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…

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.

Thus ordinarily men extol the cheapness of former times, their great hospitality, their kind neighbourhood, their honest dealing; their skilful workmanship, none such now adayes; their liberal almes deeds, their devout piety, their ⟨p. 130⟩deep wisdome, 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 goodnesse 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 goodnesse of the old religion, Ier. 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 thinke 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 thinke are alwayes for the worse. So Emanuel Sa, But neither times nor starres were made to rule us.