A30241:1925
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Fourthly, Heavenly Joy surpasseth in the certainty of it. The joy which God createth in the soul cannot be taken away by any, but God himself; Though sickness come, though poverty come, though afflictions arise, yet all these cannot take away his joy, yea in death it self many times he doth most abound and overflow, whereas all worldly joy under such calamities are turned into wounds, into howlings and tremblings, so that they know not what to do.
Fourthly, Heavenly Joy surpasseth in the certainty of it. The joy which God createth in the soul cannot be taken away by any, but God himself; Though sicknesse come, though poverty come, though afflictions arise, yet all these cannot take away his joy, yea in death it self many times he doth most abound and overflow, whereas all worldly joy under such calamities are turned into wounds, into howlings and tremblings, so that they know not what to do.
Fifthly, It surpasseth in the Universality and Extent of it. Joy in God is all Joy, because God is an Universal Good; There is no want, but he can fill it, no misery, but he is a peculiar remedy to it, whereas the Creatures have their peculiar Joys, Health is one Joy, Wealth another Joy, but no one Creature hath all Comforts in it.
Fifthly, It surpasseth in the Ʋniversality and Extent of it. Joy in God is all Joy, because God is an Universall Good; There is no want, but he can fill it, no misery, but he is a peculiar remedy to it, whereas the Creatures have their peculiar Joyes, Health is one Joy, Wealth another Joy, but no one Creature hath all Comforts in it.
Sixthly, It transcends in the Fullness and Degrees of Joy. Solomon speaks of worldly Comfort, That even in laughter the heart is sad. Even Seneca could say, Think you of those many that laugh, any one hath true Joy, Res severa est Gaudium. Digge to the bottom of the heart of these merry blades, and you will find terrors and fears there.