Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-01
For the Spirit of the Age
All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit.
BY A. j. G

"I said in mine heart, 90 to now, will
prove thee with nirth {; therefore enjoy
pleasure aud behold this also is vanity. |
l said Of laug ghter, it is mad and of mirth
what does it? | sought in mine heart to
give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my
heart with wisdom and to lay hold on
folly, till | might see what was good for
the sons of men, which they should do un-
der the heavens all the days of their life.-
I made me great works 1 buided me
houses; [ planted me. vineyards l made
me gardens and orchards, and | planted
trees in them of all kinds of fruits | made
me pools Of water to water Herewith the
WOUu GuaU UtrugoUL oSss. * s..o
servants and maidens, and had servants
born in my house also | had great posses
sions of great and small cattle above all
that were in Jerusalem before; gathered
me also silver and gold, and the peculiar
treasures of kings, and of the provinces; |
got me men-singers and women-singers,
and the delights of the sons of men, as
musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
So l was great, and increased more than
all that were before me in Jerusalem also
my wisdom remained with me. And what
soever mine eyes desired | kept not from
them, withheld not my heart from any
Joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor !;
and this was my portion of all my labor.
Then | looked on al! the works that my
hands had wrought, and on the labor that
| had labored to do, and behold, all was
vanity and vexation of spirit. ."-SoLoMoN
There is not on record a more graphic
picture than the above of the vanity of hu.
man aspirationsAof earthly enjoyments. =
God seems to have bestowed upon Solomon
every earthly blessing. His wisdom ex-
eeeded the wisdom of all other men-the
wealth of the world was at bis command
his tables were adorned with all the dain
ties of tropical clime-his senses were
afforded every means of qualification com
mon to the voluptuary of oriental coun
tries-every amusement which the inge
nuity of man could invent was tried for tn
diversion of his naind-his palace was fill
ed with musicians, and beautiful women
in word, to use his own language, b
withheld not his heart from any Joy. Ye
amid all these means of enjoyment SUI
rounded by the adulations of an admiring
world, his soul rested not, but in the bit
terness thereof he was compelled to eS
claim" All is vanity and vexation {
spirit !'
Alexander conquered the world, an
thereby acquired a fame that will endul
while vestige of the human family r,
mains on earth. But can we suppose thu
Alexander was happy? No, no; when
cast his eyes over the sea, and wept tn;
there was not another world to conque
we imagine that we hear him exclaim fro
the depth of his soul-"All is vanity ar
vexation of spirit" Could we have rea
the heart of the great Napoleon, while
lay passive being among the drear roc
OF st. Helena, we might have seen write
there" All is vanity and vexation
spirit"
, Could we have stood by VoItair, VIII
he heard the awful mandate, "This d
shalt thy soul be required of thee !"
, might have seen indelibly impressed on
troubled brow, "AA is vanity and vexati
of spirit"
But, thank God, the world does affo
one enjoyment which is not all "van
and vexation of spirit" 1t is a firm bel
in, and the enjoyment of the christian
ligion. While tossed to and fro upon |
biAowy sea Of life, the soul may find h
S a certain anchor. The existence of |
a christian extends into the future-a bris
beam of hope leads him on through
+ dim vista-he looses his hold upon the v
tiles of this world, and, through faith sci
upon the promises of a Redeemer. WI
the cup of earthly bliss is dashed from
= lips, and that of anguish and woe drail
n in its stead, we may find an abiding sol