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,…

AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

Christian. This Discourse which now stands so close together, was delivered in five several sermons, but all to a most judicious and intelligent auditory; therefore there is a continuance of matter, coherence, and stile. I must entreat thee, out of thine ingenuous discretion, to distinguish the places where they were preached, as thou shalt find the direction of my speech, and some particular applications more naturally and necessarily with individual reference appropriated thereunto. The reasons why I spent the most of my meditations, and stick so long in descrying and deciphering the state of formal hypocrisy (for therein I have trod a something uncouth and unusual path) are these:

CHristian. This Discourse which now stands so close together, was deliuered in fiue seuerall sermons, but all to a most iudicious and intelligent auditorie; therfore there is a continuance of matter, coherence, and stile. I must entreat thee, out of thine •ngenuous discretion, to distinguish the places where they were preacht, as thou shalt find the direction of my speech, and some particular applications more naturally and necessarilie with indiuiduall reference appropriated thereunto. The reasons why I spent the most of my meditations, and sticke so long in descrying and desciphering the state of formall hypocrisie (for therein I haue trod a something vncouth and vnusuall path) are these:

First, I considered that in this full light of the Gospel, a great §1number of men appl••d and content themselves with a superficial glistering of a formal profession, outward conformity to the Ministry of the word, and some false flashes of an unsound persuasion that they are in the ready and right way to heaven; when as indeed it hath not inwardly enlightened their understandings with saving knowledge, heated their affections with true zeal, subdued their sinful thoughts, and noisome lusts with the power of grace, nor softened and sanctified their hearts to yield a cheerful, sincere, and universal obedience thereunto: And so after a few miserable days spent in a prosperous security, they fall into the jaws of hell before they mistrust any such matter; and the pit of destruction shuts her mouth upon them, before they