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,…

The wicked in this world do easily run up without rub or interruption, many times with acclamation and applause, all the golden steps of honours and preferments; but upon the highest stair they find the most slippery standing, and the top of their earthly felicity is the most immediate and certain descent unto their greatest downfall. They are royally mounted here upon earth, and gallop swiftly over the fair and green plains of plenty and pleasures; but at the end of their race they are overturned horse and man, and tumbled headlong into the pit of destruction. They fairly glide over the sea of this world with full sail, with much calmness and serenity, and richly laden, but in the brightest Sunshine, and when they least suspect it, they suddenly and without recovery, sink into the gulf of darkness and desolation.

The wicked in this world doe easily run vp without rub or interruption, many times with acclamation and applause, all the golden steps of honours and preferments; but vpon the highest staire they find the most slipperie standing, and the top of their earthly felicitie is the most immediate and certaine descent vnto their greatest downefall. They are roially mounted here vpon earth, and gallop swiftly ouer the faire and greene plaines of plentie and pleasures; but at the end of their race they are ouerturned horse and man, and tumbled headlong into the pit of destruction. They fairelie glide ouer the sea of this world with full saile, with much calmenesse and sereniti•, and richly laden, but in the brightest Sunshine, and when they least suspect it, they suddenlie and without recouerie, sincke into the gulfe of darknes and desolation.

But it is just otherwise with the children of God, for they many times in this their pilgrimage stick fast in the miry clay of poverty and contempt, sometimes they are enclosed even in a horrible pit, as David speaks, of fear and terror of conscience for their sins. They are by the way companions to Dragons and Ostriches, they walk among rebels, thorns and Scorpions, that rent and tear, a•d sting them with many oppressions and cruel slanders. Neither is the danger in the way all; they have persecutors which are swifter then the Eagles of the heaven, who pursue and hunt them upon the mountains even like Partridges, and lurk for them in the wilderness, as those that lie in wait for blood. Nay, yet besides all these vexations from the world, the immediate malice of hell raiseth many tempests of temptation against them, and sometimes even all the waves and floods of God himself go over their heads. This the way, the race, and the evening of Gods children in this world; but joy comes in the morning, their end is peace, their reward is a bright morning star, their haven is endless happiness and life eternal.