The second thing, that he hath found, is, that §2to enjoy them, to take the comfort, the profit, the benefit, and refreshment, that may be had ⟨p. 156⟩from all the blessings of God, that he hath given under the Sun, it is a better way, and there is less vanity in it, then to heap up still, and not to enjoy it. This I found, saith he, that this is the best way for a man, to take the present benefit, this is the wisest way, so that this be remembered, that you enjoy them with weaned affections, that you do not so enjoy them as to commit Idolatry with them: for, if you do so, indeed then there is a vanity in them; for then the Lord looks upon you with a jealous eye, as that he will destroy both the things, and the man, as a jealous man will destroy the adulterer and adulteress. There is a vanity in them then, but to enjoy them with weaned affections, this, saith he, I found to be the wisest thing under the Sun, rather then to heap up, and increase possessions, and not to enjoy them. This is that which Solomon saith. If a man say now; But I find contentment and satisfaction, though Solomon found none, I find I have a sweetness in enjoying pleasure, and mirth, and a high estate: Why, consider, if thou do, I will say but this to thee, it is an argument, that thou committest Idolatry with them, and therefore God hath made thee like to the very things themselves. You shall find the Psalmist speaking of Idols, say; They have eyes and see not, they have hands and handle not; and he adds this, they that trust in them are like to them. That is; This is the curse of God upon those that worship Idols, the Lord gives them up to as much stupidity, as is in the Idols, that, they have eyes ⟨p. 157⟩and see not, that they have ears and hear not. So, I say, when a man will so enjoy these things, that he can find contentment in them, that he can terminate his comfort in them; let him know this, that is an argument, that he is made like to them, that the curse of God is come upon him, or else, it may be, because thou hast not summed up thy accounts, thou hast not looked back upon them, as Solomon did, thou hast not yet run through the course of them; if thou hast full experience of them, and the end of them, as he had, thou wouldst find them vanity, and vexation of spirit. So much for the first, the emptiness and vanity of the Creature.
The second thing, that he hath found, is, that §2to enioy them, to take the comfort, the profit, the benefit, and refreshment, that may be had ⟨p. 156⟩from all the blessings of God, that he hath given vnder the Sunne, it is a better way, and there is lesse vanitie in it, then to heape vp still, and not to enioy it. This I found, sayth he, that this is the best way for a man, to take the present benefit, this is the wisest way, so that this be remembred, that you enioy them with weaned affections, that you doe not so enioy them as to commit Idolatry with them: for, if you doe so, indeed then there is a vanitie in them; for then the Lord lookes vpon you with a jealous eye, as that he will destroy both the things, and the man, as a jealous man will destroy the adulterer and adulteresse. There is a vanitie in them then, but to enioy them with weaned affections, this, sayth he, I found to be the wisest thing vnder the Sun, rather then to heape vp, and increase possessions, and not to enioy them. This is that which Salomon sayth. If a man say now; But I finde contentment and satisfaction, though Salomon found none, I finde I haue a sweetnes in enioying pleasure, and mirth, and a high estate: Why, consider, if thou doe, I will say but this to thee, it is an argument, that thou committest Idolatry with them, and therefore God hath made thee like to the very things themselues. You shall finde the Psalmist speaking of Idols, say; They haue eyes and see not, they haue hands and handle not; and he addes this, they that trust in them are like to them. That is; This is the curse of God vpon those that worship Idols, the Lord giues them vp to as much stupiditie, as is in the Idols, that, they haue eyes ⟨p. 157⟩and see not, that they haue eares and heare not. So, I say, when a man will so enioy these things, that he can finde contentment in them, that he can terminate his comfort in them; let him know this, that is an argument, that he is made like to them, that the curse of God is come vpon him, or else, it may be, because thou hast not summed vp thy accounts, thou hast not looked backe vpon them, as Salomon did, thou hast not yet runne through the course of them; if thou hast full experience of them, and the end of them, as he had, thou wouldst finde them vanitie, and vexation of spirit. So much for the first, the emptines and vanitie of the Creature.
