A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

11. And why should we believe you when we see that you judge clean contrarily for your bodies, then you do for your souls? I have never heard any of you say, [It was never good world since our land was fruitful, and since so much corn came to the the market; It was a better world when men had nothing but roots to feed on.] And yet would you be believed, when you say that ⟨p. 190⟩it was better when men had not so much of the Scripture, and of Christ and holiness, the food, the life, the health of souls?

11. And why should we believe you when we see that you judge clean contrarily for your bodies, then you do for your souls? I have never heard any of you say, [It was never good world since our land was fruitfull, and since so much corn came to the the market; It was a better world when men had nothing but roots to feed on.] And yet would you be believed, when you say that ⟨p. 190⟩it was better when men had not so much of the Scripture, and of Christ and holiness, the food, the life, the health of souls?

12. And I the less believe you, because I find that this hath been the common speech of others in all former ages. They that lived in the days of your fathers, said so of the former times [It was formerly a better world then now.] And if you had lived in those days of your fathers fore-fathers, you would have heard them say the same. Its common with men to feel the evil that's present, and to praise the days that are past, whose evil they felt not, or have forgotten. But hear what God saith, Eccles. 7. 10. [Say not thou, What is the Cause that the former days were better then these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.] Eccles. 1. 9. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be: and that which is done, is that which shall be done, and there is no new thing under the Sun.]