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,…

First, for his word. For these fifty years, you know, he hath spread out his hands all the day long; he hath sent all his servants, the preachers of his word, rising up early, and sending them, saying: Return now every man from his evil way, and amend your works. Let us then examine our selves in this point. Hath this glorious Gospel, which hath so long shined bright in our eyes, and sounded loud in our cares, hath it, I say, bin mighty in operation upon our souls, in planting in them the power of true godliness? Do we daily grow more sound by it in the knowledge of the truth; and see more particularly into the way and whole course of Christianity? Doth it continually build us up more strongly in faith, repentance, and an holy obedience to all his commandments? Why then blessed is our •ase: for this powerful experience in our souls of daily growth in godliness by the word, is a notable mark unto us that we are in the state of grace; and so all the blessings in the book of God belong unto us, and pleasures moe, then the stars of the firmament in number. But if otherwise (which is rather to be feared) if we have either bin no hearers, or but now and then, as our worldly commodities would give us leave, or hearers only of form and fa•••on, not of zeal and conscience to profit by it, and yield obedience unto it, or only hearers and no doers, why then we may assure our selves, we are yet short of the state of grace; and mark what will be the end, both of us and the whole land; it must needs be the same with that of Judah and Jerusalem (for they were as well beloved of God as ever England can be) Go, ¹saith God unto Jeremiah, Go and tell the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: I have sent you all my servants the Prophets, rising up early, and sending them; but you would not incline your care, you would not obey me; therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants ⟨p. 79⟩of Jerusalem, all the evil that I have pronounced against them. I will do unto this house, whereupon my name is called, wherein also ye trust, as I have done unto Shiloh. I will cast them out of my sight: And will make •his City a curse unto all the nations of the earth.