how should Solomon express all the vanity of the world,1 to which all men have added more and more since the beginning?2 Therefore as if he wanted words to express it, as he did see it, he breaks forth into an exclamation, and repeats the same often, Vanity of vanities: as if he ⟨p. 832⟩should say I cannot speak how vain the world is, but vain it is, and very vain, and nought but vain, speaking as if he had the feeling and sense of it, as though the world stood naked before him, and it grieved him to see, he cuts his words in chiding manner, & makes short riddance, as if it irked him to speak all that he knew, therefore that which he speaks he speaks roundly, that if they read no more, but sleep all the Sermon after: yet the first sentence shall strike a sting into their hearts, and leave a sound behind to waken them when they are gone, as many (you know) remember this sentence, which remember no sentence in all his book beside. Who hath not heard Vanity of vanities &c. Though few have conceived it? This is the phrase of Scripture, when the holy Ghost would commend the song of Solomon above all other songs, he calls it the song of songs, so called in the Hebrew and mentioned 1. King. 4. 32. When he would exalt the heavenly king above all, he calls him the King of kings, so when he would note a great vanity, and yet a greater, and a greater than that, which is the greatest of all, he calls it Vanity of vanities, as when we would note a great fool, we will say a fool of fools, a sin of sins, a servant of servants, These are scornful names to the world, ⟨p. 833⟩and homily titles, to give our pleasures, to call them Vanity of vanities, and again Vanity of vanities, and yet again Vanity, as though we would provoke them to fall out with us, like a man which sharpens his enemy with taunts, when he would egg him to fight. He might have mollified his terms, before he condemned the world thrice, but the world is no changeling that Solomon should change his judgement, but vain it was, vain it is, and vain it will be, and therefore a thrice vain world he may call it: First, Vanity, straight Vanity of vanities, and suddenly All is vanity What a transcendent is this?
how should Salomon expresse all the vanitie of the world,1 to which all men haue added more and more since the beginning?2 Therefore as if he wanted wordes to expresse it, as hee did see it, hee breakes foorth into an exclamation, and repeates the same often, Vanitie of vanities: as if hee ⟨p. 832⟩should say I cānot speak how vain the world is, but vaine it is, and very vaine, and nought but vaine, speaking as if hee had the feeling and sense of it, as though the worlde stoode naked before him, and it grieued him to see, he cuts his words in chiding maner, & makes short riddance, as if it irked him to speake all that he knewe, therefore that which hee speakes he speakes roundly, that if they read no more, but sleepe all the Sermon after: yet the first sentence shall strike a sting into their heartes, and leaue a sounde behinde to waken them when they are gone, as manie (you know) remember this sentence, which remember no sentence in all his booke beside. Who hath not heard Vanitie of vanities &c. Though fewe haue conceiued it? This is the phrase of Scripture, when the holy Ghost would commende the song of Salomon aboue all other songs, hee calles it the song of songes, so called in the Hebrewe and mentioned 1. King. 4. 32. When he woulde exalt the heauenly king aboue all, hee calles him the King of kings, so when he woulde note a greate vanitie, and yet a greater, and a greater than that, which is the greatest of all, he calles it Vanitie of vanities, as when we would note a great foole, we will say a foole of fooles, a sin of sins, a seruant of seruantes, These are scornefull names to the worlde, ⟨p. 833⟩and homelie titles, to giue our pleasures, to call them Vanitie of vanities, and againe Vanitie of vanities, and yet againe Vanitie, as though wee woulde prouoke them to fall out with vs, like a man which sharpens his enemie with taunts, when he woulde egge him to fight. Hee might haue mollified his tearmes, before hee condemned the worlde thrise, but the worlde is no changling that Salomon shoulde change his iudgement, but vaine it was, vaine it is, and vaine it will bee, and therefore a thrise vaine worlde hee may call it: First, Vanity, straight Vanity of vanities, and sodainelie All is vanitie What a transcendent is this?
- 1Mat. 24. 1
- 2John. 21. 5.Iohn. 21. 5.
