John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 6:8

Verſ. 8. For what hath the wiſe more than the fool?] Nothing at all in this vanity of humane nature, that it needeth ſtill new ſupply of nouriſhment to preſerve it. When a wiſe man hath eaten, is hee not again hungry? and muſt not his hunger again bee ſatisfied as well as a fools hunger? Indeed, as any man is more wiſe, hee is more temperate; hee eats to live, not lives to eat. Hee needs not much, nor is a ſlave to his appetite, or to his palat. Hee can feed upon gruel (for a need) with Daniel, upon Coleworts with Eliſha, upon a cake on the coals, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Mat. 24.38 and a cruſe of water with Elijah, upon locuſts and wilde-honey with the Baptiſt, upon Barley bread with the Diſciples, upon an Herring or two, as Luther, &c. This a fool can ill frame to. Hee eats as a beaſt with the old world, and feeds without fear, Jud. 12. hee caters for the fleſh, Rom. 13. ult. and overchargeth it with ſurfetting and drunkenneſs, Luk. 21.34. hee meaſureth not his chear by that which nature requireth, but that which greedy appetite deſireth, as if therein conſiſteth his whole happineſs.

What hath the poor that knoweth to walk before the living] viz. The poor wiſe man that lives by his wits, can ſerve the time, in St. Pauls ſenſe (if ever hee meant it there, Rom. 12.11.) and make an honeſt ſhift to rub through the world? what hath ſuch a one more than a ſimpler man in this particular? doth not his hunger return, his ſtomach crave new nouriſhment? Animantis cujuſque vita eſt fuga, ſaith the Philoſopher: Were it not for the repair of nutrition, the natural life would bee ſoon extinguiſhed.