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 judgements upon this land have been many and §2fearful. I doubt not, but we have seen with our eyes, even those which are very near fore-runners of that great and terrible day of the Lord. We have seen strange and prodigious apparitions in the air: we have had unheard of plots and practises against our State. Our land hath long and extraordinarily groaned under a sore and durable plague, which hath stuck close to the bowels of this City. The sea hath broke out of her bounds, and swept away many as righteous as our selves: we have felt such extremity of heat and cold, of which I think these parts of the world are not naturally capable; so certain is it that the finger of God hath been in them. The poor of the land even now grievously sigh, and pine with a present famine. Let us then examine our selves in this point. Have we laid all these judgements unto our hearts? have we been truly humbled by them? have we by a diligent search taken notice of our sins and grieved for them, and abandoned them? have we mourned and cried for all the abominations that are done amongst us? Why then blessed is our case, our state is the state of grace; we shall be sure to be marked and sealed in the foreheads, by the Angel of God, for his servants, before the vials of final desolation be poured upon this kingdom. But if otherwise (which is rather to be feared) if he hath smitten us, and we have not sorrowed; if he hath corrected ⟨p. 80⟩us for amendment, and we are not bettered, but rather worse and worse; we may assure ourselves we yet want a gracious mark, and effect of the power of true godliness; and mark what will be the end both of us and our whole land; it can be no other then that of his own people. And thus he dealt with them by his judgements, even as a Physician with his patient. A Physician while there is any hope of recovery in his patient; he useth the benefit of all the rules of art, all variety of means, prescribing diet, letting blood, ministering pills and potions; but when he once perceives the natural heat to b• so decayed, and strength of nature spent, that his physic will work no more good upon him, but rather hasten his ruin then his recovery, he then leaves him to the pangs of death and dissolution of soul and body.

The iudgements vpon this land haue beene many and §2