bchinos olam
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A N
INVESTIGATION
O F CAUSES
*XI5IHC
PKOM THE
O r g a n i z a t i o n of th W o r ld ,
IS WHICH
M A N IS
P A R T I C U L A R L Y I N T E R E S T E D :
W M T T E K
BY
R A B B I J A D A I A ,
O f Barcelona, Spain.
CONTAINING
T H E O L O G I C A L
and M E T A P H Y S I C A L
S E J V T E J V C E S *
T R A N S L A T E D
INTO ENGLISH
B Y R A B B I TOBIAS G O O D M A N .
t o r the Lord
gireth
wisdom; out o f his
mouthcometh
knowleilp
nderattodiag.
P r o v
h
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D E D I C A T I O N .
T O T H E
M O S T
R e v .
S o l o m o n
H i e r s c h e l l ,
PRESIDING
R A B B I O F T H E
G E R M A N JEWS
I N L O N D O N
U NDER a firm persuasion of your
attachment
to
useful literature,
and
convinced
of the sin-
eerily o fyourwishes for the extension of useful
knowledge, I
cannot,
for a
moment, doubt
with
what
satisfaction
you
will receive
the
work
which
now
solicitsyourpatronage
and
support.
When
I
reflect that
the original
work
is the production
of a character eminently distinguished for the
superiority of his
wisdom,
I
shouldconsiderthat
I
deviated
from thatduty
and
respect
which I owe
to you, did I
seek
to
usher
i t
into
the world
under
any other sanction
than
yours.
T he
author
of the following
work
representsan
accomplished
man as
supported
by two
pillars
of
inestimable
valuethe
knowledge and the
prac
tice
of
virtue.
T o you,
most
Reverend Sir, as
firmlyestablished on so
high
a basis, I am
con
strained
to
addressmyself.
Y o u are not
only
in -
titled,
but
qualified,
to be the
patron
of the
present
undertaking. H igh ly distinguished for the ex
tent
of
your erudition,
the
sublimity
of
your
sen-
tinients,
an d
equally signalized
by a life of
strict
integrity, the world
cannot censure,
no r will you,
I
trust,
feel
reluctance
to
afford that protection
which is now
solicited.
That the work should
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P R E E A C E .
i v
In
an age l i k e the
present,
when literature is, perhaps,
inore universally cultivated, than at any former period, it is
difficult to determine the causewhy the treasure*, the pecu
l i a r advantages, and captivating sublimity of the Hebrew
language, are not more eagerly sought after, more highly
valued,
and more extensively admired Was this language
(which
bearsevident testimony, and affords the most deci
sive
evidence of being the
original
tongue, and consequently
forming the
base
on-which every othei language is founded)
more generally known, and more extensively understood, it
would
afford the highest satisfaction to the scholar, and ex
hibit,
to the morali st, the richest fund of instruction. Of
the just ice and propriety o f
these
remarks, the
b i b l i c a l
stu
dent is
firmly
persuaded ; and so must every rational being,
when
he reflects
that
the sacred code, the volume of divine
inspiration, containing the w i l l of the
Most
H i g h , was con
veyed to man through the medium of the Hebrew language;
and
that
its characters were formed by
Deity
himself, on the
tabletsofstonedelivered on M o u n t i i i t a i .
Every
man of sound penetration is f i rmlyconvinced of the
necessity, and ful ly aware of the peculiar advantages, result
in g
from the study of the sacred language. To the honor
o f
the
B r i t i s h
nation, it may be recorded,
that
much
atten
tion
is paid to it . At the sametime it may be said,
that
the
Superior pathos, anr) noble subl imity, so int imate ly counec-
ted
with
it,
w i l l,
on all occasions, amply repay the most
rigid
attent ion, and more than compensate for the most minute
investigation. The imagery, boldness, and preponderating
power of the Hebrew language, rises superior to every other
language. It challenges, it defies competition. Imitation
o f It may be studiously cul tivated and regard*d, but such
attempts
(though originating from a good and laudable
motive,
and highly commendable) serve but to place its
superiority
In a more conspicuous point of
view,
and confirm
its evident superiority. Saith the great and profound
A f i D t s o w
(when
writing
on the dignity of the inspired lan -
gauge),
there
is a peculiar coldness and indifference in
fail, when supported by a luminary so eminently
characterized by men of learning in general, and
especially
those
of our community, as you are, is
next to
impossibility.
The general tendency of the work, the motive
on
which
it is founded, and the ultimate object
it embraces, are particulars so intimately con
nected
with
that
high and important situation
you hold, and which your abilities adorn,
that
the mere mention of yourpatronageisadequate
to give it weight, and establish for it a reputation
which
art or malice cannot destroy. I am
therefore solicitous to possessa defence so pow
erful,
and a bulwark so impregnable, as your
abilities wi l l afford, and your unblemished in
tegrity form. To say morewould be superfluous
-to have said lesswouldhave been criminal.
M ay the Almightylong preserve you in health
and prosperityenlarge the extent of yourwis
domand bestow everyqualificationfwhich your
exalted station, requires you should possess;
while,
in the language ofdivine truth, I fervently
supplicate that the Ho l y One of Israel
would
cause
Solomon to fill the chair of his father for
ever.
I am,
Wi th the profoundest respect,
Y o u robliged and obedient servant,
T O B I A S G O O D M A N .
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V
duties of
l i fe ,
itaffords powerful admonit ion. In what con-
ctrns man most to know, it is
highly
beneficial, is it leads to
a fu l l , a clear, and comprehensive account ol l i l e , death,
a n d resurrection.
F u l l y
to appreciate its
mf rits,
and possess a just concep
tion
of its real value, requires a
familiar
and classical ac
quaintance with the Hebrew. By every character, thus
qualified,
to examine its
high
pretensions, it is admired.
T o hebraists, itstands in need ofno recommendationit is
n o t the power of language thatw i l l enhance i ts value, or add
to
its
intrinsic
excellence. The noble
simplicity with which
it
abounds,
has
stamped,
with
accumulated weight, the im
portant truths itconveys, and given, to the author, innnor-
ta l celebrity. O f its merit and its worth, evidence may lie
A d d u c e d ,
from
the testimony afforded by the most illustrious
writers,
whose veracity has never been doubted, whose
ability to determine has been always admitted. L i k e the
Talmud,
each
sentence
conveys ideas, sufficient to occupy
the pensofthe learned, and engage the powers of thegreat
est. To adduce a high testimony of its value, hear that
luminary
Buxtorfhe
thus
speaks of i t in his Bibliotheque
desRabbins. " The examination of the
world
is an excellent
production, equally
valliable
for the stile , as important for
the dignity of the subject. It
treats
of the vanities of the
world;
and discovers
those
means, by
which
man may at-
taiti
the summit of
a ll
felicity,
the enjoyment of heaven ; aud
this, with so much perspicuity, dignified with so much elo
quence of persuasion, and energy of argumrut,
that
even to
imitate his stile constitutes an enviable eloquence." L i k e
the fruit of the garden of Eden, so is the intellectual
food
our author gives. It iustructsit qualifiesit enables
man, not
only
in imagination, but by rendering clear the
unerring
road, how to elevate his
soul,
and laise, by just
degrees, to the summit ofthatceltstial ladder which reaches
from
earth to heaven.
