The National tribune., 1893-06-01

generally read. There is so much III 1e that IL
stands study. Acacius, a disciple of Eusebius,
wrote IL volumes of commentaries on said
book.
Eco. 12: III, Ii, IA
1. Methods of Interpretation.
The language of VS.. II Is hgurative and the
explanation not entirely clear
Some take V. 2 in meteorological sense, re-
ferring in special to the seasons experienced in
Palestine. Spring is fair and delightful The
sun shines beautifully by day, and the sky is
| clear at night. making moon and stars visible
in all their briIlancy. The Winter is cheer
less, rain quite unceasing, clouds forbidding.
We have in this view, set forth the contrasts
| of youth AMI Old age
Verses ST have been considered by some as
based on military practices. We have fort
| ress-defender on its turrets discouraged; the
! commissary department tgrinders) reduced IN
numbers aud short of provisions; windows and
/ doors shut; no mu5ic; approximations fearful;
| watchmen trembling at every slightest sound
| So in youth there are coarageaHd strength-the
| fort can be held--more or less OF attack can be
combatted. But when old age comes, the vital
forces. weakened, cannet resist the encoming
1 tide OF difficulties.
/ A view which has gained many followers,
/ which has been held for centuries and by which
| the paragraph seems quite lucid and instruct
/ ive is that we have here a history or descrip-
/ tion of human life, especially its physical
| features, delneated. In notes We accept
| this view and explain accordingly.
/ 1t has been believed by some that Solomon
anticipated Hcrvey in making known the idea
| Though in fgurative style) of the circulation
/! of the blood. He certainly had ideas OF pbysi-
| ology, ornithology, music, insects, astronomy,
meteoroogy, etc.
2. ParaHeIisms
| /. Sun. light, moon. stars, visible because of
cloudlessness, stand for youth. (L)
L. Il i
| etc. represent tire faculties of the mnd-tbe sun
the superior, moon the inferior; the stars bright
ideas and fancies Of imagination.
| q Clouds. ~ DR.. A. Clarke and Gill say
al the iufirmities of age" We have allusion
specially to the long, cloudy rainy season of
! Judea. We have. coilnquially, the expression
| winter of life " for old age
g. Keepers of the house. t3.) Arms and
hands tremble.
4 Strong men,. (a.) Legs and feet. (sse
Zech.. S:4)
s. Grinders. (3.) Teeth. They become few
Digestion is affected and health and strength
harmed. Moiar teeth are meant.
6. Those that loos out. t3.) The eyes, They
become dina and sometimes blind.
| T. Doors. a. The lips, The streets are the
cavities inside the mouth, Reference may be
nade to all the avenues Of sense.
g. Daughters OF music. l41. Tho voice.
o. Almond tree. 81 The hair shall become
| SOM 5.
| 10. Silver cord (6. Spinal cord and nervous
| system i'll general cbnuectsd with the spinal
column. f.s
IL. Some think reference is made in verse
| to the heart and the circulation of the blood.
8. Notes
| l. Remember Il. awe must use all our pow
| ers to Gods glory in Brderto make most of our
| own lives God has endowed us with the
.f
| in the religious realm. We are apt to forget.
| Men can hardly keeptin mind the fact of God
| and sin. Men only with difficulty retain
/ in consciousness even nbate conceptions of
! right aud wroDg--of what we call duty-and go
/ far out of the right way. Then, many persons
are under obligations to God by formal cove
i nants-as, c. g, the VOWS Of baptisn-and they
| must remember all such promises. Then,
| memory is mentioned as part for the whole.
! God wants and deserves all there is of each of
| us-our love- service, cooperation, sympathy.
| Here memory is not enough. Demons remem-
| Der Christ, acknowledge the existence of God,
| and have very correct ideas of duty, but yet
| fail TO meet divine approval.
Practically, remember thy Creator" is
| equivalent TO the modern Church idea-be a
| Christian, be all that is meant by being fol-
| lower Of Christ. Obey, love- honor God. Keep
| the commandments of Jesus President Cas-
| we'll in haccalaureate sermon said: "fhe
aitributes as sefexistent. eternal, omniscient,
omnipotent. omnpresent; in his moral aLtri-
| butes holiness. justice, goodness, love, and
| mercy. He should be remembered as the God
| and Father Of Onr Lord Jesus Christ, and as
| the Being who will be our ffBal Judge"
| Rev. b. f. Mills. in sermon at Boston, de-
clared that no man could ever commit a sin
without he forgot his God, and his wishes and
commands as expressly implied in his teach
ings"
2 Youth ~ Scott says "the best and
| choicest OF life certainly best for all
educational purposes for the formation of hab-
| its, for laying foundation on which to build
character. prov. 22: g; Sam. 3:27.) Then
the heart is impressible, tine will yielding.
The time in which to sow seed is the Spring.
That delightful writer, James T. Field, in
his last days. wrote some "reminiscences
titled Then" Speaking of youth he said :
when the world was a holiday planet, and
things were precisely what they seemed; when
the whole year May. albeit the seasons did
! change occasionally; when the skies were
brighter. tho thunder louder, the lightning
| wider tho snow winter. the skating smoother,
the waves higher and the banks sOunder than
| they represent themselves to-day; when, as a
race, people were specially well favored; then
we got more for our money and it was n boon
! to be alive, and We thoroughly appreciated the
| privilege; then the Summer mornings were
full of singing birds, and flowers accompanied
| the birds; then our dreams were pleasant I'M
agini ngs and frolic visions of untroubled joys
| Then we were young
What a contrast to the buoyancy of youth is
the picture which Solomon draws of eternity !!
3. Evil days. a. Old age. Sin Keeps on in
creasing, and hence old age to the Goddess Is q
period evil in moral Bense. Then, physically,
advanced age is fes' 70. All the organs of sem
sation become dull a. Indeed. matters go so
far in sone cases tl at senility becomes practi-
cally imbecilty.
| 4. No pleasure. a. We have a case in hand
in the instance of Barzilhi. t2 SAM, 19: 50. J
Inspiration is gone. Disposition for enterprise
lauguishes. Senses are nos easily gratified.
5. House. t3.) The body may be compared
TO residence witlio servants, windows, doors,
musical Instrumental .sf
6. Grinding (4.lslEaeb home had its own
mfil and grain was sredueed to -four by hand.
Ffguratively, we may understand by grinding
the action of the melar teeth in reducing food
to pulp and mixing it with saliva preparatory
to digestion. brl i
7. High. t5) Aged people fear on elevated
points. a. 20
8. Grasshorper (5.). We may understand To-
Gusts. (St. Mark, .6.} They were used for
food. In age taste for them may fail. Piumtre
conceives an ornaments shaped like grass
hopper, tight, and yet heavy to an aged man.
DIR. Adam Clarke magipes1the figure suggested
by the shape. grasshoppsrish. into which some
very aged persons are drawn. Or, by hyper
| hol ~ thas shoa IN ligift