Laudator Temporis Acti

Owen Felltham (1602?–1668), Resolves: Divine, Moral, Political, 8th ed. (London: Printed for Peter Dring, 1661), p. 55 (XXIX: That mis-conceit has ruin'd Man):

Our own follies have been the only cause, to make our lives uncomfortable. Our error of opinion, our cowardly fear of the worlds worthless censure, and our madding after unnecessary gold, have brambled the way of Vertue, and made it far more difficult than indeed it is.

Id., p. 56:

In our salutes, in our prayers, we wish and invoke heaven for the happiness of our friends: and shall we be so unjust, or so uncharitable, as to withhold it from our selves? As if we should make it a fashion, to be kinde abroad, and discourteous at home. I do think nothing more lawful, then moderately to satisfie the pleasing desires of Nature; so as they infringe not Religion, hurt not our selves, or the commerce of humane society. Laughing is a faculty peculiar to Man: yet, as if it were given us for inversion, no creature lives so miserable, so disconsolate. Why should we deny to use that lawfully, which Nature hath made for pleasure in imployment? Vertue hath neither so crabbed a face, nor so austere a look, as we make her.