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finishing his work; nor with an idle servant about much business give not heed to these in any matter of counsel.

But rather be continually with a godly man, whom thou shalt have known to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as thine own soul, and who will grieve with thee, if thou shalt miscarry. And make the counsel of thy heart to stand; for there is none more faithful unto thee than it. For a man's soul is sometime wont to bring him tidings, more than seven watchmen that sit on high on a watch-tower. And above all this intreat the Most High, that he may direct thy way in truth. Let reason be the beginning of every work, and let counsel go before every action.

Nothing is better than the wise advice of a true friend; and yet in certain seasons and crises a man's own heart-his inward and instant conviction of right and wrong-may be his best counsellor.

§ 18. Prosperity and happiness.-Ben Sira's outlook on life is generally cheerful. But he has his moments of sadness and depression. He had seen, perchance, a good deal of the lower side of human nature, and he gives vent occasionally to somewhat bitter reflections. For example, as to the relation of rich and poor.

He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall become like unto him. Take not up a burden above thy strength; and have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself. What fellowship shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? this shall smite, and that shall be dashed in pieces. The rich man doeth a wrong, and he threateneth withal: the poor is wronged, and he shall intreat withal.

Every living creature loveth, his like, and every man loveth his neighbour. All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to his like. What fellowship shall the wolf have with the lamb? so is the sinner unto the godly. What peace is there between the hyena and the dog? and what peace between the rich man and the poor? Wild asses are the prey of lions in the wilderness; so poor men are pasture for the rich. Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; so a poor man is an abomination to the rich. A rich man when he is shaken is held up of his friends; but one of low degree being down is thrust away also by his

friends. When a rich man is fallen, there are many helpers; he speaketh things not to be spoken, and men justify him: a man of low degree falleth, and men rebuke him withal; he uttereth wisdom, and no place is allowed him. A rich man speaketh, and all keep silence; and what he saith they extol to the clouds: a poor man speaketh, and they say, 'Who is this?' and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.

While clinging to his simple faith that prosperity and adversity are from the Lord, Ben Sira somewhat fails to see that riches and poverty canno without all kinds of qualifications, be classified, the one as good, the other as evil. The end of the following essay reminds us of the famous sayings of Solon in his conversations with King Croesus. A delightful hour is ready for those who like to read them in Herodotus. Ben Sira is clearly wrong in his opinion that the 'last end of a man is the revelation of his deeds.' He is led to this exaggeration, first, because he has no belief that the effect of a man's deeds may even for himself extend beyond the grave, and secondly, because he cannot rise above the old, fallacious doctrine that God is not just if the 'sinner' lives and dies in seeming and outward 'prosperity.'"

There is one that toileth, and laboureth, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind. There is one that is sluggish, and hath need of help, lacking in strength, and that aboundeth in poverty; and the eyes of the Lord looked upon him for good, and he set him up from his low estate, and lifted up his head; and many marvelled at him. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the Lord. The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his good pleasure shall prosper for ever. There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the portion of his reward: when he saith, I have found rest, and now will I eat of my goods'; yet he knoweth not what time shall pass, and he shall leave them to others, and die.

Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work. Marvel not at the works of a sinner, but trust the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord swiftly on the sudden to make a poor man rich. The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly; and in an hour that cometh swiftly he maketh his blessing to flourish. Say not, 'What use is there of me? And what from henceforth shall my

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good things be?' Say not, I have sufficient, and from henceforth what harm shall happen unto me?' In the day of good things there is a forgetfulness of evil things; and in the day of evil things a man will not remember things that are good. For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to reward a man in the day of death according to his ways. The affliction of an hour causeth forgetfulness of delight; and in the last end of a man is the revelation of his deeds. Call no man blessed before his death; and a man shall be known in his children.

Ben Sira speaks strongly against the miser. Reasonable enjoyment seems to him right and desirable. Do thy duty to God and man; lead a full life and enjoy it. It is impossible to enter here into any criticism of our author's position. Gladness and not gloom is assuredly the right condition of man upon earth; sheer asceticism is no end in itself. Yet we feel that the true justification of happiness is not that life is short and death is sure. The joy that is based upon that thought can never be the highest of which man is capable. [Note at the end of the essay a striking parallel to a famous passage in the Iliad. You will find it in the sixth book, lines 146-149.]

