In this book we learn of man's pathway on earth, of his sojourn on it, and his life, with all its varied exercises and bitter experiences. The eye sees, the ear hears, the heart tries to find satisfaction; but it cannot:all the searching; after happiness on earth without the true knowledge of Christ and of the redemption which is by His blood is vain. It cannot be found under the sun. The knowledge acquired in such a search only increases sorrow (chap. 1:18). Ecclesiastes' world-the place of man's birth, life, death-is like Joseph's empty sepulcher:Christ, the only source of true happiness, "is not here."He is in heaven; and that is a sphere into which this book does not see, cannot enter; f or it is above the sun, and the range of the book rises not above the sun.

Its last chapter gives us the end of life under the sun, after a dark and dismal day, with many bitter sorrows and disappointments. The end is reached, death and burial are recorded, "and the mourners go about the streets"; but all beyond is left under a pall of darkness. There is no light for the future, and no communications regarding that bright glory where Christ is all, and in all.

What a gloomy world from such a standpoint! And all this is the record given, under God's ordering, by a philosopher, a poet, a preacher, and a king. One may be all this, and yet have no light. Sin has made the world what it now is. Yet one day, not far distant, there will be a great change. When the Lord returns, the world will be a true home for man, -for Israel, and for the nations then upon the earth. His presence in glory will demand that every knee bow to Him, and the knowledge of Him shall be spread out and cover the whole earth as the waters do the bed of the sea. This knowledge will be in contrast to that described in Ecclesiastes. There will be in it no increase of sorrow, but of joy and peace. A. E. B.