Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 11:9

9 Rejoice , O young man , in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth; and walk in the way of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment .

This verse is to be understood either 1. As a serious Advice to this purpose, seeing Life is short and transitory, improve it to the best advantage, take comfort in it whilest you may, only do it with moderation, and the fear of God. Or rather 2. As an Ironical concession, such as are usual both in Scripture, as 1 Kin. 18. 27. & 22. 15. Ezek. 28. 3, 4. Mat. 26. 45. and in other Authors. For this agrees much better with the context, and with the Expressions here used. And so the sense is, I foresee what evil use some men will make of what I have now said; Things being thus, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die, as they also reasoned, 1 Cor. 15. 32.

He speaks to young Men particularly, because they have both the greatest ability, and the strongest Inclinations to pursue sensual pleasures, and are most impatient either of Restraint or Admonition.

Indulge thy frolick and jolly humour, and take thy fill of delights.

Whatsoever thine Eye or Heart lusteth after, deny it not to them; as this Phrase is taken, Num. 15. 39. nor is it ever used in a good sense. Compare Iob 31. 7. Psal. 81. 12. Ier. 18. 12. 2 Pet. 2. 14. 1 Ioh. 2. 16.

But in the midst of thy feastings and jollity it will become thee, if thou art a reasonable Creature, to consider thy reckoning, and whether thou dost not purchase thy Gold too dear.

For all thy [illegible: 1+ letters]ollies and sinful Lusts, which thou sleightest as tricks of youth.

Will force thee to appear before his Judgment-seat, to give a serious account of all thy youthful and exorbitant courses, and to receive that sentence which thy own Conscience will then say thou dost justly deserve. And if thou likest thy sensuality upon these terms, much good may it do thee. I do not envy thee, nor desire to partake of thy delicates.