F o r
the
reasons
before given, it is
here
necessary to re
mark,
that
neither the English or any other language, can
pay due honor to the original. The sublimity aud grandeur,
abovementioned, cannot be equalled. When translated in
the most correct and elegant manner, it
w i l l
necessarily
follow,
that
much of its native grace and exclusive advan
tages are lost. It resembles a monarch divested of his
splendor, and stripped of every appendage of royalty.
While the English tongue is languid, diffuse, and sometimes
v.S>
iv
the
E u r o p e a n
languages, when compared
with holy
writ.**
In the Hebrew language, there appears no poverty of stile
no
frivolity
of intentionno deficiency of energy: al l is
|
grand, majestic, and expressive; worthy of the Aut hor
from
^ whom it had its origin.
L e t not then the works of science, and the productions of
indefatigable labor, penned for the general welfare of man,
abound
with
numerous quotations
from
Greek and Roman
author?, to the neglec t of the inspired sti lelet what is
,
eminent, receive its due regar d; and the glor y of
that lan
guage, in
which
the sentiments of man, and, above al l , the
w i l l of God, were first conveyed,' w i l l shine transcendant;
aud claim, what i t just ly merits, veneration and respect.
T o
prove the justice of
these
remarks, we need
only
refer to
the commentar ies and laborious glossaries of the wor d of
: God with which the public are favored,
from
the pens of
those great luminaries. Those distinguished men of erudi-
1^ tion,the Rabbins
M o t e t M a im o n i d e t, A b a r b a n d , M o t e *
A l t h u c h ,
I s a a c B a l a q u e d a , E b e n
E z r a , &c. &c.
T h e author of the followingwork, a translation of which,
from
the
original,
is now, for the first time, attempted in
English, to gratify the admirers of the beautiful and sublime,
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vi i
v i
axiom, with a ll true Israelites, drawn from the word of
divine truth,
that
every virtuous man, who studiously
adheres to the principles of recti tude and integrity,
w i l l
be
happy in the
world
to come.
Upon
the whole, it is
only
observed,
that
this attempt to
translate an ancient Hebrew poet, whose writings embrace
the noble object of a laudable motive, to make men wiser
an d
better, and thus promote the best interests of society,
is , with
all due respect and deference, submitted to the
English nationthe inhabitants of which, have ever been
distinguished patrons of the arts and sciences, and steady
supporters of useful lit erature. The translator, to such as
expect a production, free
from
every deftct,
would
say
Whoever
thinks a faultless piece to see,
Thinkswhat ne'er was, nor
is ,
nor e'er
shall
be.''
H e
trusts, however,
that
the scholar
w i l l
not be disap
pointed,
but amply satisfied and amusedthe
critic
divested
o f
censurethe intell igent reader pleasedthe more
ordi-
m ry
capac ity instructed, and the whole class of readers
compensated for their labour, and satisfiedwith their inves-
ligation and researches; and
that
the production wiP be
foundequally deserving the protection of a generous nation,
as the most admired production of
classical
labor.
F u l l y
conscious of having sedulously endeavoured to promote the
best interests of society, he submits his arduous attempt
(labouring
under the disadvantages before mentioned) to his
fellow-creatures, f i rmly
persuaded
that
the indulgent reader
w i l l
excuse bis unknown defects, and the discerningcritic
Ameliorate the asperity of
that
reproof, which intentional,
but not unconscious errors and imperfections merit.
fails
adequately to express the boldness of a l i v e l yimagina
tion,the Hebrew is clear and nervous, succinct and s o l i d .
A n
idea,which, iu the Hebrew, is expressed in two or
three
words,
requires many in the
English;
as several pieces of
copper are required to equal the worth of the same weight
o f
silver or gold. The learned, ingenious, and eminently
distinguished divine, Rabbi MosesMaimonides,in his cele
brated work, iutitled M o r y Nebouchim, adduces this
leason,
why the law is, in a figurative sense, coinpaied to
wat er; because, if you descend into the depth of the sea,
your
research
w i l l
be rewarded by the discovery of pearls,
an d
the acquisition of precious stones: in l i ke manner, by
penetrating into the depth of the law, you discoverwisdom,
an d
acquire knowledge and substantial instruction. As
(saith the wiseking Solomon) a word fitly spoken is l ike
apples ofgold in pictures of silver, so are the beauties aud
peculiar graces of the work
which
now solicits the patronage
o f
the
public.
As in the former instance it requires, not
only
a sufficient nearness of approach, but an
adequate
strength of sight, to disceni the embossed figure, and viestr,
with
advantage, the golden design on the silvery surface; so
w i l l
it require the
calm,
dispassionate investigat ion, and the
diligent attention of the scholar, to discover the peculiar
advantages and high qualifications with which the work
abounds. A t the same time, the beauties it possesses are so
obviously manifest,
that
the man who is determined not to
allow
merit its due reward, is the
only
character who may
be pronounced ignorant of its worth.
The
work abounds
with
words, phrases, and divine sen-
tenets,
drawn
from
the oracles of G o d ; and thus forms an
auxiliary to that sacred volume. L i k e every other labor
an d
work of man , it has not perfection attached to it . But
the language of the poet
w i l l
palliate the asperity of
i l l -
nature.
Errors,likestraws, upon the surface f low;
He who
would
search for pearls mastdivebelow.''
I n
the law,
which
had itsorigin'from God , it is writte n
la y
your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the
nations
which shall
hear the
statutes
thereof.
This
precept
was dictated by an expanded benevolence ; and far from the
intention of making converts : for, in the days of
D a v i d
and
Solomon (vide Tal mud) , when interest might have made,
grandeur captivated, and power commanded Proselites, none
were received into the community of I srae l: and it is an
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C H A P . . 1.
T H E heavens are limited in height, the
earth
i n
depth. T h e extent of the
heart
ol an intellig
ent man iswithout
bounds
: itpenetratesetherial
space,
an d
aspires
to learn the primitive
cause,
from whence it had its origin.
T o the inquiries of man there is no bounds.
T h e causes by which he isaftuated he attempts
to
explore.
T h e
heart
produces
diversity
of
thought
;
that
o f
the
just
man
tends
to truth alone : his inward
jjarts san&ify the H ol y On e ofIsrael, and, with
his lips, he honors the God of g lory .
There is
neither
wisdom, nor counsel, nor
sciencethatclaims
not ma n for its
patron.
