A discourse about the state of true happiness delivered in certain sermons in Oxford,…A discourse about the state of true happinesse deliuered in certaine sermons in Oxford,…

He may in some measure enjoy the good word of God,§4 the glorious instrument of the conversion of souls.

He may in some measure enioy the good word of God,§4 the glorious instrument of the conuersion of soules.

He may have some taste and feeling even of the powers of §5the world to come.

He may haue some taste and feeling euen of the powers of §5the world to come.

Nay, and besides all these, that which nails him fast unto formality, and makes him with contentment to walk in a plodding course of outward profession; is a persuasion that he is already in the way of life, when as yet he never entered no not the very first step unto it. For indeed he may be persuaded, though from false and mistaken grounds, that he is rich in heavenly things and hath need of nothing, and that he is already possessed of the kingdom of grace & entitled to the kingdom of glory; and yet be most wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. His state in this case being not unlike the dream of a poor or hungry man, which in his sleep filleth himself with variety of dainties, ⟨p. 38⟩or tumbles himself amid his rich treasures and heaps of gold: but when he awaketh, behold he is faint, his soul longeth, and he embraceth nothing but emptiness and air; yea, and besides, the very imaginary fruition of his supposed happiness, when he is awaked, increaseth his languishing, and doubles the sense of his necessities. Even so the formal hypocrite in this life dreams of much comfort to come, makes sure of heaven,