Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Ver. 10. Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might.] We were made and set here to be doing of something that may do us good a thousand years hence. Our time is short, our task is long, our master urgent, an austere man, &c.; work, therefore, while the day lasteth, yea, work hard, as afraid to be taken with your task uudone. The night of death comes when none can work. That is a time not of doing work, but of receiving wages. Up, therefore, and be doing, that the Lord may be with you.
“ Praecipita tempus; mors atra impendet agenti. ”
- Silius
Castigemus ergo mores et moras. The devil is therefore more mischievous because he knows "he hath but a short time," Rev 12:12 and makes all the haste he can to outwork the children of light, in a quick despatch of deeds of darkness. Oh, learn for shame of the devil, as Latimer said once in another case, therefore to do your utmost, because "the time is short," or "rolled up," a as sails use to be when the ship draws nigh to the harbour. This argument prevailed much with St Peter to bestir him in stirring up those he wrote unto, because he knew that he must "shortly put off his tabernacle." 2Pe 1:13-14 The life of man is the lamp of God, saith Solomon. God hath set up our lives, as Alexander, when he sat down before a city, did use to set up a light, to give those within to understand that if they came forth to him while that light lasted they might have quarter, as if otherwise, no mercy was to be expected.
a Sυνεσταλμενος. 1Co 7:29