None
of the inferior createdanimalsare
placed
beyond the
control
ofthiswiseand accomplished
being. Fro m his knowledge their
nature
is not
concealed.
T h e heavens cannotComprehend,neither can
the sea
contain
so
much
as the
boundless
faculty
o f the heart of man . C an the wings o f the wind
rise
ec ual
to the spirit of wisdom, when moving
t>pon^ watersofreposeand torrentso f
pleasure
Can the extent of the
earth encompass
his
thought, which holds itsseat in a small inclosure
not exceeding the
palm
of a hand.
W a t e r i
o f repose an d t o r r e n t s o f p l e a s u r e . This ex
pression
supposes man to be in the full enjoyment of
every
intelleftual
faculty,undisturbedby allsurrounding
tJbjetts, at dpossessingan
unruffled
serenity.
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A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
Consider
; this is the portion which man has
from God ; and the
same
which God has of the
universe.
G od
has not his resemblance in heaven, nor
man his equal upon earth,
vyrhile
advancing to
wards
D e i f y .
He examines, and
thus
discovers
the mysteries, recorded in the scripture of truth.
Jn Jaw and justice how
great
are his aftions
I f not tor the vicissitudes of l ife, and the
mutability
of
seasons,
nothing
would
divert him
from
elevating himself to heaven, from embrac
in g
aH
parts
of the
w o r l d ,
from resembling an
angel, having the ||
true
knowledge of good.
C H A P . II.
W H E N the virtuous manrefle&she trembles:
when he meditates he is confused ; because the
excellency of his
nature
is lost, and his glory
departed.
When
* he beholds the disasters
o fa
town, he
questions the purity of his image ; when he
contemplates the vicissitudes of a state,
life
be
comes burdensome.
H e concludes thatman came into this world
to assimilate himself to the heavenly host: The
extent of his
heart
surpasseth the boundless sea.
||
T r u e
k n o w l e d g e o fgood.
A judicious commentator
observes, on this expression,thatunder this
sentence
it
implied
a knowledge of spiritual good,
wholly
divested
of evil .
*
Here the translator thinks necessary to observe to
the learned
reader,
that
the
hebrew
runs
th us :
but the libertywhichhe has taken, being sanctionedby
universal
suffrage, bfithinks it
w a u e v m y
ta dd
thing
more.
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A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
When
he
spreads
his wings to the north, thete
in the most secret places he discovers a variety
of unknown causes.
When hesoarsto theeast,he is
taught
to ap
prehend sublime mysteries ; When to the heaven
he wings his
flight,
he discovers the mystical
rliariot
of
a l l
sciences. 111 the profound ab) ss,
l ie
forms an invaluable cabinet of wisdom.
H e
mounts from the most low habitation, inter
the highest heavens. F rom the most high seat
of the celestial arcana, he descends
to'the
most
hidden recess. Thus is the crooked path made
strait, and the intersected road adjusted,.
B y
the avidity of his power, and the exercise
of his
intelligence, he calls the most remote things
to his
familiar
acquaintance, and the extremity
of nature
he beholds.
B y the gradual improvement of each faculty
his wisdom is enlarged, t i l lhe i$enabled to grasp
with in
his fist, the confines of the earth, and
penetrate
the celestial mansions.
The sublimity of his knowledge also enables
him
to include
with in
his science the
nature
of
al l
created beings,
teaches
him how in each
gradation to distinguish the species. Thus by
meditating on the marvels ofG o d , he is led to
discourse of him who is the
great
First Cause of
a l l .
C H A P . HI.
W H E N he contemplates man
thus
nobly
formed, and distinguished by so many eminent^
perfelions, his anger raises, and his indignation
iskindled, that
he should be subjeft to so many
infirmities.
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4 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
H ow is i t
thatthis
stoneofsoinestimable value,
exc ell ing far the high ly beautified
saphire,
should beexposed to somany ev i l s , and ,
appar
ently,
derated
as a
mark
to
receive
the
arrow
of
destr
1161 ion ?
H ow is i t
that
he
appearsdestined
to
exist
as an
object
of
misery,
and as abeing so insignificant ?
W h y
does
he, so we ll qualified in youth to
sustain
the infirmities to wh ich he is
exposed,
receive
no
additional supply,
to
support
the evils
attendant on old age ?
Th e m a n
that
sat in the cl^air of
learning,
who
sustained
his seat in the circle of
doctors,
held
converse
with the
sages o f
wisdom, and
resembled
an angel, shall he for
ever
remain silent, and
continueeternally
in
forgetfulness
?
T h e
pastor
of *heavenly light shall he finally
cease,
and his
teaching feed
only the win d ? H e
that
laiddown
lessons
of wisdom,
thattaught
the
foundation,
an d
raised
the
fabric
of
truth,
shall
Jje
sink
under
his infirmities ?
H e
that
relied
upon
his
prudence,
and de
pended
on his wisdo m, shall it
fail
to
support
Jiim
? H e
that
was
upholden
by his integrity
shall his
hands
wax
feeble
?
I f
by
external
causes
he is
elevated artd
de
pressed,
shall he
expire,
and lik e the animals o f
the field and the
beasts
of the
forest
be no
more?
Sha l l
thisstone
of the
sanAuary
cleave to the
clods
of the yal ley, and
fall
into obscurity and
oblivion ?
H e a v e n l y l i g h t .
The
translator
thoughtit
mosteligi
ble, with a view to
render
theexpression clearly intell
igible, to
everv
capacity,to
render
it
thus:The
original
it
will
be
seen
is
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5 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
W i l l G od permit the frame, which he ha
himself sobeautifully
adorned,
to inhabitendless
(darkness?
Surely when man but superficially reflets, it
grieves him ;
when
he
meditates,
the source of
consolation seemslost. T obeholdthus
mutable
th e works of Godthe
cedar
wh ich D eity has
Slanted
cut down by the hand ofdeath, dislra&s
is soul.
Thus does he consider the animal frame of
man ;
examines
h is
faculties,
an d discovers when
wisely he
contemplates,
no realimperfe& ion, but
that
his infirmity isdeath.
C H A P .
IV.
B U T nature,
wonderfully
formed by the hand
Supreme, pointsout to man , whenquittingthis
l i fe, a source
of
jo y eternal; fills the soul wi th
the
prospeft
of
immortality,
and , to
soften
the
calamity
which arises from the
terrors
ofdeath,
points out, as acompensation, everlasting g l o r y .
Hav ing the prospect
o f
eternal residence in the
palace of the great
K i n g
;wherefore, O chi ld
o f the earth, dostthoucomplain ? W h y mourn
that thoumust be laid in the habitation of re
pose,
an d intombed in the
sepulchre
o fdeath ?
T h o u
wast
formed toanticipatea n enjoyment
with God , tohope for a
perfectassurance
of un
interrupted bliss ; W h y
then
canstthou
mourn
that
th y
arms, necessitated
to
wage
in
battle,
w i l l bedelivered from warfare.
o
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6 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
T h o u boastedst thyorigin from heaven;why
then dost thou demur to leave this low and
miserable val ley?
