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,…

so man sleepeth, and riseth not: for he shall not wake again, nor be raised from his sleep, till the heaven be no more.

so man sleepeth, and riseth not: for he shall not wake againe, nor be raised from his sleepe, till the heauen be no more.

To let therefore these wretched vanities pass; as unworthy to be insisted on thus long. For howsoever, the worldly minded man, wanting utterly the eye of faith, and having his eye of reason dimmed with mists, that rise from his tumultuous and fiery passions, gross ignorance, and wilful malice, so that he only looks upon the honours, riches and pleasures of this life with a carnal and sensual eye, may seem to see in them, some glimmerings of happiness, and thereafter conform and proportion his desires, endeavours and projects; because he hath his portion only in this life: yet certainly, the truly generous mind may clearly out of the very apprehension of nature and light of reason, discern them all, to be no better then a broken staff of reed, whereupon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it, yea, and strike his heart too through with many sorrows; and that in the time of trouble, they will all prove but as a broken tooth, and sliding foot. To let them therefore pass, and die and perish, I come to two other branches of the negative part: civill honesty, and formal hypocrisy.

To let therefore these wretched vanities passe; as vnworthie to be insisted on thus long. For howsoeuer, the worldly minded man, wanting vtterly the eie of faith, and hauing his eie of reason dimmed with mists, that rise from his tumultuous and fierie passions, grosse ignorance, and wilfull malice, so that he onely lookes vpon the honours, riches and pleasures of this life with a carnall and sensual eie, may seeme to see in them, some glimmerings of happinesse, and thereafter conforme and proportion his desires, endeuours and proiects; because he hath his portion onely in this life: yet certainely, the truly generous mind may clearely out of the very apprehension of nature and light of reason, discerne them al, to be no better then a broken staffe of reede, whereupon if a man leane, it will goe into his hand, and pearce it, yea, and strike his heart too thorow with many sorrowes; and that in the time of trouble, they will all prooue but as a broken tooth, and sliding foot. To let them therefore passe, and die and perish, I come to two other branches of the negatiue part: ciuill honestie, and formall hypocrisie.