An exposition with practical observations upon the three first chapters of the book of…

Now darkness may be taken two ways: Either Properly, or Improperly.

Now darkenesse may be taken two wayes: Either Properly, or Improperly.

Proper darkness is nothing else but a privation of light, it is no positive creature, it hath no cause in nature, but is the consequent of the Suns absence; When Job wishes, let that day be darkness, we may understand it of this darkness, as if he had said, whensoever that day cometh about, in the recourse and revolution of the year, let it be darkness, or a very dark and gloomy day. This had bin a great evil upon his day. This kind of darkness was one of the 10 plagues with which God smote Egypt. And yet there is darkness, which is a greater evil then this, I mean darkness improperly taken: and so frequently in Scripture any sorrowful, troublesome, sad condition, is expressed by darkness. A condition of darkness is a sad condition, a dark day is as much, as a sad day; So then, Let that day be darkness, that is, let it for ever be accounted a sad and sorrowful day. Thus the Prophet Joel, Chap. 2.2. calls a day of great trouble, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness. ⟨p. 348⟩When Solomon, Eccles. 12.2. would show by way of Antithesis, the sad and evil condition of old age comparatively to youth, he unfolds it by darkness; remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, make haste, serve God betime; But what needs such haste? I tell thee why, as times change, so thy estate will change: Evil days will come, I therefore counsel thee to do it, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them: while the Sun, or the light, or the Moon, or the Stars be not darkened; A day without pleasure, is a day without the Sun, take away the joy of a day, and you take away the light of a day. Young men have the Sun, and the Moon, and the Stars, all kind of light and comfortable influences upon them; but these will be darkened and eclipsed when old-age cometh, that will put out or at least obscure your light, your day will be gone, and your night will have neither Moon nor Star in it, therefore work while you have light, that is, while you have health and strength of body, while you have freedom and activity of spirits, fit for that great service, remember, that is, know and serve your Creator.