T h epleasures
of life,
and the delights
o f
sense,
are but as thorns, and unfriendly as the briar.
F r o m the day that God saw fit to form the
earth a receptable for thy soul , it has exhibited a
covert to secret thygreatestenemiesthe cause?
o f
sorrow and woe.
T h ydesires are the sources
o f
e v i l ; thy boasted
weapons a defenceless armour; thy riches the
inlets of gr ief; fascinating allurements deceive;
pride is a blazingflame ;go ldmay w i ngits eager
flight~and, every pleasure
of
man , prove but a
demon
ofdestru&ionarm
thy
mind
then against
a va in
attachment.
A s
thou wouldest
avoid
the contagionof
a
de
banched companion, extracting the good and
reje&ing the e v i l ,so through
life,
thou must aft.
B enot dismayed because thou canst not obtain
more : with whqt thou
possessest
be content.
T h e
hours of thy enjoyment are
l ike
the shadows
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A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
ofthe evening sun: and as ach i ld , va in ly grasp
ing within
his hand the departing ray, opens it
and
is astonished to
find
nothing, so are those
who
depend on time.
C H A P .
V.
W H E N
a wise man direCts his attention to
frivolous
obje6ts it creates a malady of
alarming
magnitude.
When
he projects a
mult ip l ici ty
ofdesigns and
forms
plans for the increase of wealth and the
extent of riches,
wh ich
satisfy
only
his animal
senses, therearises no real enjoyment but mere
l y
the display of a luxurious table and the
ability
to exhibit a sumptuous repast.
These treasures and reservoirsofboasted plea
sures are but deadly drugs. For a moment
only
they please, though obtained at the expence of
much
pain. What advantage can he boast after
they are gone
? A Hthat
he enjoys is the mere
recolleftion.
They
serve but as snares to decoy him and
work
the destruction of those powers
which
he
has
in
slaved
to produce them.
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8 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
Thus
whi le
his abjeft powers are gratified and
his sensual appetites pleased, his wisdom lays
dormant and the more noble faculty deserted and.
forgotten sits solitary and is treated with con
tempt.
I f the di lates of reason admonish they are
disregarded and every lessonofprudence despised.
A s
the flaxen thread instantly yields on the
approach of the flame, so do the lessons of integ
r i ty
lose their influence
w i th
the sensual.
C an
such conduft merit the applause of the
wise?
Shal l
a plate of entiles be considered a
sufficient equivalent for the more
dignified
en-
dowmenfs.
Is it more rational to enjoy for a
moment the transient pleasure
which
terminates
in
thegreatest
ev i l
? Sha l l the sensual part re
joice
while
the soul is in mourning ?
Shal l
the
animal frame desolate the spiritual faculties ?
Whatadvantage is it to enjoy the phantom of
an airy imagination
which on ly
contains the ap
pearance of pleasure ? Woe to the manthat thus
causes his fal l , and
w i l l ing ly
destroys the power
of
his nerves. The result of his labour is va in ,
and the end of his exertions fail to produce
solid
happiness.
N O T E . There ate variouspeculiarexpressions iri
the hebrew,
which
ifstiiflly adhered to in the english
translation,
would
not
only
appear unharmonious ; but
render the
original
work less splendid ; the translator
therefore thinks necessary
to
observe,that
in
this chapter
and several others, he has been necessitated, though on-
willingly, to abridge the hebrew idioms.
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A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
C H A P . V I .
B u T
there
is a man on whose actionsattend
greater
peri l T he mean man, who urges the
revolution of the days, that he may arrive to the
summit
of his wishes, and embrace the object of
his
designs
; while he
does
not
consider
that
the
accomplishment of theanticipatedmoment, may
bring
the
period
of his
calamity,
and be the
season
when his
iniquities
shall be revealed to
the world.
W h y sha l l he desirean
acquaintance
w ith the
events of the
night,
or wh y shall he solicit the
evening, when he may decay and be for ever
gone ?
W h y
should
he
breathe after
the
shadow,
when perhaps he may leave his inheritance for
the enjoyment of the crafty ?
Shall he rely on the
junction
of his soul and
body, whenat
sun-set
the
time
of
their
dis-union
may arrive?
H e
hopes
for the day when he may be con
sumed
; he
wishes
for the end of dayswhen he
may find himself seized with
terror,
and over
taken with shame ; for the change of
seasons
when his feet may slip .
H e thirsts for the year o f
releasethe
time
o f
the forsaking oflands ;
when
he
knows
not but
that
himself may be forsaken. H e longs for a
jubilee, when,
perhaps,
he may be the
subject
ofmourninsr, when his soul may be
overwhelm
ed incontusion and fear.
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1 0 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
* W h e n therefore you are inclined to
anti
cipate the conclusion of ayear, from the first day
thereof, w hy w i l l you not reflect, an d
attentively
consider, what may
come
to
pass.
B ut i youservetheearthwi thsuchanardency
of attachment, even on the
motive,
you
should
serve
G od ; why do yo u wish for the cessation
of time, which may probably bring the period
of
your departure.
Surely
it cannot bu t arise
from the perverseness ofyour
heait.
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C H A P . V I I .
T i l
E N ,
O m y soul , i f
thou
embracest the least
of theseways, while the
days
allotted tothee are
too
short
to
enable
thee to arrive to the
haven
of
thy
wishestheplace
so
much longed
for
what use is the
passage
on which such a
portion
of timeisspent ? W h y my sou l dost thou travel
so s l ow ly , and sit l ike the sluggard with folded
hands.
Whatadvantage is the hoary head, or what
use the life protracted to manyyears?
W h e n I reflect that 1 am sent here to do m y
work, why are my hands
unbent,
and my de
light the pleasure ofpromenacfe ?What good
* For the
reasons assigned
at the end of the
fifth
chap'er, the translator has
omitted purposely
the
construction
o f
which
is
peculiar
to
that
language, bu t would appear i l
translated
an unnecessary
.repetition.
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t t AW
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
w i l lresult if I inhabit the house short or long.
When I behold the good and the bad, what
advantage
isit i fI am not able to choose the one,
and rejeft the other.
I f
I
saythatmy ways are sweet to my palate,
and my thoughts agreeable to my eyes, shall I
be believed
?If m y
way
seems
pleasant,
shall
I,
therefore, chuse it, without considering whether
i t is so in the eyes ofG od ?To walk withpride
seems pleasant, but is it right ? If I imagine
myself
equal
with
a monarch, wi l l my imagina
tion make me the more powerful ? Shal l I be
recognized by the Eternal
K i n g,
in the heavenly
palace, as
that
being to which pride would
elevate me ? What strength wi l lmy imagination
impart, if the counsel of Omnipotence destroys
i t ? Though my words may, for a moment, be
sweet, they may in the end be bitter.
