Homilist Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death… 1. It is implied that man has a spirit. 2. Man's power over his spirit is not absolute.He has some power over it; power to excite it to action, direct its thoughts, control its impulses, train its faculties, and develop its wonderful resources. Self-government is the duty of every man. But whatever the amount of power he may have over his spirit, he is utterly unable to "retain" it here, to keep it in permanent connection with the body. From this fact I deduce three practical lessons. I. WE SHOULD TAKE PROPER CARE OF THIS "SPIRIT" WHILE WE HAVE IT WITH US. II. WE SHOULD KEEP THIS "SPIRIT" EVER IN READINESS FOR ITS EXIT. It requires to have its errors corrected, its guilt removed, its pollutions cleansed away. III. EFFORTS FOR THE PERMANENT ENTERTAINMENT OF THIS "SPIRIT" HERE ARE TO THE LAST DEGREE UNWISE. What are men doing here? On all hands they are endeavouring to provide for their spirits a permanent entertainment. "Soul, thou hast much goods," etc. "Wherefore do ye spend your labour for that which satisfieth not?" (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. |
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