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,…

Look the beginnings of the 62. and 73. Psalms. And you shall find David to have been in a heavy dump, and sore conflict in his own heart with strong tentations unto impatience. He recounts the issue, of the dispute with himself, in the beginnings of these Psalms. Yet saith he in the 73. for all this God is good unto Israel: even to the pure in heart. In the 62. Yet let devils and men rage and combine, yet my soul keepeth silence unto God, of him cometh my salvation, &c. His many wrongs, vexations and indignities together with the implacable malice, and impotent insultations of his adversaries, had no doubt a little before much run in his mind. Let us conceive such as these to have been his thoughts; and that thus or in the like manner; he communed and conferred with his royal self.

Looke the beginnings of the 62. and 73. Psalmes. And you shall find Dauid to haue beene in a heauie dumpe, and sore conflict in his owne heart with strong tentations vnto impatiencie. He recounts the issue, of the dispute with himselfe, in the beginnings of these Psalmes. Yet saith he in the 73. for all this God is good vnto Israel: euen to the pure in heart. In the 62. Yet let diuels and men rage and combine, yet my soule keepeth silence vnto God, of him commeth my saluation, &c. His many wrongs, vexations and indignities together with the implacable malice, and impotent insultations of his aduersaries, had no doubt a little before much run in his mind. Let vs conceiue such as these to haue beene his thoughts; and that thus or in the like maner; hee communed and confered with his royall selfe.

Lord, thinks he with himself; I have with lowest humility, and uprightness of heart resigned mine own soul; nay, I have vowed and resolved that my crown and sceptre, my court and whole kingdom, shall for ever be serviceable to my gracious God, and that great majesty above. My mind is never truly pleased and joyful; but when it is gazing and meditating upon the excellent beauty of his glorious Being; upon his bottomless goodness, and immeasurable greatness. His word and sacred laws are better and dearer unto me, then thousands of gold and silver. His Saints upon earth are only my solace, and their sincerity the delight of mine heart. For mine innocency, from those imputations which are charged upon me, I dare appeal unto the strictest Tribunal of heaven. Why then how comes