John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 9:8

Verſ. 8. Let thy garments bee alwayes white] i. e. Neat, ſpruſe, cleanly, comely. Or by a metaphor it may ſignifie, Be merry in good manner: for they uſed to wear white clothing on Feſtivals,Devita theoretica Stuckius in Antiq. conviv. Anton. Margarit. and at Weddings, as Philo witneſſeth: At this day alſo the Jewes come to their Synagogues in white rayment the day before the Calends of September, which is their New-years-tide. Purple was affected by the Romans, white by the Jewes, (ſee Jam. 2.2.) Hence Pilate clad Chriſt in purple, Matth. 27.28. Herod in white, Luke 23.11. Herod himſelf, Acts 12.21. was arrayed in royal apparrel, that is, in cloth of ſilver, ſaith Joſephus; which being beaten upon by the Sun-beams, dazeled the peoples eyes, and drew from them that blaſphemous acclamation, The voyce of God, and not of man.

And let thine head lack no oyntment] That thou mayſt look ſmooth and handſome. See Matth. 6.16, 17. Oyntments were much uſed with thoſe Eaſtern people in Banquetings, Bathings, and at other times, Luk. 7.46. Mat. 26.7. By garments here ſome underſtand the affections (as Col. 3.8 — 12) which muſt alwayes be white, i. e. cheerful, even in times of perſecution, when thy garments haply are ſtained with thine own bloud. By the head they underſtand the thoughts, which muſt alſo be kept lithe and lightſome, as anoynted with the oyl of gladneſſe. Crucem multi abominantur, crucem videntes, ſed non videntes unctionem: Crux enim inuncta eſt, ſaith Bernard. Many men hate the Croſſe, becauſe they ſee the Croſſe only; but ſee not the Oyntment that is upon it: For the Croſſe is anoynted, and by the grace of Gods holy Spirit helping our infirmities, it becomes not only light, but ſweet; not only not troubleſome,Aug. but even deſirable and delectable. Martyr etiam in catena gaudet. Paul gloried in his ſufferings, his ſpirit was cheered up by the thoughts of them, as by ſome fragrant oyntment.