Riches are not comely for a niggard; and what should an envious man do with money? He that gathereth by taking from his own soul gathereth for others; and others shall revel in his goods. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not rejoice in his possessions. There is none more evil than he that envieth himself; and this is a recompense of his wickedness. Even if he doeth good, he doeth it in forgetfulness; and at the last he sheweth forth his wickedness. Evil is he that envieth with his eye, turning away the face, and despising the souls of men. A covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his portion; and wicked injustice drieth up his soul. An evil An evil eye is grudging of bread, and he is miserly at his table.

My son, according as thou hast, do well unto thyself, and bring offerings unto the Lord worthily. Remember that death will not tarry, and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee. Do well unto thy friend before thou die; and according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give to him. Defraud not thyself of a good day; and let not the portion of a good desire pass thee by. Shalt thou not leave

thy labours unto another? and thy toils to be divided by lot? Give, and take, and beguile thy soul; for there is no seeking of luxury in the grave. All flesh waxeth old as a garment; for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death. As of the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheddeth, and some it maketh to grow; so also of the generations of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born. Every work rotteth and falleth away, and the worker thereof shall depart with it.

Ben Sira preaches contentment with little or with much.' Above all, rather die than beg. Independence is manhood.

My son, lead not a beggar's life; better it is to die than to beg. A man that looketh unto the table of another, his life is not to be counted for a life; he will pollute his soul with another man's meats: but a man wise and well-instructed will beware thereof. In the mouth of the shameless begging will be sweet; and in his belly a fire shall be kindled.

The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and a garment, and a house to cover shame. Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs, than sumptuous fare in another man's house. With little or with much, be well satisfied. It is a miserable life to go from house to house: and where thou art a sojourner, thou shalt not dare to open thy mouth, and besides this thou shalt hear bitter words. Go forth, thou sojourner, from the face of honour; my brother is come to be my guest; I have need of my house.'

Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is plagued in his body. Health and a good constitution are better than all gold; and a strong body than wealth without measure. There is no riches better than health of body; and there is no gladness above the joy of the heart. Death is better than a bitter life, and eternal rest than a continual sickness.

Give not over thy soul to sorrow; and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel. Gladness of heart is the life of a man; and the joyfulness of a man is length of days. Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart: and remove sorrow far from thee; for sorrow hath destroyed many, and there is no profit therein. Envy and wrath shorten a man's days; and

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care bringeth old age before the time. A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.

On the whole, riches seem to the son of Sirach at least as much anxiety as profit, while the rich man who does not yield to the temptations which his wealth offers him seems deserving in our sage's eyes of special praise.

Wakefulness that cometh of riches consumeth the flesh, and the anxiety thereof putteth away sleep. Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber; and in a sore disease sleep will be broken. A rich man toileth in gathering money together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his good things. A poor man toileth in lack of substance, and when he resteth, he becometh needy. He that loveth gold shall not be justified; and he that followeth destruction shall himself have his fill of it. Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold; and their perdition meeteth them face to face. It is a stumblingblock unto them that sacrifice unto it; and every fool shall be taken therewith.

Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish, and that goeth not after gold. Who is he? and we will call him blessed for wonderful things hath he done among his people. Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? Then let him glory. Who hath had the power to transgress, and hath not transgressed? and to do evil, and hath not done it? His goods shall be made sure, and the congregation shall declare his alms.

§ 19. The sadness of life and the advent of death.-The sadness which came over the sage from time to time as he contemplated the sorrows and ills of life, with its inevitable end-all Death, is illustrated and exemplified in the following essay,' entitled by Mr. Moulton, 'The Burden of Life.'

Great travail is created for every man, and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, until the day for their burial in the mother of all things. The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear of heart; from him that sitteth on a throne of glory, even unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes; from him that weareth purple and a crown, even unto him that is clothed with a hempen frock. There is wrath, and