there t
Page 127 and 128: danger. So is the man who leaves hi
Page 129 and 130: Verse 25. The hay appeareth] Take c
Page 131 and 132: Verse 5. They that seek the Lord un
Page 133 and 134: PROVERBS CHAPTER XXIX We must not d
Page 135 and 136: To this verse the VULGATE adds the
Page 137 and 138: Agur seems to have been a public te
Page 139 and 140: Lest he reprove thee] Lest he try t
Page 141 and 142: The word alukah, which we here tran
Page 143 and 144: confidential slaves, that no regime
Page 145 and 146: PROVERBS CHAPTER XXXI The words and
Page 147 and 148: 3. She is an unspotted wife. The he
Page 149 and 150: 11. She is truly charitable. She kn
Page 151 and 152: Verse 27. She looketh well to the w
Page 153: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ECCLESI
Page 157 and 158: PRACTICAL INFERENCES Chap. Ver. XI.
Page 159 and 160: highest to the lowest station; the
Page 161 and 162: produce a real and lasting advantag
Page 163 and 164: The royal preacher loud proclaims,
Page 165 and 166: own discoveries, which have been wr
Page 167 and 168: ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER II The vanity
Page 169 and 170: If, after all this, I may add one c
Page 171 and 172: Verse 23. His days are sorrows] Wha
Page 173 and 174: Verse 3. A time to kill,—heal,—
Page 175 and 176: and anxieties, submit to God; make
Page 177 and 178: Verse 20. All go unto one place]
Page 179 and 180: ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER IV The vanity
Page 181 and 182: Rushn Achter signifies a bright or
Page 183 and 184: take up some particular cross, to p
Page 185 and 186: Verse 18. Behold that which I have
Page 187 and 188: mehaloch nephesh, is the travelling
Page 189 and 190: Verse 6. For as the crackling of th
Page 191 and 192: exalted, while living wickedly. The
Page 193 and 194: influence with her ascendancy; his
Page 195 and 196: is power-influence, authority, and
Page 197 and 198: ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER IX No men know
Page 199 and 200: of help; and, 4. No wisdom—restor
Page 201 and 202: himself on his operations. To whom
Page 203 and 204: solicitude must naturally be to enr
Page 205 and 206:
But money answereth all] This sayin
Page 207 and 208:
are themselves generally good for n
Page 209 and 210:
III. Remember him in thy YOUTH, in
Page 211 and 212:
11. Fears shall be in the way] They
Page 213 and 214:
author of this book: the fountains,
Page 215 and 216:
Verse 14. For God shall bring every
Page 217 and 218:
so many touches in the form and man
Page 219 and 220:
I had for a long time hesitated whe
Page 221 and 222:
and forsaken, &c.; and that the Cor
Page 223 and 224:
some of the more difficult or obsol
Page 225 and 226:
IDYL V Scene, a Chiosk or Pavilion
Page 227 and 228:
soul, and putting him into the mini
Page 229 and 230:
We will run after thee] Speaking in
Page 231 and 232:
principal ornaments of their faces.
Page 233 and 234:
Meantime the lofty rooms the prince
Page 235 and 236:
eating the grapes. They abounded in
Page 237 and 238:
The bottom thereof of gold] This ma
Page 239 and 240:
Within thy locks.] See on #So 4:1,
Page 241 and 242:
Now buskin'd like the virgin huntre
Page 243 and 244:
passage has been proposed by Mr. Ha
Page 245 and 246:
Verse 4. My beloved put in his hand
Page 247 and 248:
SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER VI The comp
Page 249 and 250:
With this chapter the fifth night i
Page 251 and 252:
did not project from the mountain a
Page 253 and 254:
SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER VIII The lo
Page 255 and 256:
As soon then as my sister is in my
show all

Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?