A29369:52
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons ... by that learned and judicious divine, Mr. William Bridge ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior ..., 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermons › Sermon 1: OF MANS BLESSEDNESS, OR THE BLESSED MAN.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6. How he may attain thereunto?
As for the First, That there is a disposition in Men to seek after something that may make them happy. This Text saith,1 Many say, Who will show us any good? By which many, we are, saith Dr. Ames, to understand all Men; but that cannot be, because here is an opposition ⟨p. 4⟩in Davids practice, to the practice of this many; but his practice was not opposed unto all, but to the generality of Men generally; therefore there is a disposition in Men, to seek after something that may make them happy. In the beginning man was truly happy, and though he be now fallen from that happiness: yet there is a disposition in him still to grope after happiness. Ye see how it is with an House that is burnt down, though it be burnt down to the ground, there are divers pieces of Timber left, though scorched, and burnt, and spoiled, yet left: and so, though Man be fallen, and that goodly building which God Created at the first, be now burnt down to the ground; yet there are certain scorched and spoiled Principles left in him; and what more natural to Man, then to desire that he may be happy; surely therefore there is a disposition still in man, to seek after happiness. Look how far a man knows that a thing is good, so far he may act, and seek after it; because good is the object of mans will: but every man knows in general, that it is good for him to be happy.
As for the First, That there is a disposition in Men to seek after something that may make them happy. This Text saith,1 Many say, Who will shew us any good? By which many, we are, saith Dr. Ames, to understand all Men; but that cannot be, because here is an opposition ⟨p. 4⟩in Davids practice, to the practice of this many; but his practice was not opposed unto all, but to the generality of Men generally; therefore there is a disposition in Men, to seek after something that may make them happy. In the beginning man was truly happy, and though he be now fallen from that happiness: yet there is a disposition in him still to grope after happiness. Ye see how it is with an House that is burnt down, though it be burnt down to the ground, there are divers pieces of Timber left, though scorched, and burnt, and spoiled, yet left: and so, though Man be fallen, and that goodly building which God Created at the first, be now burnt down to the ground; yet there are certain scorched and spoiled Principles left in him; and what more natural to Man, then to desire that he may be happy; surely therefore there is a disposition still in man, to seek after happiness. Look how far a man knows that a thing is good, so far he may act, and seek after it; because good is the object of mans will: but every man knows in general, that it is good for him to be happy.