C H A P . V I I I .
T H I S w orld
is atempestuoussea ; unfathom
ably profound ; and the boundaries are without
comprehension.
T i m e forms the bridge over which man must
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A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
pomegranate fills
theewith
haughtiness ? By an
inclination
to th3 right hand or the left thou
mayesldestroy thyself. In the mighty abyss
thou wiit
be lost.
F rom
oneprecipiceto another
thou
wil t
go ; no one wil l retrieve
thee
\ Float
ing in the floods of the deep, no one w i l lexhort
thee
to retuin.
C H A P . IX.
SHALL a lie deceive me ?
Shal l
I recline on a
broken
reed ? Or, deem a temporary residence
secure as the
lofty
tower, or pleasing as the
royal
palace ?
Shall
I persuade
mysel f
that the most *con
temptible things are worthy my highest regard ?
I f
the days are pleasant, and the time
passes
sweetly
away, every moment
bringing
rest, and
every hour its delights,
shall
these things tempt
me to forget the latter days ?
Shal l
the shadow of
a
gourd appear as eminent as the
lofty
mountain
?
Sha l l
I, forthesethings, cast mysoulbehind
*
The
original
is frtyno
*
the wings
of
a
flea;
"
the point of an
iron
pen;-
a
cobweb j
3
1 0 precious stones and corals.
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A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
me ? Or, for (he miserable pleasures of the flesh
shall I oppose, and irritate the soul, and, when
she shouldappearin the temple ofG o d , provoke
}1ertQ anger ?
H o w forthese
vain
and imaginary pleasures,
shall I give up the prospefl of eternity and ever
lasting joy ?
Behold it wi l l come to pass, when the fever
of
youth is abated, and the flower thereof de
cayed, my end wi l l be loaded
with
the produdl
of
these things. Then w i l l my heart ask what
brought them ; and, the answer w i l lbe haughti
nessand bad advice
Shal l a servant destroy the work,
which
his
master appoints him to perform, and receive no
reproof ? Or, behave
with
disrespet and merit
no chastisement ?
CIIA P.X .
W I L T thou then, O valiant man, glory in
promenading over the grassy mead, and basking
with
inexperienced men in the sun-shine ? Or ,
delight to adorn thy rooms
with
carbuncles and
precious stones, to increase the splendor of thv
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15 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C
festivities, wi th thy companions, who are such
as saycontinually.Jet us eat and drink, and yet
are strangers to prudence. They, consider only
the body, and are
l ike
the barren *
c loud which
produces no
rain.
Knowestthou not
thata l l
thy aCtions are re
gistered ? and thatthe eye of Omniscience
sees,
and the ear of the A l m i g h t y hearsthee?
O n
what foundation
wi l t
thou
dare
to make a'
breach in those ordinances, which the wisdom0
the prudent have established ?
Is it because thou dost not refleft, there is a
G od abovethee,who is
ful ly
acquainted
yvith
aty
thy goings out and comings in ? Dost thou not
consider, that thereare graves underneath
thee,
and the executioners of
divine
vengeance ?
W h y didst thou not represent these things to
thyself?
thatthis diversity of change mightim
press
t h y h e a r t ,
and teach
thee
that the am
bassadors of the
M o s t H i g h ,
retire not,
ti l l
they
have executed the vengeance, and
inilited
the
punishment due to man, lor his crimes equally
to men in general as individuals in particular
Consider, thatthis is the wil l ofG o d , and the
result ofhiswise decree, sometimes todebasethe
highest, and to elevate the most humble When
one
falls
and another rises, the decree comes
from
the Eternal. Why then openest thou not thine
eyes to
these
things ?
V a i n imaginations, and feeble thoughts have
overpowered
thy reason, and destroyed thy
* T i e i Jea of thepoet seems to be founded on
that
of
S o l o m < n , Piov. 25, 14.y nniwitiillanding the former
changes the conftruttiun of the pluase, by putnng ram
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A M I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,& C .
sensibility,so
that
thou canst not
discern,
neither
dost thou understand
Intheday time,thypleasures fascinatethee;
and ,
in the
night season,
thy
conscience
re
monstrates w t h thee They have pointed out
a
pleasant path, the endwhereof abounds with
difficulties, and thorns. They have taught thee
to embrace
the
envenomed serpent, whose sting
isdeath. They have defamed thy reputationj
destroyed theglory
of thy nature, and rendered
th y heart impure,
by
representing
flatterie3
apparentlyassweet aso i l ,but in the end big
with destruction
W h y slumberest thou ? Why dost thou suffer
thyself tob edeceived,and believethat they wi l l
cause thee
to
possess
so
much
of the
earth,
for
ever, when thou
only
tabernaclest here for
a
few
days
?
Cursedare they whichhavedriventheeaway,
and prevented theefrom enjoying
the
pleasures
of the saints
; for
out
of the
same rock
as
them
thou
wast hewn.
By
folly thou
art
hindered
from assimilating thyself with angels, andcom
pelled
to
reside with
the
lion
in
his den.
I f the r ich treasures, and peculiar productions
ofdifferentcountries, which
t h o u
possessest,
be
the causeofthatpridewhich
thou hast
nourished,
tendingto
reduce
thy
soul,consider how thou
art hurt w i th t h erod offol ly ,and destroyed with
the plague ofblindness.
before wind.
Th e
reason
seems to be
that
an
allegorical
sensealluding to the charaftera
spoken
of might
be
ap
proptiatede.
g. the
word cloud
in the
hebrew
meanidghaughtiness;rain t^corpor ali ty; w i n d n n s p i r i N
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A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
W h y for the
treasures
of darkness dost thou
hate
and
afflift
thy
soul, which
should be bound
in
the bundle of life ? Why, for the perishable
s i lver , dost thou destroy thy purity ?
Reflect thatall thy riches are of no duration.
I n
a short time a tempestuous
wind
may arise,
that
w i l l
dissipate and scatter all thy treasures,
and the myriads forwhich thou
hast
bartered thy
sou l ,
w i l l
then be as though they never had
existed.
A
reverse of fortune may rob
thee
of all thy
honor andg lo ry . In the place of thy riches may
descend a violent firefrom heaven, which may
consume
thee,
and all thy boasted treasures.
C H A P . XI.
W H Y
w i l l
you desire,wi thsuchaffeflion, art
earth which may one day become as A d m a h ,
and pleasure
which
may resemble
Zeboim
?
These animal pleasures bring wrath and anger
on their most zealous admirers ; and produce
dissension among those most in alliance with
them, even those who have sworn the
greatest
amity.
Theirsweetness is l ikestraw in a whir lwind :
their end l ikea reed in the red sea ; produdlive
of
shame and perpetual disgrace.
What
pleasure is it to hear of the
greatest
ad
vantages, and the promise of a long life, if you
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18 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
cannot prevent death, from treading you under
his
feet.
