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,…

Nay, sith even in this world, every unregenerate man, let him be otherwise never so great, or adored above others, never so absolute in all other excellencies and perfections whatsoever; yet being out of the state of grace, is a very limb of Satan, a child of darkness, and one of the family of Hell. The wrath and vengeance of God, all the fury of the kingdom of darkness, the rage of all the creatures, though he little think upon it, are every hour ready and adderest to seize upon him, as a traitor and rebel to the highest Majesty, and to drag him down into the bottom of Hell. Whereas the state of true Christians, and Gods faithful Ones, is most comfortable and glorious even in this life in this vale of tears, and in these Tabernacles of clay. For their comforts are not fading and earthly, springing out of the sinful pleasures & transitory glory of the world; not fastened unto honours, greatness and possessions, to the increase of Corn, and Wine, and Oil: but they are of a right noble and ⟨image 7⟩heavenly temper, framed and implanted in the sanctified soul by the spirit of all comfort; and therefore everlasting and unconquerable, able to keep a man in heart and resolution against the malice and cruelties of all adversaries, of all creatures. They only are truly and soundly persuaded by the sweet and secret testimony of the spirit, and by the evidence and experience of their own holy life, that after the approaching and much longed for period of a few and evil days, they shall reign with God almighty, the holy Angels and glorified Saints, in unutterable and endless pleasures for ever and ever: and therefore easily and resolutely with much indignation & contempt, over-look and throw out of their hearts, all worldly thoughtfulness, all excessive desires of earth and earthly vanities, all restless aspirations after transitory honours, the noble miseries of this wretched life. They alone have fastened the eye of their minds, enlightened from above with saving faith, upon the unvaluable preciousness and lasting beauty of their immortal crowns in heaven; and therefore ⟨image 8⟩all the glittering and golden representations, with which the flattering world hath formerly deceived and dazzled their eyes, appear to be nothing but darkness and desolations.

Nay, sith euen in this world, euery vnregenerate man, let him be otherwise neuer so great, or adored aboue others, neuer so absolute in all other excellencies and perfections whatsoeuer; yet being out of the state of grace, is a very limbe of Satan, a child of darknesse, and one of the familie of Hell. The wrath and vengeance of God, all the furie of the kingdom of darknesse, the rage of all the creatures, though hee little thinke vpon it, are euerie houre readie and addrest to seize vpon him, as a traitor and rebell to the highest Maiestie, and to dragge him downe into the bottome of Hell. Whereas the state of true Christians, and Gods faithfull Ones, is most comfortable and glorious euen in this life in this vale of teares, and in these Tabernacles of clay. For their comforts are not fading and earthly, springing out of the sinfull pleasures & transitorie glorie of the world; not fastned vnto honors, greatnes and possessions, to the encrease of Corne, and Wine, and Oyle: but they are of a right noble and