A brief exposition with practical observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…

The decays and infirmities of old age; whilst as yet they are able to walk abroad, be

The decayes and infirmities of old age; whilst as yet they are able to walk abroad, be

First, the darkness of the lights about them, whether natural as Sun, light (of the day when the Sun is under a cloud) Moon, Stars: or artificial lights, as Candles, Torches, &c. This darkness cometh not from the decay of those lights, but from the dimness of our sight, whence need of spectacles. I do not understand this to be a description of adversity; for though darkness be often put for adversity, and light for prosperity, yet we read not of the Sun, Moon and Stars put together for prosperity; nor the darkness of them put for adversity.

First, the darknesse of the lights about them, whether naturall as Sunne, light (of the day when the Sunne is under a cloud) Moon, Stars: or artificiall lights, as Candles, Torches, &c. This darkness commeth not from the decay of those lights, but from the dimness of our sight, whence need of spectacles. I doe not understand this to be a description of adversity; for though darknesse be often put for adversity, and light for prosperity, yet we read not of the Sunne, Moon and Stars put together for prosperity; nor the darknesse of them put for adversity.

Secondly, The returning of the clouds after rain] is an allusion to the winterly state of old age. In Summer after rain the clouds break up, and fair weather followeth; but in winter season after rain clouds still remain, and return. So, though in youth, after weeping and coughs, and rheums dried up, the brain is clearer and drier: yet in old age, after colds, and coughs, and rheums, and Poses, there still remain and return clouds, and vapours, and fumes in the brain, through the store of superfluous and excrementitious moisture of old bodies.