Bitrezz 2-9-25 11296 [ 7 ] SERMON VIII. ECCLESIASTES IX. II. I returned and faw under the fun, that the race is not to the fwift,—nor the battle to the strong,—neither yet bread to the wife, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of fkill, but time and chance happeneth to them all. WHE WHEN a man cafts a look upon this melancholy description of the world, and fees, contrary to all his gueffes and expectations, what different fates attend the lives of men,—how oft it happens in the world, that there is not even bread to the wife, nor riches to men of understanding, &c.--he is apt to conclude with a figh upon it,in the A 4 words, words, tho' not in the fenfe of the wife man, that time and chance happeneth to them all. That time and chance,— apt seasons and fit conjunctures have the greatest sway, in the turns and difpofals of mens fortunes. And that, as these lucky hits (as they are called) happen to be for, or against a man,-they either open the way to his advancement against all obftacles, or block it up against all helps and attempts. That as the text intimates, neither wisdom, nor underStanding, nor skill shall be able to furmount them. However widely we may differ in our reasonings upon this obfervation of Solomon's, the authority of the obfervation is ftrong beyond doubt, and the evidence given of it in all ages fo alternately confirmed by examples and complaints, as to |