A44443:22
The vanity of the worldThe vanity of the vvorld
The vanity of the world by Ezekiel Hopkins.The vanity of the vvorld by Ezekiel Hopkins.
London: printed for Nathanael Ranew and Jonathan Robinson, 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When therefore he pronounceth all to be Vanity, it must be meant of all worldly and earthly things: for he speaks only of these. And if we enquire what these worldly things are, that have this censure of Vanity so vehemently ⟨p. 6⟩past upon them, Saint John hath drawn up a full and true Inventory of all the goods that are to be found in this great House of the Universe, 1 John 2.16. All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of Life. The Lusts of the flesh are the pleasures of the world; which are all of them suited to gratify the sensual and fleshly part of man. The Lusts of the eye, are riches; so called, because their greatest serviceableness is only to make a glittering, and dazzling show. Which since Solomon approves, Eccles. 5.11. What good is there to the owners thereof, save the beholding them with their eyes. The Pride of life is honour and dignity, that ⟨p. 7⟩flatulent, and airy notion, that puffs up mens pride and vain-glory, and makes them look upon their inferiors, as though they were not their fellow Creatures. This is all that the world can show, Pleasures, Riches, Honours, and this is that All concerning which the Wiseman pronounceth that it is Vanity.
When therefore he pronounceth all to be Vanity, it must be meant of all worldly and earthly things: for he speaks onely of these. And if we enquire what these wordly things are, that have this censure of Vanity so vehemently ⟨p. 6⟩past upon them, Saint John hath drawn up a full and true Inventory of all the goods that are to be found in this great House of the Universe, 1 John 2.16. All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of Life. The Lusts of the flesh are the pleasures of the world; which are all of them suited to gratifie the sensual and fleshly part of man. The Lusts of the eye, are riches; so called, because their greatest serviceableness is onely to make a glittering, and dazling shew. Which since Solomon approves,