A Brief Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Commentary on Ecclesiastes · Verse 29
Eccleſ. 12. part of v. 1.
While the evil dayes come not, nor the yeers draw nigh, wherein thou ſhalt ſay, I have no pleaſure in them.
THeſe words begin a deſcription, firſt, of the weariſom evils of old age, from the latter part of this verſe to the end of the ſixt: Secondly, of death, v. 7. And both of them brought in as a double ſtrong motive, to urge young men in their youth to remember their Creator.
This former Reaſon is taken from the ſupport and remedy which the remembrance of our Creator in the daies of our youth will give to the evils of old age, v. 1, to 6. The latter from our diſſolution, and return to God in death, v. 7.
Doctr. The decayes of old age are evil, and unpleaſant times, and old age it ſelfe will ſo acknowledge it, 2 Sam. 19.35. and yet he was of the better ſort of old men, and very well provided of all helps, v. 32. and as then but 80. yeers old, Gen. 47.9. Pſalm 90.10.
The evils of old age are partly 1. Naturall, Firſt, in the eſtate: The loſſe of deareſt friends and acquaintance, Gen. 37.34, 35. & 42.36. And contempt of younger people, Job 30.1, 12, 13. Secondly, in the body, Dimneſſe and decay of all the ſenſes, 2 Sam. 19.34, 35. And manifold pains and aches, and diſeaſes incident to that age.
2. Morall, firſt, ſeeking wealth greedily, yet loth to uſe it; Secondly, ſlow and cold in proceedings, yea timorous and fearfull; yet chaſing at others backwardneſs. Thirdly, hard to be pleaſed himſelfe, and as hard to pleaſe others. Fourthly, complaining of preſent times, but praiſing former daies of old, which the old men of thoſe daies as much complained of as he of theſe.
3. Spirituall, Firſt, Ignorance. Secondly, uncapableneſſe' and untractableneſs to be taught or admoniſhed, Eccleſ. 4.13: Thirdly, pride of ſpirit. Fourthly, deceitfulneſſe. Fifthly, impenitency, through cuſtome, and hardning in ſinne, and ſelf-conceit.
Reaſon 1. From ſins of youth. Job 20.11.
Reaſon 2. From the vanity of all creature-comforts, which muſt fade, Iſai. 40.6.
Reaſon 3. From the neceſſity of ripening in that age, either for hell or heaven, Job 5.26. in the autumne of our age.
Reaſon of old mens acknowledgement of it, From their querulous and diſcontented ſpirit.
Doctr. 3. The remembrance of God in the daies of youth, is a comfortable Preſervative againſt the evil and unpleſant times of age. For as an antidote againſt this evil Solomon preſcribeth this. Hence the age of Abraham and David are called a good old age, Gen. 25.8. 1 Chron. 20, 28,
Reaſon 1. From the bleſſing of good old age, removing and healing the contrary evils; 1. Naturall, firſt, in the eſtate: Friends not loſt, but gone before, and we haſte after them. A Crown of glory inſtead of contempt, Prov. 16.31. Secondly, in the body: The power and life of faith, to put ſtrength in weakneſſe, health in ſikneſs, eaſe in pain. Hebr. 11.34. Joſh. 14.10. The benefit of Gods feare, Prov. 3.7, 8.
2. Morall and ſpirituall: Corruptions now more mortified then ever, 2 Tim. 4.7. Grace more lively, powerfull, and fruitfull, Pſalm 92.14▪ 2 Cor. 4.16. Heaven (as an haven) in view, ſeaſoning and ſweetning all, 2 Tim. 4.8.
Reaſon 2. From the gracious and powerfull preſence of God, to ſupport them in age, whom he hath guided in youth, Eſay 46.3, 4.
Ʋſe 1. To ſet on Solomons counſell upon young men, to be the more mindfull of their Creator in the daies of their youth, to finde the evils of old age either more fully removed, or more eaſily borne. If young men neglect this duty in their beſt times, they will be far more indiſpoſed in their evil daies.
Ʋſe 2. To provoke ſuch as are entring upon old age, to be more ſollicitous of remembring God and themſelves, ſeeing they are haſting faſt into theſe evils. It is a juſt reproofe to ſuch as take no notice of decayes of nature. See the ſimile, Hoſ. 7.9.
Ʋſe 3. To enforce carnall old men to redeem the opportunities that are loſt; The evil of the times Paul maketh a motive to this duty, Epheſ. 5.15, 16.