I. Solomon, than whom none is believed to have more delighted himself in the enjoyments of the world, at least better to have understood them; hear what he says, after all his experience: (Eccles. ii. 1-11:) "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? I made me great works, builded houses, planted vineyards, made gardens and orchards, planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit: I got me servants and maidens, also great possessions: I gathered me silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and provinces; also men 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 that were before me in Jerusalem, and whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept not from them: I withheld not mine heart from any joy. Then I looked on the works which mine hands had wrought, and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit." The reason he gives in the 18th and 19th verses is, that the time of enjoying them was very short, and it was uncertain who should be benefited by them when he was gone. Wherefore, he concludes with all this: "Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man: for God shall bring every work into judgment, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." O that men would lay this to heart! II. Chilon,[75] one of the seven wise men of Greece, already mentioned upon another occasion, affords us a dying testimony of great example. It is related thus by A. Gellius: when his life drew towards an end, ready to be seized by death, he spoke thus to his friends about him: "My words and actions, in this long term of years, have been, almost all, such as I need not repent of; which, perhaps, you also know: truly, even at this time I am certain I never committed anything the remembrance of which begets any trouble in me, unless this one thing only: which, whether it were done amiss or not, I am uncertain. I sat with two others as judge, upon the life of my friend: the law was such, as the person must of necessity be condemned, so that either my friend must lose his life, or some deceit be used towards the law. Revolving many things in my mind, for relief of a condition so desperate, I conceived that which I put in practice to be of all others the most easy to be borne: silently I condemned him, and persuaded those others who judged, to absolve him: thus I preserved in so great a business, the duty both of a judge and a friend. But from that act I received this trouble: that I fear it is not free from perfidiousness and guilt, in the same business, at the same time, and in a public affair, to persuade others contrary to what was in my own judgment best." Oh, tender conscience! Yet an Heathen's. Where dwells the Christian that excelleth? Hard to be found among the great rabbies of Christendom.