- Then I:
- Some consider this as the cavil of an infidel objector, equivalent to the Epicurean maxim, Ede, bibe, lude; post mortem nulla voluptas, "Eat, drink, and play; there is no pleasure after death." But it may be regarded as a recommendation of a moderate use of worldly things, with a cheerful and contented mind; which may justly be considered as the greatest advantage which can be made of all below the sun, and amidst all changes, such a frame of mind, if the result of right principles, may and ought to be preserved; and it will be the recompence and solace of all our labours and toils. "[There is] nothing¹ betterª for a man,ª [than] that he should eatª°¹ and drink,ª° and [that] he should make his soulª¹¹ enjoy²° goodª in his labour.ª Thisª also¹ I¹ saw,ª° that¹ it¹ [was] from the handª¹ of God.ª" {Ecc 2:24} + "I knowª° that¹ [there is] no¹ goodª in them, but¹ for¹ [a man] to rejoice,ª° and to doª° goodª in his life.ª ... And also¹ that every man² should eatª°¹¹¹ and drink,ª° and enjoyª° the goodª of all¹ his labour,ª it¹ [is] the giftª of God.ª" {Ecc 3:12-13} + "Wherefore I perceiveª° that¹ [there is] nothing¹ better,ª than that¹¹ a manª should rejoiceª° in his own works;ª for¹ that¹ [is] his portion:ª for¹ who¹ shall bringª° him to seeª° what shall be¹¹¹ afterª him?" {Ecc 3:22} + "Behold¹ [that] which¹ I¹ have seen:ª° [it is] goodª and comelyª [for one] to eatª° and to drink,ª° and to enjoyª° the goodª of all¹ his labourª that he takethª°¹ under¹ the sunª allª the daysª of his life,ª which¹ Godª givethª° him: for¹ it¹ [is] his portion.ª" {Ecc 5:18} + "Go¹ thy way,²° eatª° thy breadª with joy,ª and drinkª° thy wineª with a merryª heart;ª for¹ Godª nowª acceptethª°¹ thy works.ª ... Live² joyfullyª°¹ with¹ the wifeª whom¹ thou lovestª° all¹ the daysª of the lifeª of thy vanity,ª which¹ he hath givenª° thee under¹ the sun,ª all¹ the daysª of thy vanity:ª for¹ that¹ [is] thy portionª in [this] life,ª and in thy labourª which¹ thou¹ takestª under¹ the sun.ª" {Ecc 9:7-9} + "Forbiddingª° to marry,ª° [and commanding] to abstain¹ from²° meats,ª whichª Godª hath createdª° to² be receivedª¹ withª thanksgivingª of them which believeª andª knowª° the¹ truth.ª ... Forª everyª creatureª of Godª [is] good,ª andª nothingª to be refused,ª if it be receivedª° withª thanksgiving:ª" {1Tm 4:3-4} + "Chargeª° them that are richª inª this² world,ª¹ that they be²° not² highminded,ª°¹ norª trustª° inª uncertainª riches,ª butª inª the¹ livingª° God,ª who² givethª° usª richlyª all thingsª toª enjoy;ª" {1Tm 6:17}
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