but by scores. "The days of our years," says he, "are three-score years and ten, and if by reason of strength they be four-score years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."[1] As if years were too large a point by which to reckon up the shortness of human life, the Scriptures count it by months. "The number of his months are with thee."[2] Very frequently it is reckoned by days. "Man, that is born of a woman," says Job, "is of few days."[3] Nay, it is accounted but one day "Till he shall accomplish as an hireling his day."[4] The apostle Paul, compares it to a still shorter period—a moment. "Our light affliction," says he, "which is but for a moment."[5] So short is human life, as if there could not be any thing in nature to give a just representation of it, the Psalmist says,—"Mine age is as nothing before thee."[6] A very slight
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the shortness and
[ser. viii.
