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,…

But his delight is in the Law of the Lord. That is, the whole doctrine divinely inspired is the very joy of his heart, and delight of his soul. It is sweeter unto him then honey, & the honey comb. It is more precious unto him than gold, yea, then much fine gold. It is more worth unto him, then heaven, and earth. And when the heart is once enkindled with love, there the imagination embraceth with dearest apprehension; the thoughts are impatient of any other object; all the powers of the soul are united in a strong endeavour for the attainment. The whole mind must needs be possest with meditation▪ ⟨p. 5⟩If he delight in the Law of the Lord, he must needs meditate therein. And this fervency of the heart, cannot possible be enclosed within the compass of the breast: it will spread it self in speech and actions. As is plain, Psalm. 37.30. The mouth of the righteous will speak of wisdom, and his tongue will talk of judgement. The reason follows. For the Law of his God is in his heart. And Psalm 119, 167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies: for I love them exceedingly. And this love, delight, meditation, and exercise in the Law of God, of this happy man, is not as a morning cloud, and as the morning dew, before the Sun: but like the light of the Sun, that shineth more and more, unto the perfect day. It is not for a start, for fear, for restraint, for reputation, for advantage▪ or to cover the terrors of conscience, for a while, with a few flashes of deceivable comforts, out of some misapplied promises in the word of God: but it is out of a free resolution, and with undaunted constancy day and night.

But his delight is in the Law of the Lord. That is, the whole doctrine diuinely inspired is the very ioy of his heart, and delight of his soule. It is sweeter vnto him then hony, & the hony combe. It is more pretious vnto him thē gold, yea, then much fine gold. It is more worth vnto him, then heauen, and earth. And when the heart is once enkindled with loue, there the imagination embraceth with dearest apprehension; the thoughts are impatient of any other obiect; all the powers of the soule are vnited in a strong endeauour for the attainment. The whole mind must needs be possest with meditation