I consider the world here, and the things of it, as wholly vanity, in the following respects.

1. When separate from God; without God the good things of the world are not seen as coming from him, nor improven for leading to him; but esteemed in themselves above God, so as men are lovers thereof more than lovers of God. And so,

2. When it is made a man's happiness, or any part of his happiness; and so he makes it his end, his satisfaction, his rest, his God: for thus many make the world their god, their belly their god.

3. When opposing or hindering the service of God: when it steals away the heart from duty; and steals away the heart from ordinances, and so obstructs the service of God.

4. When it furthers and promotes sin, and is made the feul for feeding and maintaining corrupt lusts and affections: when it is but the food of pride and ambition, the food of covetousness and carnality, the food of sensuality and lasciviousness, or the like. Why, in such respects as these, the world, and things in it, ought to be looked upon as base and contemptible vanity: and to be despised, opposed, and mortified.

But now, if the question be asked, What is it in the world that is vain and empty? Why, saith the preacher, "All is vanity." This word comprehends more than we can tell; for we will not get through all that is included in it. We shall name a few of these things in the world, that are but vanity.

1. All the profits and riches of the world are vanity; "He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them and no good is to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?" Eccl. v. 10, 11. Let a man find as much riches as ever Solomon found, he cannot find happiness therein. Where is it that satisfying riches are to be had? No where but in Christ: Riches and honours are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness," Prov, viii. 18. All the riches of grace and glory are to be found in Christ.

2. All the pleasures and delights of the world are vanity; "I said in my heart, "Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and behold this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doth it ?" Eccl. ii. 1. 2. See how he enume-" rates, in this chapter, manifold sensual pleasures; and the upshot of all is still, All is vanity.' No true pleasure shall we ever find but in Christ; "Wisdom's ways are pleasantness; and all her paths are peace," Prov. iii. 17.

3. All the honours and grandeurs of the world are vanity; "I made me great works, I builded me houses, I planted me vineyards, I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits; I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.-I gathered me all silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, and of provinces: I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments and that of all sorts: So I was great, and increased more than all the men that were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labour, and this was my portion of all my labour," Eccl ii. 5-10. Well, what was the upshot of all this worldly grandeur? Why, it was all vanity, ver. 11. “I looked upon all the works that my hands had wrought; and, behold! all was vanity and vexation of spirit." Where is true honour to be had? It is only in Christ; Riches and honours are with him." They who get in to Christ, they become kings and priests unto their God: and this is the honour of all the saints.

4. All the wisdom and policy of the world is vanity; yea, even the moral endowments of the mind, and the knowledge of arts and sciences. So long as a man is destitute of spiritual wisdom, let him have the knowledge of all that is knowable in time; let him have the utmost skill of mathematics, philosophy, astrology, astronomy; "All is vanity." Solomon laboured to acquire wisdom, and actually attained a vast deal of it; and we

have his verdict of the whole matter: "I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom, concerning all things that are done under heaven; I have seen all the works that are under the sun and, behold! all is vanity and vexation of spirit.—And I gave my heart to know wisdom; I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit: for in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow," Eccl. i. 13, 14. 17, 18. Where will a man get true wisdom? Why, it is in Christ; he only can make you wise unto salvation, because he is made of God unto us wisdom, 1 Cor. i. 30. "In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3. Solomon had no small share of wisdom, being indeed the wisest of all men; but he gives this for the motto of all worldly wisdom, VANITY Well then," Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom," Jer. ix. 23.

5. All the strength and power of the world is vanity; "Let not the strong man glory in his strength. Let not either kings or subjects glory in their strength, in the strength of their armies and allies. What says Solomon of this? "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong," Eccl. ix. 11. Where is that to be had that deserves the name of strength? It is only in Christ; Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. vi. 10. I can do all things through Christ strengthening me. He is the strength of Israel: and his name is a strong tower to which the righteous run and are safe," Prov. xviii. 10.