What
the happier
w i l l
you be, if by reason of
strength you attain fourscore years, and then
find the grave, or what advantage
wi l l
you boast
ifeven you are healthy at ninety, and
sti ll
there
exists no hope to protraft the e v i l?
Shal l
the
insignificant
pismire so easily des
troyed, and those reptiles
which
melt in an
instant, presumptuously contend to reign.
Though for a day or two they may exist, re
member it is not for an eternitythey
wil l
soon
be destroyed. The fields of Sodom w i l l not
prosper, nor the bundles of
Gomorrah flourish.
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C H A P .
XII.
o wor ld thou art the source ofa l lvanity and
the cause ofcorruption
From
thy vanities can
we hope to obtain unfading pleasures ?
Thou art the origin of every failure Can we
then from
thee
expect immoriality?
When
after the source from whence thou
comest, we make inquiry, and commence a
diligent
research, labouring to possess the know
ledge how thou wast formedto discover if thou
art able to bestow happiness, and qualified to
reign over us ; then we learn, that the causes
which
establish
thee,
are those
which
tend to thy
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A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
nes9 thou studiest malice.
D a i l y
in the height
of wickedness thou delightest to delineate upon
the doors of the worthy and deserving the index
ofsorrow and destruction.
T h e houses of the senseless and foolish thou
buildest with
marble and adornest
with
precious
stones.
A m o n g
those plantsthatare destined to
flourish
in the house of
G od
the fire of thy anger
rages. The
trees
of Lebanon also feel thy fury.
T h e
bush
tree
is exempt
from
thy rage.
T h o u
cuttestdown the cedar and causest the sycamore
to recover its v igor .
T h e
beauty of the morning star thou renderest
d i m ,
and the splendor' of its sapphire thou
eclipsest.
Thosethatare polluted
with
sins thou washest
with
soap that the external may appear pleasant
while
in their inward
parts
they project
snares
and cherish deceit.
T o
thee
O mistress of
folly
what profit is it to
express sentiments of
af le&ion
and words of
tenderness
to people without courage
only with
a
design to destroy them.
W i t h
a l l
the artifice of coquetry thou appear-
est, and in the morning lookest through thy
windowsand scarcely before an eye is
fixed
on
thee
thou disappearest. Thy beauty beams but
as a spark round their
pavil l ions
and then is no
more.
T h y
votaries for a moment thou Ieadest in
glory
clad
in luxurious robes, but in an instant
of
time thou coverest them
with
poverty and rag's.
T h y
benevolence thou communicatest but for a
season.
T h o u grantest
a
trifling
honor and then
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3 2 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
I a m promised the
greatest
good, e v i l isdesigned.
Then
do 1 remain
mute,
and quiet as a
iamb,
full of
wonder
an d absorbed in contemplation.
Sorrowful on account of the past;
trembling
for
th e present ; and full of fear for the future,
treadingwi thsilentstep,bearingtheyoke
against
m y wi l l , t i l l the periodofmortality,
even
t i l l m y
substance is lost, and my
moisture
dried u p :
havingbeheld
innumerable alterations, and, in
a shorttime,seena multitude o fchanges.
C H A P . X I V .
* T1ME (saithacertain philosopher) is divine,
and
cannot
becomprehended. H e
erreth
not,
but his
words
are
just.
W o to
them,
who with
their
eyes, have
bq-
held the miseries, which arise from the effect o f
time, and yet
attach themselves
morestrongly to
i t : w h o ,
notwithstanding
the more
they
are
sported wi th and imposed o n , defer to forsake
Lest it
should
be
imagined
thattheauthor,here fall
into the opinion of
those,
who
asserted
an eternity of
matter ; thetranslator
thinks
proper to observe,that a
dire&
opposition
isintended. The
sentiment
clearly im
plies, when
attentively
considered,
that
from the
minute
oess
i ftime, nomoreof it can beunderstood,thanof the
natu
of
God,
from his
greatness
: and in
this
view only,
doeshe
support
the
idea
of
timebeing
divine. Thepast,
is but amere recolle&ion ; the present, is gone
betoie
the
smallest
reflexion can beindulged;and theiutureno
one can
discover.
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A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C
the pleasures of the flesh.
Such, though they see their greatness is
rendered abominable, and
that
the abomination
increases, think not proper to quit the cause of
misery.
Though time pours out an abundance
of punishment, and chastisement, dispensing in
the openstreets, thegreatest vexations ahd in
juries, they do not consider ; neither
wi l l
they
open their eyes. They delight in playing and
dancing : they rise early, to enjoy their iestiv-
ities, and pursue their follies. To these char-
a6\ersaccidents
appear
as sport, and calamity a
causefor mockery.
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C H A P .
X V .
W H E N I look into the sacks of time, to
search for a golden cup, or precious candlestick,
or inquire if itpossessesability to honor, and
assist me, I discover,
that
it' is deficientnot
able to help me, or remove my affliflions :
neither to command them to
depart.
It
does
not
possessa sceptre to rule, nor strength to com
fort.
Notwithstanding
it has selefled me from my
neighbours, and hidden me, in a
pavil l ion
of
safety, from the multitude of
afflilions,
and
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* 4 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N , C .
distresses
which
rage, and the desolations
which
take placethough it has elevated me, in
com
parison of my companions, and enabled me to
escape the destructive snare, arising
from
eleClion,
it possesses no power to proteCt me
from
the last
conflict
of nature, or exempt me
from
the influence of fate.
When
I consider the
glory
of the spheres, so
w e l l
arranged round me, wrapt up in the
great
globe ; when I contemplate their movements
and their power,
wisdom
is lost, and under
1
standing
fails
to discover their remoteness, dist-
anceand grandeur: they make this earth, placed
in the centre, resemble a miserable cavern, into
which
is poured the superfluity of uncleanness,
and
the
tilth
of nature.
Then
do I
Jift
up my eyes, and carry my re
fleCtions
to the
celestial
host above me, and those
tens
of thousands
which
constitute the armies
that
surround me ; and the other beings, who
inhabit
the corners of this cavern, the end of this
small
point, the lowest, and most miserable part
of
the universe.
After
having thus
divided
this
va l l ey
into
climates, provinces, towns, and habitations, I
discover, that
the place
wh ich
I occupy, the
circuit
of my residence : and, the shadow of my
roof,
forming
one of
these little
houses, may be
comparedto the extent of a fly.
Against
those powerful giants, who have cut
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25 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
out my
grave before
Ibegan to
enist,
shall a
being, soweak as
am ,
dare
to rise, or
elevate
himself ?
During the progress o f life, shall I
assume
the
arrogancetoestablishmyself, apd aspire to reign,
when I reflet
that they
havepower to bow me
down, and incline me which way
they
please.
