For man also knoweth not his time
Though it is fixed and settled by the Lord, yet times and seasons
are kept in his own power, and not known by men; not the time of
his death, nor of any calamity and distress coming upon him, nor
the proper season and opportunity of doing himself good, and
avoiding evil; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net,
and as the birds that are
caught in the snare;
as fishes are suddenly taken in a net, unhappy for them, which is
at once east over them, while they are sporting and playing in
the water, and catching at the bait; and as birds, being decoyed,
are unawares taken in a snare; that is, both of them know not the
time of their being caught; so [are] the sons of men snared
in an evil time, when it falleth
suddenly upon them;
they are no more able to guard against a time of adversity and
calamity, and the evil of it, which comes at once upon them, than
the poor fishes or silly birds are to avoid the net and snare;
and are, like them, at such a time, in the utmost security,
indulging themselves in ease and pleasure: so the day of death,
and of judgment, will come like a thief in the night; or like a
snare upon men, when they think nothing of it, but are giving up
themselves to their lusts and pleasures; see ( 1
Thessalonians 5:2 1
Thessalonians 5:3 ) ( Luke 21:34 Luke 21:35 ) ( Luke 17:26 Luke 17:30 ) ; for
pleasure, as Plato says, is the bait of evils, with which men are
caught, as fishes with the hook F7.