Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.
Ver. 2. Vanity of vanities.] Or, Most vain vanity: therefore, no happiness here to be had but in the reverential fear of God, Ecc 12:13 and this is the sum of the whole sermon, the result of the discourse, the impartial verdict brought in by one that could best tell; and he tells it over and over, that men might the sooner believe him, without putting themselves to the fruitless pains of trying any further conclusions. Sin hath hurled confusion over the world, and brought a vanity on the creature. This our first parents found, and therefore named their second son Abel, or vanity. David comes after and confirms it, Psa 144:4 "Adam is as Abel," a or, "Man is like to vanity." There is an allusion in the original to their two names: yea, all-Adam is all-Abel, b when he is best underlaid - so the Hebrew hath it c - "Every man at his best estate," when he is settled upon his best bottom, "is altogether vanity: surely, Selah." It is so, it is so; you may seal to it. Psa 39:5 But who, alas! hath believed our report? These outward things are so near to us, and so natural to us, that although we can say, nay swear, with the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities," a heap, a nest of vanities, - It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer, yet, when gone apart, we close with them; albeit, we know they are naught and will come to naught. 1Co 2:6 Neither will it ever be otherwise with us, till, with Fulgentius, we have found, after much trial, the vanity of all earthly triumph; d till, with Gilimer, King of Vandals, led in triumph by Belisarius, we cry out, as here, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"; e till, with Charles V, Emperor of Germany (whom of all men the world judged most happy), we cry out with detestation to all our honours, pleasures, trophies, riches, f Abite hinc, abite longe, Get you hence, let me hear no more of you.
a Adam is Abel's mate.
b Omnis Adam est totus Abel.
c Nitsub, fundatus, constitutus.
d Fulgentius triumphos Romanos ludosve cum spectarit appellavit vanitatem.
e Procop., lib. ii., de bello Vand.
f Philip. Morn.