What dominion shall a fly,
deprived
of his
wings, confined
in a
dungeon,
and
thrust
in a
cage, surrounded
with the
hosts
of
heaven,
to
guard him on the
right
hand and the left,
dare
toattribute to himself?
Shal l timeenable me to escape, or deliver m e
from one
fear
or anguish ; orprotect me from the
nets
an d snares, which tho$e hosts haveplanned
for my
footsteps,
and digged for my feet, who
engaged before the time of my formation, to
condu6l me
thither
?
C H A P .
XVI.
T H O S E great and admirable bodies, the C re-
tor has established, as
ministers
; who continu
al ly rejoice to proclaim, withoutspeechor voice
his. glory.
Admirab ly disposed, and eAcellent in order,
)without
weariness they
rehearse his
righteous
t
; and not
formed
for
sorrow, they
serve
the
Omnipotent, an d know no
trouble
or
distress.
T h e Creator has invested them wi th powerJ
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26
A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , C .
an d, by the sub lim ity o f hisappointment, placed
them in different orders ; and appointed them
contrary movements
: by which
they subserve
many causes,
an d produce
many
effects in the
ij i ierior worldin animating dead
bodies,
and
disposing
them to receivetheirfigures ;
they
re
vive and cover them that are
ashamed
of
their
nakedness.
Not to servetheseperishable creatures were
they
formed ; for
they
are more glorious
than
them.
It is far from the design of the Creator, to
humble
thoseexalted
ones, to the vile and abjeCi;
and the immortal, to themthat perish.
For who w i l limaginethatawisemanufacturer,
wi l l prepare
tools
of the value of ten thousand
talents, to form an iron needle.*
God
created
them in wisdom ; and wi thdesign;
and has reserved to himself,
alone,
the cogniz
ance
:yet
in the
movements they
make,
and
theappointments they
fulfil,
they are designated
with the commission, an d
satiated
with the
benevolence of De i ty , which qualifies them to
communicate
to
others,
by the appointment o f
the
Fternal.
Sitt ing
nearest
to theEternal,
they
firstreceive
the favor ofheaven ; and the superfluity
they
cast
to the children of me n, by w hich
they
exist.
* This
sentenceconsidered
in an allegorical point of
view,
admirably
represents
the
apparent
dignity of the
celestial
hosts,
and
grandeur
of the
planetry system
over
roan.
But, if
confined
tothisview only, muchinjury is
done
tothepoer, lowconceptionsformed of the dignity
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A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
; .
C H A P .
xvir.
I am
young,
bu t they are old ; I am the most
ignorant among men , but theirwisdom extends
beyond the wisdom of the sages.
Before I was
formed
in the womb,
they have
made a bulwark to
inclose
me ; and
before
1
came
into
the world,
their
nets
were
Spread
to
entangle me.
Scarcely did Iexist, before
theyseizedevery
avenue, in order to
surprize
me. T he dust,
whereofm y
composition
isformed,
they
gather
ed, and with
their
righthand
they have
levelled
me.
Neither
malice
or bad intention led to this
conduClbut
the effeft ofthatarrangement by
w hi c h
they
at . Fro m the moment of my form
ation,
I
have been
but of a
weak
composition, a
slender frame,
an d
disjointed
members
; so
that
When the leastaccident arises, 1 fall .
T h e heat of the sun attacks me ; the co ld ,
like asmooth-edged razor, and the terrible
frost,
cut measunder.
I f Iattachmysel f to intemperance, gluttony
wi l l destroy my body, which is
subjedt
to in
continence,
and mutability. In a moment m y
members
wi l l
be disunited, and m y glory be
brought
low , and humbled to the bed, even to
sickness, t i ll I
become
equal with thosewhom I
oncedespised.
of man, and above all, the benevolence of God
will
appear limited. Whoever
attentively
reflefb, witt
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29 A M
I N V E S T I G A T I O N , C .
thanthose just
mentioned,
which God has
sent
into this world, to cause me to venerate aud
respeCt h [ r r , .
A t a
time
when I sit in m y house,
enjoying
the greatesttranquility,atempestuouswind m ay
arise, that
wi l l
split the loftiest rock, and d e
molish the strongest w a l l . I n what security wi l l
m y body then be , though surrounded with ex
tensivebarriers
?
Can Isecuremy self from the explosion of the
thunder,
in the
stormy
day, whic h in an instant
may cause ruin ? O r, from the v i v id l ightning,
bursting
from the
windows
o fheaven ? W hen i t
darts from the
firmament,
the
earth
quakes, and
not all its
treasures
can
expel
itspower. T o the.
terrific flames, an d
destructive
l ightn ing, no
enemy
however
formidable can be
compared.
The qu ick descending rai n, falls in
torrents
l ike the
cataraCt
; swells the
foaming
surge,
overflows
the
provinces,
an d
inundates
the
lower
])laces
; causes the mighty
host
to tremble and
adds to the rolling stream, t i l l al l the streets and
public
places,
ace covered with the
accumulated
torrent.
Sometimes
the
waters
half
*condensed,
wi th the
greatness of the
frost,
causeth the
snow
to de
scend. N o wal ls or shelter, afford asaferetreat
from the
condensing power.
A t other
times,
the watersquite
congealed,
are
and
astonishing
capac i t y oftheintelligenceo f
mAru^al
th e
soii)
must
form
a
portion
of the essence ofDeity,
be
-couldnobbut
asser t , on the one han d, the origin of the divine
principle,
M111
on Ucother th e clajin f its author , Contemplating, t l
K
I
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30 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
petrified
into hai l stones, which , in their fal l , re
presents
the
stone
drawn from themarble quarry.
They
break
down a l l opposition, an d destroy
the
finest
trees.
What power,
on earth, can
resist
these ats ;
or,
whatprosperity
afford
protection,
and
point
out a place ofrefuge ?
Consider, m y companions, that the Omnipo-
fence
of the
Eternal,
has
placed
arrows
in the
power
of the su n, and set his rainbow in the
clouds
; whilst I , a
poor
miserable being, am
sent hereas a mark, to
receive
the arrows of the
tempest, which
never fail
to hit me ; and
what
soevertime
an d
fortune
have
placed
under me,
together with al l the riches of the world, and
whatsoever man ca n wish to enjoy, w i l l not
qualify me to resist the shaft, or dimin ish the
intentionof the Almighty ' s
archers,
w hothreaten
me. From al l thesedisasters m y soul onl y re
mains free.
C H A P . XIX.
I f
however,
through the mercy of the
Eternal,
I
escape
the confusions and accidents of nature,
which exist in
those
signs, and wonderful things
subject in
this light,
G od m a y be
said,
to have
expended an
incalculable
number o f talents, to form an i ronneedle. T h e
apparen t
depression of man, may lead him to be considered as
insignificant;
bu$, when hi s
immortality
i s v ic \Ved, i t then,
appears, that
the
fiosts
o f
heaven, together
wi th a l l the
morningstars, ar e
subservient
to his good ; and consequently,
agents
in the
hands
o f t he A l i p i g h t y , t o promote th e
happt-
ness
of his favorite m a n . T h e revelation whic h he has
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31 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
C .
in heaven and earth,
which
are rare, and
fcVke
place at times very remote, from one another;
ca n
my valor and the forae of
my
hands, deliver
me from the plagues thatarise, trom the change
Ofseasons,
which
perpetually vary, producing
a
multitude of renewals ?
