ace makes groanings cease,
And Zion's songs gush forth unbidden.

Yes, e'en on earth may song have birth,
And music rise o'er Nature's groanings,--
Whilst Hope new born each springing morn
Dispel with joy my faithless moanings.

CHAPTER VIII.

Still continues the praise of "wisdom." For if, as the last verses of
the previous chapters have shown, there be but very few that walk in
her paths, she necessarily lifts those few far above the thoughtless
mass of men; placing her distinguishing touch even on the features of
her disciples, lighting them up with intelligence, and taking away the
rudeness and pride that may be natural to them.

"Man's wisdom lighteth up his face--its aspect stern is changed."

If this, then, the result, listen to her counsels: "Honor the king,"
nor be connected with any conspiracy against him. It is true that
authorities are as much "out of joint" as everything else under the
sun; and instead of being practically "ministers of God for good," are
but too often causes of further misery upon poor man; yet wisdom
teaches to wait and watch. Everything has a time and season; and
instead of seeking to put matters right by conspiracy, await the turn
of the wheel; for this is most sure, that nothing is absolutely
permanent here--the evil of a tyrant's life any more than good. His
power shall not release him from paying the debt of nature; it helps
him not to retain his spirit.

This too I saw,--'twas when I gave my heart
To every work that's done beneath the sun,--
That there's a time when man rules over man to his own hurt.
'Twas when I saw the wicked dead interred,
And to and from the holy place (men) came and went.
Then straight were they forgotten in the city of their deeds.
Ah, this was vanity!

Thus our Preacher describes the end of the tyrant. Death ends his
tyranny, as it does, for the time being at least, the misery of those
who were under it. Men follow him to his burial, to the holy place,
return to their usual avocations--all is over and forgotten. The
splendor and power of monarchy now show their hollowness and vanity by
so quickly disappearing, and even their memory vanishing, at the touch
of death. And yet this retributive end is by no means speedy in every
case. Sentence is often deferred, and the delay emboldens the heart of
man to further wickedness. Still, he says, "I counsel to fear God,
irrespective of present appearances. I am