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 working and property of this saving grace, and true godliness vouchsafed peculiarly and only to Gods children, which doth translate them from darkness to light, from the corruption of nature, to a state of supernatural blessedness, you may thus conceive and understand. It is like leaven (for so the power of Gods word is compared in the Gospel) it is of a spreading nature: First, it seats it self in the heart; after it is dispersed over all the powers and parts both of soul and body; over all the actions and duties of a man whatsoever: It softeneth and changeth the heart: It purgeth the inmost thoughts: It awakes the conscience, and makes it tender and sensible of the least sin: It sanctifies the affections: It conforms the will unto the will of God: It enlightens the understanding with saving knowledge: It stores the memory with many good lessons, for comforts, instructions and directions in a godly life: It seasons the speech ⟨p. 85⟩with grace: It so rectifies, and guides all a mans actions, that they proceed from faith, they are warrantable out of Gods word, they are accomplished by good means, and wholly directed to the glory of God. Nay, yet it spreads further, and kindles a desire and zeal for the salvation of the souls of others, especially of all those that any way depend upon us: So that the child of God doth ever embrace all means and opportunities for the communicating of his graces and comforts, and the bringing of others to the same state of happiness with himself.

The working and propertie of this sauing grace, and true godlinesse vouchsafed peculiarly and onely to Gods children, which doth translate them from darkenesse to light, from the corruption of nature, to a state of supernaturall blessednesse, you may thus conceiue and vnderstand. It is like leauen (for so the power of Gods word is compared in the Gospell) it is of a spreading nature: First, it seates it selfe in the heart; after it is dispersed ouer all the powers and parts both of soule and body; ouer all the actions and duties of a man whatsoeuer: It softneth and changeth the heart: It purgeth the inmost thoughts: It awakes the conscience, and makes it tender and sensible of the least sinne: It sanctifies the affections: It conformes the will vnto the will of God: It illightnes the vnderstanding with sauing knowledge: It stores the memory with many good lessons, for comforts, instructions and directions in a godly life: It seasons the speech ⟨p. 85⟩