_A Good Name_ is better than _precious Ointment_----SOLOMON.
’Tis certainly a strange and a ludicrous sentiment--there appears to be
such a contrast in the objects--I presume, in former days, ointments
were in greater estimation than at present---for it seems to have been
as currently talked of as _bank bills_ with us.---I recollect his
father’s wonderful conception, that love and unity were similar to the
_precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even
Aaron’s beard that went down to the skirts of his garments._---I cannot
conjecture the reason for their prizing it so highly:---Is this the
ointment or oil, pray, that made their kings? Well, admitting it
is,---why should it be set along side a _good name_.---We lessen the
importance of the noble object by placing it with a trivial one----The
fact is, I believe, Solomon said it because he happened to hear it (like
many other things) at home. Does there need much inspiration to raise so
noble a thought?---What if he said, a good name is better than _300
wives and 700 concubines_---would it not have made an admirable sound
indeed? Yes, how striking it would have been, had he only said, ’tis
better than 1000 stalls of horses---how some _penetrating diving old
gentlemen_ would have eyed it thro’ their spectacles.---But such
_trivial things_ as a _few_ wives, concubines, or horses extra did not
pop into his mind just then. When I recollect how far the Queen of the
South came to _see_ his wisdom, and that, in fact, he was acknowleged
able to distinguish and divide a hair twixt south and south-west
side---I must blush and confess it folly and presumption to _smile_ at
him---though I had nothing else to do and cannot sleep;---but truly it
would have read so handsomely to me had it been a _good name_ is better,
far better, (understand me right,) than the best of _gingerbread_.