A62047:365
The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…
The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity with the only way to throw it well : as also the gracious persons incomparable portion / by George Swinnock ...The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity with the only way to throw it vvell : as also the gracious persons incomparable portion / by George Swinnock ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Men that are in the valley, think, if they were at the top of such a hill, they should touch the beavens: Men that are in the bottom of poverty, or disgrace or pain, think, if they could get up to such a mountain, such a measure of riches, and honours, and delights, ⟨p. 161⟩they could reach happiness. Now Solomon had got to the top of this hill, and seeing so many scrambling and labouring so hard, nay riding on one another's necks, and pressing one another to death to get foremost, doth seem thus to bespeak them; Sirs, ye are all deceived in your expectations; I see the pains ye take to get up to this place, thinking, that when you come hither, ye shall touch the heavens, and reach happiness; but I am before you at the top of the hill, (I have treasures, and honours, and pleasures in variety and abundance) Eccles. 2.12, 13. and I find the hill full of quagmires instead of delights, and so far from giving me satisfaction, that it causeth much vexation; therefore be advised to spare your pains, and spend your strength for that which will turn to more profit: for believe it, you do but work at the labour in vain; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, saith the Preacher.
Men that are in the valley, think, if they were at the top of such a hill, they should touch the beavens: Men that are in the bottome of poverty, or disgrace or pain, think, if they could get up to such a mountain, such a measure of riches, and honours, and delights, ⟨p. 161⟩they could reach happiness. Now Solomon had got to the top of this hill, and seeing so many scrambling and labouring so hard, nay riding on one anothers necks, and pressing one another to death to get foremost, doth seem thus to bespeak them; Sirs, ye are all deceived in your expectations; I see the pains ye take to get up to this place, thinking, that when you come hither, ye shall touch the heavens, and reach happiness; but I am before you at the top of the hill, (I have treasures, and honours, and pleasures in variety and abundance) Eccles. 2.12, 13. and I find the hill full of quagmires instead of delights, and so far from giving me satisfaction, that it causeth much vexation; therefore be advised to spare your pains, and spend your strength for that which will turn to more profit: for believe it, you do but work at the labour in vain; Vanity of vanities, all is vanitie, saith the Preacher.