Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

408 Of the vanity ofiverldljpleafwref. A.--nlemmmmmi CHAP. XVI, Oft he vanitie of world y pleafures. §.See1.r. Nd thus have I'hewed the vanity ofriches,in Worldly plea- ® a a the fpeciall kinds thereof. Now itfolloweth fures are ofno "r`' in the lad place that we examine worldly - pleafures, to fee if wee can find any more áenlo óo ea worth and excellencie in them, then in the other : where vpois the triall we fhall find, that howfoeuer theymay be preferred before honors and riches, as being the end ofthem both for therefore do men affe & honors, be - caufe they delight and pleafe them, and riches becaufe they wouldenioy them, and reioyce in their fruition, as al fo be- caufe they are much more free from trouble, and full of fweetnefle ; whereof it is that the wife Salomon,who had ex- perience of them all,concludeth,that among worldlythings cclef.3. 22. there is nothing better, then that avian fhould reioyce in his of A°ds. 4. fairer, becaufe that is his portion : and that there is no profit to MGM, but that he eate anddrinke, and delight his foule with the profit of hit labour: yet neuertheleffe if we compare them with the fpirituall ioy ofa Chrifcianin this life, or the hea- uenly iayes in the life to come,they are to be eileemed vaine and ofno value, and to be contemned as being altogether worthleffe and void of excellencie. For howfoeuer Salomon comparing themwith other worldlythings,doth giue them the preeminence; yet confidering them in their owne na- ture, ioyned with our vfe,he condemneth them as vaine and vnptofitable, in refpeá ofany found good, or true happines.' Ecelcf.:.t.s. which they bring vnto vs. 1 Paid in my heart (faith he) go to st_ now,! will prone theewith ioy,therfore take then pleafure in plea - fans things : and behold this alfo it vanitie.!faidof laughter, thou art mad: and ofioy, what is that thou doe it ? And after.. wards he faith, that he fought for ioy and contentment,in flately buildings, fruitfull vineyards, pleafant gardens and orchards, fweete and delightfull muficke, and in all other worldly pleafures which his heart could thinke of; but in conclufion