A brief exposition with practical observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…

Doctr. 1. The ordinary conceit that men have of the excellency of former times above these, and their ordinary inquiry into the reason thereof, is not out of wisdom. Heathen Authors may be quoted, not for divine or Evangelical points, but natural or moral. Both Heathen and Christians are wont to have such a conceit, that former times were better. Horace his old man, is laudator temporis acti see puero. Again saith he, Damnosa quid non imminuit diesë Aetas parentum pejor Avis tulit nos nequiores, mox daturos progeniem vitiosiorem. Boetius de consolatione Philosophiae. Fortunae, nimium prior Aetas, &c.

Doctr. 1. The ordinary conceit that men have of the excellency of former times above these, and their ordinary inquiry into the reason thereof, is not out of wisdome. Heathen Authors may be quoted, not for divine or Evangelical points, but natural or moral. Both Heathen and Christians are wont to have such a conceit, that former times were better. Horace his old man, is laudator temporis acti se puero. Againe saith he, Damnosa quid non imminuit diesë Aetas parentum pejor Avis tulit nos nequiores, mox daturos progeniem vitiosiorem. Boetius de consolatione Philosophiae. Fortunae, nimium prior Aetas, &c.

Thus ordinarily men extol the cheapness of former times, their great hospitality, their kind neighbourhood, their honest dealing; their skilful workmanship, none such now adays; their liberal alms deeds, their devout piety, their ⟨p. 130⟩deep wisdom, their valiant acts; The reasons which men are wont to give of it, are not wise: as, First, Lassa effaeta natura, The decay of the strength and goodness of nature, in the world and all the creatures. But this is no good reason; for nature decayed by the flood; yet the times have been better. Secondly, The goodness of the old religion, Jer. 44, 17, 18. The Heathen thought the Empire flourished more under the worship of Jupiter and other false gods, then under Christian Religion. The devouter Papists think the same, that it was a better world under their Religion, then ours; but if the old Religion have been worse, the following times may be worse for their sins, Jer. 41.21, 22, 23. Thirdly, The change of times which some think are always for the worse. So Emanuel Sa, But neither times nor stars were made to rule us.