What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (4) One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever. (5) The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. (6) The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. (7) All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (8) All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. (9) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (10) Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (11) There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Nothing can be more beautiful, by way of illustrating the Preacher's text and doctrine, than the representation of the things here chosen. What is the labour of one man, or the indolence of another? To what purpose are the ills of the poor, or the pleasures of the rich? let the different objects of their different pursuits, be looked into, and the ultimate end of all is one and the same; namely, all are directed to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, Romans 13:14. But while the fashions of the world, with all its different pursuits, end in vanity; let the subject be considered as it relates to Christ, and here all things become certain, solid, and substantial. Everlasting profit here will be found in that pursuit, which is directed in labouring for the bread that perisheth not. And let what will of worldly generations pass away, and others of the same kind succeed them; yet the children of Christ shall continue, and their seed shall be established before the Lord. Psalms 102:28.