T h e
spring w i l l not leave me peaceful, but
ready to burst,
l ike
new bottles, through fresh
pains.
T h e
summer renders my
life
tiresome ;
affliCts
T > y e
with
different
ev i l s ,
destroys
with
the violence
ofa burning fever, the tranquility ofthat repose
4 should enjoy.
T h e
autumn exposes me to death ; andteaches
me not to rely too much to its assistance.
T h e
winter produces a vehement
cold
; and
t h e heavy rains devour me without .cause.
Itappearsas
i f
the heavens moved
only with
a
v iew toexhibittheir mighty movements, to cause
me topass
from
ev i l to
e v i l ,
and also to remove
me from one affliction to another ; and this when
a l l the
seasons
move in due order of nature, as
they ought to do ; but when they are disordered,
they cause more trouble, and produce greater
pain.
When
a
strange
phenomenon, produces the
conjunction of a planet
with
the sun, then it re
doubles the vehemence, arising
from
the proper
dispositionof the season, to such a degree as
makes it impossible to support it , or it does not
possess a quality adequate to repair, or make
condescended to impart , points out his benevolent can* on
p a m n ' s behalf. I am (saith he) the God of Abr aham, of
and Jac ob. Ep hn um is my beloved. No mention
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3 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
C .
amends for the
deficiency, arising
from the pre*
cedingseason.
These changes
excite
in my members new
pains,
an d
troubles
; and
also
stir up the old
ones,
which I am unable to
support.
When the
stars,
in their
orbs,
appearas male-
ing war one with another, for the sake of
some
opposition,
they have
in theorderof
their
aftions,
J ,
poor
and
miserable
as 1 am, with a l l my
share
of
this world , which is nothing but vanity , /be -
hold thattheycome to announce my ruin , in
this
low and barren
part
of the universe.
They
point their
spearsagainst
me : the arch
ers surround me . H ow shal l I
support
the fury
Oftheir
hatred,
an d
malice
?
If length ofdays, and fortune have delivered
me from other
adversities,
an d terrors, can it ex*
empt me from these?
C H A P .
X X .
I F however, 1 am spared, who can insure me
the
stability
of my
seed
?Who knows i ftime
w i l l no t withdraw
those
favors
it has
granted,
made of his
being
t he G o d o f M i c h a e l , o f G a b r i e l , o r a n y
rtther j though, wliertconsidered as the G od of the
univeise,
he i s G od over al l ; but o f no other
than
man has heasserted
himself, w i t h a n i nd i v i dua l relation to be Go d iu
such
a
par
ticular manner. T h e surprizing
miracles,
wrought b y M o s e s ;
a 1H the various interpositions o f providence, o n behalf o f
m a n , mentioned i n ho l y w r i t , together wi th the d iv ine
assistance,
evidently
communicated
i n
many
instances,
*hereby
man Has qua l i f i ed to impede
that
great luminary
the sun, in i ts
diurnal revolution, together
wi th the declara-
( ion of the ro ja l psalmist,
that
the .ord w i l l - f u l f i l th e desire
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33 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , C .
and treat myposterity with cruelty, after 1am
reducedtodust?
Instead
of
keepingcontinually with me, dis
pensing its favors and gifts,
it
may,
at the
hour
ofdeath break off its alliance.
Though
this forms
one
of the
affli&ions that
generallyawait men, I tremble not for i t ; neither
doItorment myself. For, of what importance
is it, to
me, whether those who come after me,
feeda
vast multitude of flocks,on the mountains,
or dwell with the
solitary
fold,
in thedesart
?
Where
is
the
wise man
that
w i l l feel sorrow,
anticipate distress, orimpose trouble on himself,
merelyfor those things ?or,mourn for what
wi l l
happen, inadistant period of time, if peace ex*
ists in his own days ?
T h e
complaintsthat
I
make
are
directed
ta
m y
own
state; and the
time
which
betrays
me,
when I
reflect
that
all
my
possessions
are va in
appearances
;
all
my
riches and glory
subject
to
iriany changes and alterations ; liable to be
trodden under foot a l lthe days of my l i f eThen
1consider, and carry mythoughts tothe period
of ol d age, and refle6l
on the
infirmities
con-
ne&ed therewith,
and
that
1 can
receive
no
consolation.
O ye heavens beastonished W h y did the
Eternal
create
beings, sobeautiful and perfeft,
and then cutthem down with his sword?
Sha l l he
command
the soul , which had its
ofthemthat fear him, placethedeclaration, under con
sideration,in soconspicuous
a
light,thatitisunnecessary1ft
JmM
any thing further.
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35 A N I N V E S T I G A T I O N , & C .
I f I cast away, and rejef the good which
comes
from
thee, in such abundance, what p r e
sent,O thou Eternal God,
wi l t
thou grant me ?
C H A P . X X I I .
thou
knowest man ; thou discernest
his
words, and
from
thee, his thoughts are not
h i d . Th o u
determinest his
l imits ,
searchest his I
inward parts ; and investigatest all his members. %
H is
projefls, to create happiness, and the
windowsol his intention, are open and manifest
to thy knowledge.
T h o u
hast formed snares, as the ministers of *
thine anger, to surprize him in his bad designs. ;
T h o u
rulest over his arrogance.
T h o u
surroundest his provinces ; orderest his
princes,
and governors ; and those that furnish
his
necessaries, provide his bread, increase his
flax, his oi l ,
and drink. His ways thou estab- 6
Jishest.
Those whom he has to instruft, and such as
are born in his house, destined to serve him, ^
thou
carest for. The wings of the morning thou ^
expandest. His days and nights thou renderest jj
f i rm. The days of his
life
thou numberest. [
T h o u
set
test
on
h igh ,
those
that
were in the
most profound cavern, and such as were ex
altedabove them, areswallowedup
inobscurity.
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36 A N
I N V E S T I G A T I O N ,
& C .
W i t h the rod of thine anger thou throwest
from heaven, upon earth, the mighty and noble.
Through thy favor and assistance, he thatis
situate on thedungh i l l , thou elevatest to heaven.
T h o u
formest an alliance
wi th
those, who
obey thy law and delight in justice. Theheads
of
the ignorant thou bruisest.
T h o u
searchest
their
heart,
and triest their reins, and knowest
al l
their work.
T h e
loftiest part of the earth is thy footstool.
T h o u art far beyond the reach of the most ex
alted creatures, who raise theirhe