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,…

You have heard the reasons of the happiness of the wicked in this life: but it is not so with Gods children. For they must mourn in this vale of tears while the world rejoiceth. And as the wicked are filled and fatted with worldly happiness and plenty against the day of wrath: so Gods children must be prepared and fitted with afflictions, for the glory which shall be revealed. They are shortly to become inhabitants of that great and glorious city, whose foundations are precious stones, whose gates are Margarites, whose streets are pure gold, as the shining glass; they must be companions of the blessed Angels, and stand in the presence of that great and sacred Majesty; and therefore in this life they must be cast into the Lords furnace, that in the fire of affliction they may be more and more purified from earthliness and corruption; and so with holiness and humility prepared for that high perfection of heavenly beauty, glory and bliss. Let every godly man then with comfort and benefit undergo those crosses which the Lord layeth upon him: for they are unto him as looking glasses, wherein God sees his faith and dependence upon his providence; the world his patience and constancy; himself the spots of his soul, his decays of grace, the breaches of his conscience, his neglect of the duties of his calling, his coldness in religious services, his fall from his first love: So that by them, God is pleased and glorified, others edified and instructed, himself humbled, recovered by repentance, and more sanctified.

You haue heard the reasons of the happinesse of the wicked in this life: but it is not so with Gods children. For they must mourn in this vale of teares while the world reioyceth. And as the wicked are fild and fatted with worldly happinesse and plentie against the day of wrath: so Gods children must bee prepared and fitted with afflictions, for the glory which shall be reuealed. They are shortly to become inhabitants of that great and glorious city, whose foundations are pretious stones, whose gates are Margarites, whose streets are pure gold, as the shining glasse; they must bee companions of the blessed Angels, and stand in the presence of that great and sacred Maiesty; and therefore in this life they must be cast into the Lords furnace, that in the fire of affliction they may be more and more purified from earthlines and corruption; and so with holinesse and humilitie prepared for that high perfection of heauenly beautie, glory and blisse. Let euery godly man then with comfort and benefit vndergoe those crosses which the Lord layeth vpon him: for they are vnto him as looking glasses, wherein God sees his faith and dependance vpon his prouidence; the world his patince and constancie; himselfe the spots of his soule, his decayes of grace, the breaches of his conscience, his neglect of the duties of his calling, his coldnes in religigious seruices, his fall from his first loue: So that by them, God is pleased and glorified, others edified and instructed, himselfe humbled, recouered by repentance, and more sanctified.