6. All the beauty and bravery of the world is vanity; Beauty is vain, saith Solomon, Prov. xxxi. 30. “When God with rebukes doth correct man for his iniquity, he maketh his beauty to consume as a moth: surely every man is vanity," Psal. xxxix. 11. Solomon was famous for the beauty and bravery of his court, and the splendour of his government; but he saw all to be vanity: and Christ preferred even the beauty of a pile of grass to his; for he saith of the lilies of the field, that Solomon and all his glory is not like one of these, Luke xii. 27. Such, indeed, is the fading beauty of men, so much thought of by many, that it is but skin-deep, and fades

like a flower. If you would be a true, spiritual, and durable beauty, it is to be had in Christ, whose Spirit and grace makes a man beautiful, and all glorious within, Psal. xlv. 13. "Thou wast beautiful through my comeliness put upon thee," Ezek. xvi. 14.

7. All the righteousness and feigned false religion of the world is vanity. There is much unrighteous righte ousness in the world, much irreligious religion, much graceless grace, and faithless faith; "Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, (saith Christ) ye can in no wise enter into the kingdom of God, Mat. v. 20. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but faith that worketh by love, Gal. v. 6. And again, Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new creature, Gal. vi. 15. For, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," John iii. 3. The natural religion that the world hath, is but vanity. If the righteousness even of the godly, be but filthy rags, and cannot avail him for justification; what account shall be made of the righteousness of those who are yet out of Christ, and are nothing but mere moralists, formalists, and hypocrites? If you would have righteousness, you must have it in and from Christ; he is the Lord our righteousness, and made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification. He has to give you both an imputed righteousness, for justifying you; and an imparted righteousness, for sanctifying you.

8. All the favour and friendship of the world is vanity; "Favour is deceitful," Prov. xxxi. 30. They who put confidence in the favour and friendship of men, they will find themselves deceived: therefore, saith the prophet Micah, "Trust ye not in a friend; put ye no confidence in a guide; the best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge," Micah vii. 4, 5. Where will you get a true friend? O seek to have Christ to be your friend: He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. His friendship doth not vary like those friends that love you to-day, and hate you to-morrow.

9. All the fashions and customs of the world are vanity; they whirl about like the wind, as Solomon speaks, T

Eccl. i. 6.; and the vain eye is never satisfied with seeing them, ver. 8. There are many vain fashions of bodily gestures, vain fashions of apparel, vain artifices of the world; whereof, and of all other worldly vices, the apostle saith," Re not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds," Rom. xii. 2. The best fashion and conformity that ever a soul studied is conformity to the Son of God; this study would be an evidence of election from eternity;" Whom he did foreknow, them he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son," Rom. viii. 29. Whereas all other fashions, and fond studying of conformity to the world, is but a mark of vanity.

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10. All the great and mean men of the world are vanity: this Solomon shews in this book, when he is proving that all is vanity. And his father David saith expressly, "Surely men of low degree are vanity; and men of high degree are a lye; to be laid in the balance they are altogether lighter than vanity," Psal. lxii. 9. Here the prince in his robes, and the peasant in his rags are both declared to be vanity. Surely every man in his best estate, is altogether vanity," Psal. xxxix. 11. What is man to be accounted of? A piece of rotten dust. In wisdom they are vain; "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain," 1 Cor. iii. 20. In power they are vain; therefore saith the Lord, "Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm," Jer. xvi. 5. In comfort they are vain; They comfort in vain," Zech. x. 2. Let us never expect in man, what is not to be had in him: it is only in the God-man, Jesus Christ, that we ought to place our confidence, and expect our comfort: "The true circumcision rejoice only in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Phil. iii. 3.

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In a word, all these things together are but vanity; satisfaction is not to be had therein: "I have seen all the works that are under the sun; and behold! all is vanity," Eccl. iv. 4. The apostle gives a sum of all the things in the world, and writes vanity upon them; "All that is in the world, the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,