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.
2. Sometimes this mistake doth arise from the misapplication of the true notion of happiness. For what is happiness, but the enjoyment of that which doth command all things else? •ut now through misapplication of this notion, men say, Money commands all things, and therefore the more money I get, the more happy I am, and so are mistaken in the matter of their happiness.
2. Sometimes this mistake doth arise from the misapplication of the true notion of happiness. For what is happiness, but the enjoyment of that which doth command all things else? •ut now through misapplication of this notion, men say, Mony commands all things, and therefore the more mony I get, the more happy I am, and so are mistaken in the matter of their happiness.
3. Sometimes men are mistaken herein, because they measure their happiness by their own present want. For saith Aristotle, if you look into your experience, ye shall find, that if a man be poor,1 then he thinks it an happiness to be rich; if a man be disgraced, then he thinks it is his happiness to be vindicated, if a man be sick, then he thinks there is no greater happiness in the world then to have his health; and so men measuring their happiness by their own present wants are mistaken therein.
consider what is spoken to them about true happiness. Famous is that story of Croesus among the Heathens, he was a King of a great Country, and tumbled in his Gold and Silver, and Solon, that Wise man of Greece, coming into his Country, he desired to speak with him, and when he saw him, after Solon had seen and viewed all his wealth and glory, he asked him, Whom he thought to be the most happy man in the world. Imagining that Solon would have said Croesus. But Solon answered, I think Tellus was the most happy man;
Tellus saith he, why Tellus? because said Solon, he having Governed the Commonwealth well, and brought up his child honestly and religiously, he dyed honourably. Well then said Croesus, but who dost thou think is the second happy man in the world? I think said he, those two Brothers, that instead of Horses, drew their Mother in a Chariot to the Temple. Whereupon said Croesus, what thinkest thou of me? I think says he, thou art a very rich man; but a man may be happy though he be poor, and a man may be unhappy though he be rich, for he may lose all his riches before he dye; and therefore, ante obitum nemo, I think none truly happy, but he that lives well, and dyes well; whereupon that Wise man Solon was dismissed the Court with neglect: but afterward this Croesus making war against Cyrus, he was overcome by Cyrus, and being taken Captive he was laid upon a Pile of Wood to be burned to death, then lying on the Pile of Wood, he cried out and said, O
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Solon, Solon. Cyrus enquiring what he meant, then he said, this Solon was a Wise man of Greece, that told me, that happiness did not consist in riches, for they might all be lost, and a rich man might dye miserable, whose words said he, I then neglected, but now I find true, and therefore now I cry out and say, O Solon, Solon. And truly thus it is at this day, Preachers call upon men, and tell them, that our happiness lies not in these outward things, and they do not regard it. But there is a time a coming when men will cry out and say, O Solon, Solon; but for the present men will not hear and consider where their happiness lies, and therefore they are thus mistaken in the matter of their happiness.
4. But ordinarily men are mistaken in the matter of their happiness, because they do not hearken to and ⟨p. 11⟩consider what is spoken to them about true happiness. Famous is that story of Craesus among the Heathens, he was a King of a great Country, and tumbled in his Gold and Silver, and Solon, that Wiseman of Greece, coming into his Country, he desired to speak with him, and when he saw him, after Solon had seen and viewed all his wealth and glory, he asked him, Whom he thought to be the most happy man in the world. Imagining that Solon would have said Craesus. But Solon answered, I think Tellus was the most happy man;1 Tellus saith he, why Tellus? because said Solon, he having Governed the Commonwealth well, and brought up his child honestly and religiously, he dyed honourably. Well then said Craesus, but who dost thou think is the second happy man in the world? I think said he, those two Brothers, that instead of Horses, drew their Mother in a Chariot to the Temple. Whereupon said Craesus, what thinkest thou of me? I think says he, thou art a very rich man; but a man may be happy though he be poor, and a man may be unhappy though he be rich, for he may lose all his riches before he dye; and therefore, ante obitum nemo, I think none truly happy, but he that lives well, and dyes well; whereupon that Wiseman Solon was dismissed the Court with neglect: but afterward this Craesus making war against Cyrus, he was overcome by Cyrus, and being taken Captive he was laid upon a Pile of Wood to be burned to death, then lying on the Pile of Wood, he cryed out and said, O ⟨p. 12⟩Solon, Solon. Cyrus enquiring what he meant, then he said, this Solon was a Wiseman of Greece, that told me, that happiness did not consist in riches, for they might all be lost, and a rich man might dye miserable, whose words said he, I then neglected, but now I find true, and therefore now I cry out and say, O Solon, Solon. And truely thus it is at this day, Preachers call upon men, and tell them, that our happiness lyes not in these outward things, and they doe not regard it. But there is a time a coming when men will cry out and say, O Solon, Solon; but for the present men will not hear and consider where their happiness lyes, and therefore they are thus mistaken in the matter of their happiness.
