Laudator Temporis Acti

Owen Felltham (1602?–1668), Resolves: Divine, Moral, Political, 8th ed. (London: Printed for Peter Dring, 1661), p. 7 (no. V: Of Puritans):

If mirth and recreations be lawful, sure such a one may lawfully use it. If Wine were given to cheer the heart, why should I fear to use it for that end? Surely, the merry soul is freer from intended mischief, then the thoughtfull man. A bounded mirth, is a Patent adding time and happinesse to the crazed life of Man.

Id., pp. 7-8:

Behold then; what I have seen good! That it is comely to eat, and to drink, and to take pleasure in all his labour wherein he travaileth under the Sun, the whole number of the days of his life, which GOD giveth him. For, this is his Portion. Nay, there is no profit to Man, but that he eat, and drink, and delight his soul with the profit of his labour. For, he that saw other things but vanity, saw this also, that it was the hand of God. Methinks the reading of Ecclesiastes, should make a Puritan undress his brain, and lay off all those Phanatique toyes that gingle about his understanding.

Ecclesiastes 5.17 (Geneva Bible): Beholde then, what I have sene good, that it is comelie to eat, and to drinke, & to take pleasure in all his labour, wherein he trauaileth vnder the sunne, the whole number of the dayes of his life, which God giueth him: for this is his portion.

Ecclesiastes 2.24 (Geneva Bible): There is no profite to man: but that he eat, and drinke, and delite his soule with the profite of his labour: I sawe also this, that it was of the hand of God.

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