The vanity of the worldThe vanity of the vvorld

And if they are not necessary to these natural uses, all that is left them is but fancy and opinion. Indeed mankind cozen themselves by compact, and by setting a value upon things that are rare, have made ⟨p. 26⟩many think themselves poor, whereas God and Nature made all equally wealthy, had they not artificially impoverished themselves. It is nothing but conceit that makes the difference between the richest and the meanest, if both enjoy necessaries. For what are all their superfluous riches, but a load that mens covetousness lays upon them? They are but like ^cRoman slaves that were wont to carry heavy burdens of bread upon their backs, whereof others eat as large a share as they. Whatsoever is more than barely to satisfy the cravings of Nature, is of no other use but only to ^dlook upon. Thy Lands, thy Houses, and fair Estate are but Pictures of things. The poorest that ⟨p. 27⟩sees them enjoys as much of them as thy self: Yea, and if men could be contented with reason, all that they behold with their eyes, is as much theirs as it is the owners.

And if they are not necessary to these natural uses, all that is left them is but phancy and opinion. Indeed mankind cozen themselves by compact, and by setting a value upon things that are rare, have made ⟨p. 26⟩many think themselves poor, whereas God and Nature made all equally wealthy, had they not artificially impoverisht themselves. It is nothing but conceit that makes the difference between the richest and the meanest, if both enjoy necessaries. For what are all their superfluous riches, but a load that mens covetousness lays upon them? They are but like ^cRoman slaves that were wont to carry heavy burdens of bread upon their backs, whereof others eat as large a share as they. Whatsoever is more than barely to satisfie the cravings of Nature, is of no other use but onely to