1Therefore it is vain man which Solomon reproveth which is not only called vanity, but lighter then vanity: if he did ⟨image 8⟩not use things vainly, nothing should be vain in the world, whereas now by abuse we may see sometime as great vanity in the best things as in the worst; for are not many vain in their knowledge, vain in their polices; vain in their learning, as other are vain in their ignorance? Was not the wisdom of Ahithophel a vain thing, the swiftness of Hasael a vain thing, the strength of Goliath a vain thing, the treasure of Nebuchadnezzar a vain thing, the honour of Hammon a vain thing, the beauty of Absalom a vain thing, the knowledge of the Scribes a vain thing, the devotion of the Pharisees a vain thing? By this you may see that vanity is bold when she breaks into houses and Churches and palaces. Now we may say, & none will redress, vanity may come to infect, where truth may not come to reprove, is it not time then to sound this alarm again Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity? If we could hear how vehemently and how pitifully ⟨image 9⟩Solomon pronounced this outcry, happily it would move us a little to hear, how he did exclaim of his own life, & condemned him self as it were by the sound of a Trumpet that all might hear, for we are all by nature such deaf adders, that whether the Prophets come piping, or mourning, or crying, they go away from us again like Jeremiah, crying,2 we would have cured Babel, but she could not be cured. Therefore Solomon speaks thrice like a crier, Vanity of vanities &c. as the mother which would fain make her son to hear, she doubles & trebles her words, and what my son? and what my son of my womb? and what O son of my desires? so when God would stir up men to heaven, he crieth thrice to the earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord: so when Solomon would dissuade from the company of the wicked, read Pro. 4.14. how often he repeats the charge, Enter not into the way of the wicked, walk not in it, avoid it, go not by ⟨image 9⟩it, turn from it, and pass by it, as though he would never have done, or as though we would never hear. So Christ when he taught Peter what was his duty, rehearsed it thrice, feed, feed, feed. 3Joseph showeth the reason of these repetitions when he tells Pharaoh why his dream was doubled, because the matter was important and certain:
1Therfore it is vain man which Solomon reproueth which is not only called vanitye, but lighter then vanity: if he did ⟨image 8⟩not vse things vainely, nothing should be vaine in the world, whereas now by abuse we maye see sometime as greate vanitye in the best thinges as in the worst; for are not many vaine in their knowledge, vaine in their polices; vain in their learning, as other are vaine in their ignorance? Was not the wisdome of Achitophell a vaine thing, the swiftnes of Hasael a vain thing, the strength of Goliah a vaine thing, the treasure of Nebuchadnezer a vain thing, the honor of Hammon a vaine thing, the beautie of Absolon a vain thing, the knowledge of the Scribes a vaine thing, the deuotiō of the Pharises a vaine thing? By this you may see that vanitie is bolde when she breakes into howses and Churches and palaces. Now we may say, & none will redresse, vanitie maye come to infect, where truth may not come to reproue, is it not time then to sound this alarum againe Vanitie of vanities, vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie? If we could hear how vehemently and how pittifullye ⟨image 9⟩Salomon pronounced this outcry, happily it would moue vs a little to heare, how he did exclame of his owne life, & condemned him selfe as it were by the sound of a Trūpet that al might heare, for we are all by nature such deafe adders, that whether the Prophets come pyping, or mourning, or crying, they goe away from vs againe like Jeremie, crying,2 we would haue cured Babel, but she could not be cured. Therfore Salomon speakes thrise like a cryer, Vanitie of vanities &c. as the mother which would faine make her sonne to heare, she doubles & trebles her wordes, and what my sonne? and what my sonne of my wombe? and what O sonne of my desires? so when God would stirre vp men to heauen, he cryeth thrise to the earth, earth, earth, heare the worde of the Lord: so when Salomon would disswade from the cōpany of the wicked, read Pro. 4.14. how often he repeates the charge, Enter not into the way of the wicked, walke not in it, auoyde it, goe not by ⟨image 9⟩it, turne from it, and passe by it, as though he wold neuer haue done, or as though we would neuer heare. So Christ whē he taught Peter what was his dutye, rehearsed it thrise, feed, feed, feed. 3
- 1Psal. 62 9.
- 2Jer. 51.9.Ier. 51.9.
- 3Joh. 21.1▪Ioh. 21.1▪
