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,…

Are thy words, which heretofore have been full of profaneness and worldliness, now directed to glorify God, and to give grace unto the hearers? Nay yet further besides this inward renovation of the faculties of thy soul; hath the power of grace sanctified all thy outward actions? Dost thou now order in every particular, all the business of thy vocation religiously, conscionably, and by direction out of the word of God? Art thou inwardly affected, and faithful in the performance of religious duties? as in hearing the word of God, in sanctifying the Sabbath, in prayer and the rest. Dost thou now hear the word of God, not only of course and custom, but of zeal and conscience to reform thy self by it, and to live after it? Do not the week days duties, and worldly cares drown thy mind on the Sabbath; but that thou dost the whole day entirely, freely and cheerfully attend the worship of God? Dost thou exercise daily with fruit and feeling, prayer, that precious comfort of the faithful Christian? Thou being converted, dost thou labour the conversion of others, especially of those which are committed any way to thy charge, and for whom thou must give a more strict account; as if thou be a master of a family, dost thou pray with them, and instruct them in the doctrine of salvation, and ways of godliness? Dost thou now not only stick at, and forbear great and gross sins, ⟨p. 87⟩but dost thou even hate the garment spotted of the flesh, and all appearance of evil? Doth the tenderness of thy conscience check thee for the least sins, and make thee fearful to offend, though it be but in a wandering cogitation? After every fall into infirmities, art thou careful to renew thy repentance, and learn wisdom and watchfulness to avoid them afterwards? Doest thou feel thy self profit; grow and increase in these fruits and effects of grace? And hast thou such a gracious taste of the glory of God, and of eternal life, that thou art even willing and desirous to meet thy Saviour in the clouds; not so much for to be rid out of the miseries of this life, as to be freed from the heavy burden of sin which hangs on so fast, and to enjoy his presence in the heavens for ever? In a word, as thy soul gives life, spirit, and motion to thy whole body, and every part thereof;

Are thy words, which heretofore haue been full of prophanenesse and worldlinesse, now directed to glorifie God, and to giue grace vnto the hearers? Nay yet further besides this inward renouation of the faculties of thy soule; hath the power of grace sanctified all thy outward actions? Dost thou now order in euery particular, al the businesse of thy vocation religiously, conscionably, and by direction out of the word of God? Art thou inwardly affected, and faithfull in the performance of religious duties? as in hearing the word of God, in sanctifying the Sabbath, in prayer and the rest. Dost thou now heare the word of God, not onely of course and custome, but of zeale and conscience to reforme thy selfe by it, and to liue after it? Doe not the weeke daies duties, and worldly cares drowne thy mind on the Sabbath; but that thou dost the whole day entirely, freely and cheerefully attend the worship of God? Dost thou exercise daily with fruit and feeling, prayer, that precious comfort of the faithfull Christian? Thou being conuerted, dost thou labour the conuersion of others, especially of those which are committed any way to thy charge, and for whom thou must giue a more strict account; as if thou be a master of a family, dost thou pray with them, and instruct them in the doctrine of saluation, and waies of godlinesse? Dost thou now not onely sticke at, and forbeare great and grosse sinnes,