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,…

A feeling and special approbation of the word of life and promises of salvation: a most fervent expetition and thirsting for the enjoyment of them: an effectual apprehension; a particular application; a full persuasion; a delight and joy thence rising, sound, and unconquerable.

A feeling and speciall approbation of the word of life and promises of saluation: a most feruent expetition and thirsting for the enioyment of them: an effectuall apprehension; a particular application; a full perswasion; a delight and ioy thence rising, sound, and vnconquerable.

That you may understand these, you must conceive, that the soul of Gods child, coming fresh out of the pangs and terrors of his new-birth (a mystery to the formal hypocrite) humbled under the mighty hand of God, by a sight and sense of his sins, looks upon the whole body of divine truth, as upon a precious jewel, wherein Christ & his gracious promises shine unto him especially, as a stone of inestimable worth and valuation; whereupon with a peculiar dearness he sets such a liking, that with it he holds himself an heir of heaven; without it a child of endless perdition. Hence follows an expetition and desire of it, enforced with groans unutterable, and a gasping for it, as the dry and thirsty ground for drops of rain. Thirdly, he apprehends it with a fast and everlasting hold. Fourthly, he applies it closely and particularly to his own soul. Fifthly, he is truly and fully persuaded by Gods good spirit, out of a consideration of his universal change, that it is his own for ever. Lastly▪ he lies down in peace that passeth all understanding: He is filled with joy, that no man can take from him: He delights in the grace apprehended, as in a treasure far more dear unto him then the glory of infinite worlds, or life it self. From the power and workings of this inward grace, spring outward actions; both in his general calling of Christianity, and his particular vocation, which by the mercies of God are faithful, constant, uniform, impartial, resolute, universal, comfortable. Whereas those which are produced by the more weak and inferior degrees of temporary faith, incident to the formal hypocrite, are weak, wavering, many times interrupted, variable; guided much