[76] _Matthew, Chap. vi. Verse 23. John, Ep. i. Chap. ii. Verse 11._ [77] _Academ. iv. 8._ [78] _James, Epist. Chap. i. Verse 17._ But he goes on, and adds, what well agrees with the foregoing explanation. _The clouds return after rain._ That is, cares and troubles crowd on each other, and daily oppress aged folks. As in moist climates, and those liable to storms, even when the clouds seem to be exhausted, others soon follow, and the rains become almost perpetual. And these inconveniencies are felt the more sensibly, in proportion to the debilitation of the powers of the mind, whereby they are rendered less able now, than formerly, either to bear, or get the better of their oppressions. But from the mind our royal author now passes to the body. _The keepers of the house_, says he, _shall tremble, and the soldiers shall give way, and the diminished grinders shall cease_. The limbs, and firmest parts of the body, are damaged by age: the hands and knees grow weak, thro’ the relaxation of the nerves. Hence those are rendered incapable of defending us against injuries, and of performing innumerable other good offices, for which they were originally intended; and these becoming unequal to the weight they were wont to sustain, lose their active suppleness, and fail in bending. Likewise the double teeth or grinders, either drop out, or rot away; so as now to be too few remaining to comminute solid food. In the translation of the Hebrew word, which I have here rendered by _double teeth_ or _grinders_, I followed Arias Montanus, who, in my opinion, has translated it right. For it is in this passage used by the author in the plural number; who afterwards employs it in the singular, but in a quite different sense, when he treats of the sense of tasting; as I shall shew anon, when I come to that passage. For, that Solomon’s intention in this place was, to describe those defects of the senses, which generally steal on old-age, I have not the least doubt. Wherefore now proceeding to them, he begins by the _sight_. _Those_, says he, _that look thro’ holes shall be darkened_. By which words it is manifest, that he points out the failing of the eyes, which most people, far advanced in years, feel by sad experience. Next follows the _taste_, which he thus describes: _The doors shall be shut outwardly, with a low sound of the mill_. As old people, thro’ diminution of appetite, open their mouths seldomer than formerly; so for want of teeth to comminute their food, they do it with less noise. Now this last inconvenience seems to be meant and expressed very elegantly by the words _a low sound of the mill_: for by the word _mill_, which in the Hebrew is used in the singular number, the grinding of the food may very well be meant; and this grinding, as it is not done by the assistance of the teeth, which they have lost, but by that of the gums, is performed with less noise.