1[Greek or Hebrew], vide Herodotus. ••b. 1.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, vide Herodotus. ••b. 1.
But thus now you have heard, that men are mistaken, and how it comes to pass that they are so mistaken, and so I have done with the Second General, now the Third follows.
3. Though men are generally mistaken in the matter of their happiness, yet there are a generation of men who have found out this happiness, and are truly blessed, many say who will show us any good, but I say otherwise; plainly then, there are a generation of men that have found out this happiness, and are truly blessed; for those that the Scripture calls blessed, are blessed indeed. Now there are a generation of men whom the Scripture calls blessed, and if you would know who these are, I will instance to you in some particulars.
3. Though men are generally mistaken in the matter of their happiness, yet there are a generation of men who have found out this happiness, and are truly blessed, many say who will shew us any good, but I say otherwise; plainly then, there are a generation of men that have found out this happiness, and are truely blessed; for those that the Scripture calls blessed, are blessed indeed. Now there are a generation of men whom the Scripture calls blessed, and if you would know who these are, I will instance to you in some particulars.
1. The Scripture calls them blessed, that have their ⟨p. 13⟩sins pardoned, Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Rom. 4.
Secondly, The Scripture calls them blessed, whom the Lord doth teach the mysteries of his Kingdom, Psal. 94.12. Blessed is the man whom thou teachest out of thy Law. Mat. 16.17. Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee but my father.
Thirdly, the Scripture calls them blessed that wait on the Posts of wisdom, and are made wise thereby, Prov. 8.35. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and waiteth daily at my gates, watching at the Posts of my door. Prov. 3.13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and getteth understanding; so again, v. 18, And happy is every one that retaineth her.
Fourthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that are of a meek, humble, and a pure spirit, Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the meek in spirit. Mat. 5.
Fifthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that do walk in Gods ways, and not in the ways of the world, Psal. 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth meditate day and night. So Psal. 119.1. Blessed is the man that is undefiled in the way; and so again, Psal. 112.1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and delighteth greatly in his Commandments.
Sixthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that suffer for Christ, his way, and truth, and name. Mat. 5. Blessed are ye when men persecute and revile you for my name-sake.
Seventhly, The Scripture calls them blessed that consider the poor Saints and people of God, who have bowels of love and compassions. Psal. 41. Blessed is the man that considereth the poor.
Eighthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that know and do the work of their place and office, both to God and man. John 13.17. I say unto you saith Christ, the Servant is not greater then the Lord, if ye know these things; happy are ye if you do them.
Eighthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that know and doe the work of their place and office, both to God and man. John 13.17. I say unto you saith Christ, the Servant is not greater then the Lord, if ye know these things; happy are ye if you do them.
Ninthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that wait and prepare for the deliverance of the Churches, and the coming of Christ: behold I come as a Thief, blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments. Rev. 16.
Tenthly, The Scripture calls them blessed that dye in the Lord, and are found so doing when Christ comes, blessed is that servant whom when the Lord comes he shall find so doing, Mat. 24. And blessed are those that dye in the Lord. Rev. 14.13. Do you therefore ask who is this blessed man, the man that is truly blessed, the Scripture tells you in all these particulars, so that doubtless there is a generation of men that have found this happiness, and are truly blessed, that is the third General, now the fourth follows.
