Communion with God. in two sermons preached at Paul'sCommunion vvith God. in two sermons preach'd at Paul's

2. How many times already have you shifted your mark? and changed your thoughts about happiness, and yet are as far to seek as ever: one while you thought, if you could but get such an estate, such a competency (as you called it) then you should be happy. When men are low, they think if they were but Some-body in the worlds account, they should be happy; when they are advanced, they are more unsatisfied then before. How many here, that once thought if they should be worth but so many Hundreds, as they are now Thousands, they should be happy? and do not these very persons, in their own apprehension want more now then they did then to purchase happiness? What more ordinary, then for single persons to think, were their condition changed, they should be happy? and when it is so, they are as far from happiness as before. The reason of all this is, because men expect that in the creature, which God never placed there.

2. How many times already have you shifted your mark? and changed your thoughts about happinesse, and yet are as farre to seeke as ever: one while you thought, if you could but get such an estate, such a competency (as you call'd it) then you should be happy. When men are low, they think if they were but Some-body in the worlds account, they should be happy; when they are advanced, they are more unsatisfied then before. How many here, that once thought if they should be worth but so many Hundreds, as they are now Thousands, they should be happy? and do not these very persons, in their own apprehension want more now then they did then to purchase happinesse? What more ordinary, then for single persons to think, were their condition changed, they should be happy? and when it is so, they are as farr from happinesse as before. The reason of all this is, because men expect that in the creature, which God never placed there.

God never intended the creature should be thy God. What is only to be enjoyed in God, 'tis in vain to expect it in the creature. Men may be so childish, as to think their Counters to be Gold, & they may lock them up for such, in their Chest; but when they come to make use of them, they shall then be forced to be sensible of their mistake. So you may at present, please your selves with your enjoyments; but your Gold is not currant money in heaven: your Jewels are not worth the setting in the crown of Glory: your Titles will not be acknowledged in the true Court of Honour. What will you then enjoy when your present enjoyments shall shrink to nothing?