In the beginning of his book he saith, All is vanity, and in the end he saith, Fear God and keep his Commandments: in the 12. Chapter he saith, Remember thy maker in the days of thy youth: But here he saith, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth. Here he speaketh like an Epicure, which saith, Eat, drink, and be merry: here he counsels, and here he mocks: yet not after the manner of scorners, although they deserved it in showing their foolishness, as it is in the first of the Proverbs, He laughed at the wicked in derision, as in the second Psalm, God seeing us follow our own ways. For when he bids us pray, we play: and when he bids us run, we stand still: and when he bids us fast, we feast, and send for vanities to make us sport: then he laughs at our destruction. Therefore when Solomon giveth a sharp reproof, and maketh you ashamed in a word, he scoffingly bids you do it again, like a Schoolmaster which beateth his Scholar for playing the truant, he biddeth him play the truant again. O this is the bitterest reproof of all. But least any Libertine should misconstrue Solomon, and say that he bids us be merry and make much of our selves, therefore he shutteth up with a watchword, and setteth a bridle before his lips, and reproveth it as he speaketh it before he goeth any further, and saith, But remember that for all these things thou must come to judgement. But if we will understand his meaning, he meaneth when he saith Rejoice, O young man, Repent, O young man, in thy youth; and when he saith, Let thy heart cheer thee, Let ⟨image 26⟩thy sins grieve thee: for he meaneth otherwise then he speaketh: he speaketh like Michai in the book of Kings the second Chapter. Go up and prosper: or like as Ezekiel. Go up and serve other Gods: or as Saint John speaketh in the Revelation, Let them that be wicked, be wicked still But if there were no judgement day, that were a merry world: therefore saith Solomon, when thou art in thy pleasures flaunting in the fields, and in thy brave ruffs, and amongst thy Lovers, with thy smiling looks, thy wanton talk and merry jests, with thy pleasant games and lofty looks, Remember for all these things thou shalt come to judgement.
In the beginning of his booke he saith, All is vanitie, and in the end he saith, Feare God and keepe his Commandements: in the 12. Chapter he saith, Remember thy maker in the dayes of thy youth: But here hee saith, Reioyce, O yong man, in thy youth. Here he speaketh like an Epicure, which sayth, Eate, drinke, and bee merry: heere hee counseles, and heere hee mockes: yet not after the manner of scorners, although they deserued it in shewing their foolishnesse, as it is in the first of the Prouerbes, Hee laughed at the wicked in derision, as in the second Psalme, God seeing vs follow our owne wayes. For when he bids vs pray, wee play: and when he bids vs runne, wee stand still: and when he bids vs fast, wee feast, and send for vanities to make vs sport: then hee laughs at our destruction. Therefore when Salomon giueth a sharpe reproofe, and maketh you ashamed in a word, hee scoffingly bids you doe it againe, like a Schoolemaister which beateth his Scholer for playing the truant, hee biddeth him play the truant againe. O this is the bitterest reproofe of all. But least any Libertine should misconster Salomon, and say that hee bids vs be merry and make much of our selues, therefore he shutteth vp with a watchword, and setteth a bridle before his lips, and reprooueth it as he speaketh it before hee goeth any further, and sayth, But remember that for all these things thou must come to iudgement. But if we will vnderstand his meaning, hee meaneth when hee saith Reioyce, O young man, Repent, O young man, in thy youth; and when hee saith, Let thy heart cheare thee, Let ⟨image 26⟩thy sinnes greiue thee: for hee meaneth otherwise then he speaketh: hee speaketh like Michai in the booke of Kings the second Chapter. Goe vp and prosper: or like as Ezechiel. Goe vp and serue other Gods: or as Saint Iohn speaketh in the Reuelation, Let them that be wicked, bee wickea still But if there were no iudgement day, that were a merry world: therefore saith Salomon, when thou art in thy pleasures flaunting in the fields, and in thy braue ruffes, and amongst thy Louers, with thy smiling lookes, thy wanton talke and merry iestes, with thy pleasant games and loftie lookes, Remember for all these things thou shalt come to iudgement.
