If restless Paffion by Rebellious Sway
Compells the weak Ufurper to obey.

O troubled, weak, and Coward, as thou art!
Without thy poor Advice the lab'ring Heart
To worse Extremes with fwifter Steps would run,
Not fav'd by Virtue, yet by Vice undone.

Oft have I said, the Praise of doing well Is to the Ear, as Oyntment to the Smell. Now if fome Flies perchance, however small, Into the Alabafter Urn fhould fall;

The Odors of the Sweets inclos'd would dye;
And Stench corrupt (fad Change!) their Place supply.
So the least Faults, if mix'd with faireft Deed,

Of future Ill become the fatal Seed:

Into the Balm of pureft Virtue caft,

Annoy all Life with one contagious Blaft.

Loft SOLOMON! purfue this Thought no more:
Of thy paft Errors recollect the Store:

And filent weep, that while the Deathlefs Mufe
Shall fing the Juft; fhall o'er their Head diffufe
Perfumes with lavish Hand; She fhall proclaim
Thy Crimes alone; and to Thy evil Fame
Impartial, scatter Damps, and Poyfons on thy Name.

Awaking therefore, as who long had dream'd, Much of my Women, and their Gods afham'd, From this Abyss of exemplary Vice

Refolv'd, as Time might aid my Thought, to rife;

L.ch.in

Again I bid the mournful Goddess write
The fond Pursuit of fugitive Delight:

Bid her exalt her melancholy Wing,

And rais'd from Earth, and fav'd from Paffion, fing
Of human Hope by crofs Event destroy'd,
Of useless Wealth, and Greatnefs unenjoy'd,
Of Luft and Love, with their fantaftic Train,
Their Wishes, Smiles, and Looks deceitful all, and vain.

T

BB.S

POWER;

The ARGUMENT.

SOLOMON confiders Man through the feveral Stages

and Conditions of Life; and concludes in general, that We are all Miferable. He reflects more particularly upon the Trouble and Uncertainty of Greatnefs and Power; gives Some Inftances thereof from ADAM down to Himself; and fill concludes that ALL is VANITY. He reafons again upon Life, Death, and a future Being; finds Human Wif dom too imperfect to refolve his Doubts; has Recourfe to Religion; is informed by an Angel, what shall happen to Himfelf, his Family, and his Kingdom, 'till the Redemption of ISRAEL: and, upon the whole, refolves to fubmit his Enquiries and Anxieties to the Will of his Creator.

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TEXTS

TEXTS chiefly alluded to in this Book.

Or ever the Silver Cord be loofed, or the golden Bowl be broken, or the Pitcher be broken at the Fountain, or the Wheel broken at the Ciftern. ECCLESIASTES, Chap. XII. Vers. 6.

The Sun ariseth, and the Sun goeth down, and hafteth to his Place where He arose. ECCLESIASTES, Chap. I. Verf. 5.

The Wind goeth towards the South, and turneth about unto the North. It whirleth about continually; and the Wind returneth again according to his Circuit. Verf. 6.

All the Rivers run into the Sea: yet the Sea is not full. Unto the Place from whence the Rivers come, thither they return again. Vers. 7.

Then shall the Dust return to the Earth, as it was: and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it. ECCLESIASTES, Chap. XII. `Vers. 7.

Now when SOLOMON had made an End of Praying, the Fire came down from Heaven, and confumed the Burnt-offering, and the Sacrifices; and the Glory of the Lord filled the House. II CHRONICLES, Chap. VII. Verf. i.

By the Rivers of BABYLON, there We fat down; Yea We wept, when We remembred Sion &c. PSALM CXXXVII. Verf. 1.

I faid of Laughter, it is mad; and of Mirth, what doeth it? ECCLESIASTES, Chap. II. Verf. 2.

-No Man can find out the Work that God maketh, from the Beginning to the End. ECCLESIASTES, Chap. III. Vers. 11.

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 fhould fear before Him. Verf. 14.

Let us hear the Conclusion of the whole Matter; Fear God, and keep his Commandments; for this is the whole Duty of Man. ECCLESIASTES, Chap. XII. Verse. 13.

POWER;