A44443:91
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.
Secondly, If the Vanity of the world be such, and so great, if it be only an empty bubble, a swelling nothing, less solid than the dream of a shadow; if it be thus unsuitable, uncertain, ⟨p. 96⟩and unsatisfactory, as I have demonstrated to you, what gross folly then are most men guilty of in setting so high a price upon that which is of no worth nor substance? Though formerly we have been so much deceived as to take the worlds paint and varnish for true beauty, and its glittering for substantial treasure, yet now since the cheat is discovered, since you have seen this false pack opened, and nothing but counterfeit wares obtruded upon you, your folly will be inexcusable if after experiments & admonitions, you should contribute any longer to your own cheat, & set a price upon things which you know to be vile and worthless. The wise man (as you have heard) sums up their whole ⟨p. 97⟩value, only in a great Cypher, and a great blot, Vanity, and Vexation. At what price would you rate Vanity, which is nothing? Or Vexation which is worse than nothing?
Secondly, If the Vanity of the world be such, and so great, if it be onely an empty bubble, a swelling nothing, less solid than the dream of a shaddow; if it be thus unsuitable, uncertain, ⟨p. 96⟩and unsatisfactory, as I have demonstrated to you, what grosse folly then are most men guilty of in setting so high a price upon that which is of no worth nor substance? Though formerly we have been so much deceived as to take the worlds paint and varnish for true beauty, and its glittering for substantial treasure, yet now since the cheat is discovered, since you have seen this false pack opened, and nothing but counterfeit wares obtruded upon you, your folly will be inexcusable if after experiments & admonitions, you should contribute any longer to your own cheat, & set a price upon things which you know to be vile and worthless. The wise man (as you have heard) sums up their whole ⟨p. 97⟩value, onely in a great Cypher, and a great blot, Vanity, and Vexation. At what price would you rate Vanity, which is nothing? Or Vexation which is worse than nothing?